photo by David Findlay

During her Guest of Honor speech at this year’s Wiscon, Nalo Hopkinson announced that she’s starting a new award, “an annual kindness award to recognize five people and groups who in the previous year have done something that makes positive change in science fiction community.” She asked:

What are we doing to foster joy and welcome to this community? What are we doing to cultivate its health and vibrancy? What are we doing to create an environment in which imperfect people (as all people are) can feel encouraged and supported to take the risk of a misstep, perhaps learn from it, and come back refocussed and re-energized, eager to try again?

The Lemonade Award is intended to encourage the people who “perform small and large actions of kindness and welcome every day.” Hopkinson noted that it’s named not for Beyoncé’s album, but for the spirit of the award: when life gives you lemons, you can make lemonade.

For more info, read the full text of her announcement at Strange Horizons.