tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:/en/projects?page=31 2023-02-20T01:01:11Z tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/214889 2023-02-16T00:00:00Z 2023-02-20T01:01:11Z Chaharshanbe Suri is ancient Zoroastrian cultural-religious festival celebrated on the eve of the last Wednesday of the solar new year by people of Iranian, Afghan, Kurdish, and Azeri descent. Participants jump over small fires, summoning the fires to "Take the yellow of my sickness, and bring the red of my health!", while others sing and dance around, welcoming the coming new year. There are traditionally fireworks, as well. Last year, we had 330 people in front of the grandstand of the Memorial Centre, with three real fires for the adults and three faux fires for the children. It was a huge success and the first of its kind in Kingston. This year, with the difficult circumstances faced by those in Iran, family members here have a strong need for a robust expression of their tradition. This is a unifying event of Iranian culture, and is celebrated in other countries in various forms too. We are approaching this event with a ten-year mindset, slowly building up the material assets, such as fire extinguishers and tables, so we can ensure this event happens every year with the ever-changing (largely Queen's student) base. Though we received donations last year, these were only enough to provide a bare minimum of supplies. We want this year and the next to be increasingly larger, always public and always free. Iranian Multicultural Community Chaharshanbe Suri 2023 (Red Wednesday Eve) https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/chaharshanbe-suri-tickets-295335274757 Canada Kingston https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/kingston-on tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/213110 2023-02-15T00:00:00Z 2023-03-02T20:35:39Z I am an aspiring musician that fled to Australia as a refugee from Botswana. Throughout my schooling years, I enjoyed poetry and developed a great passion for music and storytelling. After school and on weekends I played sports, made music and always engaged in activities to stay occupied. I feel that many kids these days are getting in trouble because they lack passion and guidance. I will produce a 4 song EP (Album) called LOVE (Let Our Voices Echo). It will spread a positive message to the youth by encouraging them to focus on school, sports and their passions as too many are being misled down the wrong path and jeopardising their futures. My EP will contain 4 professionally recorded songs with themes promoting positive behaviour as lyricism and storytelling is an effective way to capture an audience. The aim of the project is to educate the youth, spread positivity and encourage them to LOVE (Let Their Voices Echo). Emmanuel Deng Love (Let Our Voices Echo) Australia Melbourne (Inactive) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/melbourne tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/214072 2023-02-15T00:00:00Z 2023-02-28T22:39:46Z Spud Impact helps our Moorhead, MN schools in a wide range of ways. Currently, one major need that our student facilitators are seeing is truancy. Students who WANT to be in school but are facing hurdles such as missing buses, not waking up in time because they do not own alarm clocks or do not have a phone line - this ties into food insecurity, as many of these same students are then missing out on nutrition. When students miss school, staff are required to do truancy reports to the county. The goal is to remove those hurdles, but the reality is that some students have to get ready for school while parents have already left for work. Some of the youngest cannot walk to school on their own, nor do they have the proper winter gear to do so. Overall, it is the facilitator staff's goals to make a positive experience for the whole family in prioritizing education - when truancy is recurrent, it can lead to shame and negative feelings surrounding schooling. We want to support those students sooner so that by the time they reach middle and high school, they are emotionally and mentally stronger. Staff have been identifying needs of individual students, and providing one-on-one time for counseling or social/hygiene education. Each of the 5 elementary schools in Moorhead has between 20 to 60 students who are missing school regularly for various reasons. Because many of these students are lacking basic needs, we want to build an app for families/guardians to request items through a "Spud Store" that will be managed by staff. We plan to engage our Moorhead students at the Career Academy to help build an app that the district will be able to oversee. We plan to fund the startup of housing articles of clothing and hygiene items, alarm clocks, etc. so that staff can then distribute to those in need within the schools. Janelle Leiseth, MLEF Chair Spud Impact http://www.MoorheadLegacy.org United States Cass Clay https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/cassclay tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/215345 2023-02-15T00:00:00Z 2023-04-07T15:18:31Z "Stream Assessment: Passaic River” is a publicly-engaged art project that works directly with community to create an eco-feminist narrative of the Passaic River through collaborative sampling efforts. This social practice inspires, informs, and leads directly into the creation of an editioned interactive artist’s book. Guided by the collaboration of local marine biologists (project partners, Sandra Lavigne at the Great Swamp Watershed Association and Allison Fitzgerald at NJCU) and Stephanie Beth Jordan, a critical ethnographer of ocean science studies, this culturally-responsive project develops materials from within the community to train participants to perform scientific water sampling and visual assessments, providing tools to help the community better connect with the local river. Ethnographic observations/interviews will identify and produce important insights, practices and storytelling that define this community. Field notes and data from collected water samples will provide documentation and source material for the book creation. This information will be woven together through design - testing narratives will be translated into color, shape, and pattern - to tell a lyrical and visual narrative reflective of the connection between the river and the local community. This project is led by Amanda Thackray, a multidisciplinary ecofeminist artist and educator, based in Newark, NJ. You can find out more information about Thackray and her projects by visiting https://ajthackray.com and https://www.instagram.com/mandattacks/. You can sign up for her mailing list to learn more about the project as it unfolds this spring. Amanda J Thackray Stream Assessment: Passaic River https://ajthackray.com/ Worldwide On the Water https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/onthewater tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/215397 2023-02-15T00:00:00Z 2023-04-21T13:44:15Z This project will bring the entire community--young and old--together to assemble the world's largest puzzle which has 51,300 pieces. The puzzle itself is divided into 27 separate puzzles featuring different world landmarks that all connect together to create a montage of images. The goal will be for the community to complete the world's largest puzzle in ONE day! Teams of 4-5 will work together to assemble their individual puzzle, so they will be completing one small portion of the whole puzzle. We plan to step the event up a notch and offer prizes for the top three teams who finish their puzzle the fastest. Danielle Harms & Becky Weber Watertown's 27 Wonder Puzzle Palooza United States Watertown, SD (Inactive) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/watertown tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/209965 2023-02-13T00:00:00Z 2023-02-23T15:11:37Z The Newmarket Youth Leadership Group is planning an outdoor skating event for the community on February 24th, 2023. The goal of "Disco Skate Night" is to encourage youth and teenagers to get outside and experience the Canadian Winter while having fun with friends. We hope to attract the youth and teenagers by hosting a night filled with skating, music, food, and a costume contest. The event will be hosted at the Newmarket Riverwalk Commons. At Riverwalk Commons, there is an outdoor skating rink where the skating will take place. The skating will be accompanied with live music played by a DJ. In addition, food trucks and a hot chocolate stand will be set up a distance away from the skating rink to provide a space for food and refreshments, and a social area off of the ice for anyone to interact with their friends. Towards the end of the night, we will also host our costume contest. Leading up to our event, we will promote the wearing of costumes on the night in order to increase the spirit of the event. Throughout the night, a few of the best costumes will be selected for a final vote where the top three costumes will win a prize. Through skating, music, food, and a costume contest, the Newmarket Youth Leadership Group is excited to host a fun and interactive night for teenagers and youth to participate in the community during the Canadian Winter. We are confident that the event will attract many people and are positive that we will be able to provide a positive experience for anyone who attends! Alex Zhao, Catherine Zhang, Beverly Huang, and the rest of the NYLG Disco Skate Night Canada Newmarket https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/newmarket-ontario tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/210838 2023-02-13T00:00:00Z 2023-02-23T15:10:27Z Kids in the Kitchen are hands-on cooking and baking classes for kids in Newmarket between the ages of 7 and 12. In these classes, kids have the opportunity to work alongside York Region Food Network’s Community Food Animator to learn chopping skills, safe food handling and how to make basic culinary dishes from scratch. As a result of this program, children will benefit from: - Increased confidence in the kitchen - Increased food literacy - Reduced social isolation - Meeting new friends - Having fun with food - Trying new fruits and vegetables - Sharing food and recipes with their family Workshops will be offered at York Region Food Network’s kitchen space in Aurora in the evenings and/or on PA Days. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about where food comes from with trips to YRFN’s Aurora Community Garden. High school students in Newmarket can also benefit from volunteer opportunities associated with the Kids in the Kitchen classes. Joanne Witt Kids in the Kitchen Canada Newmarket https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/newmarket-ontario tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/212841 2023-02-13T00:00:00Z 2023-02-15T15:25:55Z I am producing and assistant directing the play '12 Angry Men' at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in May. The production will mark the return of live theater within NYS correctional facilities for the first time since 2020 when the COVID pandemic began. The production will feature a cast and crew of Sing Sing residents who are participants in the arts program "Rehabilitation Through the Arts" (RTA). The play will be performed three times: twice for in-house audiences of Sing Sing residents and once for an invited audience including family members of the cast and crew members. Margaret Ables '12 Angry Men' at Sing Sing Correctional Facility http://www.rta-arts.org Worldwide Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/awesomewithoutborders tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/213196 2023-02-13T00:00:00Z 2023-03-07T15:10:01Z Carroll Citizens for Racial Equity (CCRE) is currently planning our 2023 Annual Conference, which is titled “Be The Change in Carroll County: Expanding the Vision of Equity”. This conference provides an educational opportunity for members of our community to come together to learn about issues related to race and equity. Keynote and breakout session topics will focus on didactic information, providing context and background, voter rights and eliminating barriers, accountability partners, organizational change; why change is so hard, and micro/macro aggressions. We will be offering this conference in person and virtually. We have entered a new partnership with Carroll Community College for this year’s conference, so we’ll be holding the event on their campus. CCRE represents key stakeholders within our community that promote social justice and equity for all. Our group prioritizes equity to make sure everyone in our community has access to what they need. We give a voice to those who struggle to be heard. Our group seeks out solutions to systemic problems. These problems exist with our neighbors, but also nationally. CCRE focuses on our neighbors and how we can provide education, knowledge, and tools to develop solutions. We also collaborate with other organizations throughout the year in support of events and activities related to our mission. Members from various organizations around the county are represented on the Steering Committee, including the Carroll County Health Department, Carroll Community College, Carroll County Youth Service Bureau, Citizen Services of Carroll County Government, Carroll County Public Library, McDaniel College Social Work Department, NAACP, Human Service Programs of Carroll County, Carroll County Public Schools, Carroll Hospital, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Zepp Center for Peace and Nonviolence, Human Relations Commission, and many community members. Gary Honeman CCRE Community Initiates 2023 http://www.carrollcitizensforequity.org United States Westminster, MD https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/westminster tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/212817 2023-02-12T00:00:00Z 2023-02-12T21:20:47Z The South Middle School Parent Teacher Group (SMS-PTG) is seeking financial assistance for the 2023 South Middle School 10th Annual Books & Breakfast event on March 18, 2023. This event is free of cost for our entire student body and their parents. Books & Breakfast celebrates community and the benefits of reading through a Saturday morning event filled with complementary books, breakfast, family games & informative sessions rooted in boosting student literacy interest & rates. Each student that attends the event will leave with (2) books of their choosing in addition to an SMS bag filled with an additional (2-4) culturally responsive books. These books are purchased by the school administration based on feedback from an SMS student interest survey conducted within the same school year. Attendees are asked to RSVP by a specific date in order to gauge food preparation & event costs. If a student cannot attend, books may be reserved for them per their request. Books & Breakfast is advertised on our school's website, the district website, school calendar, social media accounts, and through fliers sent home with students. More Than a Traditional Book Fair | Books, Breakfast & Fun! • Dozens of students & staff volunteers assist in hosting this event. • Hot breakfasts are prepared & served by student chefs under the supervision of Mr. Wenzel, who is a CIA-trained chef, NECSD instructor & NFA graduate. • Each SMS student has the opportunity to select culturally responsive books based on their interest, enjoy breakfast & games with their families, and gather info from local community organizations. • Families may also attend info sessions & a workshop. • Our 9th annual event included music by South's very own Ms. Whaba & her band. • A photo booth & printed photos are available for all participants as an additional event take-away. The photographer donates his time & equipment. Emily Garcia-Otero South Middle School Books & Breakfast Event https://www.newburghschools.org/news.php?storynum=4356 United States Newburgh, NY https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/newburgh tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/213720 2023-02-09T00:00:00Z 2023-04-16T19:49:25Z AwesomeStPaul is proud to announce that our February 2023 grant has been awarded to Urban Boatbuilders. They will use our $1,000 grant to encourage high school students to consider careers in the trades by using virtual reality technology. Urban Boatbuilders was chosen because our trustees want to help students build their teamwork and math skills, which are critically-important to success in all careers. Our trustees also understand there is a shortage of young people considering careers in the trades and this is our way of helping. Congratulations Urban Boatbuilders! According to Michael Wurth of Urban Boatbuilders, "We have become more focused on promoting careers in the trades to youth in our apprenticeship program. These careers are referred to as gateway occupations or careers that can lift youth out of generational poverty, providing them with wages of more than $42,000 annually. These wages allow youth to live independently and build wealth for themselves and their families. Urban Boatbuilders hands-on youth programming provides introductory courses into the trades, and many youth express an interest to build on these skills and pursue a career in the trades. At a recent tour of Saint Paul College, youth apprentices were able to use virtual reality (VR) to see what a career as an industrial painter was like. The youth absolutely loved it! Urban Boatbuilders heard of another nonprofit organization called Big Ideas. Their goal is to provide exposure to these careers through VR - everything from carpentry to running an excavator. Big Ideas has a full-size semi-trailer that they bring to host sites for half-day programming. The interest in a partnership is very real from both parties. However, the cost for a half day of programming is around $2800. If Urban Boatbuilders can secure some funding, there will be interest from other organizations to pitch in to make this dream become a (virtual) reality." Michael Wurth Explore Careers in the Trades with Virtual Reality http://www.urbanboatbuilders.org United States St. Paul, MN https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/stpaul tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/211921 2023-02-08T00:00:00Z 2023-02-09T13:50:22Z As medical students who are completing clinical clerkships in Metro Detroit hospitals, we have witnessed first-hand the resource poverty that exists within the city of Detroit, especially in the pregnant and postpartum population. While there are many service initiatives that exist in the area, and a number of them target the female population, there is a persistent need in the pregnant and postpartum population for basic supplies to support their pregnancy journey. We have dedicated much of our time in medical school to service in our community, and we have witnessed how small things, such as providing basic pregnancy, newborn, and after-birth care supplies, can make a huge difference in new mothers' lives and change the course of their pregnancy and post-partum journey. With all this being said, we as students have been searching for a way to serve the population of Detroit and bridge the gap for postpartum women to have all the supplies that they need at the tail-end of their pregnancy journey. Our project aims to create a number of “Postpartum Packages” that contain items such as: absorbent briefs, nursing pads, newborn onesies, burp rags, perineal care items, and educational material (information on Detroit resources, breastfeeding, postpartum mental health, contraceptives, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Our goal is to distribute these packages to women at hospital discharge after their birth in preparation for their postpartum journey. We have conferred with a number of OB/GYN providers in the area and have identified that there is a real need for these products in the Detroit postpartum community, and we think we can contribute to filling that gap through this service initiative. We are fundraising for the purpose of purchasing the items for a minimum of 100 packages; we will distribute them in the Detroit community via the local nonprofit Make Your Date, which aims to serve underprivileged and high-risk pregnant individuals. Sara Koussa Postpartum Packages United States Ann Arbor, MI https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/ann-arbor tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/213505 2023-02-08T00:00:00Z 2023-02-09T00:36:05Z HI! Our boy's basketball team works tirelessly all year round. They workout in the off season, play in a summer and fall league, then play their high school season. These athletes are dedicated to their academics and athletics. They go to study hall several times a week all year round. They care about their grades and consistently work to improve their academic standing. In addition to practicing basketball skills and other activities that build stamina they have learned meditation practices and yoga. The missing piece of this wholistic plan is eating healthy. Wendy Hutchinson Basketball Student-Athlete Development United States Baltimore, MD https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/baltimore tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/214272 2023-02-08T00:00:00Z 2023-02-10T06:15:55Z Hello! I am a painter and educator who usually creates portraits of ecosystems en plein air. This summer my family joined the Winnemem Wintu tribe on the Run4Salmon canoe journey to bring advocacy and community together around the health of California’s waterways (Run4Salmon.org is awesome!) While paddling, I had a vision of a painted story-map to support the Winnemem Wintu in visualizing what’s impacting California’s salmon and river health and how their creation story, ceremonies and prayer run are inviting us back into right relation. I’m a little over halfway done! The Winnemem Chief Caleen Sisk and her son have given me approval on the design and feedback as I send updates of my progress. My intention is to gift the tribe the painting upon completion, so they can use the painting as they best see fit, and additionally make prints of the image to sell for fundraising the Run4Salmon. I could use a little awesome funding to help offset the many hours put into this large-scale painting. I’m creating it from natural pigments and binder (gum arabic powder!), which has been an awesome transition off of oil paint, which I used to use. Creating a story-telling painting with figures and nature pigment is really different for me, and I’m loving the experimental process. I also love collaborating to support California’s water and Indigenous tribes. Thank you for taking the time to learn about this project! Sarita StoryMap of California’s Water United States San Francisco, CA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/sf tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/206943 2023-02-06T00:00:00Z 2023-02-07T01:46:08Z The Rana Arab-Jewish Women’s Choir is the only Arab-Jewish women’s choir in Israel and as such serves as a unique example of the possibility and potential of creative collaboration and Shared Society. We aim to provide a space for Jaffa’s Christian, Muslim, and Jewish women to meet, sing, and exchange cultural and interpersonal knowledge. Our performances feature original interpretations of folk and women's songs from various cultures in the Mediterranean, as well as songs written by the members of the choir based on their own life experiences. When these amazing women take to the stage to sing and share stories together in Hebrew and Arabic they exhibit a hopeful alternative to the usual reality of division and mistrust. Our Song and Discourse Encounters project includes samples from our musical repertoire together with personal insights and relationships of choir members along with an open dialogue with the audience where we provide audience members the opportunity to ask honest questions and share their thoughts and aspirations regarding Jewish-Arab relations in their communities. In 2023 we aim to engage with diverse target groups in Israeli mixed cities through collaborations with community centers, shelters for women who have escaped domestic violence, Jewish and Arab teachers, parents and youth movements. Furthermore, our new concert project The Girl I Was, The Woman I Am, includes multilingual folk songs about girlhood, adolescence, and womanhood while incorporating choir members' personal narratives. This project will provide a platform to artistically express questions surrounding images of girls and women including the enforcement of domestic and professional roles and the power dynamics in relationships between men and women. This program gives the female voice a stage to afford women and girls with an opportunity for empowerment and validation, while offering men and boys exposure to gender perspectives that are often hidden from public discussion. The Rana Arab-Jewish Women's Choir The Rana Arab-Jewish Women's Choir https://ranachoir.com/en/home-page-english/ Worldwide Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/awesomewithoutborders tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/207011 2023-02-01T00:00:00Z 2023-02-22T23:14:51Z Kid Biz Academy hosts entrepreneur workshops for kids get them thinking about how they can start their own business. They learn how to turn an idea into a business and work through practical skills such as writing a business plan in a fun, engaging environment. The money from Awesome Newcastle will be used to develop more materials and resources for use in the workshops. Claire Kid Biz Academy https://kidbizacademy.au/ Australia Newcastle https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/newcastle tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/210588 2023-02-01T00:00:00Z 2023-04-21T17:37:55Z Art for Climate South Bend, a registered Indiana non-profit, is organizing a public art exhibit in South Bend. Local students, grades K-12, have the opportunity to create climate change aware art. The art will be displayed in the Main Branch of the St. Joe Public Library starting on Earth Day, April 22, 2023. The interactive public art show will grant students the ability to see their art displayed publicly without paying a fee and allows the South Bend community to interact with each other regarding the complex topic of climate change. I will attach QR codes to art work that allow the museum goers to see more information on the topic displayed in the art. A Wall of Hope will be added for patrons to put their hopes for the future on a wall. Rebecca Wagman Art for Climate South Bend United States South Bend, IN https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/southbend tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/210667 2023-02-01T00:00:00Z 2023-04-21T17:37:26Z Hello! I am the founder of South Bends mural festival “Mural Mania”. Last year was our first run- and it was a success! This project is a huge passion of mine. I decided to organize another for the summer of 2023. Every mural festival is different and unique to the city it belongs to. My festival involves 5 professional street artists from across the country, painting 5 new murals in 5 days to brighten and inspire the town. The community is invited to watch the artwork unfold in real time, and hopefully be inspired by the process! This year I’d like to organize a mural walk at the end for everyone in the community to attend. I think it would be great to have an artist Q & A, too. Alex Allen Mural Mania 2.0 http://downtownsouthbend.com/muralmania United States South Bend, IN https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/southbend tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/212876 2023-02-01T00:00:00Z 2023-04-21T17:36:52Z The JumpOff was created to bring a new social experience to the South Bend area. The pedal trolley is perfect for families, singles, or groups visiting the area. Whether visitors like to be active or take it easy, there are plenty of choices for you!!!! If you prefer the great outdoors and want to enjoy the Beautiful scenery of the downtown area, you certainly will enjoy a ride on trolley. The trolley concept will allow individuals to experience the city in an unique way. The trolley will promote community diversity, inclusion, and most importantly this concept will create unforgettable memories. Tiarra Hammond The JumpOff Pedal Trolley http://thejumpofftrolley@gmail.com United States South Bend, IN https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/southbend tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/213199 2023-02-01T00:00:00Z 2023-04-21T17:36:12Z Homegrown Hype, a innovative new industry, built by the community, for the community. Homegrown hype was founded by 3 highly motived individuals, Nia (Reminisce.X), Myron (Heyzeus), and Mike (Toast); who want to create a safe space for the artistic community. We want to create a new eco-system/ industry for music and art the the helps everyone grow. The local South Bend, IN artist community is the majority of people who have experienced homegrown hype. Our presence on instagram and Facebook grow every time we drop a new set of trading cards. However we are finding it a bit difficult to keep up with due to the lack of capital. We are all struggling Artist who just want to make the artist industry of South Bend easier to navigate for all of us. Nnenia Okereke Homegrown Hype http://Facebook.com/Homegrownhype United States South Bend, IN https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/southbend tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/214132 2023-02-01T00:00:00Z 2023-02-02T03:43:49Z North Western Model engineers are a dedicated group of volunteers with an interest in Model engineering. "Model Engineering" covers a variety various interests, including Scale Model Locomotives (Steam, Diesel & Electric) and their rolling stock, Model Railways, Steam Trucks, and also Traction, Stationary Portable Steam Engines. Opening its southern loop in Nurragingy Reserve (November 2019) to raise the funds to complete the track the volunteers have tirelessly given their time to the project. We run Scale Model locomotives on this Southern loop every 3rd Sunday of the month for a nominal fee of $3, the money raised from these running days is then put back into working towards the completion of Stage 1 of Nurragingy Miniature railway Through the setbacks of floods (February 2020 & March 2021) in Nurragingy Reserve, the volunteer members keep going. Redesigning elements of the project and coming up with flood mitigation strategies to ensure the safety of the railway