Awesome Foundation - Projects

Newburgh, NY – Imaginatin Play Blocks for Newburgh!

2025-05-07T00:00:00Z

Our project aims to create a community-shared collection of imagination play blocks for children in Newburgh particularly used for the community Newburgh Pride family tent hosted by Safe Harbors and the Newburgh Pride Committee in June of this year! As the director of a small but might Montessori preschool Little Friends Learning Loft, I believe play is a FUNDAMENTAL right of children! Decades of research have demonstrated the wide benefits of self-directed play for children's mental and physical well-being and development. These benefits extend to improved literacy rates, healing from trauma, stronger community ties, and social engagement. Whatever successes we wish for our Newburgh children, play can help achieve them. These large, lightweight foam blocks will be available for community borrowing, enabling children to build, connect, and create endless possibilities at multiple venues: our local farmers market at Safe Harbors on the Green, the family tent we're hosting at Newburgh Pride, storytimes at local bookstores, and even birthday parties. By housing these blocks locally, we're creating a centralized resource that organizations and families can access, transforming imaginative play into a community asset rather than something limited to those who can afford expensive materials. In defense of play as a fundamental right, we're creating a resource that promotes self-directed creativity for all children. This project is fundamentally about defending children's right to open play in an increasingly structured world. Basically, play is the ROCKET FUEL for brain development!

Sydney – NoteWorthy

2025-05-07T00:00:00Z

**NoteWorthy** is a simple, joyful initiative designed to build stronger, kinder communities by encouraging small acts of connection in everyday moments. The concept is easy: community members write thoughtful, uplifting messages on colourful heart-shaped stickers. These stickers are then shared — placed on someone’s coffee cup, takeaway bag, or other small items at local cafés and businesses — spreading surprise moments of positivity and kindness. By partnering with local cafés, and small businesses, this project simultaneously supports local enterprise and nurtures social connection. Each note has the power to brighten someone’s day, create a ripple of goodwill, and remind people they belong to a caring community. Our approach actively involves volunteers, and community members in crafting and distributing the messages, making it an inclusive, accessible initiative for all ages and backgrounds. Importantly, NoteWorthy fosters intergenerational and cross-cultural engagement, reducing loneliness and strengthening community ties. With your support, we will cover the costs of printing stickers, supplying materials, and promoting the project widely to involve as many participants and local businesses as possible. We aim to distribute thousands of notes across Hornsby and surrounding areas, generating measurable increases in social connection, local business engagement, and community wellbeing. We already operate another program, called the **SideWalk Talk**, where we put chairs out in Hornsby mall once a month and using volunteers trained in heart-centred listening to sit and listen. As part of this initiative we put a table out with an opportunity to either take or write a note, so this is an extension of something we have been running for a few months now. This small, but powerful, initiative embodies grassroots kindness in action — accessible, scalable, and designed to make everyone feel valued and connected.

Newmarket – BRAVE

2025-05-01T00:00:00Z

BRAVE Friday May 30 2025: The Salvation Army, at our location at Northridge Community Church, will be hosting a BRAVE event where we expect upwards to 100 girls aged 12 – 16 and volunteers to attend. Sponsors are needed to support the event financially as well as door prize items. BRAVE is an evening event to remind girls that they are valuable and worth being celebrated. There is an encouragement for them dream big for what their future can be. Our goal is to give them a boost of confidence and self-esteem and inspire them to be brave. BRAVE intentionally reaches vulnerable girls (foster care/probation/sexual abuse/divorce) who are at risk of human trafficking. BRAVE sees empowerment as the GOAL. We want girls to be strong and free. BRAVE celebrates diversity—all colors, shapes & sizes! BRAVE connects the community and the local church to work together. BRAVE believes girls are the solution not the problem Girls will be invited to attend the event from all across York Region. Referring sources will be from York Region CAS and other girl specific community programs as well as local churches. Information about BRAVE can be found on our church website as well as the international website: https://braveglobal.org/ https://www.northridgesa.com/brave

Ottawa – Messages from Ottawa / Elbows Up

2025-04-30T00:00:00Z

April’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to Velvet LeClair to support political art using papier mâché and cardboard. “One of my talents is making masks or heads of politicians,” explains Velvet, “and I have been known to wear my art to make statements and raise awareness about various issues.” “The #teslatakedown movement has arrived in Ottawa,” she continues, “and the participants have enjoyed my most recent performance. I dressed up like Donald Trump and danced like him for the crowd. They appreciated the art, the fun, and the subversive style. I am currently finishing up an Elon Musk mask and his child, X.” “My goal,” says Velvet, “is to make memes for social media to show an Ottawa reaction to all the craziness right now. Our country needs to be uplifted and united, and using art as a way to bridge a connection with the alt-right is needed. We also need to connect with the American people.” “I’ve already made at least 25 papier mâché masks of politicians. This funding will help me invest in the art supplies and teach other people the skills behind making art out of garbage.” Velvet describes herself as a middle-aged single mom who runs a home daycare. “I started making political art as a hobby when I was separating from my son’s father,” she says. “It was part of my healing journey and helped me through a difficult time. Over the years my hobby has become a coping mechanism for dealing with this world.”

Rhode Island – Cambodian Krama Project

2025-04-30T00:00:00Z

The Cambodian krama, a traditional checkered scarf of many uses, holds complex cultural, historical, and personal significance for Cambodians cross-nationally. The krama has been a symbol of identity, community, resilience, and cultural continuity. In December 2024, the krama was added to UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This project will highlight the cultural and historical significance of the krama through portraits of, and oral history interviews with, individuals who continue to wear the krama in Providence, RI and its neighboring cities. As 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the Cambodian Genocide, this project not only celebrates identity and fosters relationships in Cambodian community, but also encourages the general public to engage with Cambodian history. The Cambodian Krama Project will be a visually and emotionally impactful exploration of Cambodian identity, culture and resilience.

Washington, DC – The Calvert Street Loop

2025-04-28T00:00:00Z

The Calvert Street Loop, named after a local bus line, is a printed quarterly neighborhood magazine conceived by a few residents interested in a creative project to bring our neighborhood closer together. Our neighborhood—more specifically the three streets of Calvert Street NW, Biltmore Street NW, and Cliffbourne Place NW—is one full of interesting people of all ages, and yet, thanks to Washington’s fast pace and transient culture, these are people that know very little about one another. Our solution is simple: a small local publication full of interviews, histories, artwork, poems, classifieds, restaurant recommendations, recipes, advice, and crosswords, printed and distributed four times a year. Our goal is to build community connections through light-hearted and informative pieces written for and by the neighbors that we live amongst, and it appears that many residents are interested—this idea has already generated some real excitement in the neighborhood, and we believe that a grant from the Awesome Foundation would enable our idea to pick up steam. We have printed our first edition (photos attached) through the generous financial backing of a single committed neighbor, but in the interest of not relying on such donations in perpetuity we are turning to the Awesome Foundation for their support of our next editions!

Gloucester, MA – screen dream

2025-04-24T00:00:00Z

at our mens sober home, we are trying to put wifi, bluetooth screens in the guests bedrooms. this would allow guests to be able to do such things as virtual outpatient programs, video therapy, log into virtual classes, etc from the privacy of their rooms, and also be able to connect their headphones via bluetooth to not disturb possible roomates

Gloucester, MA – Fiesta Games

2025-04-24T00:00:00Z

Fiesta as you all know is about traditions, From the Greasy Pole to the blessing of the fleet we hold these close to our hearts each year. There is another tradition: the children's fiesta games, these games happen on Saturday and Sunday on Beach Court down the fort. Pie/watermelon eating contests, egg toss and pinatas. The Children get trophies and it is truly a family affair.

