Awesome Foundation - Проекти

Philadelphia, PA – Project Fighting Chance

2017-11-17T00:00:00Z

OK now THIS is awesome. No dinosaurs, sorry! A group of nurses at Temple University Hospital's ED got together w/ a Temple ED doc and combat veteran, and the Temple Trauma outreach coordinator. Project Fighting Chance was born out of a cry from the community to help all ages with what to do when stuff hits the fan. The 24th and 25th district of Philly is riddled w/ gun violence and Temple sits in it. No wonder we are the busiest Level I Trauma Center in the state for penetrating trauma. With multiple other university level I trauma centers in the immediate area....it happens here in Temple's footprint. Our team volunteers their time to go into the community and teach medical care and tactical maneuvers to community members within these districts. We've held numerous training sessions and are growing in demand. We started at 12th and Cambria with the help of the local street council there made up of the area citizens. Crime, awareness, gun violence has taken a 180 since we've started. We can't take all credit but day one, over a year ago, we had to be escorted on the grounds by the community leaders. A few months ago on our last event there, I was having a conversation with another PFC leader at 10pm in the middle of the street which was unheard of on day one. We have the blessing of Temple Hospital and Temple legal, and the 24th and 25th police districts to teach our curriculum which consists of basic gun shot/stabbing victim knowledge, personal safety, care under fire, volunteering to help, tourniquet application, improvised bandage use, tactical positioning and carry maneuvers, scene safety and prep for EMS/police arrival. We go through informational session, interactive sessions, then we put it all together in action in a mock shooting. Its informative, engaging, and we make it fun. Check this out: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/temple-university-hospital-gun-violence-fighting-chance_us_579a4777e4b01180b5323657

San Antonio, TX – Latched

2017-11-17T00:00:00Z

Latched is a 5013c non-profit organization that was founded in 2017 by two Registered Nurses specialized as Lactation Consultants. Created from a lack of existing services to support cultural diversity and various generations, we wanted to give moms a positive place where they are empowered instead of judged. We hope to increase breastfeeding rates by offering affordable in home lactation services by standard fee and sliding scale. Regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic class every mother will have the option of this support to come to her in the comfort of her home. Although there are services within the San Antonio community such as WIC or Baby Café, we have found that women of color in particular are not utilizing these services. Our goal is to increase awareness and support to all breastfeeding mothers but with African American women as a priority. Latched is not only empowering moms, it is also changing the community perception on why it is important to support a breastfeeding mother. Latched having lactation professionals of color allows promotion of equity and cultural competence within the lactation profession, as representation to reflect the target community. Providing support gives a mother and her child an opportunity for a better wellbeing and future leading to a healthier society.

Birmingham, AL (Неактивен) – OAA Community Engagement

2017-11-17T00:00:00Z

The Engagement was designed to help formerly incarcerated persons participate in the restoration needed in crime infested, low income communities in the Greater Birmingham area. The Offender Alumni Association started the process by adopting the Titusville community in March 2016. For us restoration of communities would involve three things; dedication,building relationships and hard work. We believe that if we can invest in building people, they will invest in rebuilding their "community." The initiation of this process started with providing lawn services to the elderly, disabled residents free of charge. This work is performed by formerly incarcerated individuals and their families. This was to create a non-threatening presence to the residents, ensuring that we were there to help them. The second phase, the relationship building, started with an introduction the group and purpose in March 2017. We immediately implement our ideas to get the youth involve by hosting the first Youth Career Readiness Initiative for those 14-17 in the Titusville community who were in danger of failing in school, had parents who are incarcerated, and siblings that had been involved with the Birmingham VRI, and yet these youth were still actively trying to live meaningful lives without proper influence or support in their efforts. This project was coordinated June -September. It gave OAA the room to build relationship over the summer months and once school started, the ability to check to see where the youth are so that even as the funding end we can follow-up and offer any assistance necessary for the youth to succeed. We are currently looking to strengthen our efforts by creation of a resource hub. This community space will offer youth a place to study ( math and reading camps), kids will receive a light snack before returning home, community support meetings and resource guides that assist residents in rising above their current situation. This is a hand up methodology.

Glasgow – Braw Wee Traders at the Barras

2017-11-16T00:00:00Z

We want to run a pilot for of our Braw Wee Traders project, which will recruit two local lassies from the Calton Area of Glasgow to make/ or source their own products and become Barras Traders. The project ties in with a partnership project with Rock Regen CIC and Glasgow Furniture Collective supported by Glasgow City Council's Stalled Spaces funding - 'Be a Barras Trader'. And our overall aim of supporting the regeneration of the local area. The Braw Wee Traders project is something we've been aiming to do for the past couple of years & we are now in a position to take it forward with help. The overall aim is to support the regeneration of the Barras and Calton area through training and support of local people to create their own opportunities. The project will achieve the following outcomes: Support two young females from the local area to develop their own businesses within the area that they live within with support of an experienced local business. Support the regeneration of the Barras market through introducing new market traders, with unique products that will encourage new shoppers to the area and ensure that existing shoppers continue to return. We want to take on two trainee traders at the same time so that they can support each other in their journey to becoming traders, It is hoped that they will initially share the one stall or have stalls beside each other, which will increase the likelihood for them to carry on with being stall holders. Activity 8 full-day training days with the team at Braw Wee Emporium in making stock/ sourcing products; retail display; customer service; developing their branding & marketing material; social media development; retail admin (card payments, cash management, packaging materials, etc.). 4 days trading at the Barras Market with subsided stalls with support from the Braw Wee team. Braw Wee will support them with promoting them through our own mailing lists, social media sites and business/ community networks.

Chicago, IL – Refugee Education & Adventure CHallenge (REACH)

2017-11-15T00:00:00Z

REACH recruits at-risk refugee adolescents who have escaped violence in their home countries and arrived to the U.S. within the last 5 years. REACH helps integrate newcomers into the social fabric of the areas in which they are being resettled. Our programs focus on developing social capital, which helps shift the marginal status that is often held by refugee youth and their families. REACH provides refugee youth & their families with experiential learning opportunities focused on STEAM-related (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, & Math) education and adventure sports. Our mission is to inspire leadership, academic success, and connections among refugee youth through active dynamic learning outside the traditional classroom. Short-term objectives are to build leadership skills; enhance outdoor experience; reduce youth isolation; expand family activities; build practical STEAM skills; & provide career development. REACH is unique in its focus on breaking down social, economic, & place-based barriers with experiential learning & adventure therapy methods. Our vision is to build a sense of space & learning through an engaged network of refugee youth, their families, and adult mentors. REACH program participants focus on gaining skills in English language proficiency, interpersonal dynamics, teambuilding, leadership, STEAM education (i.e., living organisms, stream ecology, nature photography, urban habitats, sustainable cities), service learning, & outdoor adventure sports like paddling, biking, hiking, climbing, cross-country skiing, snow tubing, ice skating, & camping. In the past 2 summers, we engaged 60 refugee boys in Summer Adventure Camps including: day camp sessions with kayaking, climbing, hiking, forest restoration work, & team building; overnight camping trips to local state parks; & family picnics/award ceremonies. Currently, REACH has no paid staff and is run entirely through volunteer efforts and private donations.

Washington, DC – Awesome Weekend

2017-11-15T00:00:00Z

The DC Chapter of the Awesome Foundation is participating in Awesome Weekend, a global event from Awesome Foundation chapters around the world on Dec. 9-10, giving random nano-grants of $5-10 to people in the community to make their day more awesome and spread cheer. DC's grant giving location and time will remain secret, but stay tuned to our social media accounts to learn more! Global Awesome Chapters currently participating in the Awesome Weekend giving campaign include: * Chicago, US * Liverpool, England * Kingston, Canada * Sarnia, Canada * Orlando, US * San Antonio, US * Washington, DC, US * Ottawa, Canada * Glasgow, Scotland * Belo Horizonte, Brazil Follow Awesome Weekend locally at #awesomedc and globally at #awesomeweekend!

