Awesome Foundation - Projects

Yerevan – The Living Gate

2015-06-22T00:00:00Z

The Botanical Gardens in Yerevan is one of the most unjustly underliked spots in the city. It’s the largest park and a depository of the amazing diversity of Armenian flora (1800 species). Now the park is foremost a selfie-spot for the newly-weds. Our team of city-romantics proposes to revive the popularity of the Gardens. The strategy will start with an opening of a Northern Gate for the visitors. The Gate would allow access to the growing community of the “University Condominium”, which by the end of 2015, will be populated by 1,250 families of scientists, lecturers, members of creative unions, and other young specialists. Our pilot cooperation with the park has resulted in an inflow of new visitors, who ensure at least 150000 AMD monthly income for the park, with a suggested season tickets at 2000 dram monthly fee. But our residents have to walk 2km to the main entrance gate on the highway to access the Gardens, which is often blocked for weddings and official ceremonies. Our negotiations with the park managements have resulted in an agreement to open up a new Gate for residents of Avan, Masiv and Zeytun communities on the Tsarav Aghbyur side. Easy to access, friendly to families, this access will bring a new life to the Garden. Our community is also committed to volunteer for the garden, by initiated festivals, concerts, crowdfunding campaigns and just musing the park management for new ideas.

Boulder, CO (Inactive) – Boulder Food Rescue

2015-06-22T00:00:00Z

Boulder Food Rescue (BFR) is a non-profit organization whose goal is to create a more just and less wasteful food system. We facilitate the sustainable redistribution of food "waste" to agencies that feed hungry, homeless, and low-income populations while educating communities about food justice. We were conceived in the fall of 2011 as a result of University of Colorado research conducted by two of BFR’s founding members. They discovered that enough food is wasted each day to feed everyone who goes hungry in Boulder and Broomfield Counties. In discussions with grocery stores regarding this finding, they felt by the time the food was redistributed to shelters and homes, it would have become inedible. Additionally, some of the to-be-composted food could not be accepted by the area food banks because of policy restrictions. Fruits and vegetables not in original packaging are precluded from being distributed by these food banks, which amounted to thousands of pounds of nutritious food being thrown away every day. In light of this situation Boulder Food Rescue was formed to provide direct, just-in-time delivery of perishable food, thereby helping to mitigate hunger in Boulder County; increase the access of at-risk populations to nutritious, fresh produce; and ease the food budgets of local nonprofit organizations and individuals. In order to be truly sustainable, it was a central principle that food delivery would be done by bicycle and bike trailer whenever possible. One of the main ways folks find out about BFR is by seeing our signs on our trailers as volunteers bike food around town; the signs and trailers are very important! Our organization now picks up seven days a week, 12 times per day from 30 different food vendors, and delivers this nutritious produce to 33 different organizations that serve homeless and low-income populations every week. We have rescued over 800,000 pounds of food to date, 87% of which has been by bicycle and bicycle trailer!

Sarnia (Inactive) – Tree Stump Carving

2015-06-21T00:00:00Z

I am a teacher at Lansdowne school and I am applying for the grant to complete an" Awesome" tree carving at our school. Last year due to branches falling, and a safety concern, we had to remove a huge oak tree from our property. At the time I thought that it would be awesome to carve the stump of the tree into an art piece, so I had the tree removal company leave the base of the tree. The stump is located within our school garden area, which currently houses a native plant garden, an outside learning area, and a vegetable garden to grow produce for our students to try. The carving would be a center piece to this outdoor learning area that would last for years to come. As ideas have progressed, and I received quotes as to the cost, we quickly realized that it would be difficult to raise the funds needed to complete a project such as this. My class has run a few hot lunches at the school to fundraise for the project, but are still quite short of our monetary goal. A thousand dollar grant would possibly push us to our goal of $2000, enough to book a carver to come and complete the project this fall. I have been in contact with a carver out of London who completed some of the work in Sarnia's Centennial Park. This is his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MikeWinia?fref=ts. He is currently travelling to represent Canada at the World Carving Championships. How awesome would it be to get world class carver to come do the project??? In summary, this project is awesome for many reasons: It is a legacy project for the school and the garden area we have been working to complete. Students and families in the community will be involved in the designing of the carving, and would be invited to the school to watch the carving take place. That is why you awesome people, should choose this awesome project for your grant this month.

Newmarket – Spotlight on Youth Wellness

2015-06-21T00:00:00Z

Arts Spotlight Theatre Company Inc's Awesome Project is an event entitled Spotlight on Youth Wellness. A project intended to collaborate arts, culture,community and health, to bring attention to the issues affecting youth in today's society, their well being, their family, school environment and community. In dealing with youth in the community during the past 30 years, we have seen how the arts has helped children and teens find their voice and confidence. Over the years, young performers have overcome shyness, dealt with anxiety, eating disorders, grief, bullying, learning disabilities and being newcomers to Canada, being able to gain confidence, speak up for themselves, seek assistance, express themselves and aim towards a goal. Arts Spotlight has always included opportunities to bring attention and focus to issues that affect young people. For the past 30 years we have performed at schools & community events to bring awareness to: Diversity, Bullying, Healthy Living, Aids Epidemic in Africa, Vandalism and Autism acceptance, through projects with YRP, YR District School Board,TVO, Dancers for Autism. SPOTLIGHT ON YOUTH WELLNESS will include: entertainment, interactive programs and a symposium of speakers and professionals. Our Company's board of directors, volunteers and performers would host a one day event with several stages and booths: ENTERTAINMENT : Children's stage- interactive entertainment, encourages children to feel confident, happy and witness conflict resolutions. Pre teen stage with related theme shows encouraging individuality and critical thinking Teen open mic talent: performing, spoken word, poetry, music, dance, theatre BOOTHS: Various community interests groups which deal with programs and outreach for youth wellness. (Yoga, art therapy, therapy dogs, fitness, nutrition, (rented booths for $25.00 to $35.00) SPEAKERS: Allotted times for experts and professionals and agencies to speak on the various topics related to the event.

Connecticut – The Trail Angel Project Part 2

2015-06-19T00:00:00Z

Hello, last year I had the privilege of meeting Michelle who got a grant for The Trail Angel Project last year which was for the many hikers who make the trek from Georgia to Maine/Maine to Georgia on the Appalachian Trail in the Kent to Salisbury areas. She and I discussed me trying for a grant this year to continue the much needed 'trail magic' for the weary hikers as they travel thorough our area. It is my desire to be able to continue this tradition and to maybe encourage others to apply next year and maybe even have The Trail Angel Project Part 3 etc.... I became an accidental trail angel the summer of 2013. I work in the town of Salisbury near a trail head and started to learn about the amazing journey that about 2,000 hikers begin each year. I, myself, am not a hiker, I am a sidewalk girl but I became intrigued by their tenacity and sheer drive to finish. I recently moved back to this area of Connecticut to be with my elderly mother and it has become a joy to help the hikers each summer, we often invite them into our home, offer them showers and even do their laundry. We have had the privilege of meeting some extraordinary individuals and have made lasting friendships. I have a hiker who stayed with us last year coming to visit in this summer to help spread the trail magic along! (the pics I included are from me and Michelle last year) Thank you for your consideration.

Connecticut – Musical Intervention Through Downtown Open Mics

2015-06-19T00:00:00Z

Musical Intervention is an inclusion program offering individuals and groups of special needs to take part in the transformational power of creating original songs. We, provide the outlet and assistance to help individuals transcend themselves though creating and developing expressive songwriting and music videos. Individuals are exposed to the technological and educational uses of music and audio-visual recording to help inspire positive coping skills. We have established Open Mics (more like community open jams) at 82 Crown Street in downtown New Haven, and we want them to continue over the summer. A range of instruments is set up on a professional-quality stage, and performances include vocal and instrumental blends as well as spoken word and a capella songs, mostly original. The landlord has indicated that a contribution towards the utilities is required, and right now the group itself has no such resources. If this series is allowed to lapse we will lose ground gathering the racially and economically mixed crowd that represent a uniquely supportive audience for musicians spanning three generations. Going on hiatus during the City's most traditionally dangerous and violent months would be harmful to the already-challenged people who have come to count on singing, performing and enjoying fellowship with one another weekly. Moreover, "taking a break" as suggested presents us with the problem of a steep, uphill battle to cultivate renewed awareness and attendance, if a weekly slot even still remains available down the road.