Chicago, IL – Made in Chicago Literary Fun Run Tour + Q&A

2025-04-22T00:00:00Z

Read & Run Chicago uses movement and stories to explore our city by hosting events with book-themed guided runs where the story takes place, followed by Q&As with local authors. On November 9, 2025, we’re hosting a six-mile guided running tour through Chicago’s Avalon Park, Chatham, and Greater Grant Crossing neighborhoods on the South Side in partnership with authors Monica Eng and David Hammond inspired by their book, Made in Chicago: Stories Behind 30 Great Hometown Bites. Along the route, we’ll stop at four local eateries and learn about their history and their iconic South Side creations like Jim Shoe, steak and lemonade, and more. After the route, we’ll end with an author discussion with Monica and David and a taste-testing at the Chicago Public Library Avalon Branch. This event will be free and open to the public with a capacity of 80 runners. The goal is to bring people from all over the Chicagoland area to the South Side to run together in a neighborhood few tourists and visitors go to, and also use the story and food to celebrate the people and businesses of this area.

Yerevan – «ԼՈւՔ at Me»

2025-04-22T00:00:00Z

"ԼՈւՔ at Me" – Գյումրին՝ Հումորով Լցնելու Նախագիծ Պատկերացրեք՝ քայլում եք Գյումրու փողոցներով, և հանկարծ տեսնում եք ոչ թե սովորական մոխրագույն դիտահորերի կափարիչներ, այլ վառ գույներով նկարազարդված,հայտնի անեկդոտներով զվարճալի կոմիքսապատ կափարիչներ։Մեր "ԼՈւՔ at Me" նախագիծը հենց այդ է՝ փոխել սովորական դիտահորերի կափարիչները արվեստի և հումորի յուրահատուկ համադրությամբ:Գյումրին միշտ եղել է Հայաստանի ամենահումորային և մշակութային քաղաքը, որտեղ մարդիկ նույնիսկ դժվարությունների ժամանակ չեն կորցրել իրենց կատակելու ունակությունը: Սակայն այսօր, թեպետ գյումրեցիները շատ կատակասեր են, կյանքի տարբեր դժվարությունների մեջ նրանք հաճախ մոռանում են ժպտալու մասին։ Մենք ուզում ենք դա փոխել՝ քաղաքի փողոցներում ավելացնելով արվեստ ու հումոր, որը մարդկանց կհիշեցնի ժպիտի ուժի մասին:Ի՞նչ ենք առաջարկում Դիտահորերի կափարիչները երկար տարիներ պարզապես տեխնիկական նշանակություն են ունեցել՝ փակելով մուտքը քաղաքի կոյուղային համակարգերին և էլեկտրական լարերին։ Սակայն աշխարհում շատ երկրներ, ինչպես օրինակ Ճապոնիան, ԱՄՆ-ն, Գերմանիան և Իռլանդիան, սկսեցին օգտագործել դրանք որպես փողոցային արվեստի տարր, դարձնելով քաղաքներն ավելի գունեղ ու ինքնատիպ: Գյումրին, լինելով ոչ միայն մշակույթի, այլև հումորի մայրաքաղաք, պետք է ունենա իր սեփական՝ կոմիքսային փողոցային արվեստը։ Մենք ուզում ենք նկարազարդել քաղաքի դիտահորերի կափարիչները Գյումրվա ամենահայտնի անեկդոտներով և սուր հումորով, դարձնելով դրանք քաղաքի յուրահատուկ խորհրդանիշներ: Յուրաքանչյուր կափարիչ կունենա գունեղ կոմիքս, Գյումրվա բարբառով կարճ զրույց կամ սուր հումորային արտահայտություն, որը ստիպելու է մարդկանց նայել ներքև, ժպտալ ու հիշել Գյումրու ուրախ ոգին: Ինչո՞ւ է սա կարևոր Արվեստի ու հումորի համադրություն– Դիտահորերը կդառնան փողոցային արվեստի գործեր, որոնք կհիշեցնեն մարդկանց ժպտալու մասին:Տուրիստական գրավչություն – Գյումրին արագ զարգացող տուրիստական կենտրոն է, և այս նկարազարդումները կլինեն գունեղ ֆոտոանկյուններ, որոնք գրավիչ կլինեն զբոսաշրջիկների համար: Տեղական մշակույթի պահպանում – Նախագիծը կօգնի պահպանել ու տարածել Գյումրվա մշակույթը։Կստեղծվի թվային քարտեզ։

Newmarket – Huron Heights Jazz Band at MusicFest Canada

2025-04-22T00:00:00Z

The Huron Heights Secondary School Jazz Band is an exciting, high energy performing ensemble from Newmarket. In 2024, the band earned multiple gold awards at regional music festivals, and finished their festival season with a silver award at the MusicFest Canada national festival. With the help of the Awesome Project, the band is hoping for another shot at gold on the national stage.

Kingston – Accessible Seating for Outdoor Performance

2025-04-17T00:00:00Z

Each summer dance enthusiasts gather to watch professional dance while overlooking the beautiful water at Lake Ontario Park. The Ground Up Dance Festival has received outstanding reviews for the artistic experience we provide in our outdoor performance event. Over two nights the community of Kingston packs their camping chairs, and blankets to sit on the hill and stairs at Lake Ontario Park to enjoy live performances. However this year instead of everyone sitting on the grass, we want to upgrade our audience's viewing experience and provide a section of chairs that can enable accessible and safe seating closer to the performance area. Providing accessible art experiences is one of our main platforms. Our community have diverse needs, therefore we want to make sure we are providing diverse viewing experiences. This annual performance is becoming a highlight of the festival scene in Kingston, and we want to make sure the community has the desire to come back year after year. We have about 200 people each night. A mix of families, children, and mature adults gathering. We believe that if we were able to provide a section of comfortable seating that we could access another group of art going viewers that wouldn’t originally come because of the sitting circumstances. We work with the City of Kingston to utilize non traditional performance areas as gathering places for art. This funding would ensure that we can continue to explore the beautiful outdoor facilities that span our city like parks, squares, waterfront, and gazebo areas. The seating situation has been our major concern regarding this major part of the festival. However the art funding we receive is stipulated to go towards mainly artist fees, therefore leaving little room for production equipment. This is why we are seeking further funding from our community.

Cass Clay – Writing Your Story: Especially in Days of Turmoil

2025-04-15T00:00:00Z

I would hold four writing workshops free of charge for participants. We would start with how to move from idea stage to the page and then each week would build on that work. Participants would experience a variety of instruction, open writing time, peer critique opportunities, and writing guidance from myself. We all have stories inside of us. How can we get those to the page so they can not only help us make sense of the world, but our words can inspire others! The four sessions would each be two hours long, with an option for extended time for those interested in doing more. All I would need is a location. All other supplies would be provided.