Cass Clay – Cradle Me Care

2017-11-15T00:00:00Z

My awesome project is a student-led nonprofit organization aimed at reducing SIDS. Every year 3,500 infants die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). About a quarter of those is from suffocation and strangulation related to improper sleeping environments. Having a proper baby bed is the very first step in raising a child. It is essential that infants under the age of 12 months sleep by themselves in a crib/ bassinet.The goal of Cradle Me Care is to provide safe and comfortable sleeping situation for families who are financially struggling to provide for their newborn. Cradle Me Care will use the money to buy baby bassinets, clothing, and informational resources for families struggling to provide for their infant. We want to make sure that as many babies as possible have the basic necessities to survive early childhood.

Awesome Without Borders (Неактивен) – Project Peaceful Warriors

2017-11-13T00:00:00Z

Project Peaceful Warriors is a non-profit organization located in New Orleans, LA. Our mission is to provide trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness programming to schools — providing students and educators with tools to reduce stress and anxiety, combat burnout, and lead happier and healthier lives. To accomplish this goal, we partner with schools, community centers, local yoga studios, and other organizations. In New Orleans (NOLA), our students experience trauma at a shockingly disproportionate rate compared the rest of the country. According to the Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies (IWES) “In That Number” Campaign (2015) which surveyed New Orleans youth ages 11-15, 54 percent of youth in New Orleans have lost someone close to them, to murder; 40 percent have seen someone shot, stabbed, or beaten; and 29 percent worry about not being loved. The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder rate among NOLA youth is four times the rate of the national average (IWES, 2015). As their educators, we cannot change the circumstances or violent communities that they live in, but we can give them tools so they can change how they handle them. Our job is to give them the tools to grow as impactful members of the community so we can all find empowerment through peace. To create safe and healthy learning environments in schools, we believe in creating a culture shift using the tools of yoga, mindfulness, and self-care for students and for educators. We believe that such an approach encompasses, supports, and equips the whole school with valuable tools and experiences that they can use to address trauma, which reduces and prevents negative impact on teachers and students. In addition to helping heal youth trauma through small group classes, we aim to empower teachers to bring yoga and mindfulness into their classrooms in order to decrease classroom distractions, bullying, reduce student anxiety, and burnout.

Sydney – Inner West Tool Library

2017-11-13T00:00:00Z

Did you know that the average drill is used for less than 15 minutes in its lifetime? The concept of a tool library is much like a book lending library, except lending out tools instead of books. Once a member, you can browse the collection either online or at the library, and loan out the tools you need. Why a tool library? Save money and space : once a member, individuals have access to hundreds of tools, allowing them to borrow them rather spending the money on new tools, then needing to store them. Share skills : a space for learning how to use tools, and sharing ideas and tips. Protect the Environment : Sharing reduces the number of new tools made, and the resources needed to produce them. Community building : Meeting place for neighbours, open space for discussing projects and helping each other out. Last year I did a workshop to build outdoor furniture from recycled timber. The day was great, especially learning how easy it is to build basic furniture - as long as you have the tools to do it, or money to buy them. I do not have either. Through my interest in the share economy, I had heard of a tool library in the past, so started to do some serious research. I discovered there are hundreds established in North America and Europe, and decided there should be one in Sydney! So far there are only 2 in Australia (Melbourne and Katoomba), so OZ is pretty new to the game. The plan is to hold workshops as well, empowering the community to learn how to use power tools and be able to do their own home renovations or creative work. It will be a NFP. Since making a Facebook page to gauge interest from the community, I’ve had over 200 people like the page, and continue to receive positive comments, offering support, donations of tools and interest to get involved. I’m holding a meeting on July 20th in hopes to gather some of these like-minded people together and create a core Tool Library team.

Paris (Неактивен) – Le Filon

2017-11-13T00:00:00Z

Le Filon est né de la volonté de co-construire un lieu avec les femmes de la rue. Les femmes représentent aujourd'hui un tiers des personnes sans domicile fixe, cependant aujourd'hui il n'existe quasiment pas de structure dédiée. Nous pensons que les femmes de la rue sont une richesse pour la société. Parce qu'il est important qu'elles aussi en aient conscience, nous avons décidé de créer et faire vivre avec elles un lieu bienveillant et accueillant. Ce lieu, au cœur du quartier des Batignolles, est ouvert 5 jours par semaine, de 9h à 15h (jusque 14h le dimanche). Notre mission est dans un premier temps d'accueillir et d'écouter les femmes afin de comprendre leurs difficultés et leurs problèmes. De ce travail d'accueil et d'écoute peuvent ressortir des demandes et des besoins à partir desquels nous orientons les femmes vers les partenaires de notre réseau pour répondre à leurs besoins (hébergement, soins, alphabétisation, emplois etc...) et nous les accompagnons physiquement et psychologiquement dans leurs démarches. Notre idée est d'être la boussole et le repère de ces femmes. Le Filon is a safe place co-constructed by and for homeless women. Women represent over a third of the homeless people, but there are no structures specially dedicated to them. We think that homeless women are a richness for the community. Because it's important for them to be aware of it, we have decided to create a welcoming where they can live. In the 17th arrondissement of Paris, this place is open 5 days a week. Our mission is to welcome these women, to listen to their problems.

Asheville, NC (Неактивен) – Hex

2017-11-13T00:00:00Z

Hex is a bi-monthly dance party event that is always benefiting a different local organization. Hex was birthed out of a deep dissatisfaction for the current state of things in our country, and wanting to find a way to raise money as well as have fun and not get stuck in the despair of it all. So far, there have been 3 events- all at the Mothlight. The first one benefitted OurVOICE, the second Transmission Prison Project, the 3rd was for Justice for All Project (part of Pisgah Legal), and the upcoming one on October 27th is for CIMA. Each event highlights 3 local DJ's and a local performer, aiming towards including people of color, women, and gender non-conforming folks as primary people on the stage. Each event charges $5 at the door, with all of the proceeds going to the organization being benefitted.

San Francisco, CA – 34 Trinity Arts & News

2017-11-09T00:00:00Z

34 Trinity Arts and News respectfully requests support for its launch and first year of operations as a radical newsstand, art gallery, and book stall in the heart of San Francisco's Financial District. Operating from a small storefront space at 34 Trinity Place, the project will carry used books focused on art, culture, history, theory, and the Bay Area; show local visual art, particularly photography, political posters/prints, and installations; sell poetry chapbooks, zines/comics, and other visual arts-oriented publications; and stock independent local news, such as San Francisco Public Press, San Francisco Bay View, and El Tecolote. The 34 Trinity Arts & News collective was founded in summer 2017 in response to the imminent retirement of Rick Wilkinson, former proprietor of the beloved G.F. Wilkinson Books at 34 Trinity Place. Collective members had been regular patrons of the book stall, and learned from Wilkinson that the landlord was considering converting the space to ATM’s after he moved out. Thus, the 34 Trinity Arts & News collective was formed as an act of resistance--however modest--against the ongoing conversion of San Francisco cultural space to ultra-commercial uses. In particular, we intend this space to be a venue to support the political and artistic contributions of San Francisco natives, residents, working class people, and people of color -- emphasizing the work of those who are being displaced amidst the current onslaught of gentrification and hyper-development. We are inspired by similar projects throughout the Bay Area, such as Wolfman Books, Bound Together, and Adobe Books, and also hope to operate in the tradition of San Francisco spaces that have been lost, such as Marcus Books, Adolph Gasser Photography, and New Langton Arts. Our audience will consist of longtime G.F. Wilkinson fans, downtown workers interested in visual and literary arts, and others drawn by the development of a “new” space in the tradition of radical San Francisco.