Antigonish, NS (Inactive) – Fire starters (shredded paper fire logs)

2015-06-18T00:00:00Z

This is Jeff Teasdale from the CACL Antigonish on behalf of Brian Cameron and Garry Kell. The boys have launched their own business making shredded paper fire logs with shredded paper and wood chips from the CACL Antigonish. The boys have outgrown us and are going out on their own. We have secured a place to make these logs. They have a venue to sell them as well. So far they have sold all that they have made! Gary and Brian are taking on the challenge of starting their own business. So far they have the raw materials accessed (these waste products are being reused instead of landing in landfills). They have access to a customer base (farmers market and other local business for example Main St Irving). They now have a location that they can work out of seasonally and hopefully one day year round.

Beaverton & Beyond, OR (Inactive) – Tuesday Night TEEN Market

2015-06-18T00:00:00Z

Hillsboro Tuesday Night Teen Market offers AWESOME High school students the opportunity to learn how to be entrepreneurs. Partnering with the Hillsboro Chamber School to Work program and the Hillsboro School District, students have been creating art and crafts, culinary treats and services to present and sell at the market. During the project, they design and create art and craft items, or research, source and cook local in season produce. They are also learning product development, budgeting, marketing, visual display, customer service, communication and sales. The project gets them credit towards graduation and to use as their senior project. There is a huge benefit for the students and the community as we encourage and mentor students to be creative and confident future business owners. In turn we believe that it will also encourage their peers and friends to participate more in our local markets and learn about the process of creating, producing, buying and selling their own products so we may continue to grow our wonderful local markets. There will be up to 10 table spaces available for the teens during ten of the Tuesday Markets this summer. We plan to grow the Teen Market over the years as more students participate and our own market expands. We hope to encourage them to take a more active role in the planning of the event with leadership and board positions. The funds will be placed into a start-up fund and students can apply for loans to use for needed supplies and equipment to start their business. For example, some students will need signage or a cash box, some might need a table or display items. The students are expected to pay back the loan if sales at the Tuesday Market allow them to do so. They will also be encouraged to 'pay it forward', on the items that can be re-used or re-purposed, to future students. I am the manager for and represent the Hillsboro Tuesday Night Market. An awesome community festival and Market. Over the years I have noticed how many teens like to 'hang' at the Market but there has never really been much for them to do. Rather than turn them away for loitering or hanging in large 'gangs' we have been implementing programs that appeal to that age group with great success. We love our teens. They are our future shoppers, builders, creators and artists! The Tuesday Night Teen Market will be an annual event the continues through the summer each Tuesday night at the Market. Our first of ten teen markets this year is June 23rd We are already encouraged by the participation this first market has received and we will measure its success by the number of students who continue to participate each week and from the feed back from the Schools and the leaders in the program. We can also measure the success with our annual surveys and visual monitoring of the event and the people who participate, shop, look, talk and encourage the students. Want to help? The Hillsboro Chamber School to Work program is looking for community members who will encourage and mentor students to be creative and confident future business owners. The Tuesday Night Market is looking for assistance at the market to ensure the student's success. Contact: Lesley Wise - Tuesday Night Market - manager(at)HillsboroTuesdayNight(dot)org - (503) 601-0478 - www.tuesdaymarketplace.org/marketplace/teens/ Hillsboro Chamber School to Work - http://hillsborochamberor.com/stw.html

Kingston – Made In...

2015-06-18T00:00:00Z

Immigrant Services Kingston and Area, in partnership with the Tett Centre, will be hosting a filmmaking summer camp for a group of 10 newcomer youth. Each youth will create a 3-minute video where they will talk about their immigration and life stories. Thanks to the Tett Centre's connections with different artists, youth will be empowered and assisted in creating their stories, they will learn about photography and filmmaking and will be responsible for editing their own video. The videos will be screened at an event at Tett Centre, which will be opened to different members of the community. This is a Digital Storytelling project that aims to educate the Kingston population on the struggles and successes newcomer youth have when immigrating to a new country. The project will also be a tool of expression, since immigrant and refugee youth will have the opportunity to express what is deep inside of them by creating their stories. Therefore, it is also a healing tool. Our goal is to help build a more welcoming and inclusive community. The videos will show the stories of people coming from different backgrounds and faiths, people with different skills and qualifications that could help build a better society, immigrants with different life stories we can learn from. We hope that the stories will be a way for the Kingston community to better understand the immigrant population.

Tallahassee, FL (Inactive) – Digging In at the iGrow South City Youth Farm

2015-06-17T00:00:00Z

An initiative of the Tallahassee Food Network, the iGrow Youth Farm program has its flagship location in Frenchtown. Established in 2011, iGrow is a youth empowerment and urban agriculture project, named and largely run by the youth themselves. Given the success of iGrow in Frenchtown, TFN has partnered with Whole Child Leon to open up a second iGrow in South City on 510 Orange Ave. We’ve chosen to replicate the Frenchtown iGrow model in South City due to similar demographics. We’ve already broken ground on the 26,073 sq. ft. lot and, on three designated work days, volunteers have been coming to the farm to set up raised beds and create mulch paths, among other tasks. The farm is composed of long raised beds for the youth and smaller plots for families in the area to tend and grow. We are actively recruiting middle and high school aged teenagers and families in South City to become involved in the iGrow program. The purpose of iGrow is to grow healthy food for the community, provide meaningful youth employment and grow youth leaders that are capable of teaching peers and the broader community the basics of raising food. At the core of iGrow is the Leadership Corps. These young people –with assistance from adult coordinators, youth and university volunteers—are responsible for managing the production, administration, outreach and team development associated with running the Youth Farm. In return, the youth receive biweekly stipends for their work. Not only the youth, but the entire family is engaged in the process, multiplying the potential impact for positive behavior and lifestyle changes.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Feminist Camp

2015-06-16T00:00:00Z

Feminist Camp is a week long immersion in feminism -- designed to "show" people what feminism looks like in real time -- beyond the theory. The camp is also an awesome career development opportunity. Students often debate between entering the for profit or not-for-profit sector, but they don't understand the vast range of jobs available in both sectors. Besides going deeper into our daily themes -- be it philanthropy or media or reproductive justice or sexual assault -- the camp is also a place for campers for develop their identities and to create a peer network that will likely stay with them forever. Camps consistently leave the experience and call it "life changing." As summed up by one camper: "I cannot begin to describe what a profound effect this trip had on me." The camp happens 3 times a year and takes place in New York City. Days are long -- 8 am to 8 pm and as most campers stay together in a door room in a youth hostel, the conversing often goes on long into the night. Days include meetings with leaders, mini-interships, cleaning up a park or other volunteering. The campers then take these lessons back to their communities and share with others what they have learned.

Pittsburgh, PA – The Pearl Club University

2015-06-15T00:00:00Z

Were you aware that only 17 percent of this year’s cohort of 39 students feel prepared to attend and succeed in college? Although the facts are startling, they demonstrate the need for skill-building, information and experiences to prepare them to succeed. Our programming, which focuses on developing an understanding of being college-ready and strengthening their ability to give presentations, manage their time and network to build relationships for their future gives students a chance to achieve success in their lives. At our core, we are a sisterhood based on college success. Through our programming, we strive to help young women develop character, become college-ready and enroll and graduate from a post-secondary institution. Our mission as a future focus: to help young women from disadvantaged backgrounds overcome poverty and contribute to society. To foster their awesomeness, we want young women to answer YES to the following: Do you feel prepared to attend and succeed in college? Do you know how to network and build relationships for your future? Do you know how to effectively manage your time? Do you know what it takes to succeed and graduate from college? Our program is awesome because it not only teaches young women valuable skills, we allow them to apply the skills to their lives during an authentic experience on a college campus. How can we expect awesome students to be successful in an environment they were not prepared for? With 77% of our young women being first generation college-goers, our programming aids in solving the problem of minority young women lacking skills and preparation to overcome the challenges on a college campus and graduate from a postsecondary institution, making Pittsburgh a more awesome place to build a future.