Ipswich, MA – Ipswich Hurling

2025-04-15T00:00:00Z

Ipswich currently has a number of fun pick-up games going on around the town. For example, pick-up futsal, pickleball and ping-pong at town hall. There is also pick-up soccer at Pony Express and Bialek. I am looking to add pick-up hurling to the mix. I would lead the clinics. All are welcome, regardless of age or any other perceived barrier. If numbers are very high, we could create a youth clinic and an adult clinic. Beyond that, there is potential to grow into teams that play in leagues against other teams in Massachusetts. The clinics would take place at Pony Express, Ipswich High School, Bialek Park, or at any willing provider. They would be in the evening, for an hour or two, between 5 and 8 pm, depending on light and the time of the year. The game of hurling comes from Ireland. It is the national sport of Ireland. It can be compared to lacrosse and field hockey, in that every player has a stick and the ball is the size of a baseball. The benefits of such a clinic are physical, social, mental and cultural. It's a tried and tested program in many American towns already. Participants have usually never heard of the sport at all and it opens up a whole new world of culture from a different part of the world. In this case, it can start conversations about peace between communities, traditional music, local cuisine and much more. The coaching is voluntary. I am a middle school PE teacher and I also have coached different sports for over 20 years, including hurling.

Santa Cruz, CA – Native Arts Market

2025-04-14T00:00:00Z

My plan is to offer a market of Native American/Indigenous to the Americas artisans, including myself. I’m hoping to have 6-10 other Native vendors who create traditional and contemporary art and craft. In this category there are few events that are focused on Native American and Indigenous arts in this community. This market would serve the purpose of supporting indigenous artists as well as offering the community the opportunity to experience and learn about this culture and it's art. This county offers few opportunities in this cultural category. I believe the community would greatly welcome an event like this. It will be free and open to the public and appropriate for all ages. Plan to have on June 21 of this year outdoors at The Farm at Lavender Hill in Aptos from 12-6pm. Due to my experience in publicity and the publication industry, local papers have expressed interest in giving my event free coverage, which will compliment any paid advertising. They are interested because no one has planned a market like this. I will also be posting the event on several social media sites and online event websites.

Dragon Dreaming – Dragon Dreaming International Website

2025-04-13T00:00:00Z

The website and platform www.DragonDreaming.org serves to inform people who want to learn about Dragon Dreaming as well as connect people who want to practice Dragon Dreaming or hire a trainer or facilitator. But in the future we want to be an interactive online platform that supports and connects Dragon Dreaming enthusiasts and practitioners around the world to run meaningful, impactful projects. At the moment the international website is simple with basic information about Dragon Dreaming. We pay 62.50 € per month for basic maintenance and 3€ per month to keep the server running. Full transparency over the cost and current budget are published on OpenCollective (https://opencollective.com/dragon-dreaming-intl-website-and-platform) In 2019 already, we defined a project scope with steps on how to create a new website for the international Dragon Dreaming community (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1spsqX5OrL_VSFyvqYZcr6epnRG3fsIunR1RllxosxM4/edit?usp=drivesdk). Also, We would like to see the website being sustainably funded, with a buffer to react to development requests from the community. **How will you use the money?** We will use the money to pay fair and ethical wages for website maintenance and development. We will run an online Dragon Dreaming process to determine the website and platform needs (celebrating and dreaming), to then move into planning (including budgeting). With the money we receive, and if still sufficient after the Dragon Dreaming process, we will fund select website developments that enhance the current website experience to serve better the community's needs. **Tell us a little about yourself** Friederike has been a Dragon Dreaming practitioner since 2012 and Dragon Dreaming trainer since 2013. With background in engineering, she learned facilitation with and from Manuela Bosch, Angel Hernandez, Florian Müller, Ulrike Reimann and John Croft. Since 2018 she has worked on creating the legal and financial infrastructure for the international Dragon Dreaming website to be owned and supported by the community. **Apart from the money, how else can the broader Dragon Dreaming community help you?** The broader Dragon Dreaming community could help by facilitating the process of creating a website that serves the needs of the international Dragon Dreaming community, starting with celebrating what was, is, and is not. And continuing with facilitating the dreaming, planning and doing within the international Dragon Dreaming community. **Amount funded**: US$ 750 🫶🏽 **Contribute monthly to the Dragon Dreaming website expenses**: https://dragondreaming.org/donation/ 🫶🏽 **Contribute monthly to the Dragon Dreaming Community Fund**: https://opencollective.com/dragon-dreaming-intl-website-and-platform/projects/dragon-dreaming-community-fund

San Jose, CA – Queer Craft Night

2025-04-11T00:00:00Z

I am partnering with the Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center to put on a twice-monthly craft and sewing club at my studio in San Jose. We will invite members of the queer community, and anyone who wants to learn to sew and spend time with other people. We are fighting against holes in clothes and holes in our social fabric! Coming together and learning a new skill is our way of fighting the loneliness epidemic. Sewing is a useful activity, one that can lead to job opportunities, entrepreneurship, community engagement, art and DIY skills that help individuals and families. More than just learning to sew, it will create a free third space and connect people through art. It would be easier for me to do free community projects if I had sewing machines I could dedicate to student use, and not have the ones I use for my business possibly tied up in repairs. Student machines are also simpler to use and easier to transport. My space has a parking lot, ADA accessible entrance and is close to a variety of mass transit. I will also use the machines as a mobile classroom to take with me to the DeFrank Center and other venues. I hope to create a fully mobile classroom setup eventually and reach out to interim housing centers, retirement homes and more.

St. Paul, MN – Period Poverty in St.Paul

2025-04-10T00:00:00Z

Congratulations to our April 2025 grantee Period Poverty in St. Paul. We are proud to partner with Darartu Doto to provide personal hygiene kits to people experiencing poverty and homelessness in St. Paul. According to Darartu, Did you know that period poverty is a global issue and closer to home than we think? I didn’t—at least not at first. Growing up in Ethiopia, period poverty was everywhere, and I thought it was a challenge unique to underserved areas in developing countries. But when I started Bilisummaa, a nonprofit focused on menstrual health education and providing hygiene products to students in Ethiopia, I had a wake-up call. Period poverty doesn’t stop at borders—it’s right here too! To my surprise, my hometown of St. Paul, Minnesota, faces similar struggles. I learned that many organizations supporting those experiencing homelessness and poverty run out of essential hygiene products, including menstrual supplies. Their tight budgets are focused on covering immediate needs like housing, food, and education. The fantastic staff and volunteers pour their hearts into their work but often share how difficult it is to meet even basic menstrual health needs. That got me thinking—why stop at Ethiopia? Why not expand Bilisummaa’s mission to tackle period poverty here at home? Imagine this: by giving period kits to local shelters and organizations, we’d not only help them save money but also let them focus on other significant needs for the people they support. And the best part? We’d break the stigma around periods and turn menstrual health into something empowering instead of something to feel embarrassed about. I want to team up with St. Paul organizations to ensure that no one has to choose between a meal or buying tampons because they lack access to hygiene products. Together, we can rewrite the narrative on menstruation and prove that periods should never hold anyone back. From Ethiopia to St. Paul and beyond, let’s make period poverty history and create a world where everyone can succeed—period.

Ann Arbor, MI – Inclusive Music and Dance Therapy Project

2025-04-09T00:00:00Z

We are seeking funding to partner with Open Spot Theater to create a unique opportunity for our participants to learn about the theater and showcase their talents through a community performance. This project will allow individuals with developmental disabilities to engage in a creative process, develop new skills, and experience the joy and empowerment of expressing themselves through theater- without any financial barriers to participation. Open Spot theater is a unique Theater experience that began in 2012 in Metro Detroit. The company was created on the idea that performing arts should be accessible to ALL people. Open Spot allows its actors to be fully included in the planning process. This is perfect because our participants will be able to help pick songs, form plotlines, and choose characters based on their own skills and abilities. Often, our feelings and thoughts are kept in the body as forms of positive and negative energy. Individuals with disabilities sometimes struggle to articulate these feelings and are typically not given the resources to express these emotions. Song and dance are safe ways in which our members can participate in therapeutic practices to assist them in releasing built up energy rather than suppressing it.