Liverpool (Неактивен) – Head Cluster

2017-11-07T00:00:00Z

The project is a collection of Head Busts on plinths in a semi-dark environment. Each head is sensitive to sound and movement. In effect they will respond and interact to the sound and movement of spectators viewing the installation. Each head will become illuminated when it becomes stimulated like a performer under the spotlight. The heads use animatronics to move, speak and interact with their audience. Each head will be developed and personalised by different artists across Liverpool. Thus the visual and emotional response from each head will be very different. Viewers may well invoke a cacophony of interactions between the heads.

South Bend, IN – Fall Leadership Retreat

2017-11-06T00:00:00Z

In 2015, I had the awesome experience of spending a weekend retreat camping at Camp Friedenswald with a handful of urban, at-risk youth. At first, they were all trepidatious about the occasion inquiring about the bugs, the food, and getting their hair wet among other trivial concerns. Most of these young ladies had never been camping or too far outside of their South Bend neighborhoods. The focus of this retreat was leadership development and goal-setting for the upcoming school year. Not only were students able to participate in several leadership and teamwork activities, testing their ability to cooperate and communicate, but these young ladies also had an opportunity to assess their future goals and fears in an environment free from judgment and ridicule. Many of these young ladies, had personal breakthroughs in regard to their personal and educational goals. To my surprise, these young ladies had never had the opportunity to dream their wildest dreams because, simply, no one bothered to ask them or expected them to do much. These resilient young ladies jointly had experienced more adversity than most adults I know; including the death or incarceration of a parent, teenage homelessness and physical and/or sexual abuse at the hands of a trusted adult. But what became more evident through this retreat than their adversity was their capacity to still have hope and dreams for their future. The young ladies who attended this trip shared their awesome experiences with their peers and have endeavored to plan another summer retreat. This idea is not awesome in the innovative way that you might expect, but what’s awesome about it is the fact that it’s student-led. Which is evidence to the fact that even the students we label as troublesome or difficult have the capacity to be leaders within their schools and neighborhoods. This awesome idea is about supporting and encouraging that innate potential toward the betterment and future of South Bend!

South Bend, IN – All Over Creations Bakery

2017-11-06T00:00:00Z

I am a new business owner in the Michiana/ South Michigan area. I'm in the process of trying to bring the latest trends of cake decorating to the area. I'm developing my skills in cake mapping, sugar art and cake sculpting.

Ann Arbor, MI – Sustainability by Design: A School Bus Conversion

2017-11-06T00:00:00Z

My awesome project is to convert a school bus into a transportable living space to convey themes of sustainability and living a creative lifestyle. I’ll be using it to volunteer on farms and for non-profits both in Ann Arbor and across the United States. The bus will have a formal audience at a curated exhibition in April; there will also be an informal audience on the road. The sheer size of the bus alone will allow it to play a relatively humble, self-promotional role. Instead of making work about sustainability and a creative lifestyle, my work aims to embody these themes while serving a utility. Phase #1 is purchasing a used school bus. Phase #2 is gutting and insulating the bus. Phase #3 is designing and planning the interior construction of bus. It will contain custom built furnishings. The exterior will have a space for an outdoor shower head and curtain, and a platform on the roof. I also plan to incorporate patterns of translucent vinyl on the windows of the bus, for aesthetic and privacy. Phase #4 is the building process. I will be sourcing as much material as possible from recycle and reuse centers, scrap material, and free material. My process is as important as the end product; I’m expecting to learn the most from the hands-on, design/build process, but the converted bus will be the fruit of the labor, and what others will ultimately view and experience at the exhibition in April, and on the road. I will gain a greater understanding of large-scale designing and building and develop a more sustainable and responsible creative process. Others will see, by example, what it means to reuse material, and what it means to live a creative, sustainable lifestyle. Just as I will assess and use the material resources around me, I will also assess and use the people around me. Using what’s around will be a prevailing theme in my project.

Northampton, MA (Неактивен) – On-The-Spot Poetry

2017-11-05T00:00:00Z

I want to bring some wordy wonder to downtown Northampton! My vision involves setting up a typewriter and table downtown and doing two things: composing original poems on the spot for people, or helping them compose their OWN poems on the spot. I'm a writer and teacher, and I've wanted to do this for awhile. I'd pick some of the last gorgeous fall days we have coming up, and an additional one for Bag Day on November 20, when the streets are full of enthusiastic holiday shoppers. I think poems could make it more fun and magical.

Boston, MA – Creative Boat Art for 75 Fifth Grade Students

2017-11-05T00:00:00Z

It is a tradition for all students in the 5th grade at the Haley Pilot School to build wooden boats. Building boats allows students to apply their classroom STEM skills. My students are very excited to use tools and learn to paddle on Jamaica Pond! The 5th grade students keep telling me that after working so hard to build, they want to be able to paint their boats with creative designs. An Awesome grant would help us to buy paint and hire a local Visiting Artist so that all 75 fifth grade students next year could express their ideas about the world by painting the boats they have built. After painting their boats, students will launch them on Jamaica Pond and learn to paddle. Then the canoes will be exhibited in the school lobby, at the Jamaica Plain Library, Jamaica Pond, and other public spaces around Boston. Students will create written pieces about the building process and their boat-art to exhibit alongside their boats. Creative Boat Art would add an arts and humanities piece to the existing Boat Building curriculum, so that the project would become truly interdisciplinary, and hit all the state standards through an exciting, hands-on project.

Boston, MA – Youth Spoken Word Poetry Leaders Program

2017-11-05T00:00:00Z

For many years, Boston has enjoyed one of the richest poetry slam and spoken word poetry scenes in the country. Great right? Only problem is that all the shows are 21 and 18 plus only. Our organization Mass LEAP (started as a collective, but now a non-profit) has been grinding for the past 6 years to develop more opportunities for young people to pursue spoken word poetry, not only for the art, but for the community and social change that this art promotes. We've done this by establishing an annual festival called Louder than a Bomb Massachusetts (last year we brought over 300 teens together for a month long festival where young people from over 40 school communities write together, attend performances and listen to one another's stories through the poetry slam competitions. Now there's a ton more interest, yet not enough consistent safe spaces for young people to gather throughout the year. Last year we piloted a new program called "Youth Spoken Word Leaders" where we selected 5 teens to receive paid mentoring, while they learned about organizing, managed their own monthly writing workshop and open mic series. It was a great success, with hundreds of youth attending these events out of our offices at Makeshift Boston (Columbus Ave, South End) throughout the year. We very much wish to continue the program past year one, but need a little more community support. As we build our organizational capacity to keep the festival going, provide free professional development opportunities and keep the lights on, we seek sponsors and partners in order to ensure that we can continue to train and PAY young people to take on the work of service their peers. Our vision is for this program to exist in every urban center of Massachusetts, but we need to stabilize the program in Boston first. We had one year of national support to incubate this project, but currently do not have the funding to continue. You all should see how incredible these youth open mics are!

Northampton, MA (Неактивен) – Secret Comedy Show

2017-11-05T00:00:00Z

I would like to set up a comedy show at a small venue like the Iconica Social Club in Northampton. In the wake of the show we give clues to it location. with flyers and videos or radio ads. I use an app call Live Portrait and when you point your phone at the picture it plays a video. The draw is that we have one exciting headliner that everyone wants to see, but the adventure would be in figuring out where it is and playing along.

Adelaide – Tools for primary school STEM with a difference

2017-11-04T00:00:00Z

A STEM program with a difference working with students who may have poor classroom engagement, challenging behaviours, ASD and/or disability. With a tiny budget, and the help of an ex-manufacturing professional who joined the school's ranks as a School Support Officer SSO in mid-2016. We have been able to develop some inspiring projects for students from Rocket launchers to electric billy karts, raspberry pi computing, robots and electric cardboard racers. See our youtube channel, link on our project webpage. Our SSO supporting teachers to provide hands-on STEM activities in the classroom from reception to year 7, including junior primary and primary special class. This also includes providing a range of interesting/alternative hands-on STEM activities for small groups of students who may experience high levels of absenteeism, challenging behaviour, or low classroom participation.