Minas Gerais (Inactive) – Torneio de Robótica Empreendescola

2015-06-15T00:00:00Z

O “Torneio de Robótica Empreendescola” é um projeto social que vamos realizar para os alunos de ensino médio das escolas públicas de Poços de Caldas. O intuito é mostrar aos alunos o quanto eles podem aprender, e deixá-los de olhos brilhando. Nunca houve um projeto do tipo na cidade e isso irá mostrar um mundo até então desconhecido por eles. No Empreendescola trabalhamos para mostrar novos futuros para os jovens, e acreditamos muito que o conhecimento de programação e robótica auxilia e muito no impacto do jovem. Ele pode descobrir algo que até então era inacessível e nem ele sabia que era tão impactante assim. É mostrar ao jovem que ele pode mudar a realidade de sua casa, seu bairro, de sua vida. Trabalhamos com alunos de 13 a 18 anos mais ou menos, e nesse semestre já atingimos 05 escolas, o que corresponde ha mais ou menos 1000 alunos. O torneio será ótimo para integrar os alunos de escolas diferentes e mostrar outros caminhos e despertar neles o protagonismo. Conseguimos um parceiro que arcará com os materiais para o torneio, mas praticamente utilizaremos o recurso do Awesome para o transporte do facilitador, um lanche para os alunos que participarão do torneio, pagar uma pessoa para criar a comunicação e arte do evento e também uma pequena divulgação local.

Chicago, IL – Literature Emitting Diodes

2015-06-14T00:00:00Z

Literature Emitting Diodes is an unconventional publishing project that is slated to run from July 2015 to July 2016, and hopefully continue on an annual cycle for years following this inaugural run. Literature Emitting Diodes presents poetry and prose by talented writers in commercial venues throughout Chicago. Every month, we will select a prose piece or a poem to be uploaded onto a scrolling LED display sign for about three weeks. The sign will be placed in the window of a local business chosen to coordinate with the piece. Sites will be chosen in consultation with the authors to help them reach a diverse and enthusiastic audience. We will open submissions for July on May 5th and accept work on a rolling basis from then on. The chosen works will also be published online and in an annual printed anthology. In storefronts, online, and in print, readers will be offered a rich variety of reading experiences for each piece. We will show that reading can be more than a solitary activity, that storefronts can be more than advertisements, and that publishing can reach people beyond the bookstore or library. In a society driven by consumption, people crave creativity and beauty. We will subvert the commercial practice that plays on people’s retinas. We will put literature back in the public sphere where advertising has the authority. We are simply seeking to restore a balance between culture and commerce. We are partnering with local businesses to show that businesses can be part of the solution, and that there are myriad ways to give back to the community. Not every businesses can host readings or open mic nights like a coffeehouse or bookstore, but there are many other ways to support the arts and we hope our unconventional approach will inspire others to try their own.

Seattle, WA – Virtual Assistant Movie

2015-06-14T00:00:00Z

Jobs are getting outsourced. But, can creativity be outsourced? And, if so, what would it look like? I am exploring this by outsourcing an entire short film through virtual online assistants in India. How? So far, I have 2 virtual assistants who, independently, are writing a script together one line at time. I give them prompts. But, the prompts are written by the other virtual assistant. So, while I am the middle person, the two virtual assistants are actually the ones providing each other with new prompts as they keep the script dialogue going with their writing. After they finish writing the outsourced script, I will then have virtual assistants film the dialogue that virtual assistants wrote. Maybe the final film will be horrible. Maybe it will be great. Either way, I feel this process is unprecedented and the results will be a unique and entertaining moment for film making. On a larger scale, I believe this will start conversation about creativity and the creative process. Details: I'm currently using Habiliss.com and AskSunday.com The 2 virtual assistants have been told that a client would like them to create natural and/or dialogue based on provided prompts. At the conclusion of the writing process, I will explain to both companies the bigger picture. I will ask for consent and approval to produce a short film based on their writing. Of course, I will credit the 2 separate virtual assistants with the complete writing credits. There has been some interest from experimental film festivals and Seattle International Film Festival to accept this unique film and its process.

Ottawa – Buddy Bench

2015-06-11T00:00:00Z

June’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to Jenny Guth, to support a “buddy bench” for Stittsville Public School. “For many students,” explains Jenny, “recess is often the best part of the school day. But for others, it can be a very lonely time. The buddy bench is an ordinary bench placed in the schoolyard. Children who are sad or looking for playmates can sit on the bench to signal they would like someone to come talk to them or ask them to play.” Buddy benches originated in Germany, and have been implemented in schools around the world. They are meant to be symbols of inclusion and kindness in the schoolyard, and are used to teach students about empathy and friendship for all. Jenny is the mother of a junior kindergarten student at Stittsville Public School. “When I was a little girl,” she says, “I was excluded at school — a lot. I eventually learned to stand up for myself and others,” says Jenny, “and am now a lawyer.”

San Francisco, CA – Tangible Possibility: playful speed dating

2015-06-11T00:00:00Z

Designed by Oakland artist and author Lea Redmond Tangible Possibility offers a wildly creative and fun way to meet new people. Engage in quirky, whimsical get-to-know-you activities and quickly get a sense of whether someone would be an awesome new romantic partner, friend, or colleague. An attendee of Tangible Possibility is greeted by a friendly, light-hearted structure designed to draw out the true self and reveal a little bit of it to everyone in the room. No one will have to fall back on boring default questions like “what do you do?” and “where are you from?” They’ll be too busy engaging in creative tactile experiences such as: Making and sharing their “dream” business cards, aka “life cards”. Interpreting Rorschach ink blots in pairs. Throwing paper airplanes that hold their school days memories. Making up histories for curious found objects. Writing “text messages” to each other in icing swirls on cookies. Spinning the Game of Life spinner and sharing a life memory with an emotional intensity level that corresponds to the number they spun. A Tangible Possibility speed dating session begins with a ceremonious confiscation of cell phones, and it ends with participants receiving their “matches” via real, physical mail a few days after the event. Their matches will arrive as a series of contact cards in a real paper “matchbox."

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Celebrating DC Women in Technology 2015

2015-06-08T00:00:00Z

Celebrating DC Women in Technology is an event that has stemmed from an article written about the many qualified and excelling--yet clearly under recognized--tech women in DC. After publication, the article went viral, highlighting the need for solidarity and connection among and between these women. The event came from that groundswell - a chance to celebrate all of these women across the area, as well as to merge other subgroups (such as Lesbians Who Tech, TechladyMafia) into one united front with a common goal: acknowledging women in technology and getting more women into the field. The goal of the event is to bring together the powerful and successful tech women in DC. The event is meant to build a stronger platform for these DC techies and to open up a space for communication and connection. So many women are doing incredible things in the world of technology, and recognition for their tireless work is long overdue.

San Antonio, TX – San Antonio Youth Code Jam

2015-06-08T00:00:00Z

More than 300 tweens, teens and their parents will learn to design their own computer games, code in a variety of programming languages and even hack a little at the third annual San Antonio Youth Code Jam, a free event to be held Saturday, September 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Rackspace Global HQ. Because why would you want to just play a game when you can learn to create your own? The San Antonio Youth Code Jam, a project of SASTEMIC, is a workforce development initiative to engage young students in technology by introducing them to a variety of coding activities and languages early on and by providing their parents a roadmap for the migration path from early coding to professional STEM careers. Designed to be a loosely structured, collaborative and creativity-inspiring experience for youth, students participate in a variety of hands-on stations in a plug-and-play kind of way. They have the opportunity to learn Java, Python, Minecraft, HTML/CSS, cyber security and Scratch. They are mentored by experts in the industry who volunteer their time to share their passion of programming. By requiring parents to stay with their children, we are building a deeper level of engagement and support for students to be inspired and pursue tech-related career paths.