Newburgh, NY – Gloop Collage: a free public collage workshop

2025-04-09T00:00:00Z

In conjunction with my exhibition at ADS Gallery in Newburgh called Gloop Entity, I will be hosting a free collage-making workshop for the public. My work in the show uses collage techniques, so I’m excited to share this hands-on creative process with the community. The workshop will take place the first weekend in June in the courtyard outside the gallery. Using nature images from old magazines, this is an all-ages and all-abilities workshop that will teach Newburgh residents the basics of photo-based collage. We will explore imagery of forests, fungi, flowers, space, and oceans to deepen our understanding and love of the natural world. We will work in a tactile, playful way. Cutting shapes, layering images, and combining images will reveal new, unexpected visions of our earth and cosmos. Ethically foraged natural materials will also be available for those interested in making mixed media collage. Participants will go home with one (or several) of their own collage creations on 11"x14" board. Complimentary food and drinks will be served. Appropriate for all ages and abilities (ages 5+). *Since applying with this project for the first time in March, I’ve spoken with two trustees and integrated their feedback into this version of the application.*

Newburgh, NY – Outdoor Promise Adventure Bus

2025-04-09T00:00:00Z

Outdoor Promise is a community-rooted organization that brings people from Newburgh into the outdoors through free hikes, paddling trips, and other adventures in nature. We believe everyone deserves access to clean air, beautiful landscapes, and the peace that time in nature brings. However, one of the biggest barriers for many families, schools, and individuals in Newburgh is transportation. That’s why we created the Outdoor Promise Bus, a bright green symbol of access and opportunity. With the bus, we transport people to incredible places like Crystal Lake, regional trails, and other scenic destinations across the Hudson Valley. These trips are more than just a chance to explore. They’re about learning, connection, and joy. We build in environmental education, team-building, and nature stewardship, led by trained guides and educators. We’ve seen firsthand how these experiences can change lives, especially for young people who have never been in a forest or paddled a canoe. Everything we do is free to participants. We remove financial and logistical barriers so more residents of Newburgh can feel the benefits of nature. We aim to create a culture where the outdoors is for everyone and our community feels empowered to care for and enjoy the environment.

San Francisco, CA – hub

2025-04-08T00:00:00Z

hub is an exhibition series housed inside a cargo trailer, transforming this unconventional space into a mobile art gallery and educational platform. In collaboration with local artist and curator Nathan Kosta, we aim to bring art directly to various Bay Area communities, democratizing access to art and fostering creative dialogue. By curating exhibitions and film screenings that move between cities like San Francisco, Oakland, and beyond, hub seeks to break the traditional gallery mold. This approach encourages public participation, giving audiences the chance to experience contemporary art in unexpected, community-centered spaces. The program also offers interactive elements such as artist talks, educational workshops, and collaborative projects designed to spark engagement and deepen understanding. Our focus is to create an environment where artists, students, and the public can freely exchange ideas and experiences. hub and curated video screenings projected onto the side of the trailer to expand the art’s reach. Through hub, we challenge the boundaries of space and access, offering new platforms for emerging artists to showcase their work. At the heart of hub is community cohesion and playful experimentation as our moving art platform, hub, allows site-specific works. As artists, we intentionally aim to push the boundaries of what’s expected of mobile art spaces, embracing the unpredictable and new experiments. This is where creativity meets collaboration, offering a unique experience that embodies the spirit of free expression and civic participation. hub also aims to elevate conversations about environmental impact by making art travel, rather than creating new venues, and using sustainable materials in the trailer design. Through this project, we are making art more approachable and accessible, creating a fun and inclusive space for all.

Durham, NC – Beauty in Cancer

2025-04-07T00:00:00Z

I recently started working with cancer patients thru Duke Cancer Center. I’ve learned so much about what treatment looks like. Unfortunately many women struggle with losing hair and self image all around. The complexion and texture of their skin often change. I’d love to offer makeup lessons and beauty appointments thru a local cancer support group I recently connected with.

Conservation and Climate – Ocean Monitoring wth SmartBuoys & Community Action

2025-04-03T00:00:00Z

Ocean health is a global crisis affecting livelihoods, biodiversity, and climate stability. While advanced technologies exist to monitor ocean data in developed countries, coastal nations like Ghana need more affordable tools to track critical ocean metrics. REEFlect (https://reeflect.org), a youth-driven organization has developed Smart Buoys, with sensors that collect real-time data on pH levels, salinity, temperature, and wave patterns. In partnership with Clean Ocean Project Ghana (COPGH), a grassroots NGO focused on environmental conservation and youth education, this project will deploy Smart Buoys along Ghana’s coastline. The real-time data collected will support critical sectors such as marine conservation, climate monitoring, fisheries management, and maritime operations. To maximize impact, the data will be shared with local research institutions, government ministries, and agencies to enhance marine ecosystem monitoring and climate resilience efforts. Additionally, COPGH will organize beach cleanups and educational durbars, raising awareness among local communities about ocean health and conservation. This initiative not only bridges technology and community action but also strengthens Ghana's capacity to protect its waters.

Conservation and Climate – Psychological First Aid for Animal Defenders

2025-04-03T00:00:00Z

Climate change is causing more frequent and intense disasters—wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and extreme heat waves. These events not only devastate ecosystems but also displace and endanger countless animals. In every crisis, animal defenders—rescuers, shelter workers, veterinarians—step up to save lives, often in highly stressful and emotionally overwhelming conditions. However, while they dedicate themselves to protecting animals, their own mental health is neglected. The combination of extreme stress, trauma exposure, and lack of psychological support leads to burnout, compassion fatigue, and emotional exhaustion, threatening their ability to continue their lifesaving work. To address this, we will develop a short digital course on Psychological First Aid (PFA) specifically for volunteers animal rescuers responding to climate-related crises. This course will provide practical, easy-to-apply mental health tools to help them manage stress, process trauma, and build emotional resilience during emergencies. By providing immediate, science-backed psychological tools, this initiative will not only support individual rescuers but also help build stronger, healthier climate response networks. This pilot project will serve as the foundation for expanding mental health training programs for animal defenders.

Sydney – StreetKind.co Outreach Program

2025-04-02T00:00:00Z

We (StreetKind.co) are a small harm prevention charity that commenced in 2022 and is managed by volunteers. Although small, we are creating a quiet but mighty impact through our outreach program with over 15,000 people assisted to date. Our program is significant because through the course of our core work we are also able to de-escalate violence, prevent theft, sexual assault and a variety of injuries. Every Friday and Saturday night in Sydney, we operate a pop-up safe base and roving outreach program 10pm to 3.30am, that supports persons who are vulnerable for a variety of reasons and provide mechanisms to reconnect with family and friends: phone charging, water, first aid, mental health first aid, footwear, welfare checks. If alone, we escort them safely to transport or local accommodation to give them a chance to sober up. 75% of people we support are 18-25 and the remaining 25% can be anywhere from <18 up to 70 years of age. Our deck chairs that we use in the Safe Bases have reached end of life. We have repaired them a number of times. We've some sets of Bunnings deck chairs to keep us going but these are not long lasting. A good quality deck chair can cost $200-250. The $1,000 grant would enable us to replace the deck chairs for one site with good quality chairs that will be reliable weekend to weekend.