Singapore – Nong Bo Art House

2017-11-03T00:00:00Z

Hello! My name is Yen Lin, and I am a visual artist in Singapore who has teamed up with a Thai artist called Maitree Siriboon, to create an artist residency-cum-homestay in his village hometown, Nong Bo, in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand. We plan to use the arts to open up his village to the "global village" (i.e. the rest of the world), and this Nong Bo Art House residency is the beginning! We wish to develop this abandoned traditional Isaan wooden house into a habitable homestay with an attached art studio space. We then wish to alternate housing local village artists (from Isaan) and international artists (from overseas), and provide a platform where we can use art to engage conversation with the local villagers, and create something spectacular -- a sustainable intercultural experience that no one will forget. This project also supports Maitree's dream of turning his village into a center for arts and culture, which will invigorate this medium-sized village of 1500 families, and provide it with a new source of financial income (be it through increased tourist dollar or funds raised through art), as the traditional farming culture in the village is increasingly threatened by wider political and economic forces within Thailand. Each artist who stays (for a period of 1-3 months) will also be requested to donate one work to Nong Bo Art House, which can then be exhibited/sold in yearly fund-raiser shows, to keep the residency self-sustaining. As a city girl born and bred in Singapore for the last 27 years, and Maitree himself being a village boy who has then lived and worked in Bangkok for the past 20 years, we are fascinated by the interplay of rural and urban culture, and wish to play our part to bridge the gap between the two worlds. There is so much to learn and to understand about those who seem to be on the "other side of the fence"! We hope to use the arts, through this project, to enrich minds and hearts through meaningful collaboration. :)

Oakland, CA (Неактивен) – Haircuts with Heart

2017-11-02T00:00:00Z

Haircuts with Heart respectfully requests a $1000 grant for our Bay Area Community Outreach Project. As a new, Oakland-based nonprofit organization, Haircuts with Heart believes the simple gesture of a haircut can help restore a sense of dignity. We host free haircut events in a buoyant, caring, respectful manner to local community members in need. We access our guests -- Elders, Homeless, Unhoused, Veterans, Women and Youth -- through partner hosts such as Operation Dignity, Women’s Daytime Drop-in Center, Berkeley Food and Housing Project, Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficency and Alameda Boys & Girls Club. Our organization is comprised of professional stylists, barbers, makeup artists, nail technicians and salon owners adept in all hair textures who wish to give back to their community.

Atlanta, GA (Неактивен) – H.O.P.E. - Helping Our Precious Elders

2017-11-01T00:00:00Z

Because seniors 50+ have given so much to so many, Our Time 21st Century Seniors, Inc. (OT) aims to give back to this deserving, and often forgotten community for their work ethic, great customer service skills, and putting aside their dreams as they raised families and grew large corporations. Many seniors are lonely, tired, sick, and bewildered by the lack of choices available to them once they retire. However, OT is here to provide workshops in computer literacy, ink art, sewing, piano, theatre, and many more, so that their days are constructively spent. We also want to attend to the entire person -- mind, body, and spirit, so that self-esteem is rebuilt and independence -- if lost -- is regained.

Melbourne (Неактивен) – An awesome VIP Day for Melbourne's homeless

2017-11-01T00:00:00Z

DINOSAURS DINOSAURS DINOSAURS HoMie requests $1,000 from The Awesome Foundation to enable us to run one 'VIP Shopping Day' for Melburnians experiencing hardship and homelessness. This VIP shopping day will support and engage with 20 Melbournians experiencing homelessness who will be invited to shop for free at The HoMie Street Store (2/296 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy) as ‘VIP Customers’. VIP Shopping Days aim to increase social inclusion, connectedness and confidence for Melbourne's most marginalised and vulnerable people. VIP Shopping Days also bring VIP Clients into the HoMie Support Network, where they can access and request further support from organisations in our network should they require it. By bringing homeless clients into the HoMie program, we hope to foster trust and a connection to the HoMie brand, so that they may choose to undertake further training with Homeless of Melbourne in the future. HoMie VIP days are also widely publicised on our social media channels (HoMie Street Store - 15,000 followers; and Homeless of Melbourne - 50,000 followers). By covering the VIP Shopping Days and their benefit to the homeless community, we are able to raise awareness in the broader population with regards to issues facing Melbourne's homeless community, and give HoMie customers a tangible way of giving back (just by purchasing cool clothing or volunteering with HoMie).

San Jose, CA – 2017 Overfelt High School Hip Hop Workshop

2017-11-01T00:00:00Z

Nearly one in four students in San José are at risk for dropping out of high school. Students who drop out are eight times more likely to be incarcerated and three times more likely to be unemployed (Sum et al. 2009). To address this issue, City Year San José provides academic and socio-emotional support at K-12 schools in East San José’s underserved neighborhoods. At Overfelt High School, City Year members work in classrooms all day, and we tutor students after school. The result? Ninety-four percent of the students who receive math and literacy tutoring from City Year improve on state assessments, and 95% of teachers report that City Year increases overall academic performance. City Year has proven to be valuable to East San José, and we want to reach and retain as many students as possible. In order to radically engage youth of color academically and emotionally, effective urban educators argue schools must start using Hip Hop as a learning tool. This year, we will host the Hip Hop Workshop to 1) increase attendance rates in our after-school tutoring program and 2) supplement our socio-emotional learning curriculum (overcomingobstacles.org). We will hold our workshops monthly in our after-school program where well-known Bay Area Hip Hop artists will 1) perform their music and 2) present about several topics––self-love, resilience, mentorship, racial identity, social entrepreneurship, and college/career readiness. Here, students will be able to ask the artists questions, participate in activities, and develop new skillsets and mindsets about their lives and education. We estimate the program will impact 300 ninth through twelfth grade students. After the first two performances, students will be able to attend the workshops if they attend 90% of their scheduled tutoring sessions, which will serve as an incentive for students to attend tutoring regularly.

Washington, DC – All One City Meetups

2017-10-31T00:00:00Z

Greetings! It's Justin from Funk Parade. Our first iteration was possible with your generous support. We've learned some remarkable truths over the past few years. And we want to put them to work helping those many groups make their own dream projects come true, with your help. Here's what we've learned. First: if your community is diverse enough, needs and resources become indistinguishable. Here's what we mean: A group of musicians share the same needs - Money. Patrons. Space to practice, teach or perform. But as part of a diverse group, those needs become resources. A developer may need to activate vacant space, so a musician's need for rehearsal or teaching space becomes a resource for them. A restaurant may seek curatorial help booking weekly music nights, so the musicians' need for patrons and money becomes a resource for them. Second: When needs and resources merge, it liberates civic entrepreneurs and artists from their old reliance on institutions -- government agencies, big foundations or corporate sponsors. We discover resources in our own communities, simply by connecting people. Third: We're good at throwing Funk Parades, but we're great at connecting people. We've been playing "switchboard" for our stakeholders, connecting muralists with empty walls, civic entrepreneurs with potential backers, businesses with musicians, city agencies with advice and experts. With your help we want to launch a new initiative, the All One City network, to convene our stakeholders and recruit others to be part of a new, symbiotic civic engagement network. It will be built on shared beliefs that a city should have robust arts and culture, affordable housing, functional transit, access to quality healthcare and food, and public safety. And above all, an tightly-woven civic fabric which does not allow social boundaries to prevent us from building a diverse and respectful city together.