Santa Fe, NM (Inactive) – The Horse Shelter Diaries

2015-06-06T00:00:00Z

“Mining The Gold: Horse Shelter Diaries” is a video project in conjunction with the Horse Shelter in Santa Fe aimed at making the public aware that there are healthy viable horses for adoption out at the Shelter. I began filming in April 2014 when 8 horse trainers chose 8 horses to take for 100 days and train them so they could compete against each other to show their training at the National Day of the Cowboy celebration in July. This celebration took place out on Hwy 14 at Clint Mortenson’s arena and was attended by over 1200 people. The horses were then auctioned to qualified bidders and went to their new homes. I have done this project as a volunteer. I am currently in post-production and would like to finish this film as professionally as possible so it can be shown and help educate the public about what a wonderful job the Horse Shelter is doing for the abused and abandoned horses in New Mexico. My previous film, “She had some horses,” was just shown in November 2014 at the Equus Film Festival in New York City. The website for that film is www.shehadsomehorsesdocumentary.com

New York City, NY – Lost & Found

2015-06-05T00:00:00Z

We want children to hear lost languages. We have songs in extinct languages that we would like children to experience. We are using cutting edge technology with century old musical instrument parts to do this. To give young children the opportunity to hear these lost languages we are creating Lost & Found, a multimedia sound sculpture. A number of extinct language recordings have been obtained from archives around the world. Using new technology such as the Raspberry Pi, a credit card-sized computer designed in the UK to promote the teaching of basic computer coding in schools, we will be able to bring the voices of the past to life. Wooden organ pipes, an instrument that contains a specific note of the musical scale, will now contain extinct languages from countries all over the world. As children walk around the pipes that range in height from 3-ft to 6-ft, a motion detector within the pipe will sense the viewer and the Raspberry Pi will begin to play the extinct language recording, making the wooden organ pipe speak to the children. The children may experience the artwork much like a puppet speaking. Children will also watch an animation about the language, on a display affixed to the pipe. The experience for them will be one of learning and understanding that these languages were once spoken, yet they are now lost. We hope to inspire children to think about their native languages and cultures, and to do this questions will be posed at the end of the animation, such as “What language does your grandmother speak?” and “What languages are spoken at home?” The child is the activating agent that orchestrates the work. As several children wander through the installation, a many-voiced acoustic event—a chance symphony of voices—will create an intercultural soundscape. The pipes will be painted in bright colors, creating a color playground of education and art. A take-home word search game has been created for children to extend their language experience. Why We Think This is Awesome This project has a whole lot of awesome wrapped up in a fascinating installation. It's a mix of old (salvaged organ pipes), lost (extinct languages), and the new (modern Raspberry Pi technology) to create an experience that reminds us all about native languages and culture. In a city as rich and diverse as New York, it is incredible to see lost languages unearthed and given new life through this project.

Lusaka (Inactive) – Recycled Charcoal Project

2015-06-03T00:00:00Z

This is a project to develop an environmentally responsible low cost fuel from wood charcoal waste, which can be used for cooking and heating on any type of charcoal stove both in-doors and out-doors. The proposed fuel is made from locally produced, easily accessible raw materials and costs marginally lower to produce compared to other solid bio fuels like wood charcoal and sawdust pellets, so it is more affordable. Our bio fuel also provides a consistent high combustion heat source as wood charcoal and produces less harmful emissions compared to firewood, so it less hazardous and more suitable for household use. Our target is to supply and deliver our innovative Low-Cost Fuel to more than 10,000 rural and urban households every month across Zambia by 2018. By providing energy consumers with a clean and cost-saving energy source for cooking and heating, the Recycled Charcoal Project will address the increasing need by consumers, to have clean and affordable energy options which do not put pressure on the environment and their health at risk, in emerging markets where the electric grid is less widespread, mainly due to its high cost. Recycled Charcoal could be used by consumers, especially households in urban and peri-urban areas, to give them an edge in meeting their day-to-day energy needs, while making it affordable and easy to use for the mass markets. The success of this social enterprise also means less trees are cut down for charcoal and more charcoal is produced per tree cut as a result of agricultural development and also reduction in emissions from deforestation and degradation to mitigate climate change, which will lead to improved quality of life for society. We hope, in the near future, to create both small- and large-scale charcoal recycling hubs in highly deforested rural areas and in major towns and cities that will give us easy access to our raw materials, and also enable us to create new decent jobs for youths in rural and peri-urban area

Liverpool – Liverpool MakeFest

2015-06-02T00:00:00Z

A Festival like no other for Liverpool! Liverpool MakeFest is a FREE family friendly one day festival for all ages celebrating all things 'makey' in the north-west, showcasing things people have made, projects people are working on, inventions, gadgets and hands-on activities including, coding, hacking workshops and demonstrations. It's being held in Liverpool Central Library on Saturday 27th June from 9am-5pm and is entirely FREE to everyone! Early bird TICKETS are on Eventbrite here... goo.gl/uQebHc It's a place to see how science, technology, engineering, arts and crafts are shaping our world... a place to get you thinking and learning about cool stuff you could make yourself! As a result of everyone’s hard work and true maker spirit we have over 100 makers attending 60 stalls / activities / workshops / demos with everything from IoT to daleks, from textiles to robots, from minecraft to woodcraft… and a whole lot in between :) You can check out the full list of 'Who's Coming To Makefest' and what's going on our website, but here's a flavour... What's at MakeFest? You can expect to see robots, drones, wearable tech, 3D scanners, 3D printers, laser cutters & crafting in abundance and there'll be opportunities for you to; Take spy-tank and drone selfies Build and code robots 3D scan your own head 3D print or laser cut your own souvenir of the day Try your hand at podcasting Create your own arts and crafts Learn about sculpting Meet the Daleks Make your own music Test your skill with NERF guns Learn to code Get to grips with Raspberry Pi Explore virtual 3D worlds ...and much more. And as we said, best of all - entry is FREE! It's a place to come along and get in touch with your inner geek for a day and promises to be a fun, family-friendly event - so come along and ENJOY the geekery :)

New Orleans, LA (Inactive) – ECOHYBRIDITY: LOVE SONG FOR NOLA

2015-06-02T00:00:00Z

ECOHYBRIDITY: LOVE SONG FOR NOLA, a visual [black] opera in 5 movements is a collaborative production with New Orleans-based artists and organizers. The visual opera, a term coined by Gallery of the Streets founder and Artistic Director, Kai Barrow, features roving performances and site-specific installations marking the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Set in post-Katrina New Orleans, The plot follows a group of nomadic “SONGBIRDS” as they journey to recover, reclaim, and recreate home. The 10th anniversary offers an opportunity to look at our current national and international responses to anti-Black violence. The storm and its aftermath—disaster capitalism—has violent repercussions on the lives of Black New Orleanians. We hope the opera will provoke a dialogue about who we are and what we’re becoming in the new New Orleans. The large-scale production draws on the vision, memory, and skills of Black feminist artists and organizers—many of whom survived Katrina. Using the 10th anniversary to recall those who were invisibilized, neglected, and attacked during and after the storm, the visual opera will include site-specific installations, such as a “Tent City” for homeless New Orleanians, and a large-scale projection to recognize the prisoners at OPP. A Subversive Ball will feature costumes, a DJ Orchestra, and performances. Additionally, we are partnering with local social justice and arts organizations to collect community stories and to support other grassroots community-based calls to action. We will produce materials designed to support ongoing movement-building such as, an exhibition catalog featuring photographs and critical writing; a popular education curriculum and information bank of source materials and a documentary that posits Black feminist praxis as a movement-building tool. We aim to fuse public art and community engagement to confront power, encourage dialogue, and develop an intersectional cultural organizing praxis.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Unconventional Apology Project

