photo by Deborah Boardman	Diane Gilliam $50,000 Gift of Freedom Winner, Poetry Akron, Ohio	To the women of the 6th Gift of Freedom: With 826 women applying, the results of the 6th Gift of Freedom award cycle prove that many worthy women and worthy projects crave and could benefit from the staunch backing of a community who believes in, funds, and provides resources to complete their important work. I believe in them all. I’ve learned from you that writing takes courage. Applying for the Gift of Freedom takes even more. Thank you for beginning, again, again and yet again. Darlene Chandler Bassett, President and Founder photo by Jamie Clifford

	Florencia Ramirez $5,000 Genre Finalist, Creative Nonfiction Oxnard, California

	Ire'ne Lara Silva $5,000 Genre Finalist, Fiction Austin, Texas