Disability – #ADAPTandRESIST

2017-10-31T00:00:00Z

We will build on our success in advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities, and create a new initiative – a Rapid Response Team – allowing us to significantly enhance our reach and impact. In the current political environment, our rights are constantly under attack. We need to be more proactive, and have the resources allowing us to respond to the immediate needs of the people. In creating a rapid response team, we would be delivering expertise, in the form of advocacy, to the doorstep of the representatives and legislators who need our help in comprehending the issues, whenever necessary. ADAPT, a grassroots, disability rights group that conducts non-violent civil disobedience, used its decades of experience with direct action to highlight the threat of Medicaid cuts to the Disability Community. This campaign was instrumental, through July, in defeating the Medicaid cuts and repeal of the ACA (Affordable Care Act) in the US Senate. In the five weeks between June 22 and July 28, ADAPT conducted a campaign to save Medicaid and community-based services from massive cuts, averaging three protests each day. Our collective action outside Senator McConnell’s office became the catalyst for progressive organizations opposed to the repeal of the ACA. Two weeks ago, we protested both inside the Senate Finance Hearing Room and in the hall, where over 115 ADAPTers were arrested as we opposed the Graham-Cassidy bill. Shortly after our protest, the bill was pulled. ADAPT was able to strongly respond because we planned this months in advance, and the action happened to coincide with the timing on the bill. Otherwise, we would have had to find a way to rapidly respond, with no budget and no travel plans. I would use my status within ADAPT to become the leader of our newly-created rapid response team, in responding more efficiently and effectively to the needs of our constituency. Rather than planning months in advance, we would reduce our horizons to days. What our grantee is saying: The Awesome Foundation Award allows us to involve more members of our community by forming a Rapid Response Team. In doing so we can protect the life and liberty of so many people with disabilities. Without this award, this would not have been possible. What our trustees are saying: I voted for #ADAPTandRESIST as the scale of the impact is huge and systemic. Image description: Group of people with disabilities protesting to save Medicaid in the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington D.C.

Washington, DC – Prescription Ey

2017-10-30T00:00:00Z

The Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington's (POB) eyeglasses clinic provides new eyeglasses to low-income and homeless persons in Washington, DC who need eyeglasses but cannot afford to pay for them. POB's eyeglasses clinic provides the new eyeglasses at a nominal cost. This project aims to provide completely free eyeglasses to those most in-need, including homeless and those with very limited incomes. Typically, eyeglasses cost $35 per pair. Those who are unable to pay the nominal eyeglasses fee, work with our staff to discuss a sliding scale based on financial capabilities. We do not want to deny eyeglasses to anyone based on their income.

New York City, NY – Syrian Refugee Graphic Mini-Narratives

2017-10-30T00:00:00Z

Chris Russell (illustrator) and Patrick Hilsman (journalist) are working on a collection of graphic essays about the Syrian refugee crisis, told through the eyes of individual survivors. The essays will likely become a book, in the tradition of graphic novels such as Art Spiegelman’s _Maus_ and Marjane Satrapi’s _Persepolis_. Each essay is told in memoir form, with text taken directly from interviews with Syrian individuals who have been uprooted and forced to flee by the most destructive conflict of the 21st century. Over the course of six years, the Syrian conflict has escalated from a peaceful uprising to a war that dragged in superpowers and set off global consequences felt across the world. By asking individual Syrians who have been forced to flee to speak in their own words from a variety of perspectives, we allow each story to be a different window into the origins of the Syrian revolution and the descent into civil war and the refugee crisis. _We hope our project will shine a fresh light on the refugee crisis for a new audience, and that it will serve as an educational tool on the roots of conflict and the dangers refugees face._

Awesome Without Borders (Неактивен) – CHOOSE

2017-10-30T00:00:00Z

In October 2016, I self-published the second edition of The Classroom Index—a 224-page racial literacy textbook with a sponsorship from the Princeton University Department of African American Studies and the Princeton Education Foundation, selling 500 copies to 15 states nationwide. The Classroom Index is, foremost, a rich collection of stories from across the nation, aimed at sparking dialogue about race in classrooms. For the teacher, The Classroom Index greatly simplifies the often daunting task of initiating meaningful conversations about race. The textbook has a collection of interviews, combined with the discussion points, that connect a modern context to any historical event, increase participation and interest, and spark compassion as individuals put a topic or event to a real face and story. Each story in the textbook consists of an interview, a photograph of the interviewee, and discussion points that support, refute, or qualify the story with historical or contemporary events and research. The list of tags and corresponding stories makes it simple to choose content relevant to the themes of an educator’s existing lesson plan. Furthermore, stories are color-coded to indicate appropriate age and grade levels—including elementary, middle, and high school. To use this historical/sociological toolkit, first, the teacher picks out a tag related to her lesson plan from the index in the beginning of the textbook. Next, she flips to the corresponding page number next to the tag where a related interview awaits. Not only is finding the interview a speedy process, using it also does not take time away from the teacher’s lesson plan. Since the interview is linked to the lesson plan by theme, it is meant to act as a supplement by simply adding on to the subject at hand. Therefore, the teacher can teach about race while staying on topic with the curriculum. My dream is to make The Classroom Index the leading K-12 social-justice education tool in classrooms nationwide.

Utrecht – Sterrenkijken

2017-10-30T00:00:00Z

“Net als veel andere mensen kijk ik graag naar de sterren. Bij voorkeur vanaf een berg van waar de sterrenhemel overweldigend is. Nu zie ik in Utrecht de mogelijkheid om op een “berg” zonder lantaarnpalen, met minimale lichtvervuiling, toch af en toe naar de sterren te kunnen kijken. De berg ligt in een park, dus lantaarnpalen zijn niet dik gezaaid en staan niet al te dichtbij. Je kunt daar met enige tientallen mensen op de grond zitten of liggen. Er is slechts één klein probleem. De gemeente heeft midden op de berg een lantaarnpaal geplaatst...” Was getekend: Claas Hille. Zijn oplossing? Een schakelaar op de lantaarnpaal om een paar minuten zonder lichtvervuiling naar de sterren te kunnen kijken. Helemaal passend in de Utrechtse sterrenkundetraditie. En een te gek idee. Met de hulp van Awesome Utrecht wist Claas het bij de gemeente voor elkaar te krijgen en kan iedereen vanaf vandaag in het Griftpark naar de sterren kijken. En wij mogen nog meer verwachten van Claas: "Ik ben jullie grootste fan. Dankzij Awesome Utrecht realiseer ik me hoeveel niet uitgevoerde ideeën ik nog heb. En dat heeft lang genoeg geduurd. Ik ga ze nu uitvoeren.” https://www.duic.nl/opmerkelijk/iedereen-kan-nu-de-lantaarnpaal-het-griftpark-uitschakelen/

North Minneapolis, MN – Minnesota Black Authors Expo

2017-10-30T00:00:00Z

Jasmine Boudah approached me about the idea of hosting a Black Author's Expo in North Minneapolis. We both have a strong passion to ensure north Minneapolis residents have the same opportunities to purchase Black literature and to sell it, as other communities. We recognized that other expos don't cater to Black literature and we realized how important and how very necessary it was for us to create our own spaces. Within 30 days we had chosen a date (November 18, 2017) and secured a venue and began advertising. This event will give Black authors an opportunity to sell their books, promote literacy, display their talents, network, and meet other authors. To date, we have secured 26 authors with hopes of having at least 40 authors featured at this event. Author booth rentals have garnered a total of $1975 in funding to offset costs of the event. So far over 205 community members have confirmed attendance. Community members will have a chance to meet, greet, buy books and get them signed from a diverse group of Black authors in the Twin Cities. There will be a wide selection to choose from. Non Fiction, Self Help, Urban Fiction, Christian Fiction, Empowerment, Hip Hop Love Stories, Coming of Age, and Children Books. We will have performances, live readings, and great panel discussions with the authors themselves. This event is free and open to the public. Insight news is providing advertising pro bono, we have several volunteers who have confirmed attendance, and we look forward to being able to fund this event on a larger scale next year. This year we need help. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/minnesota-black-author-expo-all-authors-must-reserve-booths-tickets-36666874609