Newcastle – Newy Repair Cafe - Repair Rebellion

2025-04-02T00:00:00Z

Our Repair Cafe is launching as a weekly event starting 26th April at The Full Circle Collective, a circular economy hub located at 437 Hunter Street. The space is fully equipped with benches, a basic sewing machine, a heavy-duty sewing machine and overlocker, as well as a selection of tools and consumables to facilitate clothing and textile repairs or alterations. We have enlisted the skills of a local sewist and are actively working to enlist repairers who specialise in small electronics, furniture, and toy repairs to further expand the initiative. We have also secured funding to pay for their services. This initiative is grounded in the principles of circular economy, offering the community free repair services to extend the life of their belongings and reduce waste. It’s more than just fixing—it’s about education and empowerment. By encouraging attendees to participate in the repair process, our repairers will be giving them hands-on experience and the opportunity to gain skills in mending and upcycling, while promoting and nurturing a culture of reuse and resourcefulness across the community. To make our weekly Repair Cafes even more engaging, we plan to introduce screen printing as a creative way to upcycle or repurpose damaged items. Using an Australian-made, sustainability-focused DIY screen-printing kit, participants will have the opportunity to refresh stained or worn-out textiles with new, personalised designs. To enhance this activity, we are wanting to purchase a Cricut cutter, allowing for intricate stencil designs that can be used again and again. Additionally, we will assemble a more comprehensive repair kit to make available to all community members to further support their repair and upcycling journeys. This project is a step towards building a more sustainable and engaged community—reducing waste while fostering creativity, collaboration, and eco-conscious living.

Glasgow – Accessible Chair Yoga & Movement

2025-04-02T00:00:00Z

Many people in Glasgow face feelings of isolation linked to their protected characteristics, leading to loneliness and a sense of social disconnection. As inherently social beings, our relationships with others are crucial for our overall well-being and personal development, making such isolation a serious concern for both mental and physical health. Thankfully, there are effective strategies to tackle these issues. One promising method is yoga, which has proven helpful in alleviating anxiety, stress, and depression. It can support those who feel alone by fostering a more positive self-image, which can facilitate healing and enhance the confidence and motivation needed to establish a consistent practice. This uplifting change can also inspire other healthy habits, such as increasing physical activity, making better dietary choices, or even quitting smoking. The prevailing yoga culture, however often reflects the inequalities present in our society, such as systemic racism, lack of accessibility, and excessive gatekeeping. Moreso, many individuals feel unwelcome or unsafe when entering a yoga studio or participating in a class. However, yoga has the potential to be an inclusive, fair, and liberating community practice. By offering a free course in an accessible venue (ramp, smooth floors, etc) or online, the format is inclusive of everyone, no matter their experience or fitness level. It is particularly beneficial for anyone with restricted mobility (individuals dealing with arthritis, osteoporosis, or ongoing pain) as props such as chairs, blocks, blankets, straps will be used to support an individuals needs.

New York City, NY – Your Queens 10th Anniversary Art Gallery

2025-03-31T00:00:00Z

Your Queens Inc. is the first registered company in the U.S. to teach about African royalty through storytelling, song, and dance. For the past 10 years, they have traveled to schools, festivals, and community spaces, portraying powerful African queens like Queen Amina, Queen Nefertiti, and more, bringing history to life in a way that educates and uplifts. Your Queens, Inc. will celebrate its 10th anniversary, "**The Art of Royalty**," on **September 6th, 2025, from 3–7 PM** at **The Harvest Room 90-40 160th St, Jamaica, NY 11432**. This milestone event will take the form of an art gallery, creatively honoring the organization’s legacy through visual art, performance, and storytelling. Featuring artwork from local Black artists, a historical timeline exhibit, and curated mini-performances in dance, theater, spoken word, and music, guests will be immersed in the regal journey of Your Queens, Inc. The celebration will also include hors d'oeuvres served by staff in African attire, a costume photo booth, and a live art auction. With 1–3 honorees and a special performance unveiling a new Queen, this event aims to celebrate the power of culture, creativity, and community while welcoming new supporters into the royal family.

Liverpool – Liverpool Community Radio

2025-03-31T00:00:00Z

At Liverpool Community Radio (LCR FM), we’re all about amplifying local voices and creating real opportunities for people in our community. Based in Kensington—one of Liverpool’s most disadvantaged areas—we’re a volunteer-powered station that gives people a platform to tell their stories, share their passions, and build skills for life. We currently support over 80 volunteers, including people with disabilities, additional learning needs, and mental health challenges. They produce shows, run events, support community outreach, and help make LCR FM the vibrant, inclusive space it is. With £500 from the Awesome Foundation, we’d boost the work our volunteers do by covering travel expenses, supplying refreshments to keep everyone fuelled and feeling valued, and providing the right equipment kits so they can confidently fulfil their roles—whether that’s recording, editing, presenting, or running workshops. We’d also create some thank-you packs to celebrate their contribution and run a Volunteer Skills Day, complete with creative workshops, mentoring sessions, and guest speakers to inspire and upskill our brilliant team. This small grant would make a big difference—helping us remove barriers, reward commitment, and continue building a station where everyone, no matter their background, has the chance to thrive and be heard. We believe community radio is awesome—and our volunteers are at the heart of it.

Toronto – Sleepless Cinema

2025-03-31T00:00:00Z

Sleepless Cinema is a new Toronto-based film club that aims to combine great films with thought-provoking discussions about what keeps us up at night. We're a group of film lovers dedicated to hosting great events, supporting local up-and-coming filmmakers, and facilitating interesting discussions. Our goal is to create an environment where film enthusiasts can connect with creators in the industry and expert panelists through conversation about central movie themes. We aim to provide in-depth discussions in a welcoming, accessible way and provide an entertaining and informative night out! Our first event will begin with the short film Black Empanadas by Sid Santiago Zanforlin, followed by George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead. Then we will have a panel discussion examining how horror films reflect and challenge our feelings on xenophobia, featuring panelists Bobby Markov, Travis Wallace, and Mitchell Wilson. This event will be held at the Palmerston Public Library Theatre on Sunday, April 13 at 6:30pm.* * Not a Toronto Public Library event

Disability – Mandrill-Alert safety device.

2025-03-31T00:00:00Z

As a Hard of Hearing individual living in the war-ridden Northwest region of Cameroon, I have constantly been vulnerable and at risk due to my inability to perceive war threats. I rely on those around me to signal incoming danger and provide guidance on seeking safety. This has been the reality for all Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals in my region for the past eight years, as we have been plagued by war with no alert systems tailored to our needs. Imagine a Deaf person caught in the middle of gunfire while everyone else runs for safety, that is our daily struggle. Our dependence on those around us becomes even more critical when we are alone, making us even more vulnerable during sudden attacks. To address this, the Mandrill-Alert Safety Wristband project aims to develop a wearable device that will alert Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals of danger in war zones. At the Empower Conference in India on October 17, 2024, we collaborated with several assistive technology experts to establish the core principles of this device. We deliberately designed it with the specific realities of the Deaf community in war-torn regions of Cameroon in mind. More details about this can be found in my speech at Kanthari Talks in India. https://youtu.be/W2hzbD7Y7xQ?feature=shared Now that the core principles of the device have been developed, we are seeking a software and hardware developer to build a prototype. This prototype will undergo testing to ensure its effectiveness before future deployment to support the Deaf community in war zones across Cameroon **What our grantee is saying:** "As a Hard of Hearing person living in a war-torn zone, receiving this award is deeply personal. It strengthens my own safety and empowers me to seek refuge independently. More importantly, it reinforces our mission to ensure that every Deaf and Hard of Hearing individual in conflict-affected regions of Cameroon has the same opportunity. This support from the Awesome Foundation is not just funding—it’s a powerful statement that our safety matters. I am incredibly grateful for this recognition and excited to push forward with even greater impact!"