2015-06-01T00:00:00Z

Unconventional Apology Project is a portrait and interview series focusing on female survivors of domestic violence. The Project was sparked by a domestic violence tragedy in my family compounded by the death of the offending abuser. My grandfather murdered my grandmother in 1975 in Compton, CA—two days after their divorce was final. Mableine Nelson Barlow was shot to death while running down the street with my father (1 of their 7 children together); both attempting to escape his drunken rage. She was 36. My father went unscathed, but held his dying mother in his arms while she took her last breath, suffering a lifetime of survivors' guilt. My grandfather eventually became sober and religious; allowing him to be accepted back into the family by his 7 children. Unfortunately, their acceptance led to the silence of my grandmother's life and death. She was never mentioned and her death a mystery to me until I turned 16 - the same age as my father when he witnessed his mother's murder. I, of course, was very conflicted and remained so through adulthood. My grandfather came to cherish his family involvement, and used photography to document our growth. He was obsessed with taking photographs with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. There are innumerable photos of him with us as we matured. His Trail of Existence will live on forever. My family refused to mention his cold-blooded crime, for their need to avoid the reality that their father ended their loving mother’s life. Our coping came at the expense of my grandmother’s memory, evidenced by my recent acquisition of the only two photos that show her distinct physical characteristics. I feel profoundly connected to the remnants of her memory. Upon his death, my grandfather left me his camera. This camera is being used as a tool to photograph women that have been impacted by abuse, and have been silenced. They deserve a Trail of Existence. They will not disappear. This is an Unconventional Apology.

Melbourne (Inactive) – Sunshine Children's Garden

2015-06-01T00:00:00Z

Sunshine Plaza is constructed near the site of the historical (and then revolutionary) industrial garden built for the workers at the Sunshine Harvester Works factory in the 1900s. We want to invite children to reimagine and rebuild this piece of local history in an unexpected space - a shopping centre. Local families will turn a vacant shop into ‘Sunshine Children’s Garden’ a flourishing and beautiful garden playscape, using recycled cardboard and plastic donated from retailers within and around Sunshine Plaza. We will work with Sunshine Historical Society to include large scale paste-ups cut out from historical photos of the gardens to act as a backdrop. Now-lost features of the industrial gardens, such as its conservatory, bandstand and Head Gardener's cottage, will be used as some of the creative prompts to help, inspire and educate children as they build. On the day we also wish to provide a take-away message to families by gifting each participant with a packet of chrysanthemum and dahlia seeds (two flowers for which the gardens were previously famous). The seed packet will be printed with information about Sunshine Children’s Garden and the historical significance of the industrial gardens. We also hope to inspire families to plant real-life gardens in their community using the seeds. When finished the final installation will create a unique shopfront display for the community to enjoy for a week after the event, before being disassembled and recycled. The event aims to strengthen local families’ sense of belonging to the community. Sunshine is an incredibly diverse area and many of its residents are immigrants who may not necessarily be aware of the history of the suburb. Sunshine's Children's Garden will also create an opportunity for children to reflect on the historical and cultural significance of Sunshine's history while providing an opportunity to capture and document their ideas for its future.

Baltimore, MD – Oliver Community Farm & Pavillion

2015-06-01T00:00:00Z

The Oliver Community Farm & Pavilion is a 40,000 square foot community farm and gathering space on a lot that was previously a vacant trash dump and unmanaged lot in East Baltimore's Oliver neighborhood. It took several years to clear the lot of trash, debris, and hazardous materials and initiate the lot's transformation into a community asset in one of Maryland's most impoverished and underserved neighborhoods. In 2014, the Oliver Community Farm distributed close to 600 gallon bags of fresh produce to Oliver residents who experience food insecurity and lack access to healthy foods and we expect to more than double that in 2015. Also in 2014, the farm employed Oliver residents as seasonal or part-time employees and provided agricultural training. Five-hundred and eighty-eight volunteers worked 2,313 hours in 2014 and we are on pace to surpass those numbers significantly in 2015. In addition to food distribution, we also engage the community in nutritional education and healthy cooking classes. In addition to the nutritional benefit and that of employment and training, the farm is transforming into a vibrant community gathering space where children and families can recreate and learn. We plan to install benches, a covered pavilion, and a small play area. These recreational and community components that will augment the urban farm are the subject of this grant proposal.

Atlanta, GA – Artists Making a Difference

2015-06-01T00:00:00Z

Artists Making a Difference is a community initiative that organizes and provides resources for the creation of murals at schools, community centers, and shelters around the Metro Atlanta area. The murals are created by selected local artists who want to give back to their community. The goal of the initiative is to inspire the kids at the participating schools, community centers, and shelters. The Awesome Atlanta grant would go toward producing two murals for the laundry area of the Gatewood Ronald McDonald House ("RMH"). The murals will practically serve as marker for the families staying at the RMH that cannot locate the laundry room in the garage. Spiritually, the murals will serve as source of inspiration, comfort, and uplifting for the parents who are staying there because their child is receiving life saving treatment at Emory Hospital.

Paris (Inactive) – Studio Carnaval

2015-05-31T00:00:00Z

Le Studio Itinérant de l'association Clichés Urbains propose aux habitants des quartiers urbains populaires de se faire tirer le portrait sur un fond représentant un autre endroit du monde. Cette animation ludique et gratuite s’inscrit dans une démarche de documentation des quartiers et de leurs habitants entreprise par Clichés Urbains depuis son origine en 2008. Le "Studio Carnaval” proposera cet été aux parisiens, de se faire tirer le portrait "au carnaval de Rio”. A l'occasion de Paris Plages (canal de l'Ourcq), les participants seront invités à poser devant un lieu symbolique de Rio, avec les accessoires de leur choix. Les photos sont imprimées sur le champ et mises à disposition par internet. Se jouant des clichés, les portraits gais et originaux ainsi réalisés donnent à réfléchir à l'universalité des êtres humains, quelques soient leurs origines géographiques, culturelles ou religieuses. Ils témoignent de l’incroyable diversité du peuple français. The Travelling Studio of the organisation Clichés Urbains offers the inhabitants of urban popular nieghborhoods to be photographed in front of a backdrop representing another area of the world. This fun and free event is part of a project to document neighborhoods and their inhabitants, that was started by Clichés Urbains in 2008. This summer, « Studio Carnaval » will offer to the Parisian the opportunity to be photographed « at the Rio carnival ». During Paris Plages (on the Ourcq canal), the participants will be invited to pose in front of a symbolic Rio location, with the accessories of their choice. The photos will be printed on the spot and will be available on internet. Defying clichés, the happy and original portaits invites us to think about the universality of human beings, no matter what are their geographic, cultural or religious origins. They give us to see the amazing diversity of the French people.

Lethbridge, AB (Inactive) – Courtyard Outdoor Learning

2015-05-30T00:00:00Z

Our school, Children of St. Martha, currently has a non-functioning outdoor space. We would like to see this area become an outdoor community learning space. We will use the money to create a sustainable outdoor space that will function for the life of the school. We envision three stages to this project: clean-up, furnishing and staging, and utilization. Clean up will consist of hardworking staff cleaning this area and removing storage and garbage that has built up. Furnishing and staging will include purchasing outdoor furniture (cushions, chairs, planters, etc.) that will allow and entire classroom to participate in learning activities. The final phase of utilization will include inviting community partners to create intergenerational connections with our student body. This would include people such as residents of Columbia Assisted Living, elders from our Blackfoot community, members of St. Martha's Parish, along with others. Once this space is fully functional we envision using it as an outdoor classroom space. We are excited about the potential for science, literacy, and numeracy projects to occur in an outdoor setting. Research has shown that spending time outdoors increases ones happiness and productivity. We believe that an outdoor space will improve the wellness of both students and staff of Children of St. Martha. We are excited about the project and look forward to the hard work we plan on in investing in this classroom area.

Oklahoma City, OK (Inactive) – The Elaborate Collaborate

2015-05-29T00:00:00Z

The Elaborate Collaborate is a large-scale collaboration between Oklahoma visual artists. The exhibition embraces the exquisite corpse, as method of collaboration. 42 artists will create a series of multi media works on paper that will evolve over the five weeks (Jul-Aug 2015) it is installed at IAO Gallery in Oklahoma City. Ten video artists and one sound artist are creating a 10 minute video collaboration that will be screened during the exhibition. The public opening is during Premier on Film Row on July 17 from 6-10pm. An Exquisite Corpse Poetry Game Event will be held on Thursday, Jul30, led by poet and visual artist Kerri Shadid. There will be a closing reception on August 14 from 6-8pm. Through this exhibition, the public will be invited to observe artists at work in the gallery, while watching a large-scale collaborative artwork take shape. Nothing of this kind has been done in Oklahoma. Kelsey Karper and romy owens are independent curators leading this experimental exhibition. PARTICIPATING ARTISTS Works on Paper: Jennifer Allen-Barron Lisa Jean Allswede Alyson Atchison Ginnie Baer rs barnes Nick Bayer Jerry Bennett Bombs Away Amanda Bradway Dylan Bradway Erin Cooper Jason Cytacki Adrienne Day Denise Duong Tim Hearne Michelle Himes-McCrory David Holland Kalee Jones W adam Lanman JP Morrison Lans Trent Lawson Mike Litzau Tiffany McKnight Lauren Miller George Oswalt Jason Pawley Angie Piehl Haley Prestifilippo Marissa Raglin Tessa Raven Kelly Rogers Amanda Sawyer Erin Shaw Gloria Shows Rick Sinnett Clint Stone Cassie Stover William R Struby AK Westerman Libby Williams John Wolfe BJ Zorn Sneed Video: Eli Casiano Glenn Herbert Davis Samantha Dillehay Cathleen Faubert Pete Froslie Sarah Hearn Geoffrey Hicks Mark Kuykendall Beau Leland Stefanie Leland K Edward Van Osdol p.s. the submitted drawings are by Tim Hearne and Trent Lawson.

Santa Fe, NM (Inactive) – CAMP ADOBE 101

2015-05-29T00:00:00Z

How do internationally acclaimed architects and builders brainstorm with Santa Fe barrio dropouts to rebuild a historic adobe? It’s CAMP ADOBE 101! In 2015, Santa Fe hosts adobe architects and builders from around the world at the EARTH USA Conference. Yet the kids whose ancestors built our unique city have no idea how to work with this “dirt-cheap” material. By interfacing workers from Santa Fe Youthworks, a GED based work training non-profit, with conference participants at a historic adobe site on the Vallecitos River, we begin a hands-on camp workshop teaching disenfranchised city youth and adobe theorists how to get “down and dirty,” while beginning reconstruction on the original village plaza and zaguan of a historic locale close to Santa Fe. In early June, a Youthworks crew will study with adobe master and founder of EARTH USA, Quentin Wilson, on site at an old adobe ruin of his choosing to teach the history and fundamentals of adobe construction. Students will camp in tipis on the bank of the Vallecitos, learn to make adobe forms and bricks, draw architectural renderings with artist, Shelley Horton-Trippe, and begin reconstructing a wall with builder, Scott Ardis. Then on October 2-4, 2015, Youthworks members will be given scholarships to the EARTH USA 2015 conference at the Museum of Art in downtown Santa Fe. There they will study with world renowned adobe leaders and present a demo on adobe brick making. Youthworks will also demonstrate adobe making on the Plaza for the public during the conference in what might be called a “performance piece.” On October 5, Youthworks crew will host a tour of the old adobe ruin in Vallecitos for the international visitors from the conference and end with a campfire on the river’s edge. The 2015 CAMP ADOBE 101 is just the beginning of a series of ongoing hands-on adobe workshops that will be open to the public to create a positive “down and dirty” adobe making experience for the novice or city dwellers around the world. Youthworks is a Santa Fe 501c3 supplying GED tutoring and work training to disadvantaged youth. Quentin Wilson is a master adobe builder and educator, who began the prestigious adobe construction program at NNMCC in El Rito and is founder of EARTH USA. Scott Ardis is a master builder, musician and talented songwriter. Shelley Horton-Trippe is the Project Director and a painter, exhibiting with LewAllen Galleries. As an art activist, she has worked with disenfranchised youth, women and girls.

Gloucester, MA – Bicycle Generator

2015-05-28T00:00:00Z

Gloucester, MA – O'maley Butterfly garden

2015-05-28T00:00:00Z

O'Maley is a wonderful school with awesome teachers and great kids. We have a vegetable garden and tons of after school programs. What more could we possibly want? More nature! A butterfly garden is a beautiful and simple way to introduce life into our concrete jungle! The kids at O’maley should have access to the beautiful world around them and it would be a great tool for teachers teaching about metamorphosis and food chains. Students would be able to get their hands dirty and see how their hard work supports other living things. A butterfly garden would do not only this, but it would also help endangered species of butterflies thrive in Gloucester! Species such as Monarch, Spicebush Swallowtail, Pipevine Swallowtail, Checkered White butterfly, Black Swallowtail, and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, would all visit our garden. These butterflies would increase biodiversity in the ecosystem that surrounds our school. We would be observing and conserving nature! To make it happen we would definitely need some help. Harbor house teachers Ms. McGrath and Ms. Hand have already gotten us started by helping students remove dead grass and garbage from our preferred garden spot in the front of the school. Teachers will definitely continue to be involved by getting students interested and willing to help. The organization Backyard Growers (Backyard Growers leads our school garden program) has already volunteered to provide technical assistance. The DPW is helping us to repair our garden bed. Some possible supporters are the Generous Gardeners and Kim Smith, a local butterfly expert. No matter how many people are involved, the students at O’maley will play a huge part in making it awesome!

Portland, OR – Forest For The Trees

2015-05-28T00:00:00Z

Forest For The Trees is an independent project that brings together local and international artists in a collaborative setting, providing them with the creative freedom and resources to create lasting works in environments that are freely accessible in the Portland community. We aim to improve the visual landscape of the city through quality artwork, and to provide opportunities to the creative community to participate in establishing Portland’s visual identity. Not only does this project create a local identity through the work of Portland’s art community, but also connects us to a larger global community. Artists come from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, the Netherlands, NZ, Puerto Rico, Russia, S Africa and the UK, as well as various US cities and Native Reservations. The mixing of local and visiting artists allows for greater diversity of work and sharing of ideas that enrich the Portland culture. It also broadens exposure and opportunities before a global audience, thus contributing to Portland’s stature as an international creative hub. With the money from the Awesome Foundation, I would be able to fund 2 new murals, covering 10,000 sq ft. The first mural would be by New Zealand duo BMD, and would wrap around the entirety of the building. This one would be on SE Division Pl, directly on the new MAX Line and very visible from lower Division St. The work of BMD is about as fun as mural work can get, with colorful patterns, goofy characters with creepy undertones, and a desire to play with architecture, making this building the perfect canvas for them. The second mural would be by Tokyo artist Nigamushi. This mural would be overlooking Old Town Chinatown from the 2nd & 3rd stories of the Goldsmith Block. Nigamushi's work is bright, bold and graphic, at times mixing traditional Japanese influences with more contemporary consumerist perversions. These pieces will no doubt bring smiles and likely puzzled stares to the neighborhood

Orlando, FL – Art Attack

2015-05-27T00:00:00Z

An Art Attack could happen at any time, any place, to anyone willing to participate. Trained artists supplied with easels, acrylic, brushes, and canvas will convene in a public space (park, etc.) where there is plenty of foot traffic (possibly during farmer's markets, festivals, weekends, etc) to engage the public in canvas painting activities. The artists will be on hand to offer one-on-one guidance and suggestions and answer questions of the person having the Art Attack. The purpose of this activity is to actively engage the "viewing" public so that they become the "creating" public and ignite their interest and appreciation of original art making. The town of Wintergarden is building its community through the arts and is most likely to be receptive to Art Attack happenings. I plan on enlisting the local artists and members of the Winter Garden Art Association as the trained artists. Also, East Winter Garden, a lower socio-economic area of the town, is participating in a community redevelopment partnership that seeks to bring art opportunities to the area to identify community leaders in the arts who can continue and lead their community population. Art Attack happenings can align with organized community events to build art experience exposure to the area. Where people gather, art will be part of the conversation. Art Attack Artists will wear Tshirts to identify themselves. Canvas sizes will vary to offer choices but no larger than 16x20. 11x14 will probably be most available. This grant activity hopes to engage adults of all ages and children with their parent's interaction.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – The untold story of the Somali basketball players

2015-05-27T00:00:00Z

I'm producing and directing a Feature documentary film 'Nation's Hope' It's story about hope, incarnating the strong will and devotion of the Somali Women National Basketball Team, amid an ongoing conflict. The idea for the film came to me when a colleague mentioned that the Somali Women's National Basketball Team had come fourth at the 'Arab Games' in Qatar in 2011. I am not used to good news coming out of a country in the grips of poverty and civil war, so I was surprised and proud, and when I began to research the individual stories of the girls on the team I was inspired. I decided to try to emulate these girls and do something good for my country. I set a plan in motion and traveled with a skeleton film crew back to Somalia to meet the girls and film their stories. This is what we found: https://vimeo.com/122189773 password: 1somalia I hope you enjoy the promo and I look forward to hearing from you.

Philadelphia, PA – Blossoming Berks Garden

2015-05-26T00:00:00Z

Our project is to build a greenhouse at an already existing small community garden at 22nd and Berks St. The greenhouse will allow production through 4 season and will aid in preparing for spring planting as well. While the garden produces enough to freeze a small amount of vegetables for winter meals, greens and small fruiting vegetable plants are sorely missed. The garden provides produce in a very underserved community, as well as 2 safe havens. One "safe haven" is for women and is located in Center City. The other is for men and is located in West Philly. Both locations provide 3 meals a day for residents and fresh produce is a rarity due to the extremely limited food budget at these sites. Community residents, as well as the safe haven residents, help care for the gardens and are able to attend nutrition education connecting their experience in the garden with at-home cooking and grocery shopping.

London, ON (Inactive) – StopGap London

2015-05-26T00:00:00Z

StopGap was founded in Toronto by Luke Anderson as a way to create accessible communities, as well as get people talking about accessibility issues in a fun and engaging new way. Our group of volunteers is bringing StopGap to London with a Community Ramp Project that supplies free, colourful, portable access ramps to businesses with single step entrances. These ramps will allow wheelchair & other mobility device users, people pushing wheelchairs, friends & family and many others new access to businesses. We're asking for community participation in identifying businesses with one step entrances with the call to action, "See The Gap. Stop The Gap." Often businesses want to be accessible, but renting & other factors prohibit a permanent ramp. This is a simple, yet complex project as every step is like a snowflake - unique in its design. Once businesses have been identified & indicate they'd like to participate, our volunteers carefully measure their step. These measurements are sent to Luke, an Engineer, who creates custom templates for each ramp. The ramps will all be built on the weekend of June 13-14, 2015 at Duo Building Inc., who has volunteered their workshop & time. Our volunteers will paint the ramps & delivery to participating businesses is scheduled for June 15. Our main goal is to eliminate single step barriers & create an inclusive city for everyone to live, work, play in & visit. StopGap London Lead Team members are: Luke Anderson, Martha Miller, Dan Harvey, Jason Graça, Dave Rino & myself, Lisa Bondy. Here's a clip of us in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQzwNqT_-W0 From all of our StopGap Londoners, thank you for Awesome London's consideration!

Stockholm (Inactive) – Step-by-step guide - start a business in Sweden

2015-05-26T00:00:00Z

After Work Academy provide free evening classes to immigrants (or anyone who can speak English) and cover the practical steps new entrepreneurs need to take to start a company in Sweden. Here are some of the reviews participants have left so far: "I attended my first course at After Work Academy last friday and it was such a great experience. The course "how to start a business in Sweden" was really interesting and useful. I'd never imagined that it could be like this. The concepts were perfectly explained and the method during the lesson couldn't be better. I'd recommend this course and the school without doubts" Aranxta from Spain "The course was very informative, the lecturer in style was definitely to my liking. A very relaxed and welcoming environment and I got to meet some of the most interesting individuals there. I will definitely be going to a few more extra courses in order to improve my skills and I would highly recommend them. Exactly what I was looking for.." Denny from South Africa

Amsterdam (Inactive) – Amsterdam at night... From space!

2015-05-25T00:00:00Z

I'd like to send a balloon into space, launching it from a location in Amsterdam. I've done this once before, during daytime, launching it from a field in a small town. The differences/challenges will be that I'd like to take a video instead of photos, the fact that I'd like to launch it at night (with a clear sky) and launching it in Amsterdam (which is legal). Those are the two major differences, I have some smaller differences I'd like to make as well. My previous project reached over 1.000.000 people, I unfortunately didn't made it to two major television-shows, because of Dutch rules (I wasn't old enough for the late night show...). www.FL1200.nl is the website of my previous project. (I'm not yet sure about the project title)

Washington, DC – RightRides DC

2015-05-25T00:00:00Z

RightRides DC (RRDC) is a program of Collective Action For Safe Spaces (CASS), a non-profit organization that empowers people in the DC metropolitan area to build a community free of public sexual harassment and assault, more commonly known as street harassment. This program offers free, safe, late-night rides home to women, LGBTQ and gender non-conforming (GNC) individuals. Our motto is, “Getting home safe shouldn’t be a luxury.” The program is supported by one part-time, paid staff; the program is possible because of our incredible volunteers and a partnership with Zipcar. Our next service date is July 4. The need for RRDC was demonstrated in a 2013 survey of nearly 300 potential RRDC users (women and LGBTQGNC-identifying people living in DC). 84% of respondents had experienced public sexual harassment while walking, biking, taking public transit, or taxi cabs, ranging from threatening comments to sexual assault. 85% of respondents use public transportation because it is cheaper than taxis or car services; however, the majority of respondents don’t feel safe while using DC public transit late at night by themselves. Access and affordability problems are magnified in traditionally underserved areas east of the Anacostia River. RightRides DC strives to provide safe rides to the people who need it most, while training volunteers to take their public safety into their own hands and become community leaders. To meet these goals, we are upping outreach in Wards 7 and 8 for riders and volunteers. On our most recent service date, 20% of our riders resided in Wards 7 and 8, and for our next service date, we want to do even better. With the Awesome Foundation’s support, we will be able to continue our important service and expand our outreach in the following ways: 1) our Programs Fellow will meet with three new community partners in Wards 7 and 8; 2) we will table at one community event in Ward 7 or 8; and 3) we will speak at four ANC meetings in Wards 7 and 8.

Ottawa – Quilts for Roger's House

2015-05-24T00:00:00Z

The second of May's two Awesome Ottawa awards goes to Sarah Heath, to support the sewing of new quilts for Roger’s House. Sarah runs a small sewing group, the Hintonburg Sewcial Club, that makes things for local charities while trying to grow the local sewing community. The award will help the club make 10 custom quilts for Roger’s House, a pediatric hospice. “Each treatment bed in their facility is covered with a hand-made quilt,” explains Sarah. “Their current quilts are becoming a little worn out, and we plan to make new ones to replace them. Small things like having a fun quilt on a child’s bed can make a huge difference — maybe making the hospice less clinical or less scary, and possibly a little more like a home away from home.” Sarah is a public servant, and a mom to two young girls.

Ottawa – Rehabilitative and Assistive Exoskeleton

2015-05-24T00:00:00Z

The first of May's two Awesome Ottawa awards goes to Sean Horn, to support initial development of a wearable robot for use in rehabilitation. Sean, who has recently co-founded Active Bionics Inc., explains that the rehabilitative exoskeleton, designed to assist those with difficulty walking, will be called Modo, “because of how we have designed the platform to be modular and customizable to the user’s needs.” It is also being designed to use readily available components and materials. Currently, he says, similar products are priced very high — $70,000 or more — and are usually not owned by the user. Sean and his colleagues would like to bring Modo to market for much less, and will use the award to support continued development and testing. Sean is a recent graduate of Algonquin College’s Mechanical Engineering Technology program, and works as a project manager for an engineering and fabrication firm.

Miami, FL – Let's Talk It Out Conflict Resolution Workshop

2015-05-23T00:00:00Z

Let’s Talk it OUT is a conflict resolution program geared towards the adolescent population to help youth monitor, understand, and manage their stress, anger, and other difficult emotions. The objective is to teach them proactive strategies to navigate and resolve disputes, to circumvent verbal and/or physical aggression and to support pro-social skills. Program Objectives - Learn to identify and label challenging emotions such as frustration, anger, and distress - Discover ways to effectively communicate anger and other negative feelings - Gain skills in constructive problem solving (using ‘rationale’ rather than ‘emotion’ mind) In conflict, each person needs to feel that his/her needs are a priority and that they are, in fact, heard and valued by others. In most situations, it is only natural that perspectives differ and that individuals will choose varied solutions to problems, whether constructive or maladaptive. The modules included in Let’s Talk it OUT promote understanding of conflict resolution systems and problem solving process skills by offering participants varied opportunities to separate one another from controversial issues that serve to divide and antagonize each other. Concepts supporting each module are further reinforced utilizing interactive learning tools such as teamwork and role-play. Specifically, Let’s Talk It OUT offers youth the opportunity to witness the effect of their behavior on others through a real-life peer group setting. Participants are also guided by experienced, sensitive leaders, who encourage learning through step-by-step self-examination, by providing alternative viewpoints, and by facilitating insight and change through experiential learning. Ultimately, Let’s Talk It OUT strives to break the chain of violence too often resorted to by youth by recognizing that education and constructive action are among the best vaccines for violence.

Miami, FL – Bringing Tech to Liberty City

2015-05-23T00:00:00Z

Bringing Tech to Liberty City is a workshop/class for individuals 45+ looking to learn the basics of the computer and more.In this workshop/class basic computer literacy will be taught first (i.e functions of a key board, functions of the mouse etc.) Then I will begin to teach every day tasks completed using a computer and/or the internet. Some of the tasks will include how to read,check, forward and send an email, how to conduct a search on Google, how to save a file on your computer etc. This workshop will happen every Saturday from 2 pm-5 pm for 6 weeks. Lunch will be provided. At the end of the 6 weeks participants will get a certificate for completing the course and also present a presentation on what they learned from the class.

Miami, FL – MDC Wolfson Shark Pantry

2015-05-23T00:00:00Z

As a homeless student i struggled with being able to attend college, work and be able to to afford simple necessities such as toilet paper, toothbrush, socks, and food. I realized there were many resources off campus but non on campus and as a homeless student I did not have transportation to the off site locations to receive help. I became the President of Acts of Kindness, an organization at MDC Wolfson Campus I brought the idea of a shark pantry to my team. We found out there were 42 students on campus who were homeless and many more who were low income. MDC is our second home so it did not make sense that a program like this did not exist for those students. Our Shark Pantry would provied all necessities a student would need.They would visit Single Stop and fill out an application to receive free government benefits and from there be able to go to the pantry and receive any necessities they needed free of charge. Our pantry would include food, all types of clothes especially for interviews,toiletries and bus passes.

Orlando, FL – Mobile Art Truck

2015-05-22T00:00:00Z

Hello there! ArtReach Orlando has been providing arts programming opportunities to children in high-need, under-served areas for the past three years. We have created a number of public art pieces including murals at schools, a found object mosaic in Apopka, anti-bullying programs and more. We have recently launched a mobile art classroom based in a refurbished bus in order to host free art programming in public spaces around Orange County. Each month will feature a different artist and a unique set of lessons and activities. For the month of February we have partnered with teaching artist Jenn Benner of Misty Forest to teach indigo dip-dyeing.

Austin, TX – The Quality or Condition

2015-05-22T00:00:00Z

"The Quality or Condition" is an interactive multimedia installation that will blend music, visual art/sculpture, and storytelling into a cohesive and immersive multi-sensory experience. It is the collaborative brainchild of Backstop Collective, an Austin, Texas-based art group that leverages the talents of three respected multidisciplinary artists, Lauren Gurgiolo, Hannah Baker, and Wendy Mitchell. During the installation, participants will travel through a passageway whose walls are filled with hundreds of ceramic masks. Each mask will be identical in form but unique on the surface, due to raku firing. Light and motion sensors will be placed in and around the masks, and visitors will engage with them to trigger recorded music, ambient sounds, and short stories that will play from speakers behind the masks. Each visitor must choose where to focus attention, carving out his or her own unique reality of the experience: lingering to listen to a story’s climax, stepping into a silent corner, drifting off to an ambient combination of sounds, singing along to a nursery rhyme, or leaning in close to hear a secret. Inspired by Sartre’s idea of bad faith and the constellation model of relationship therapy, the project explores themes of self-identity, social interaction, and group relationships. As the visitor travels through the passage, she is responsible not only for curating her own experience, but also for contributing to the experience of the group as a whole. This marks the second piece from Backstop Art. In 2013, the team produced 'Calculated Carelessness' (Museum of Human Achievement), a multimedia installation which received Project II Cultural Arts Funding from the city of Austin. It culminated in four nights of sold out shows.

Oahu, HI – Word on the Street

2015-05-21T00:00:00Z

Word on the Street (WOTS) is a social entrepreneurship designed to empower the houseless in Honolulu by giving them a voice, skills and the financial means to escape the difficulties tied to being houseless. Houseless vendors buy the WOTS magazine for $.50 and sell it for a suggested donation of $2.95, which all goes to them. The houseless vendors have the opportunity to build their own future via their magazine sales and a related training course, which has the positive effects of giving them much needed income, entrepreneurial skills, motivation to stay clean from drinking and drugs, discipline and a boost in morale. The WOTS magazine is created by a core team of 6 volunteers with extensive experience in journalism, marketing, psychology and working with the houseless in Honolulu. We have already designed the magazine, mapped out vending districts and have over 60 people who have pledged to buy the first issue. WOTS is based upon a successful model that has been implemented in many other cities and serves as an effective tool to mitigate houselessness. "The Contributor" in Nashville (www.thecontributor.org) had to cap its number of vendors at 400, while the UK based Big Issue (www.bigissue.com) sells 120,000 copies a week. Word on the Street has the potential to create hundreds of jobs for the Honolulu houseless, invigorate the disadvantaged and strengthen our community’s health.

Kingston – Barbara Avenue Canada Day Street Party

2015-05-21T00:00:00Z

The Barbara Avenue Neighbours want to shut down our street to public access on Canada Day to have a family focused street party. We will have carnival games, Bouncy Castles, BBQs, cotton candy, fireworks, sack races and other fun activities. It will be all about building community right on our street.

London (Inactive) – Making holograms from iPhone footage

2015-05-20T00:00:00Z

I studied holography at the Royal College of Art and was an Artist in Residence at the Museum of Holography on Mercer St, New York. I then became a professional photographer for many years working in London. Recently, I decided to get back into holography because I found myself in a position where I could make them again and I feel they are due for a revival. There is a great renaissance for all things analogue and I really want to make tangible art again. Returning to holography after a break of 15 years or so, the world has changed a little and photography and holography have changed a lot. I have spent the last year building a studio in Wales, and now want to develop my ideas in the form of iPhone originated stereograms. A stereogram is a kind of synthesised hologram that originates in film or video footage. It can display time and motion as well as 3D. I like them because they can be spontaneous, unlike regular types of hologram, and can display emotion and have a kind of nickelodeon type nostalgia about them. It used to take a lot of time to create these, but now with an iPhone I can use various apps that get rid of the camera shake and smooth out the animation, which speeds up the process considerably. Now I have built my studio, I need to take it up to the next level to make my stereograms. I am going focus on research and development to work out how to use an LCD screen in a holographic set up. I also need to automate the whole stereogram making process with the help of a moving slit (to make the separate exposures) and a Raspberry Pi or two.