Newmarket – RAINY DAY YOUTH NEWMARKET PROJECT

2017-10-30T00:00:00Z

The RAINY DAY NEWMARKET CHILDREN’S PROJECT helps children and youth living in Newmarket, address social/emotional/financial devastation caused by their diagnosis of life-threatening illness. Whether it’s through services or funds, we help patients find the silver lining in their fight of their lives. Most people do not know that pediatric patients are at risk of a life-long financial ruin, depression, anxiety and resulting mental health concerns. This project helps prevent such ruin with financial and social/emotional assistance: financial (pays past-due rent, past-due utilities, groceries, hospital parking costs, transportation to get to medical appointments), so the child can recover in their own home; social/emotional (gifts to hospitals and homes to bring smiles and joy back to the child, as they face the scary hospital experience; camp scholarships and backpacks when well enough to attend, to help reconnect with peers and return to a normal play life). Research conducted by the Canadian Cancer Society and Canadian Cancer Action Network discovered the financial impact of a chronic illness: “91% will suffer loss of income or a rise in expenses….For some, a cancer diagnosis begins a financial tailspin that pushes ordinary people over the edge resulting in debt, distress, bankruptcy and even a lifetime on social assistance” (www.cancer.ca/en/get-involved/take-action/what-we-are-doing/financial-hardship-of-cancer-in-canada-mb/?region=mb). The American Psychological Association warns (www.apa.org) of serious social/emotional consequences of pediatric cancer, including anxiety, difficulties with peer relationships and inhibited or withdrawn behaviour. The U.S National Library of Medicine explains “Several programs developed in a summer-camp setting are extant … importance of quality of life when dealing with childhood cancer…quality of life is what the child says it is…play therapy has been shown to be a useful modality …” (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles)

Santa Fe, NM (Неактивен) – Keep Madrid's Pets Healthy

2017-10-29T00:00:00Z

As a small animal mobile veterinarian I have been servicing rural Santa Fe County between Santa Fe and Albuquerque for over 10 years. My services include: vaccinations, dog and cat castrations, light sedation for dental cleaning, wound repairs, hospice care for sick and elderly animals, in home euthanasia, general health exams and education on animal health and welfare. I currently offer low cost visits, examinations, medications, vaccines and minor surgeries to many rural people in my community that might otherwise be inclined to neglect their animals due to financial restraint. I would like to continue to be able to provide every pet owner with an affordable treatment program for their animals and have the ability to complete a satisfactory treatment plan for low income families. I intend to offer discounted services through the use of vouchers for medications, vaccinations, oral care cleaning and products, castrations and minor surgeries such as wound repairs. I would like to propose that I have 50 vouchers of a $20 value to be available over a one year period. A $20 voucher for example, would cover the cost of antibiotics for a cat or dog wound treatment, a vaccine for a cat or dog, a discount on a castration surgery or dental cleaning, or a general health exam.

Alaska (Неактивен) – Unmasking Brain Injury - Alaska 2017

2017-10-29T00:00:00Z

"The mission of Unmasking Brain Injury is to promote awareness of the prevalence of brain injury; to give survivors a voice and the means to educate others of what it’s like to live with a brain injury; to show others that persons living with a disability due to their brain injury are like anyone else, deserving of dignity, respect, compassion and the opportunity to prove their value as citizens in their respective communities." This project is open to anybody with any type of traumatic or acquired brain injury and their family/ loved ones, to make a mask with an explanation of their art, to share what it feels like to live with a brain injury. Photos of the finished masks and explanations are put on the website and people can look at masks and stories from different states and around the world. Masks from Alaska become part of the Alaska exhibit. At exhibits and events, people are invited to share their experiences and raise awareness about brain injury by continuing to be involved in the project if they want to do more than make a mask. Because Alaska is so small and brain injury still has a stigma, participants can use initials or a fake name if they want to share their story but protect their identity. Alaska is the only state out of the 20 participating states with an individual instead of an organization doing this project - this means Alaska is the only state with someone paying out of pocket and volunteering to do this project. We work with groups and organizations to host mask making events, and then the groups can have their name on the project exhibit. We bring the masks and art supplies, and the orgs bring the space and the guest list! This way involvement is low risk/ high reward, and people can use space that already exists, and advertise to their own folks in their area. This project is ongoing.

Oahu, HI – Mokauea Futures

2017-10-27T00:00:00Z

Aloha! Mahalo for your consideration for an awesome project on Mokauea Island. An ahupua‘a is more than a land division encompassing ocean and sky. It is one of Hawai‘i’s greatest resources providing food, energy, and material provisions necessary for culture and life. Today, many groups around Hawai‘i have been focused on rebuilding ahupua‘a starting with fishponds, taro patches, and important historical sites that encompass important sections of ahupua‘a. One of those groups is the Mokauea Fishermen’s Association (MFA), focused on the historical site of Mokauea Island in Ke‘ehi Lagoon (located in the shoal waters of the ahupua‘a of Kalihi between Sand Island and the Honolulu International Airport runway). Although every airplane flies over this site, not many people know about Mokauea Island. Historically, the site was an important place for maritime navigation and astronomical observation, and home to a fishing village surrounded by 41 thriving fishponds. However, since the dredging of the reef during WWII, the construction of the reef runway, the destruction of the 41 fishponds to build the industrial areas of Kalihi, ‘Iwilei, and Sand Island--Mokauea is in critical condition. In efforts to restore the ecology and culture of Mokauea Island, every month MFA brings 150 students to the island by a 15 minute sail in a double-hull canoe to learn about the island, its reef, and the challenges of food production in a sea-level coastal zone. As part of their educational programming, MFA is near completion of a small community center on island. As an artist who is originally from the ‘ili of Mokauea (which extends uplands into the Diamondhead side of Kalihi Valley), I am applying for an Awesome Foundation Grant to build a 3D model of Kalihi Valley that shows Mokauea Island before the reef was dredged and before the fishponds were destroyed. This projection model will be donated to MFA and housed in the community center to strengthen the student’s field trip experience.

Tallahassee, FL (Неактивен) – WeDo Hands-On STEM Robotics

2017-10-27T00:00:00Z

We would like for the Awesome Foundation of Tallahassee to help include a cross-curricular coding and robotics opportunity into Sabal Palm Elementary's Special Area: Technology class. Lego Education offers a robust Robotics solution in WeDo 2.0 that not only allows students to engineer and code robotic creations but also connect to other science disciplines with lessons that also match up with Florida's Educational Standards. Students may investigate the metamorphosis of a frog, examining the life cycle while also creating a robotic demonstration that the students are able to modify into each of the 4 stages. Other projects examine various building models and how they withstand different levels of earthquakes, speed and acceleration, the parts of a flower and pollinators, and more. The WeDo 2.0 set includes the necessary Lego blocks, Smarthub, motors, and sensors for creating the curriculum's Guided and Free Build projects, and employs Lego's WeDo 2.0 software for presenting lesson features, robot schematics, coding principles and instructions, data collection and presentation methods. Lego's purpose for this set is to provide an educational experience that can be classified as "playful learning". After a lesson, our students will walk away from the session with a deeper knowledge of not only coding and robotics experience, but also with real-world scientific knowledge that connects to their life experiences and observations.

Oahu, HI – Water for Nanakuli Boys & Girls Club

2017-10-27T00:00:00Z

Within our organization, an AmeriCorps Volunteer received a donation of a water dispenser from Menehune Water Company. The dispenser was a great contribution to our clubhouse, because without a drinking fountain our kids have a hard time filling hydro-flasks and keeping hydrated. Currently, we have the dispenser and no sustainable way to keep water in the jugs filled for our teens. Without a drinking fountain, or a way to install a drinking fountain, our water dispenser is the most efficient way to keep our teens hydrated after our sports leagues, healthy lifestyle programs, and after school.

Newcastle – Just Like You Dolls

2017-10-26T00:00:00Z

In March this year Jade launched a business that creates a variety or medical devices for dolls. Her daughter Bella (now 5) was born with bilateral congenital hearing loss and has since been implanted with Cochlear Implants. Bella has always loved her dolls and Jade soon noticed her trying to put her own implants onto her dolls. Christmas 2016 she set out to create a doll for Bella that had toy implants. When she opened is Christmas morning she was so excited to see a doll that had 'special ears' just like hers. Jade gifted her friend a doll and it was that moment when she saw the look of pure joy, she knew it was something she had to share with other children. Supported by her husband and father in-law who designs all of the devices, they have started their own business 'Just Like You Dolls' Alllowing customers to customise their medical devices (types and colours) as well as their doll type so that they can finally have a doll 'Just Like Them'. Now they are in the process of trying to get their name out into the community so that they can bring the same joy to as many families as possible.

