Explore Possible: Disability Discourse Through a Lived Experience Lens
What is Explore Possible and Answers to Your Questions
Photo by Marcus Aurelius from Pexels
A wheelchair user is writing on a laptop, she’s wearing a bright yellow top and is turned to face the camera with an ambivalent smile.
Manitoba Possible is thrilled to launch “Explore Possible” - a thought leadership initiative bringing lived experiences of facing barriers to Canadian audiences.
Keen to explore the many perspectives of people with disabilities and who are Deaf and hard of hearing. Manitoba Possible wanted to lead the charge in creating an online journal for Manitobans and Canadians to invite conversation, educate, inform, and challenge assumptions.
Our goal is to amplify the voices of those who face barriers to full and equal participation.
What is Explore Possible?
It’s a year-long initiative running from April 2021 to March 2022 that will amplify a minimum of 12 unique perspectives to Manitoba, Canada, and the world. We’re searching for our featured thought leaders, and encourage Canadians of any age to apply. The writer must be a Canadian resident and have a lived experience of facing barriers.
What is a thought leader?
The dictionary definition is informed opinion leaders and the go-to people in their field of expertise. In the Explore Possible context, this means people who inspire, inform, advocate for their community and demonstrate leadership with thought-provoking discourse.
What kind of articles are eligible?
We are looking for never-before-published submissions of articles ranging from 300 - 900 words. Submissions should explore ideas, social issues, and experiences unique to a lived experience of disability. Submissions that stimulate conversation, action, educate or inform are encouraged.
What exposure will the articles get?
The Explore Possible initiative is about amplifying and sharing narratives of lived experience. Successful submissions will be posted on the Explore Possible blog where there are over 4000 unique visitors every month, shared on social media to over 3500 followers, and excerpts will be included in Manitoba Possible’s quarterly newsletter, “The Possible” that goes into over 8500 inboxes four times per year. Excerpts may also be shared in a quarterly feature in the Winnipeg Free Press and in partnership with other media outlets as arranged by Manitoba Possible.
Can I share my article on social media after it is published?
Writers are encouraged to share their published works after the agreed-upon date of publication and are also encouraged to share Manitoba Possible’s social posts and newsletter links featuring their work and the work of fellow Explore Possible contributors. Manitoba Possible will create social share graphics including a photo of the writer and a link to the content on the Explore Possible blog. If applicable and agreed upon, Manitoba Possible will tag the writers and encourage traffic to their social channels and or personal websites.
Where do you submit?
Visit our Explore Possible page and hit the submit button to be directed to our online submission form.
Can I include images with my submission?
Our online submission form doesn’t have the ability to add attachments. If an image or file is essential to your submission, please reach out to us at marketing@manitobapossible.ca!
Successful submissions are invited and encouraged to collaborate with the Manitoba Possible team to source imagery and or graphics to support their article.
Is there compensation?
We are offering twelve honorariums of up to $150 for the successful submissions. The amount of the honorarium is dependent on the length of the submitted article.
900 words - $150
750-899 words: $125
600-749 words: $100
450-599 words: $75
300-450 words: $50
*Co-authors are subject to the same rates.
Manitoba Possible looks forward to reading your pitches! Let’s Explore Possible.
If you have questions about Explore Possible that are not addressed here, please contact us at marketing@manitobapossible.ca