assets. During the Covid lockdown the club drew on the skill sets of its volunteer members to find a way to keep the railway open during this strange new way of living. The volunteer members were able to formulate a COVID safe plan and resume a basic form of COVID running in August 2020. This enabled the railway to share their love of the project and model engineering with the Blacktown City Community under the Covid Lockdown Period. They have reached out to other community groups such as Blacktown Lions and Blacktown Rotary and built a community partnership with these organisations, building a better community in the Blacktown area. They also received grants through My community Project and Community Building project. These partnerships and running days will enable the volunteers of North Western Model Engineers after 4 years of hard graft to open the completed stage 1 of Nurragingy Miniature Railway in April 2023. With all the hard work the volunteer members have put into this project, a big Grand Opening Ceremony is planned for the weekend of April 15th and 16th 2023. The grant will be used to decorate the site and run the event. The Miniature Railway will bring the community together with rides for adults and children alike while also providing a place to build friendships learn new skills and reduce loneliness with the community. The railway will help share the rich history of trains with the current generation. Jennifer Barnett-Baistow NWME Inc - Nurrgingy Miniature Railway https://nwme.org.au/ Australia Sydney https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/sydney tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/216211 2023-02-01T00:00:00Z 2023-04-03T10:30:03Z Մենք նախատեսում ենք Ջրափիի դպրոցում ստեղծել դիտակտիկ սենյակ, որտեղ առաստաղին պատկերելու ենք աստղերի համաստեղության մասին ներկայացնող պատկերներ՝ Մեծ Արջ, Փոքր Արջ։ Ինչպես նաև արեգակնային համակարգի և մոլորակների մասին պատմող նկարներ։ Իսկ սենյակի պատերից մեկին լինելու է պատկերված ծառերի մասին պատմող նյութեր, կտրած ծառի կոճղեր, որոնց միջոցով կարելի է հաշվել, թե քանի տարեկան են ծառերը, ինչպես նաև կլինեն տարբեր տեսակի ծառերի նկարներ։ Մյուս պատին կլինեն միջատների մասին պատմող նկարներ, նրանց տեսակների, ինչպես են սնվում, զարգանում և այլն։ Մի պատի վրա կլինեն կենդանինները՝ վայրի և ընտանի, իսկ մյուս պատին կլինեն թռչունները իրենց տարբեր տեսակներով։ Սա կլինի ուսուցողական սենյակ բնության հետ կապվող։ Նաև կլինեն տարբեր խաղեր այս սենյակում դրված, խաղաթղթերի չափին թղթեր, որոնց վրա կլինեն հարցեր կենդանինների, թռչունների, արեգնակային համակարգի, ծառերի մասին։ Երեխաները կկարողանան բաժանվեն թիմերի և խաղան։ Կլինեն նաև թղթեր, որոնց վրա կլինեն հուշող պատասխաններ և վերջնական պատասխաններ։ Այս ամենի շնորհիվ երեխաները կկարողանան զարգացնեն իրենց գիտելիքները բնության այս հրաշքների մասին և ավելի պատկերավոր կերպով ընկալեն։ Այս պահին խոսել ենք դպրոցի տնօրինության հետ։ Ստացել ենք նրանց համաձայնությունը, մեծ ուրախությամբ պատրաստ են համագործակցել ևս նաև իրենց կողմից ևս ներդնում կատարեն այն ամեն մասով, ինչով որ կկարողանան։ Հռիփսիմե Պետրոսյան Դիդակտիկ դասասենյակ Ջրափի համայնքում Armenia Nature Armenia (Inactive) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/naturearmenia tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/215888 2023-02-01T00:00:00Z 2023-05-03T18:24:56Z Together with Cynthia Mazzant, theatre artist, teaching artist, and artistic director of Tempest Productions in State College, VanDance proposes a new community arts educational event, REEL-izing Dance & Theatre on Film. Our mission is to curate dance, performance art, and spectacle films for a mini-series of monthly showings hosted by local professional artists/teaching artists. Offered on Sunday afternoons, we have scheduled Tempest Studios on 3/19 and 4/16 at 4pm and possibly 6/11 at 7:30pm to build excitement and awareness for the Central PA Theatre & Dance Fest. We are looking at films such as El Amor Brujo, Billy Elliot, Honey, Ballet Russes, Chicago, Moulin Rouge, Strictly Ballroom, Tap, and an evening of shorts such as Dance on Camera distributed by Insight Media. The purpose is to build and to serve audiences knowledgeable about dance film, dance, performance art, and theatre in film through a series of two to three film screenings in an intimate, arts-based setting in State College. Local teaching artists will discuss/workshop aspects of the films with the audiences. It is a community friendly way to enjoy choreographic storytelling and creative expression through classic and innovative media works. To this end I have already begun to identify key individuals in our local dance and theatre arts community such as studio owners with instructors and students of dance, and college faculty with students of film and dance in the School of Theatre at Penn State. A screening of the classic film “The Red Shoes” also provided for a discussion of films that could further enhance community education and training. Our goal is to continue to build a dance/performance art community and audience and dialogue with facets of this niche community that don’t often intermingle. This is another goal for the series. An Awesome Grant will would allow this project to meet its potential of having 2-3 films of excellent quality, high interest and educational value for this niche. Ann Van Kuren REEL-izing Dance & Theatre on Film United States State College, PA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/statecollege tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/358437 2023-02-01T00:00:00Z 2025-07-16T23:54:00Z We’re creating a safe space and providing food for the neighborhood. Educating kids on how to grow their own food. Teaching youth how to identify food plants and where their food comes from. This will be a safe space because it’s led by young adults from the community, we know how the community operates and how to make it as safe as possible. We are trusted, helping to make the community better. We will make homemade pizzas from farmer’s market ingredients at the outside oven at the garden. Kids will pick their toppings and help create the pizzas. Once everyone has eaten, we will lead an art activity about food systems/pathways. Where does the food come from, who made it, what labor was involved. The kids will make painted art signs, and we will teach them about what plants are the ones we ate! - Peace N Power Pizza Party United States North Minneapolis, MN https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/northminneapolis tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/358438 2023-02-01T00:00:00Z 2025-07-16T23:55:08Z Our organization is hosting a 1st Annual Community Health + Wellness Expo in April. This event will highlight businesses, organizations, and programs that enhance the health and wellness of our community. Community members will have access to various health + wellness resources and an opportunity to participate in and learn about various modes of movement and holistic health practices. - Community Health & Wellness Expo http://www.taurusmoonmpls.org/wellnessexpo United States North Minneapolis, MN https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/northminneapolis tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/208596 2023-01-31T00:00:00Z 2023-03-27T01:43:11Z January’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to Patrick Lescard, to support his video documentation of Ottawa’s light rail construction and more. “I started my [YouTube channel] (https://www.youtube.com/@OFP) about three years ago,” says Patrick. “I pretty much film or take pictures of anything, but my main project is the light rail construction. I have my drone certification so I fly my drone around the construction and gather up the content to make videos and put us on the map – I want to show how things get done in the nation’s capital!” “I started all this right before the pandemic,” Patrick continues, “and it really helped me to cope with what was happening. I would go out and film snow removal operations, and then decided this would be a good way to document the light rail project. It gives me a real sense of accomplishment that I’m able to show the progress of construction and this beautiful city of ours.” Patrick is a property manager, as well as a new father. In three years his YouTube channel has grown to more than 34,000 subscribers and includes hundreds of videos of [snow removal] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCFbUB9oMSc), [garbage collection] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzWRmjrl9Vw), [road paving] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5byTByA6ycE), and of course [light rail construction] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XX7LpyQnVk) – videos that have been viewed close to 20 million times from all over the world. Patrick Lescard Ottawa's Freelance Photography https://www.youtube.com/@OFP Canada Ottawa https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/ottawa tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/211904 2023-01-31T00:00:00Z 2023-01-31T17:30:37Z AwesomeNYC is happy to announce that our first grant of 2023 has been awarded to the Black History Month Game Jam, hosted by Black Web Fest. This February, Black Web Fest will be hosting a game jam to honor Black icons. It will be a **free, weekend-long event for underrepresented creators to come together and learn how to develop video games** with the longer term goal of increasing diversity in the gaming industry, both as creators and in representation of Black characters in games. This event provides early-career and aspiring game developers with an opportunity to build a playable game, learn from industry experts and connect with their community. Black Web Fest will provide free food throughout the event and will be giving away prizes. **Creators of all skill levels are welcome to join!