Twin Cities, MN (Неактивен) – Lighting Up The North End

2017-10-24T00:00:00Z

Awesome Without Borders (Неактивен) – Leadership Institute - ADIMTU

2017-10-23T00:00:00Z

ADIMTU works to unlock the potential of girls in the rural communities of the Mayan highlands to stay in school, direct their own futures, and become leaders in their communities. The Leadership Institute consists of 3 projects: The Life of My Mother, Family Reading Time, and Little Sister. The projects are implemented in the rural Middle Schools of San Pedro Sacatepéquez, San Marcos, Guatemala. These projects build on one another and are implemented sequentially with 7th, 8th, and 9th-grade girls and boys. The Life of My Mother project builds trust and support between mothers and their child, through a yearlong interview that is recorded by the student in a diary of their mother’s life. The Family Reading Time project develops the reading/storytelling skills of students after which they take books home and read them with their parents and siblings building a network to support literacy and staying in school. The My Little Sister project pairs 9th-grade girls with 2nd or 3rd-grade girls that have been identified by their teachers as at risk of dropping out from school. The “big sister” helps the “little sister” with their schoolwork, reviewing school lessons and supporting their reading progress. The “little sisters” see their “big sisters” as role models and examples of success in school, while the “big sisters are able to realize their potential as leaders and change makers in their community. We started to pilot the inclusion of boys in our projects beginning with the mother’s diaries project. This decision was made after listening to feedback from mothers and school officials, looking at how boy's inclusion on girl center projects can further change and realizing that the generations of leaders that were just formed at the Leadership Institute where still living in a “machista” environment. In addition, the school system in the region expressed strong interest in seeing boys included given the positive impacts on school retention and success for girls.

Piqua, OH (Неактивен) – Donation Projects

2017-10-23T00:00:00Z

St. James would like to put up 2 boxes- 1 a little library for anyone walking by to take a book, the 2nd box for non parishable items (ie. soap, deoderant, diapers etc.) for public use as it is needed.

Awesome Without Borders (Неактивен) – Amra Odbhuth Cafe

2017-10-23T00:00:00Z

Founded in May, 2016, Amra Odbhuth Cafe started out as a pet project from a community member's living room where we had community performances and poetry readings, and sold food we made to sustain these events. In January, 2017, we shifted to permanent space. We are a group of LGBTQ youth looking to start a self sustainable community center in Kolkata. We are a one of its kind project in India, and the first to have an official community 'space and cafe' in the country. Our cafe is built in a community model, in that it gives visibility, platform, support and employment to queer artists and individuals. The trans community especially feels that this space is a safe haven which lets them express their gender without feeling threatened. At the moment we function on an event basis, but we have an entire two story home with a terrace, backyard and garage (which we plan on turning into a community store), available. The house is really old, and was uninhabited for almost ten years and is hence falling apart. The core team members have all pitched in monetarily to make it a barely operable space but we have exhausted our means and lack the funds to open this up on a regular basis. Our events so far include poetry nights, drag nights, queer film screenings, community workshops, we've also had a performance by trans poet, Alok Vaid Menon. We hold queer performances at all our events, and raise donations that are used to pay performers for their labor and sustain the space's bills, repair costs etc. Our primary aim is to give the grassroots queer community the means to support themselves through employment, by performing, selling their art etc. We are connected with the community all over the country, including several trans artisan groups in nearby villages and districts who make fabulous accessories, bags, clothes etc. We feel giving them access to a mainstream market space by creating a cafe atmosphere, we will be successful in our long term goals.

Orlando, FL – Nerd Nite Spotlight

2017-10-20T00:00:00Z

"Nerd Nite Spotlight" is an upcoming television program hosted by Ricardo Williams. The production is a collaboration between WUCF-TV and Nerd Nite Orlando that highlights some of Central Florida's best and brightest. All guests on the show are former speakers of Nerd Nite Orlando's monthly event series. The show will air weekly through Central Florida's public broadcasting which serves nearly 4 million viewers across nine counties. "Spotlight" will also be available online. WUCF-TV is Central Florida's PBS station, licensed to the University of Central Florida, serving nearly 4 million viewers across nine counties with award-winning and acclaimed national programming for all ages and local productions that explore our community. Nerd Nite Orlando is an evening of entertaining yet thought-provoking presentations– all while the audience drinks along in a casual atmosphere. Speakers present for 15-20 minutes each on a fascinating subject, often in an uncanny and unconventional way. Nerd Nite has been established in over a hundred cities around the world and has organized special programing for National Geographic, Comic-Con International, The Future is Here Festival, and Maker Faire Orlando, among others.

Kingston – Welcome Home Packages

2017-10-20T00:00:00Z

Here at Home Base Housing we do everything we can to ensure that clients have a place to live. With that being said, it's not just about where the live it's what's inside their new home. People always think about the basics such as; a bed, a couch, a kitchen table, some food. But what about the day-to-day items that are used so frequently but may get forgotten about when it comes to donations? We want to make sure that clients have the best time transitioning into their new homes and will also know how to continue having the best time once Home Base Housing is no longer a key support system in their lives. Our Project is the 'Welcome Home Package'. Home Base Housing staff will purchase items and put it together in a package for the clients to use. In our packages will be cleaning supplies, personal hygiene items, small kitchen items, other useful items that they may not know about and resources to show where the clients can purchases these items when they run out.

Minas Gerais (Неактивен) – Arqueologia Estelar

2017-10-19T00:00:00Z

Arqueologia Estelar é um projeto de arqueologia urbana no casarão do Espaço Comum Luiz Estrela. Serão atividades de busca de vestígios arqueólogicos em cômodos de um abandonado Hospital Psiquiátrico Infantil. A localização, identificação e tratamento desses vestígios visam pesquisas nas áreas de Arqueologia da Medicina, Arqueologia Urbana além de trazer à luz uma história marginal de crianças estigmatizadas e trancafiadas. Uma história que sempre foi abafada seja pelo esquecimento, abandono ou por camadas de poeira. Todos os artefactos encontrados serão tratados e passarão por um processo de curadoria. O Espaço Comum Luiz Estrela tem como objetivo transformar o antigo Hospital em museu onde esses objetos serão expostos a toda sociedade. Serão ministradas oficinas a todo público interessado, totalmente gratuitas, visando a troca de experiências acerca do tema Cultura Material, isto é, sobre o potencial informativo dos vestígios materiais deixados por ocupações e atividades humanas do passado e como as técnicas de Arqueologia podem contribuir para contar histórias que ainda não são conhecidas. Tem como meta divulgar todo o conhecimento produzido e o resultado das pesquisas realizadas no exercício de suas atividades, seja a arqueologia, ou o restauro ou no campo das artes. Todos os profissionais envolvidos neste projeto trabalharão de forma voluntária. Conta com arqueólogos, historiadores, arquitetos, museólogos, restauradores e equipe de audiovisual. A edificação foi inaugurada em 1914 como um Hospital Militar. De 1947 a 1980 funcionou como manicômio infantil. Depois, transformou-se em uma escola para crianças portadoras de necessidades especiais. Em 1994, a edificação foi tombada e abandonada pelo poder público. Dentro de suas paredes, ocorre um processo de reforma, restauro e pesquisa histórica em consonância com os princípios de conservação do patrimônio histórico e de divulgação da memória contida no local. Onde havia concreto, hoje entram luz e ar! ****************** O Espaço Comum Luiz Estrela foi inaugurado em 26 de outubro de 2013, por meio da ocupação de um casarão tombado de Belo Horizonte. Foi ocupado com o objetivo de construir um espaço aberto, autogestionado que recebesse e oferecesse atividades culturais e políticas. O Espaço Comum Luiz Estrela recebe encontros, oficinas, cursos, conversas, apresentações artísticas e uma série de atividades. O Estado formalizou a cessão de uso do imóvel aos seus ocupantes pelo período de 20 anos.