Ottawa – Mesh Up Ottawa

2025-03-31T00:00:00Z

The second of two Awesome Ottawa awards for March goes to Patricia Oliveira to support new mesh nets for basketball courts across the city. “Mesh Up Ottawa is a community-based initiative run entirely by volunteers,” says Patricia, “dedicated to improving local courts and supporting community organizations through sports and teamwork.” “We focus on basketball courts,” she continues, “especially in equity-deserving neighbourhoods in Ottawa. Our efforts include installing mesh nets on hoops, donating basketballs and water bottles, and cleaning the parks as a team.” “While volunteering with Shelter Movers Ottawa,” she says, “I saw a basketball court that needed improvement. I decided to return in summer to put up new nets. Along the way, I gathered volunteers from Helping with Furniture, and we haven’t stopped since. My goal is to create positive change through meaningful actions, because even the smallest initiatives can make a big difference in the community.” Patricia is the founder of Mesh Up Ottawa.

Washington, DC – Tracey Turnblatt and the Multiverse of Musicals

2025-03-31T00:00:00Z

We are seeking support for this year’s Highball show for World Pride 2025: “Tracey Turnblatt and the Multiverse of Musicals,” which is an original, full-scale rehearsed, choreographed, and costumed production that blends the narrative of the Wizard of Oz with musical drag performances from our previous Highball musical theater drag shows. This show will appeal to Broadway fans, Wizard of Oz fans, Wicked fans and anyone who has seen our shows previously. We are planning for four show dates total in late May 2025 for World Pride, offering several opportunities to enjoy this innovative show. Our show is absolutely unique to Highball Productions, to Washington DC and unlike anything else offered during World Pride (or any other time)! Our casting decisions blur gender lines and prioritize BIPOC, disabled drag performers and drag performers of size in shows that are historically overwhelmingly white and thin. Representation is powerful and seeing someone who looks like you on stage, in a lead role, encourages marginalized queer imaginations to grow, flourish and expand. We offer the opportunity for queer, disabled, BIPOC performers and drag performers of size to embody a beloved role that may have seemed off-limits or impossible to play in other settings. Highball Productions shows are a place where marginalized drag performers get the chance to retell mainstream stories on our terms, in our visual and campy shared language, at a level of commitment and quality that honors our energies and talents. Our shows offer ASL-interpreted dates to make our content accessible to our deaf and hard of hearing community members. Recent coverage in Metro Weekly: https://www.metroweekly.com/2024/05/all-that-drag-transforming-chicago-into-shecago/ Recent coverage in Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/09/05/drag-musicals-highball-productions/

Ottawa – #WriteOttawa

2025-03-31T00:00:00Z

The first of two Awesome Ottawa awards for March goes to Susan Johnston to support walking tours of Ottawa fiction and poetry. “Ottawa has featured in fiction and poetry since long before it became the political capital and city of neighbourhoods we know today,” says Susan. “While hundreds of works are set here,” she continues, “few of them are an active part of the iconography of our daily life. I want to change this by highlighting the inspiring range and breadth of fiction and poetry set across Ottawa.” Susan is developing an open-source map so readers and walkers can connect works of fiction and poetry with locations across the city, and setting out self-guided walks so people can see the locations in person. This spring, Susan will also host a live walk, featuring authors whose work references sites within central Ottawa. It will be offered through [VerseFest Ottawa] (https://www.verseottawa.ca/versefest) in April, and again through [Jane’s Walk Ottawa] (https://www.janeswalkottawa.ca/) in May. Susan hosts a morning show on CKCU FM and co-founded Ottawa (de)tours.

Seattle, WA – East Tacoma Death Cafe

2025-03-27T00:00:00Z

I am putting together a monthly Death Cafe in Tacoma! What is a Death Cafe you might ask? Well, it is an open format discussion model used to help the community talk about everything regarding death. Creepy, right? Totally not creepy! These conversations tend to be open, candid and honest and usually we end up laughing. We touch on subjects from the reality of death, to traditions, body disposal, ghosts, what might happen after, and so on. Anything is open to talk about as long as we do it in a safe, inclusive manner. I have run these before in Seattle and now I'm bringing it to Tacoma because we have a huge community of people who have dealt with grief or are just really afraid of things like death, it is such a taboo subject people don't always want to talk about it. But then there are people who are so curious or want ideas one how they would like to leave this earth or maybe want to go into end of life care and have no idea where to start. This little discussion in a safe place with cake and tea and coffee gives those people comfort and we can all talk about this sometimes heavy subject with others who are open and loving too. I think it's important to be able to discuss things like this with like minded people, or people who will approach it in a kind manner. I also like to connect people to local resources during these events, whether it be a funeral Coop or something, or housing assistance, etc. Death Cafe was originally started in England by Jon Underwood who was a personal friend of mine. He gave it to the world, and tragically left us in 2017. It has only grown stronger as a community, and people are usually very excited to attend them. I will hold them at least once a month, if not twice depending on how much interest the community has. Just because people say they'll come doesn't always mean they will but usually the turn out for these is great.

Gloucester, MA – 100 Trees

2025-03-27T00:00:00Z

With the grants we received from Awesome Gloucester in Fall of 2023 and 3 other organizations, we were able to plant 20 trees last year In Gloucester and Rockport. It included 3 trees at UU church on Pine Street, 8 asian pears and 3 shade trees at the Trinitarian Church in W. Gloucester, 3 shade trees at Granite Grossing, and 3 shade trees next to the children's play structures at Burnham playground. (see pictures). Each of these were planted with the help of local volunteers including locals teens, residents, as well as Awesome Gloucester board members. In the Spring of 2025 we plan to plant another 25-30 trees in Gloucester, We are proposing to plant 10 more trees at the Burnham Playground to complete shading the children's' play structures and picnic area. And approximately 17 trees at 2 Gloucester Housing Authority; 10 shade and flowering trees at John Sheedy and 7-10 shade trees at Lincoln Park Housing (see plans).

State College, PA – State College Food Bank Lobby Art

2025-03-26T00:00:00Z

The Food Bank relocated to a new facility last year, and while our space is designed to be warm and welcoming, our lobby is still in need of artwork to complete that atmosphere. We are seeking artwork that enhances our inviting environment, creating a sense of comfort and community for everyone who walks through our doors. Adding art to our space will help reinforce our mission of support and hospitality, making the Food Bank not just a place of service, but a place where everyone feels truly welcome.

State College, PA – Helping Engage River's Youth Connect with Nature

2025-03-26T00:00:00Z

The Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association’s West Branch HERYN (Helping Engage River’s Youth connect with Nature) is a free day-long outdoor and environmental education program that provides youth (ages 9-14) with the knowledge and skills needed to safely and autonomously practice freshwater kayaking and fishing. Additionally, our program encourages participants to become stewards of their watershed, promoting conservation practices that protect freshwater resources for recreation, fishing, and drinking. On July 10th, 2024, the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association (MSRKA) held its 1st annual West Branch HERYN, hosting 13 youth participants at Bald Eagle State Park’s Swimming Beach. This program is an expansion of MSRKA’s HERYN program that is held annually in New Columbia, PA. The program has 3 components: kayaking, fishing, and pond ecology. The fishing and kayaking programs introduce participants to the basics of aquatic recreation as many of our youth participants arrive without any prior experience practicing these aquatic sports. The Pond Ecology program facilitates the exploration of flora and fauna of freshwater wetlands. Additionally, the program concludes with a brief environmental education lesson related to watershed ecology, issues and threats, and conservation practices. Our primary goal is to impart skills and knowledge related to aquatic exploration and recreation to promote an active lifestyle and positive relationships with nature among youth and young adults. Additionally, we hope to create the next generation of environmental stewards, instilling an environmental stewardship ethic and encouraging lifelong dedication to the protection of aquatic resources in central PA. Since the program is free to residents of Centre, Clinton, and Clearfield counties, we are expanding the influence of conservation messaging in central PA and thus improving the lives of our residents by protecting water quality for drinking, recreation, and wildlife.

Georgetown, MA – Hometown Heroes

2025-03-26T00:00:00Z

I am looking to put up 30”x60” flags honoring our awesome men and women have served in the military. Hoping to get this project off the ground this year so by next the 250 birthday of the country we will have a good representation of the people that served our Country. These flags will be mounted on telephone poles and have a picture, name , rank , the military branch and the years served. The set ups cost approximately $200 which in most cases will be born by the family. Anyone that had a family member killed in action or for some reason can not afford the set up a grant from Awesome Georgetown will take care of approximately 10 flags.

Georgetown, MA – It Takes A Herd

2025-03-26T00:00:00Z

Nine years ago, I became a Certified Dementia Practitioner and have been helping families navigate the difficult journey of dementia. As a lifelong horseman, I have watched how equine assisted programming can positively impact individuals. My experiences in both of those arenas lead me to develop a program that marries two passions of mine. It Takes a Herd is the dementia friendly equine assisted program that I created and implemented to support care partners and their care recipients with dementia. The program utilizes horses as a conduit and provides a safe, nonjudgemental environment where participants share an equine experience. Through their interaction with horses, care partners are given an opportunity to return to their original roles within the partnership and learn to strengthen the relationship through connection, camaraderie and community. Both the care partner and care recipient participate in meaningful activities that promote purposeful engagement, encourage independence, build confidence, and foster empowerment. Care partners are encouraged to step outside of their role for a time and re-connect to their loved one without the burden of care. Throughout the program, care partners enjoy moments of respite and time to connect with other participants who understand the experience of caregiving. While participating in the program, care partners and care recipients find their “Herd” comprised of others in the program who encourage, support, and validate the feeling that they are not alone in their journey through dementia. Each week, a different theme is presented to participants guiding them to develop better communication skills, while care partners are coached in techniques to minimize the frustrations of caregiving. While working with horses throughout the program, care partners gain a better understanding how to navigate the disease of dementia while strengthening their partnership in a fun and purposeful environment.

Yerevan – Totems of Connection: A 7-Day Artist Residency

2025-03-26T00:00:00Z

This proposal outlines a plan to host a small-scale artist residency in our guesthouse -Daravand, located in Dilijan, bringing together seven talented artists for seven days to create unique totems for each room. These totems, infused with artistic expression, cultural storytelling, and environmental mindfulness, will enhance the guesthouse's ambiance while fostering connections among artists, guests, and the local community. Additionally, seven local young artists will visit and actively participate in the creative process, enriching their skills and contributing fresh perspectives. The residency aims to: 1. Celebrate artistic creativity by providing artists with an immersive environment to craft room-specific totems. 2. Cultivate a sense of place and identity within the guesthouse by embedding symbolic and culturally inspired art into its design. 3. Engage the local community and inspire young talent through collaborative opportunities and workshops. Residency Structure: • Participants: 7 resident artists from diverse disciplines (sculptors, painters) and 7 local young artists as collaborators. • Duration: 7 days • Output: Each artist creates one totem inspired by the room’s unique character and the cultural or natural surroundings, with input and participation from local youth. • Engagement: Open studio sessions, workshops, and discussions will encourage interaction between artists, the local community, and guests. Benefits for the Community: 1. Cultural Enrichment: o Totems rooted in local history, traditions, and ecology will celebrate cultural identity and educate guests. o Open sessions will provide insights into artistic processes. 2. Youth Empowerment: o Local young artists will gain hands-on experience, mentorship, and exposure to professional artistic practices. 3. Economic Impact: o Enhanced guesthouse visibility, attracting cultural tourism. 4. Sustainability Awareness:

Rhode Island – Mothers Are Makers

2025-03-26T00:00:00Z

Mothers are Makers is a new project for women who are mothers and clients of OpenDoors, a local nonprofit, social service agency that is the first and largest to serve formerly incarcerated people in Rhode Island. These women are working to rebuild both their lives and their families. Mothers Are Makers is conceived as a new annual gathering to resource these women and support them in envisioning new possibilities and pathways for themselves and their families, reiterating that they are not defined by the worst things that they have done and they are capable of so much more. AFRI's funding will help support an inaugural Mothers Are Makers event, an interactive art-making brunch to be held at the Women & Children’s House on Mother’s Day weekend 2025. Providence-based artist, mother, educator, and changemaker Lilly Manycolors will collaborate with us to develop an art-making activity for women and children inspired by themes of empowerment, affirmation, motherhood, and care.

Oahu, HI – Used Bookstore

2025-03-25T00:00:00Z

Hi, my name is Serena I am fourteen years old, and I live in a small town called Pahoa on the big island of Hawaii. With the support of my family, I am opening a new and used bookstore on March 1 to better innovate my community. This will be the only bookstore in Pahoa and the five towns surrounding it making it the only bookstore in our district. I want it to be an inclusive space that the local community can come together and share ideas, knowledge, and stories. the pandemic really took a toll on our small town increasing the homeless percentage a considerable amount and driving local stores out of business. We are recovering with the help of the members within our community and the "Aloha" spirit. I am going to have a local author spotlight of the month to support and encourage local talent. local artist can also use it as a platform to showcase their work as consignment items. we are also providing tutor Tuesdays to junior high and high school students to better their education. I am looking to partner with schools and libraries on the east side of Hawaii to bring high-quality pieces of literature to our island.

Chicago, IL – Fab Lab for underserved students

2025-03-25T00:00:00Z

I am a teacher at a charter high school in Chicago IL called Art in Motion. My view and vision has been one which bridges the purported gap between science and art. Being an excited, passionate, and uber dedicated teacher and scientist I merely want to give my students more opportunities to express themselves in new ways while learning to use some of the technology that I believe the world will soon find ubiquitous in every classroom. 3d printers, cnc machines, laser cutting devices, etc. This grant would help purchase some equipment that would be used to allow students to make their ideas real using 3d printers for now and hopefully at some point they'll be working in a fully functional fab lab in which could be our "hub" for creation for any and everything our amazing and talented students can think of. The goal is to help to provide experiences and understanding for students so they can use the fabrication equipment to create their art. Our students are eclectic, artistic, intelligent, etc. and I don't believe I could imagine the amazing things that they would create. Therefore, they could then use the fab lab to create their art for their community to give, to sell, or to highlight in their community.

Portland, OR – Who We Are, Who We Can Be: Diverse Biographies

2025-03-25T00:00:00Z

I am the librarian at Alder Elementary School in the Reynolds School District. Reynolds did without certified librarians for over a decade, then brought them back after the pandemic. Our school is 68% non-native English speakers, 100% free lunch, and over 20 home languages spoken. I recently did a diversity audit of our biographies and was disappointed but not surprised to find that 80% of them are about white men. Not only that, but the biographies of BiPOC individuals are overwhelmingly focused on the arts and athletics. And despite having a majority-Latinx school, according to our collection Cesar Chavez and Diego Rivera are the only Latinos of note. I would love to do a major overhaul of our selection. I believe this will help my students feel seen and create a sense of possibility for them.

Oahu, HI – Preserving Last Hawaiian Taro Varieities

2025-03-25T00:00:00Z

My awesome project continues to perpetuate and preserve the last Native Hawaiian cultivars of taro on Earth. Taro, or Kalo, is a staple for Hawaiians since time immemorial and culturally significant as being an elder of the people. It is both Gluten-free and hypoallergenic and very high in vitamins and fiber. Taro is the key to native health and wellness. Their dietary and nutritional value along with nuances of cultivars developed over centuries specific to Hawaii are keys to future food production, farmland preservation, and food independence for Hawaii. I have been responsible for sharing more than 50.000 seeds across Hawaii for old and new farmers since 2020 covid years where we gave away 10,000 in one day. Because of our isolation and Hawaiis ever growing dependence on imported food, I actively promote subsistence , backyard, guerilla farming and constantly continue to give away seeds to enable new farmers. I manage 3 football sized farms with 40 of the last 60 remaining native varieties in order to maintain cultivars and have available seed stock into the future. I am a father of 5 and happily married for 22 years and look forward to expanding which requires fencing.

Westminster, MD – First Lego League

2025-03-21T00:00:00Z

Our non-profit, Boundless KID Collective, is working to expand the opportunities for homeschoolers in the Westminster area. Boundless is an organization serving 120 students from a total of 48 families in the Westminster area. We have had classroom opportunities for 3 school years, but this year we have expanded our offerings to include a clubs program. Clubs include: Chess, Photography, Farm and Forest, and First Lego League. All of our clubs are being led and facilitated by volunteers. This includes our First Lego League Teams. First Lego League is an organization that helps students gain experience with a variety of STEM topics and career opportunities. Westminster is quickly becoming an amazing technology hub, with things like the TING network availability, the Exploration Commons opening, MAGIC and their tech programs, etc. We'd love to help build the STEM offerings in Westminster, as well as engaging the homeschooling community in this tech growth. The leaders who have volunteered to mentor the current two teams have generously agreed to take on a third team, but this creates additional expense.

Kingston – Brain Reach: Neuroscience for Kingston 5th graders

2025-03-20T00:00:00Z

The Brain Reach program is based out of the Centre for Neuroscience Studies at Queen’s University and has been running for the past 10 years. A pair of neuroscience graduate student volunteers are assigned to each participating classroom and teach 5th graders about neuroscience. This program is entirely free for all participating schools; we provide all the relevant materials. Our program consists of up to 7 classroom sessions (depending on availability/timing) over the course of an academic school year. Presentations are approximately one-hour in length and consist of a PowerPoint presentation with lots of interactive components (activities, videos, Q&A, class participation, games, etc.) that are sure to wow students and consolidate their learning! The program’s curriculum fits within the grade 5 Ontario Curriculum, so it is highly relevant for students and takes lesson plan pressure off Kingston’s overworked teachers. We are currently updating the program to add even more engaging activities and introduce new, fresh topics such as neurodiversity and technology. Once updated, we aim to publish all of our material online for free, so teachers across Ontario can use our curriculum. We did a needs-based assessment to help us prioritize reaching out to schools that would most benefit from the program - that is, schools whose students are less likely to have access to STEM-based extra-curricular programs on their own. We plan to continue using this strategy. Mostly importantly this allows students to have access to real neuroscientists to ask question. We specifically make sure each school has at least one woman on their neuroscientist volunteer team so that grade 5 girls can see themselves in a STEM career.

Lake Mac – Five Islands School Community Garden Project

2025-03-19T00:00:00Z

We are excited to be in the beginning stages of designing a Sensory and Bush Tucker Garden in an unused space at our school. Our current playground set up does not include any spaces that allow students to interact with nature, as our school is set up on a series of decks, off the ground. The garden will hopefully be designed to engage students in hands-on learning while connecting them with nature. This project will involve collaboration with local community members, including The Men's Shed, as well as students and staff from neighboring schools, who will share their expertise in setting up the space. The garden will offer opportunities for students to explore a wide range of subjects, from Mathematics and Science to English, through practical experiences. We aim to grow produce that can be incorporated into cooking programs, teaching students the concept of 'farm to table.' In addition, we plan to create a Yarning Circle and a variety of sensory installations, ensuring the garden caters to the needs of all students and provides a calming, enriching environment for learning and interaction. Our aim is to build at least 8 garden beds of various sizes, accessible to all students. We would need to furnish these with dirt and plants. We also want to create different sensory installations, such as a mud kitchen, chalk drawing boards, and a sandpit. At one end of the garden, we would like to create an accessible Yarning Circle and 'Bush Tucker' garden.

Santa Cruz, CA – MHCAN Artshow auction & tea

2025-03-16T00:00:00Z

The Mental Health Client Action Network is the oldest and only peer-run organization in Santa Cruz County that provides services for those suffering with mental health and substance abuser disorders, Since a majority of our clients are homeless we provide a drop-in center four days a week from 9-2pm where they can access services such as-laundry, transportation, showers, mail, computer room, clothing donations, self-help peer run groups, and referrals to county resources. We would like to have an art show auction and tea which will serve as a way for our clients to showcase their artistic and creative talents and also provide a fundraising opportunity for our organization so that we can continue to provide the services that they depend on. The art show will have 15 participants (max) they will only be clients of MHCAN or staff and will be allowed to submit 2 works of art that will be displayed in the auction which we are aiming to have on June 21 2025, We were wanting to rent a room at London Nelson for 4 hours for 2 days. We are asking for this grant so that we're able to supply materials needed for the projects such as paints, canvases, brushes, collage materials and to help pay for room rental at the London Nelson center. The projects will be put on for an auction where a set price will be reached giving 10% of proceeds back to the artist and the rest to MHCAN's fundraising efforts.

Santa Cruz, CA – The Live Like Coco Bookmobile

2025-03-16T00:00:00Z

I am working to transform the Live Like Coco Bookmobile in its current form into a fully functional and effective platform for community outreach. To do this, I will be making improvements to its usability by designing and building systems for book storage, accessibility, and distribution. I will be completing the process of labeling and categorizing the books that will stock the Bookmobile. I will also design and build a securement system to keep the books and their containers safely in place while the Bookmobile is traveling. I will also create a book return system that includes a drop-off container with a securement method for transport. To improve book distribution at community giving events, I will purchase a rolling conveyor system with an adjustable stand and design a securement solution for travel. Another addition will be the development of a book cart—a somewhat self-contained, mobile library with a 200+ book capacity and space for a checkout system. This cart will integrate with the Bookmobile, allowing for greater maneuverability in schools and other locations/situations where the entire vehicle cannot fit. I will also design a securement system for the cart during travel. Lastly, I will install a full whiteboard complement, complete with markers, erasers, and magnets, to improve organization and provide a space for announcements or posting other information.