** * [Sign up to attend the Game Jam the weekend of Feb 17-19](https://blackwebfest.org/black-history-month-game-jam-23/) * Would you like to help out? [Fill out this form to serve as a mentor or volunteer onsite](https://forms.gle/qKi1J6Xn1HKu3gxP8) Victoria Coker Black History Month Game Jam https://blackwebfest.org/black-history-month-game-jam-23/ United States New York City, NY https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/nyc tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/212248 2023-01-31T00:00:00Z 2023-02-01T04:40:54Z Tuba Farm and Garden is a Small brown and female operated sustainable farm and garden center cultivated with love and kindness. As a nonprofit helping to reduce food insecurity and reduce food waste, we serve communities of Southern New Jersey by providing fresh produce and growing opportunities to those who are historically underserved and disadvantaged. Our goal is supply Fresh whole foods to children and elderly Southern New Jersey residents in the local rural and urban communities. Feeding those in need with gleaned and donated produce continues to be our top priority. Tuba Farm and Garden has an abundance to offer the community. We are building a sustainable Food Forest where anyone can pick fresh produce including fruits, vegetables, chickens, eggs, herbs, microgreens, cut flowers, and fresh honey at a price they choose. We are donation based only and never demand payment. We feed those in need weekly in Camden NJ, a food desert local to us. Cyara Phillips Tuba Farm and Garden -U pick Ur Price https://tubafarmnj.onuniverse.com/ Worldwide Homelessness (Inactive) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/homelessness tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/212715 2023-01-31T00:00:00Z 2023-02-12T18:26:37Z Lowlands Lines is a creative writing group with 11 people - sadly one of our members passed away in October’22. We meet once a month for 2 hrs and it is a most joyful 2 hrs spent listening to each other’s writings, discussing poetry, different ways of writing, how our lives affect our writing, and sharing ideas and experiences. We have a qualified leader for our group. A lady who is an English Language/literature lecturer who sets us homework, and who plans the group sessions, and very much listens to everything we have to say. Our age ranges are from 25yrs to 79 yrs young, both male & female. Within our group we have carers, one dealing with parents and dementia, a person who is Autistic, a person who is bi-polar. People who live on their own, people who suffer ongoing medical conditions, those who have suffered bereavement, and those of differing sexual orientation. All through Covid lockdowns, our group leader, Shirley, kept in touch with us all, setting us homework- which was a great focus - then putting all our writings together in a booklet, which she posted out to us all - paying for the postage herself. How exciting it was to receive a booklet and to read what everyone in the group had written! Through such dark and isolated times the booklets brought a sense of hope when we could come together again as a group. Sadly we have run out of funding. Our first year, 2018-9, the North End writers funded the rent we paid for the room we use in Lowlands, home of the West Derby Community Association (WDCA). The second year, Shirley managed to gain funding for the rent from the West Derby Wastelands charity. Shirley was not paid, but the group put £2/3 each in as “subs” that we gave to Shirley for expenses. There was only 6 of us in the group at that time. Last year the WDCA funded us and gave Shirley expenses., but can no longer afford to do this. Anita Oliver Lowlands Lines United Kingdom Liverpool (Inactive) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/liverpool tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/212924 2023-01-31T00:00:00Z 2023-02-28T18:28:47Z Students Run LA (SRLA) is an awesome organization that challenges teenagers to do something less than 1% of the population will ever do – run a 26.2-mile marathon! Each year, SRLA welcomes 3,000 middle and high school students from 185 schools across LA to train ALONGSIDE their teachers to complete the entire LA Marathon, learning along the way that if they can run a marathon, they can do anything! Through SRLA’s FREE 7-month marathon-training program, students train WITH their teachers, on average, 10 hours per week. With support from funders like you, SRLA provides students with the resources needed to be successful, including uniforms, shoes, monthly community training races, transportation to the races, and, most importantly, caring adult mentors who guide them every step of the way. To prepare students for the BIG DAY, SRLA organizes, transports, and pays for participants to enter six community races of progressively longer distances, building from a 5K in September to a 30K in February. Emphasizing completion, not competition, at each race, SRLA creates a supportive, encouraging community. Participants of all shapes, sizes, and athletic abilities have a chance to succeed. Over 30+ years, our consistent annual results are striking - 99% of students who start the Marathon, finish it. Our students’ success on the race course translates directly to the classroom: -- 99% of SRLA seniors who finish the Marathon graduate high school; -- 94% of these students have plans to attend college in the fall; and -- 75% of those students are among the first-generation of their families to go to college. But that’s just the beginning. Kenia, a Marathon finisher from Manual Arts H.S., explains: If I had not been part of SRLA or run any marathons, I would not have been as confident and ready to take on a challenge like I am now. It made me realize that if I can do a marathon as a teenager, imagine all the other goals and dreams I can fulfill if I believe in myself. Christine Pajak In it for the Long Run https://www.srla.org/ United States Los Angeles, CA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/los-angeles tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/213184 2023-01-31T00:00:00Z 2023-02-06T22:02:55Z COVID Safe Campus is a nationwide group of disabled academics advocating for COVID safety and disability inclusion in higher education. Founded January 2022, CSC has led initiatives focused on community support, advocacy & outreach, and research for social action. We create resources for direct use by disabled academics most impacted by COVID policies and provide online community to build solidarity and organizing power alongside peer support. In the past year our work has reached over 1 million views on social media, earned media coverage in Inside Higher Ed and The Chronicle of Higher Education, and been presented to the APHA Annual Meeting. The Campus Ambassador Program: In January 2023 we launched our Campus Ambassador Program to support disabled student-led COVID safety and disability advocacy initiatives. CSC will provide student ambassadors with resources to foster community care, effective peer health education, and disability-led advocacy. We have 16,800 donated high-filtration masks and need funding to help ship them to our 1st cohort of ambassadors to distribute on their campus. Why is the program needed? -Insufficient COVID mitigation and exclusionary policies disproportionately threaten marginalized students’ health and access to education -Disabled students are often denied support needed to access higher ed; support for campus advocacy is essential to social, educational, and vocational inclusion -In absence of strong public health policy, information and resources are necessary for community care Program goals: -Support student leadership and foster knowledge on Disability Justice -Provide opportunities to connect advocacy on national, local, and cross-campus levels -Supply students with information & resources to increase protection from COVID and promote community care The program offers: -Support with community organizing, educational info, and advocacy strategies -Community building -Mutual aid & health education resources -Advocacy training **What our grantee is saying:** “COVID Safe Campus is so grateful to receive this award from Awesome Disability. The COVID-19 pandemic is still a serious crisis and disabled students are disproportionately impacted by insufficient protection from it. This grant funding will help us ship out thousands of masks to students across the United States this month and support our first cohort of Campus Ambassadors as they start up campus mutual aid initiatives promoting COVID safety. Thank you Awesome Disability and its trustees for investing in disabled-led community care and public health, it means so much to us!” **What our trustees are saying:** "I voted for this project because it's clearer than ever that mutual aid will be what keeps us safe." Eiryn Griest Schwartzman COVID Safe Campus Ambassador Program http://covidsafecampus.org/ambassadors Worldwide Disability https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/disability tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/207442 2023-01-30T00:00:00Z 2023-02-01T21:45:41Z I am a teen baker in Westminster and when I have extra cupcakes I always donate them to police and firefighters. I'd like to host a day where we make cupcakes for caregivers Emily Uhlman Cupcakes for Caregivers http://N/A United States Westminster, MD https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/westminster tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/209762 2023-01-30T00:00:00Z 2023-01-30T20:34:25Z The Yurakaré people are an indigenous group native to the Bolivian tropical forests. They form a small community of only 2,500 people and they speak a unique language, which is also called yurakaré. The origin of their language is quite mysterious, as it appears not to be linked to any other language. Their traditional religion, their culture, and their ancestral knowledge of the medicinal use of tropical plants are also remarkably fascinating, although still largely unknown to scientists. With the aim of preserving this heritage, this project aims at finishing and publishing the first yurakaré language dictionary. Among other things, the dictionary contains vocabulary referring to traditional medicine, nature, culture, and ceremonies. The goal of the project is twofold: (1) to help preserve the language and the traditional knowledge embedded in it, and, (2) to support the ongoing efforts to provide mother-tongue education to the community. In fact, the Yurakaré people have suffered from discrimination, displacement, and cultural loss for a long time. Their lands, culture, and traditions have been and still are threatened by a white and mestizo majority, and they still lack sufficient resources to promote their mother-tongue schools. Following the tradition, the fascinating ancestral knowledge and language of the Yurakaré have been transmitted orally from generation to generation, but now a written format is needed to preserve them. My work will involve collaborating with the Yurakaré people for verifying the entries, improving the definitions, and adding missing examples, as well as help publish and distribute some copies of the dictionary. I will work alongside the Yurakaré leaders Mrs. Mercy Noé and Mr. Jeremías Ballivián Torrico, and I will be supervised by Prof. Rik van Gijn (Leiden University) and Prof. Vincent Hirtzel (CNRS), who started working on this dictionary 10 years ago. Julen Villarreal Moreno Preserving Yurakaré culture Worldwide Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/awesomewithoutborders tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/210090 2023-01-26T00:00:00Z 2023-01-27T02:30:05Z My name is Rosalie Nicastro, I work for the Glou. Health Dept. My job is grant funded to take Senior out on our Seniors on the Go Bus. I am limited to what we can do. I pick Seniors up at their house. I take them shopping for groceries. I try to get them to buy healthy food and to get some exercise. During the summer I take them to walk the boulevard. Two days a week we go to groceries stores of their choice. I also take them to Marshall’s ;s Farm stand and to local fish markets. Once a month I take them to the Senior Center to attend the Mobile Mart at which the Open Door give the seniors fresh veggies, eggs, bread. & fruit. On the second Monday of the month I take them on a Mystery Trip. I have to take them to a store where they can buy healthy food and get some exercise. They love to go to Walmart and Job Lots. My grant rents a bus and driver from CATA. If I received the grant fro Awesome Gloucester. I would use the money to take the seniors out to lunch. They always ask can we go out for lunch. The current grant I have does not allow me to buy lunch for the seniors. Receiving this grant would allow me to buy a healthy lunch at a Gloucester restaurant or maybe a healthy take out lunch. The seniors on my bus hardly get out of the house. They would love to go to a nice Gloucester restaurant & be treated special. Thank you for your consideration. Rosalie Nicastro Give a treat to a Senior! United States Gloucester, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/gloucester tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/210207 2023-01-26T00:00:00Z 2023-01-26T21:01:14Z DAC works with arts guilds and organizations e.g., Hawaii Craftsmen, Handweavers Hui, Watercolor Society, independent curators such as the architects who work in downtown,and the community to offer the island of Oahu and Downtown Chinatown diverse and high caliber exhibits, public programming, and classes. The islands that make up Micronesia are undergoing fundamental and rapid transformation. As rising seas and climate change are threatening islanders’ homes and very means of existence, many are being forced to seek refuge or relocate outside of their island homes. In fact, former residents of Chuuk, Palau, Kiribati, Pohnpei, and other parts of the Micronesian chain make up a large segment of Hawaii’s newest immigrants. When they relocate to Hawaii and other points east, many find themselves in a completely different context that is difficult to navigate culturally and assimilation comes slowly if at all; prejudice and lack of opportunity is very real. The traditional arts in Hawaiʻi are seriously under-represented with minority groups, such as the Micronesian artists, who are most affected. We are collaborating with the Micronesian community to provide after-school traditional arts classes for the Micronesian students in the downtown Chinatown area. Principal Joe Passantino at Keʻelikolani Middle School is in support of the proposed program. The middle school has 60% Micronesian students. We also have the support of Mark Meriman of the Downtown Chinatown Rotary Club. We plan to hold the traditional arts classes in the middle school so that the students can remain on campus. The arts education initiative is in conjunction with a bigger project with the Micronesian community to provide artists access to needed exhibit space, opportunities for public programming, workshops, and entryways into the art marketplace. The Downtown Art Center is the prime venue for an upcoming exhibit celebrating Micronesian Arts in 2023. Isaiah Prakash Mentoring Micronesian Youth thru Traditional Arts https://www.downtownarthi.org/ United States Oahu, HI https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/oahu tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/211680 2023-01-26T00:00:00Z 2023-01-26T21:00:00Z Thomas Jefferson Elementary School seeks a grant of $1,000 from The Awesome Foundation to fund the painting of a mural on recently-installed storage sheds for our school's aquaponics system. Ms. Alyce Dodge, a Teaching Artist, was originally set to start a two-year teaching residency with the help of the Artists in the Schools grant from Hawaii State Foundation for Culture and the Arts. However, due to personal circumstances this project has been delayed until next school year. Ms. Dodge has generously offered to volunteer her time to work with students on an alternative Hawaiian Studies project. Two recently intalled storage sheds for the aquaponics system on campus were identified as suitable for the project and, after approval from the Principal, they have been authorized for painting. Kumu Alston will provide in-class instruction that explore Hawaiian Studies cultural values / content. His innovative pedagogical methods and student-centered approach promote all learners to comprehend the Hawaiian Studies curriculum. In a previous art project, Ms. Dodge led students in an exploration of Hawaiian kapa and other authentic Pacific art objects which consissted of researching, printing with traditional methods and techniques and motifs, discussing, and then creating new printed patterns with modern techniques. She will teach student's different art forms (hands-on), asssist with drafting design(s), and oversee the painting of the shed(s). It is our hope that the artwork is completed before the end of the school year. This project will not only provide a beautiful mural that celebrates Hawaiian values and culture, but it will also give students an opportunity to learn more about this place we call our home. They can use their creativity to express themselves through art and foster pride in their work. We hope the mural inspires our staff, students, and community showcasing the legacy of Hawaii’s vibrant culture for generations. Alston Alika Albarado, M.F.A. Hana Noʻeau Da Aquaponics Sheds United States Oahu, HI https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/oahu tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/211895 2023-01-25T00:00:00Z 2023-01-26T23:44:26Z If you have had the opportunity to visit Beane Park (Field behind Perley) recently, you might have noticed that the field is one of the nicest around. Last year, the community rallied around the Forever Royal Project and an updated backstop was installed along with some nice cosmetic changes. Playing on that field and seeing other teams come and visit in awe of the field is an Awesome feeling and makes me proud to be part of the Georgetown school community. There is only one problem if you have been to a game. The PA system does not create a positive game experience. First of all, our coach has to bring his own PA system from his home that is really not powerful enough for the sound to carry. Only those sitting right next to the speaker can hear and when the National Anthem is played, many don’t even know to stand and often continue their conversations because they cannot hear the music. And of course, there is no better feeling than having your name announced at the game and music played when you come to bat, but we often don’t get that experience here. Each season, Georgetown hosts the Spofford tournament which is a one of a kind event that bring some great baseball to the area and lots of fans; the tournament would be even further enhanced with a better PA system. While the PA system would certainly benefit the high school, it would also benefit the youth league (Babe Ruth plays here) and the field is also used for Charity events each season (The Burkinshaw fundraiser, Matt Torgerson fundraiser). Finally, many of you may know Coach Desilets. Coach works tirelessly to create an awesome game day experience for all of us and we would love to surprise him with this Awesome grant……Thank you for considering this idea and pretty soon you may hear “Play Ball!” Jake Thompson Can you hear me now? United States Georgetown, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/georgetown tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/212348 2023-01-24T00:00:00Z 2023-02-25T08:34:04Z Parenting School NGO, a Yerevan-based nonprofit organization for conscious and positive parenting, has created easy and practical video content on YouTube available for all parents across Armenia and beyond. Except for deaf. We want to make parenting knowledge and tips available to deaf parents simply by using what has already been created over years, investing little time and money in adding sign language to videos and promoting the new content widely to make psychologist’s support on parenting available to deaf community in Armenia, too. Here are a couple of examples of our videos: How to deal with child fears: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX6ZQSiG4y4&t=19s The child and the gadgets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKdilVEH718 Sibling conflicts. Dos and Don’ts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-9JTX5qtOs "Parenting School" Parenting, Educational and Psychological Support Center NGO Conscious Parenting Content for Deaf Parents https://youtube.com/@ParentingSchoolArmenia Armenia Yerevan https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/yerevan tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/212392 2023-01-24T00:00:00Z 2023-03-15T16:35:25Z Push Movement is an organization that promotes holistic, youth and peer-to-peer based pathways to recovery – built from the culture of skateboarding and open to individuals in all stages of change. We provide movement-based, one-on-one youth support and outreach for historically underserved populations in the Portland Metro area. We currently work with 165 youth participants monthly, with the numbers growing. This program is being offered to assist houseless youth in their recovery journey through the lens of skateboarding. We will use the funds to help with equipment, travel and rental costs for our current programming. We are currently working in partnership with culturally specific youth organizations to provide safe, peer run spaces for their underserved participants. Our partnerships exist with the Harmony Academy (a place that provides a safe, sober and supportive gold standard in education for youth in recovery) and P:ear (a place of self-discovery and resilient young people moving through and beyond homelessness). We plan to expand our programming and scope of work in 2023 to include partnerships with Outside In, Portland Public Schools and Centennial School District. If given this grant opportunity we would be able to cultivate a sense of community and responsibility for youth in the recovery world, while providing a space for them to learn and grow. Stevie Moe Push Movement http://pushmovementrecovery.org United States Portland, OR https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/portland tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/210607 2023-01-23T00:00:00Z 2023-02-06T21:55:38Z We are working on two separate projects. One being a scholarship fund for our kids baking classes and workshops. The other project is a monthly lifeskills workshop for teens. Jenay scarchilli-parson Dulce Kids Scholarship/Life Skills workshop United States Poughkeepsie, NY https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/poughkeepsie tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/210729 2023-01-23T00:00:00Z 2023-01-23T19:25:55Z Swellendam is a small village in the Western cape of South Africa. In 2017 we founded the Masbiekers Valley Project with the intention of creating an Environmental Sculpture Park. What started as an idea to combat alien vegetation became a mission to get people out of their houses and into nature using art as the vehicle for sustainable change. My background is in art and education and my wife IT and sustainable development. With community engagement, donations of sometimes money and sometimes trees or labor we removed almost 300 bags of rubbish, planted over 800 trees, and have made almost 4km of walking trail, all in an area that was victim to the tragedy of the commons; abandoned by the local municipality and generally abused by the community. In 2019 we were awarded a grant to run an environmental Sculpture Competition with the local schools. In Swellendam, art is not offered at the high schools and the competition invited high school children to submit proposals for artworks that encouraged them to THINK BIG. We ran workshops (in the amphitheater that we build with the help of local school children) and selected 6 artworks. We employed local people to help build the artworks and launched the sculpture park at an event that was well attended https://masbiekersvalleyprojectorg.wordpress.com/2019/09/04/fantastic-finals-celebration/ Since then the valley has continued to be used and over time the environmental sculptures returned to the earth, some chopped down by woodcutters, some demolished by nature but people continue to use the space to exercise and enjoy nature, and slowly the interventions that we have made are leading to an increase of locally endemic species of trees and birds. What has been incredible over the years has been the stories about that valley that have filtered down to me. People who played there as children, the history of the 'Masbiekers', and new stories from people who are using the space. Andrew James Hofmeyr Protector of the Forest https://masbiekersvalleyprojectorg.wordpress.com/ Worldwide Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/awesomewithoutborders tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/211333 2023-01-23T00:00:00Z 2023-01-23T22:08:16Z Waacking is an expressive freestyle dance form birthed out of Los Angeles LGBTQ+ club culture during the 1970s. This style consists of dramatic poses, storytelling, and rapid arm movements synchronized to sped-up disco beats. Through this dance, the original waackers found freedom within a society that shunned them for their race, sexual orientation, and gender expression. In the Bay Area, waacking was a popular style amongst the broader freestyle street dance community during the early 2010s. Within the last few years, this dance has regained momentum with a new generation, but there are few avenues for interested parties to learn and grow within waacking, as it is not a widely taught style. To this end, I began offering free, all-levels waacking training sessions outside San Jose State University’s (SJSU) MLK library every Monday evening. During these outdoor sessions, I lead attendees through different waacking exercises and concepts I’ve developed over the nine years I’ve been competing, teaching, and performing within this style. We end all sessions with freestyle dance circles (i.e., “cyphers”), where dancers can freely express themselves and apply the principles they’ve learned throughout these practices. The ultimate goal of this no-cost model is to provide an accessible, safe space to foster the new generation of Bay Area waackers. Because these sessions occur in a public area, we’ve had SJSU students and other interested passersby spontaneously join our practices as well—folks who had never previously heard of waacking. This Awesome Foundation grant would help foster the growth of these San Jose open community waacking sessions by providing resources for marketing, guest teachers, and media (e.g., photo and video documentation of sessions). Alice Hur San Jose Open Waacking Dance Sessions https://www.instagram.com/wondhurland/ United States San Jose, CA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/sanjose tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/212584 2023-01-23T00:00:00Z 2023-01-27T21:36:55Z Cooking classes serve at-risk qualified children within the District of Columbia educating them on eating healthy flavorful food using minimal time and financial resources. Nutrition doesn’t have to be loaded with calories to taste good. Also, addressing limitations faced with food insecurity impacting youths access to food resources and ability to prepare meals. Teaching about nutrition, impacts of poor dietary habits, grocery shopping, cooking preparation, plating presentation and table manners. My future goal is the operation of a program including food, transportation to field trip locations, basic kitchen equipment for youth provided to them at the end of the program and possible opportunities for high school culinary program and/or culinary school scholarships. Christina Perrin DC Culinary Circle United States Washington, DC https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/dc tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/209696 2023-01-19T00:00:00Z 2023-03-16T21:13:33Z This is giving our youth the experience of diversity and outside their normal every day routine and teaching communication, hospitality and work ethics as they are serving people at events as well as the college and NFL games. The exposure is awesome and is what made me realize I needed to award them of their strengths as young men and women so as they move forward from graduation into the real world , A Leap of Faith Foundation exposure will go with them for a life time. monester Lee Kinsler Be Careful What You ask For http://aleapoffaithprod.com United States Miami, FL https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/miami tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/211274 2023-01-19T00:00:00Z 2023-01-20T14:46:00Z We are a brand new local nonprofit and our mission is to offer accessible skills training and learning opportunities for young adults with intellectual and developmental exceptionalities. We understand that continued learning leads to greater independence and employment possibilities. In the right conditions, everything blooms in its own time. We are launching our first program called the CommUnity Café at the Centre 70 sports complex, which teaches kitchen and food service skills. Our participants will benefit through hands on learning and develop important relationships with our community. Our graduates of our employable skills stream will be placed in employment in local businesses through out the community. Amber Potter CommUnity Cafe Coffee Machine http://bloomskillscentre.com Canada Kingston https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/kingston-on tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/212520 2023-01-18T00:00:00Z 2023-01-22T19:39:17Z The project will be a book titled Satire at the End of the World: An Oral History of the Onion, which will be published by Running Press in Sept 2024. I am a writer & editor who was on the original staff of the Onion as a UW-Madison undergrad & later went on to become an award-winning public historian. The book tells the story of the Onion's creation by a group of UW-Madison students in the 80s-90s; the development of its distinctive, hilarious, and brilliant satiric voice; and its subsequent rise to fame and influence in the 1990s-2000s. By interviewing media and journalism scholars, as well as comedy people and journalists, alongside former Onion staffers, I also place the Onion's story in the context of late 20th-early 21st century American news media, comedy, and culture. I also place the Onion within the history of "fake news" in the 21st century, discuss satire's function as social criticism (especially in the 90s-2000s), and ask how satire changes when consensus reality no longer exists. The book's main narrative ends in 2013, soon after the editorial move from NYC to Chicago, when the paper edition ended and the Onion became a website only. A final chapter takes the Onion's story up to the present day. *** This project has been funded in memory of Chuck Kite, a comedy connoisseur who loved to make people laugh. Chuck was a longtime follower and fan of The Onion. *** Christine Wenc Satire at the End of the World United States Chicago, IL https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/chicago tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/211733 2023-01-17T00:00:00Z 2023-01-22T19:33:53Z In a national survey of 1,000 menstruating teens, 1 in 5 struggled to afford period products, and 4 in 5 either missed class or knew someone who missed class because they did not have access to period products. This is particularly true for low-income families or individuals who have a harder time affording menstrual products. Our FLOW Box project is geared toward teens in underserved communities who often do not have access to places where they can go and get tampons, pads, and other necessities FLOW Box is a subscription-based box that includes all the items pre-teen and teen girls need to manage their period "flow" comfortably, including tampons, menstrual pads, wipes, and other necessities, as well as small gifts and encouraging notes from us. We will also include materials and information on health and wellness, domestic violence, and teen dating. In the first quarter of 2023, we intend to launch the project by sending out our FLOW Box to 50 participants. We will partner with local schools and other organizations to identify girls who could benefit from this program, and each month we will deliver the boxes right to their doors, free of charge. From there, we plan to keep going and broaden the project's scope through the end of the year. The FLOW Box is a great way to provide girls with the products they need to manage their period and provide information about important issues such as teen dating and domestic violence. Kisha Barrett FLOW Box https://forlivesofwomen.org/ United States Chicago, IL https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/chicago tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/213710 2023-01-17T00:00:00Z 2023-06-21T13:05:18Z The Orlando Carnival Downtown has been presented in Orlando for the past 35 years and has attracted attendees from across the City, across the State, across the Nation and from across the World. Carnival is celebrated across the World from Brazil to Trinidad, from London to Canada and they have have documented impacts on the local arts and cultural communities. The costume designs, the colors, the music, the artistry and the celebration is truly unparalleled. In 2022 the 1st ever reality travel show selected Orlando Carnival Downtown as the location for the first season called Roadready; this program has since be picked up by FlowTV and will showcase in over 15 countries across the Caribbean and in January 2023 in will be broadcasted in South Florida also. This is multicultural celebration to showcase the cultural diversity of the Central Florida community. The celebration includes presentations of 'steelpan' music, stilt-walkers, fire-breathers, stick fencing, poetry, international performers and so much more. There is also a celebration authentic food from across the Caribbean, South America and the USA Samuel Roberts Orlando Carnival Downtown http://www.orlandocarnivaldowntown.com United States Orlando, FL https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/orlando tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/207157 2023-01-16T00:00:00Z 2023-01-16T16:10:58Z "Execution by the Numbers" is an independent, documentary film that examines how the American Justice System continues to execute people with Intellectual Disabilities (ID), despite a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2002 (Atkins v. Virginia). The film focuses on those who are the least powerful and most endangered people in the part of the justice system where the stakes are life-and-death. They are the people who have Intellectual Disabilities (ID), who have been sentenced to death and are disproportionately poor, Black and Hispanic. For people with ID, the skids to death row are greased because they are led into false confessions, tend to have difficulty assisting in their own defense, often fail to comprehend consequences of their actions, and unable to understand the death penalty. We will use interviews and articles to examine contemporary cases, and reveal the link between our country’s history of slavery and lynching, to the racial discrimination which bleeds into the entire criminal justice system, and adversely impacts people with ID. Furthermore, the film will also show how politics, prosecutorial misconduct, the public’s misconceptions, and errors in IQ testing have contributed to hundreds of people with ID on death row. My hope is that Execution by the Numbers will sound an alarm with anti-death penalty groups and people who support the Intellectually Disabled. My goal is for the film to get distribution through either a streaming service or public broadcast station. This will raise the film’s visibility and increase its chances of reaching millions around the world. Most importantly, I want the film to be a “call-to-action” for those who have the power to make change. Hopefully, the film will help abolish the death penalty, once-and-for-all, for people with ID. Rock Grant Execution by the Numbers http://www.picturesocialjustice.org Worldwide Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/awesomewithoutborders tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/210025 2023-01-16T00:00:00Z 2023-08-31T20:02:09Z The Kardelens Rug Project aims to teach punch rug or rug hooking skills to The Kardelens Fiber Arts group, a talented group of about 20 Turkish artisan immigrants living in the Pittsburgh area. The Turkish word “kardelens” is the name of a flower that symbolizes resilience and is very meaningful to the group. Kardelens Fiber Art began in 2018 as a project of the Outreach Committee of The Fiber Arts Guild of Pittsburgh in partnership with Jewish Family & Community Services, an organization providing resettlement services for immigrants and refugees. Fiber Arts Guild members assisted the Kardelens group with developing their artisan skills in order to create embroidered jewelry and greeting cards, marble art fans and other items they sell online and at art and craft fairs. The Kardelens Fiber Group will learn rug hooking and/or punch rug skills in order to further increase their artisanal product line to include pillows, wall tapestries, and small floor rugs. In the words of group coordinator Serap Uzunoglu, “Through our art projects we became aware that we can have a place in the community and we gained our self-confidence again, like we had in our country. We hope to support other newcomers as we have been supported by the Pittsburgh community.” Kirsten Ervin Kardelens Rug Project https://www.facebook.com/KardelensFiberArts United States Pittsburgh, PA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/pittsburgh tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/209983 2023-01-15T00:00:00Z 2023-03-02T06:45:48Z The 'Come and Play!' program provides families and community members with the opportunity to participate in table tennis, badminton and sewing at times convenient to them. The focus of the project is inclusion and connection - with sport on top of it. We currently run programs in Merri-Bek and Wyndham City Council. In addition to creating opportunities to participate in community sport, we also support community members in designing and implementing their own projects. This support includes workshops on developing city council grant applications, WHS considerations, marketing and program development. The social design of, for example our Friday program has seen groups of friends and families join. We now have kids playing with parents, friends playing together and people just relaxing with other community members. The Merri-Bek program has a majority of moms from CALD background join the two morning sessions per week. Requests from participants for information sessions on for example rights in Australia, study opportunities, etc. have seen monthly information where speakers come and talk to participants about topics that they want more information on. Our social sewing group include participants from different age groups. Participants work on a sewing project of their choice with a trainer available if anyone needs support. Participants in the program have now started to make garments for the community sharing rail at Dianella community centre. Engela van der Klashorst Come and play! Australia Melbourne (Inactive) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/melbourne tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/213234 2023-01-15T00:00:00Z 2023-01-16T23:42:04Z We would like to purchase high interest books, games, enrichment activity materials and fidgets for the youth staying at the West Central Regional Juvenile Center (WCRJC). The current selection of books was described by a teen recently living there as “Chicken Soup books and about a million bibles.” Staff and youth will work together to identify their priority needs and wants and an Amazon wishlist will be created. We would like to purchase complete series of popular titles to create a collection of books more representative of the backgrounds and interests of the youth living there. There is also a high need for fidgets and other calming tools to be used by neurodiverse residents as well as games and supplies for art and other enrichment activities. The West Central Regional Juvenile Center (WCRJC) serves all genders and includes a 55 bed secure facility, and 25 bed non-secure care program. The center is located in Moorhead, Minnesota and provides services for juveniles with behavioral, protection, dependency, and delinquency issues. Programs include secure detention, secure residential, non-secure detention / Social Service emergency placement, and Community Living Independent Programming and Skills (CLIPS). Jenna Kahly Enriching Lives https://claycountymn.gov/414/West-Central-Regional-Juvenile-Center?fbclid=IwAR2ePEosMz9BQ9lK-4uCLotn4FwtLq4h_xC6MJq_u6Re560HBEiROFjoMnQ United States Cass Clay https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/cassclay