Antigonish, NS (Неактивен) – Random Acts of Kindness - SAJS Style

2017-10-19T00:00:00Z

Now that our Guidance team is formed, we are excited to go forward with this application. Our team is comprised of Grade 7 and 8 students from SAJS who want to make a difference. We want to spend a day making a difference to people in Antigonish. On Thursday, Dec 21nd, our plan is to spend the day performing monetary Random Acts of Kindness. We have divided the money up among 6 different groups / organizations. See below All in one day - one awesome day!

Bend, OR (Неактивен) – You matter signs

2017-10-18T00:00:00Z

My project is to bring more uplifting signs to Bend, signs that encourage people who are suffering from depression and those who want to give up on life to keep going because they matter. While visiting friends in Newberg this summer I noticed signs with encouraging words throughout the community. I inquired about them and learned a woman had designed them in response wanting to help stop the high teen suicide rate in Oregon. I knew I had to bring them to Bend which I did. The response was immediate when a woman texted the creator that the signs in my front yard saved her life. She was ready to give up, saw the signs and felt she mattered. In the month they've been up there have been many positive responses, one man even knocking on my door to say thank you as he suffers from ptsd. Teenagers who thought they were cool were touched by them. The words "don't give up" "you matter" " mistakes don't define you" "you are worthy of love" reach out to hurting people. . To see channel 21 s news coverage go to ktvz.com/news/don't-give-up-campaign-aimed-at-lifting-spirits/614047291. This project has spread across the U.S. and Europe and I believe Bend would be even more awesome if more people were helped because the signs were in more places, reminding us all that we matter.

Ottawa – Growing Futures

2017-10-18T00:00:00Z

October’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to Lucia Eyzaguirre and the Parkdale Food Centre to support the Growing Futures program, which uses hydroponic growing systems to teach primary school children about food and financial literacy, as well as to give them a taste of entrepreneurship. “Growing Futures' goal,” explains Lucia, “is to foster a more physically and financially resilient next generation, leaving food insecurity in the past.” The program now has more than 40 hydroponic systems in schools, community centres, and community houses — each partnered with a local business owner. The award from Awesome Ottawa will be spent on a new blender bike. “This past summer,” Lucia continues, “one of our volunteers rigged up a blender bike so we could make use of frozen greens the kids had grown and couldn't sell. We created green smoothies and sold them at the NCC Sunday Bike Days. Our bike is falling apart, so we would love to get a new one and keep having wonderful conversations with the people that buy our green smoothies, spreading awareness of what Growing Futures does and the kind of impact we have had and hope to have.” Lucia is a recent graduate of the Entrepreneurship Acceleration program at Algonquin College, and the administrative assistant for Growing Futures.

Yerevan – Առողջանոց տիկնիկաթերապևտիկ նախագիծ

2017-10-18T00:00:00Z

Նորից մենք)) Ներկայացնում ենք «Առողջանոց» տիկնիկային նախագիծը: Նախագիծն իրենից ներկայացնում է տիկնիկային թերապիայի հանդիպումներ հիվանդանոցներում ստացիոնար բուժում ստացող երեխաների համար: Նպատակը:Օգնել ստացիոնար բուժում ստացող երեխաներին հաղթահարել հիվանդանոցային իրավիճակի հետ կապված հոգեբանական և ֆիզիկական անհարմարավետությունը ու տագնապայնությունը, ինչպես նաև ուղղակի ուրախացնել նրանց: Ինչպես: Ցանկանում ենք տիկնիկների հետ միասին այցելել երեխաներին: Տիկնիկները իրենց հետ կանցնեն որոշ բժշկական պրոցեդուրաներ խաղի միջոցով: Երեխաները կկարողանան սրսրկել տիկնիկներին, անել վիրակապեր, «վիրահատեն» նրանց: Ինչպես նաև պարզ բժշկական պարագաներից կպարտրաստենք հետաքրքիր իրեր: Ում: Նախատեսում ենք այցելել օնկոլոգիական հիվանդություններ, տուբերկուլոզով հիվանդ, ինչպես նաև ֆիզիկական հաշմանդամություն ունեցող երեխաների: Ամեն հիվանդանոց այցելելիս ծրագիրը կփոխվի՝ կախված երեխաների հիվանդությունների առանձնահատկություններից: Ձևը: Անցակցման ձևը կլինի ինչպես անհատական , այնպես էլ խմբային մակարդակով: Անահատական ասելով ի նկատի ունենք, որ տիկնիկները կայցելեն հիվանդասենյակներ, կխաղան իրենց հետ, կզրուցեն, «բժշկական պրոցեդուրաներ կանցնեն»: Խմբային մակարդակով տիկնիկները երեխաների հետ կխաղան, կանցնեն այնպիսի պրոցեդուրաներ, որոնց միջով երեխաներն են անցնում, և ամենակարևորը, երեխները հանդես կգան բժշկի դերից, իսկ տիկնիկները հիվանդների: Տիկնիկները: Նախատեսում ենք կարել մեծ տիկնիկներ՝ կենդանիների կերպարներով, բայց երեխաների չափերի, որպեսզի երեխաները տիկնիկի հետ հավասար հարթության մեջ գտնվեն: Տիկնիկները կլինեն ինտերակտիվ, այսինքն՝ շարժվող բերանով, ձեռքերով և ոտքերով, կլինեն հագնված, այնպես, ինչպես սովորական երեխաները: Մենք նախատեսում ենք ունենալ երեք տիպի տիկնիկներ, որոնք կունենան առանձնահատկություններ (օրինակ, ֆիզիկական հաշմանդամություն, մազերի առրայություն կամ բացակայություն, հանվող վերջույթներ):

Yerevan – ՆորՇենԼաբ

2017-10-18T00:00:00Z

Արցախի Նորշենի դպրոցում սովորում է 54 աշակերտ: Կրթության մեջ նորարար մոտեցումների ներմուծման և կրթական գործընթացն ինտերակտիվ ու հետաքրքիր կազմակերպելու համար ցանկանում եմ ինձ հանձնված ֆիզիկայի դասասենյակը կահավորել հետևյալ ձևով. Դասասենյակում՝ սեղանների վրա կտեղադրվեն վահանակներ, որոնք ամենաառաջինը սեղմած աշակերտը հնարավորություն կստանա հնչեցված հարցին առաջինը պատասխանելու: Վահանակները հաղորդակցվելու են ռադիոկապի միջոցով: Ուսուցչի մոտ տեղադրված վերահսկման վահանակի լամպերի վառվող լույսերով պարզ կլինի առաջինն արձագանքած աշակերտը: Ունենալու ենք նաև գնահատման վահանակ, որում կերևա յուրաքանչյուր աշակերտի ցուցանիշն ըստ իր պատասխանած հարցերի քանակի: Հենց այս գնահատականներն էլ անցկացվելու են դասամատյանում: Գաղափարի իրականացումը ոչ միայն դասավանդման գործընթացն ինտերակտիվ կազմակերպելու հնարավորություն կտա, այլև հնարավոր կլինի կազմակերպել արտաժամյա մրցույթներ և խաղեր: Քանի որ ինքս Նորշենի դպրոցի ֆիզիկայի ուսուցիչն եմ, ուստի ռադիոկապն ու կառավարման վահանակներն օգտագործելու եմ նաև ուսումնական գործընթացի դասաժամերին կիրառական փորձարկումներ իրականացնելու համար: Նշված համակարգը հավաքվելու ենք Նորշենի բոլոր դպրոցականների մասնակցությամբ, ինչը նույնպես կրթական բաղադրիչ է աշակերտների համար: