Awesome Foundation - Projects

Utrecht – Zonnestelsel op schaal door Utrecht

2017-09-26T00:00:00Z

Iedereen denkt te weten hoe ons zonnestelsel met de 8 planeten er ongeveer uitziet, maar wanneer je deze daadwerkelijk op schaal namaakt, blijkt de ruimte een stuk groter, leger en adembenemender te zijn dan gedacht. En de aarde een stuk kleiner en eenzamer en daarmee belangrijker om te beschermen! Onderwijzer Louk ergerde zich aan de zogenaamd realistische tekeningen van ons zonnestelsel in schoolboeken. Om echt de schaal van het zonnestelsel na te bootsen, is er maar liefst 600 meter papier nodig en zou de aarde zo klein worden dat deze onzichtbaar werd. Maar wat als we nou de stad als schaalmodel gebruiken? Met de zon als startpunt, dat sculptuur ligt namelijk al sinds jaar en dag op het Domplein (Sol Iustitiae, schaal 1:1.000.000.000). De rest van de planeten wordt op schaal in metaal in kleine balletjes met een plaquette met de naam van de planeet over Utrecht verspreid en gehangen aan lantaarnpalen of huizen. Wie wilt, kan de route lopen of fietsen en zo een indruk krijgen van de grootte van ons heelal.

Portland, OR – Madison 34

2017-09-26T00:00:00Z

Madison 34 is a project created to have the 34 pillars of Southeast Madison (on ramp to the Hawthorne Bridge) painted by artists from the Portland area. This urban gallery will be created to inspire the community and to draw people to the Central Eastside Industrial Area. The Project will start at the first two pillars on Southeast Madison Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and end on Southeast Madison and Water Avenue. This project is to also include the set of stairs the lead up to the Hawthorne Bridge. This will be a perfect addition to East Creative’s First Friday Art Walk. Each pillar and set of stairs will be coated with an anti-graffiti coating.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Strains (Strategic In-stream Systems)

2017-09-25T00:00:00Z

India’s established “megacities” are in the midst of a serious water crisis—rivers choked with solid waste, disappearing wetlands, and contaminated local food chains. These issues have reached a new level of urgency in the south Indian city of Bangalore. It’s urban watershed is comprised of hundreds of lakes, connected by a network of open stormwater channels (referred to locally as “Nallahs”). Amid explosive informal urban development, these Nallahs also double as vectors for untreated domestic wastewater, leading to a range of downstream impacts to human health, ecosystems, and economies. When expensive top-down approaches to this challenge simply can’t keep pace, our Strains project hopes to demonstrate the potential impact of simple in-stream urban wastewater remediation strategies that can be implemented inexpensively from the bottom-up. We have a design and approvals in place for a small pilot intervention in Bangalore, all we need is a bit of funding to purchase the raw materials to make it a reality! The intervention comprises of a designed structure which contains roughly 35 cubic meters of terracotta fragments. Terracotta is abundantly available and preliminary research shows that it promotes the growth of biofilm, settles sediments, and reduces harmful pathogen content from black and greywater. The intervention will employ these fragments as a passive filtration material and substrate for the growth of spontaneous wetland plants over time. Working together, these systems will help lower the concentrations of harmful contaminates flowing through the watershed. The Nallah we have chosen for the intervention is upstream of Doddabommasandra (DBS) Lake in Bangalore’s northwestern periphery. DBS is a perfect context as it is currently in the process of being revitalized and contains a series of preliminary filtration mechanisms (for solid waste and silt). Our Strains unit will work in tandem with these other efforts already underway.

Piqua, OH (Inactive) – PiquaPOP Art Walk

2017-09-25T00:00:00Z

I'd like to host PiquaPOP, a pop-up art walk in Piqua, very similar to the recent BoldPas event in Old Town Pasadena, California, which drew 15,000 guests. https://www.oldpasadena.org/visit/events/signature-events/boldpas/ This free, interactive, family art event would be held in Spring 2018, and involve a juried exhibit of large-scale artwork (probably 5-9 pieces). I'm envisioning this being held in the block of outdoor space behind Susie's Big Dipper, with the major pieces displayed along this back street, and artists working in plein air on easels on the brick patio throughout the day. I'd also love to see spin art or sidewalk chalking during the day for children. Non-traditional and funky art welcome! This pop-up event would start in the morning and be taken down by 8PM. Looking down this alleyway, attendees should also be able to get a long view of the new mural downtown. Artists would be permitted to sell their installations, as long as they remain in place through the entire event. I would like to invite several groups to have a representative on a committee for this event, including: Piqua Arts Council, Piqua Mainstreet, Edison State Community College, the Piqua Library, and others. We will seek submissions from artists throughout the region, with extra preference "points" given to local works.

Kingston – emmett's annual KGH NICU campaign

2017-09-25T00:00:00Z

every year we raise funds to help offset costs associated with a stay in the KGH nicu for parents as well as obtaining preemie baby clothes and supplies so parents can spend more time in the NICU with their babies instead of having to go shopping and missing precious moments inside the unit.

Alaska (Inactive) – Bicycle Mechanic School

2017-09-25T00:00:00Z

We are a nonprofit bicycle education center. We educate kids and adults to obtain real life mechanical skills using bicycles as a medium. We educate foster kids, homeschool kids, adults and underrepresented youth to use mechanical ability to propel them through a new life journey. Our programs and classes give people agency, dignity, individuality and the tools to excel at real life applications. We have classes that range from fixing a flat to high end suspension and hydraulics. Our students can have no mechanical ability and leave with empowerment and the ability to take things apart and put them back together with confidence. We provide a clean and safe space for all people who walk through our doors. Empathy leads our way to teach goodness using bikes!

Newmarket – Healthy Youth Preventative Education (HYPE)

2017-09-22T00:00:00Z

The Healthy Youth Preventative Education (HYPE) Program is an after-school program that build strengths, resilience, and coping skills among youth as a way of enhancing interpersonal functioning. HYPE is an evidence-based program that equips youth with the social and emotional competencies they need to positively engage with others. Whether it be with dating partners, peers, friends, teachers or family members, youth will be better able to form meaningful, healthy connections in their lives. In weekly small groups, over the course of 14 weeks, co-facilitators present activities and generate discussion around issues that affect youth in their daily lives. In a safe space, youth talk about what contributes to stress, well-being, and healthy relationships at school, home and in their local community. The program is delivered in an interactive group-based format that includes discussion, audio, visual and tactile aids as well as the opportunity for interactive activities and peer support. HYPE also provides youth with one-on-one support as well as referrals to community services. This free after school program is available to youth ages 13-24 in two different settings – schools and youth drop-in centres. By offering the program in a group model, otherwise socially isolated youth, who may not have had a circle of friends of their own, have the opportunity to experience group engagement and connection.

Orlando, FL – Orlando Traveling Memorial

2017-09-21T00:00:00Z

The Orlando Traveling Memorial is a 100+ foot mural wall, to be built with donations, that will travel the country to "Remember the 49 and Those Left Behind." On June 12, 2016, the largest single massacre in U.S. history occurred in Orlando, Florida at the Pulse nightclub. Much like the 9/11 World Trade Towers terrorist attack, when Pule was hit our hearts were broken in Orlando and the U.S. This multi-faceted project begins with survivors and families painting portraits in a paint-by-numbers style of the loved ones they lost that night. It extends to the collection of thousands of hand prints of police, first responders, medical personnel, officials, local citizens and others who aided that night and beyond. Survivors are also recording audio stories, poems and songs. Using Near Field Communication (NFC) behind each painting we will amplify a lights display that will add another element of beauty at night. The project is an offering of healing, hope and understanding to the community, nation and world as a result of the horrendous events of that night. It will also bring together survivors who feel left behind and give them opportunities to reconnect and heal. The memorial will be in Orlando, near the site of the attack, for a year and will then travel to cities throughout the U.S. to serve as both a memorial to those lost and a reminder of the transformative power of love and forgiveness. Contributions to this project will insure that the 49 we lost will never by forgotten and the love that surged through the Orlando community after the tragedy will be held up as an example to cities around the globe about how to cope with the incomprehensible.

Poughkeepsie, NY – Picnic tables for the 9/11 memorial park

2017-09-19T00:00:00Z

The 9/11 Memorial park in the city of Poughkeepsie is beautiful but unfinished. The Kiwanis Club of Poughkeepsie would like to see two picnic tables at the park so local business people can eat lunch.

Gloucester, MA – What Can I Do? Young Voices for Positive Change!

2017-09-19T00:00:00Z

I am currently in the process of bringing a video journalism multimedia program to the students at O'Maley Innovation Middle School After School Program. The goal of this ongoing project is to teach students to use their voices for good on platforms that are relevant to their peers and community. One of the big idea projects the students brought to the table was to produce Public Service Announcements surrounding issues they face, specifically focused on an Anti Bullying Campaign they are designing. The project is student driven, with the goal of community awareness /involvement as part of the solution. We plan on working with Cape Ann TV to help get the message out to the community and to give the students the real experience within the field of video journalism. Other projects will include students live streaming current events, producing local news segments about issues or stories important to them for their peers and community, and focusing on how to use their voice, film, and the internet in a more positive and influential way...One to one we change the world,

Philadelphia, PA – High School Females Get Creative with Robotics

2017-09-19T00:00:00Z

The White House Initiative on Education Excellence For Hispanics released an update titled, "Hispanics and STEM Education". This update released the following data: "Hispanics made up 16% of the U.S. population in 2010, only earned 8 percent of all certificates and degrees awarded in the STEM fields between 2009 and 2010. Hispanics are underrepresented in undergraduate and graduate STEM programs and are not sufficiently exposed to STEM subjects at the K-12 Levels." My high school, Thomas Edison High School is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 80% of our student population is Latino. Over the past four years, the school robotics team has been all boys. The girls were not interested in joining. The goal of this project is to focus on the high school female students. I want to introduce and encourage all high school females into the world of robotics, so that they will be able to design, build and operate their own robot. The goal of having a girls only robotics team, will allow the girls to learn and explore, have a voice and develop their skills in decision making, analytical, writing and speaking skills. This will be a wonderful opportunity for the females to figure things out without the concern of the boys stepping in and taking charge. Girls can have fun and learn without trying to impress the boys. They can make mistakes without feeling embarrassed in front of the boys. We can change future future data of Hispanics and STEM Education by introducing the females in to this STEM project with hands on experience. This team will be open to all females yet, we will concentrate on the 9th grade girls. This will give the 9th grade ladies four years of experience before applying to college. https://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/list/hispanic-initiative/stem-factsheet.pdf

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – The Adventure Project

2017-09-18T00:00:00Z

The Adventure Project (TAP) is an innovative non-profit movement dedicated to lifting people in developing countries out of poverty by creating transformative jobs. We “add venture” capital to help local organizations scale and thrive. TAP fills a critical role in alleviating poverty by leveraging the power of a grassroots movement toward smart, cost-effective solutions that empower the poor to become profitable entrepreneurs, so they can serve their own communities with improved health, decreased hunger, a safer environment and clean water. We provide funding, technology innovations, and marketing support to help the best local organizations with proven job creation programs innovate and scale. Rather than a handout, a job has the power to move a family out of poverty forever and give people the dignity they deserve. In six years, The Adventure Project has galvanized the support of over 8,000 donors to create jobs for 1,000 men and women in India, Kenya, Uganda and Haiti. These entrepreneurs now serve over one million people in their communities with lifesaving goods and services.

Pittsburgh, PA – YNGBLKPGH

2017-09-18T00:00:00Z

YNGBLKPGH is a social justice movement in a completely different mindset being built through our community to revamp the narrative about what it means and looks like to be young, black, and in the city of Pittsburgh. Not for the media's sake but for our next generations. YNGBLKPGH has first encapsulated into a coffee table book. So often within the city of Pittsburgh, when these three words are put together, a negative story often follows. YNGBLKPGH so vividly articulates the counter narrative to that far to often told story through telling the stories of over 140 of the city's young professional scene, for the sake and hope of our next generations of the city. Within the pages of this, you will find of every featured person has included their path, a first person narrative of their journey and how they got to where they are now, an amazingly shot photograph shot by Mecca Gamble and a hand written open letter to the next generation of the city of Pittsburgh. YNGBLKPGH is building a community focused on exposing the possibilities to the next generations of leaders to provide proof that they can accomplish amazing things, all the while being YNGBLKPGH, just like every person in this book. The book's success has been well documented and is still rising since its release on April 29th of this year. Our author and the premise of YNGBLKPGH has been featured on WPXI/NBC, KDKA/CBS, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Pittsburgh Courier and countless other national news outlets. As the book and movement continue to grow in popularity and influence our central goal and reason for breathing is still our children and their exposure to what a project like this can mean to them. I am more than a firm believer that exposure and imagery can change lives, and YNGBLKPGH plans to continue down this path, rewriting the future for our children, one letter at a time.

Cass Clay – Mobile Nature Center

2017-09-15T00:00:00Z

The purpose of the Mobile Nature Center is to teach environmental education to preschool and elementary age children in Fargo/Moorhead through drop in nature activities, guided walks, and informal "open house" events. It will be a mobile art installation, science laboratory, and children’s natural history museum on wheels. The projects mission is to engage, educate, and inspire children through art and environmental education in an effort to protect Fargo’s natural environment for future generations. The project is: Responsive: Mobility allows the center to move among communities where interest and outreach is most needed. It provides opportunities to collaborate with local organizations, support community events, and engage diverse and low income families. Exploratory: Outdoor green spaces are abundant in the FM area. This project will partner with urban parks, community gardens, farmers markets, schools, and or libraries to inspire curiosity about the natural world within our urban landscape. Creative: The interior and exterior of the mobile nature center will invoke a sense of curiosity, celebrate urban wildlife, and provide hands on child-centered displays. Local artists will help with the design process. Design ideas include: a living prairie roof, hands-on sensory stations, wheelchair accessibility, a mini library nook, and exhibits that focus on our two greatest urban natural resources-the Red River and the tall grass prairie.

Ann Arbor, MI – Seraphine Collective's Beat Match Brunch

2017-09-15T00:00:00Z

DJ Culture, in Detroit and elsewhere, is male-dominated: VICE Magazine reports that women make up under 10% of all DJs at music festivals. There is also a high barrier to entry — the cost of equipment can be prohibitive, and as beginners, women are less likely to have access to technical mentorship, practice space and booking opportunities. In April 2016, we rose to this challenge by launching our first workshop series: Beat Match Brunch, a month-long introduction to the fundamentals of the art form for aspiring female-identified DJs. The first workshop, facilitated by Detroit DJ Mother Cyborg, had to turn away about half of the applicants, which highlights the series’ potential to breathe fresh air into the city’s electronic music scene. In April 2016, we invited eight women with diverse musical tastes and cultural backgrounds to learn how to use turntables, handle, select and “read” vinyl records, isolate sounds, and use BPMs to beat-match, all in a supportive and collaborative environment. Following the end of the workshop, several of the DJs have continued to independently borrow equipment, organize practice sessions, and perform at dozens of events around town. We will be hosting the next round of workshops, for 12 people this time, in September 2017. Additionally, Seraphine Collective hopes that the Beat Match Brunch program will become self-sustaining, with graduates teaching later generations and performing at fundraising events. In short, it’s been awesome, and we are so excited to lay the groundwork for this workshop to become a permanent part of Seraphine Collective’s programming, and a fixture in the Detroit music scene.

San Jose, CA – San Jose Hoops!

2017-09-15T00:00:00Z

I teach middle school in a downtown San Jose school and I would like my design/maker class to make hula hoops to learn about physics. The students will make enough of them so that they can be used in the physical education classes and also have the middle school students visit the local elementary school and teach them about the physics of hooping. When students are able to teach others, the learning is made much stronger for the student and I really like the idea of middle school kids teaching kids younger than themselves. My hope is that we will be able to get them done in time for the Viva Calle 2018 so that they can create a pop-up where they will teach other kids how to hoop as well.

Ottawa – Tiny Street Art for the Keen Eye

2017-09-14T00:00:00Z

September’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to an anonymous recipient who has been hiding hundreds of realistic food miniatures in plain sight around Ottawa. “I am working hard,” she explains, “to make the streets of Ottawa a little more fun. I create clay miniatures of various popular foods and place them in the cracks of the city for people to find or stumble upon.” So far she has hidden more than 400 such miniatures around the city, posting pictures of many of them on Instagram and Facebook. Our anonymous winner – we don’t even know who she is – has big plans for this fall, and will use the Awesome Ottawa award to begin putting on scavenger hunts. “I will post a ‘menu’ on Instagram and Facebook,” she explains, “and every hour I will release a picture from the menu. The first person to take a picture with all five miniatures and post them on my Facebook page will earn a clue to the prize location. The prize will include a miniature and a gift certificate for a local business.” In an interview with Artsfile earlier this year, our winner explained: “My story and experience aren’t relevant to the joy of finding a piece of miniature food hidden in the cracks of the city. I love the simplicity of it, and the mystery of who I am protects that simplicity.” She has also been reported on by CBC Ottawa and the Kitchissippi Times.

Chicago, IL – SHE CAST : a for-youth by-youth podcast

2017-09-14T00:00:00Z

SHE CAST is an intersectional feminist podcast made for young people, by young people, ages twelve through fourteen. Every episode tackles an issue affecting youth. Past episodes have focused on bullying, racism, body image, the 2016 election, women in male-dominated industries, targeted advertising, gender identity and more. The young women and trans youth who host this podcast also answer listener-submitted questions each episode from teens like them. This peer mentorship via podcast empowers the girls giving the advice, and is a great resource for young people who may not feel comfortable reaching out to adults for their concerns about popularity, body image, gender presentation and more.

Birmingham, AL (Inactive) – STREAM Coding Boot Camp

2017-09-14T00:00:00Z

Established in 2015, STREAM Innovation, Inc. is an up and coming 501 (c) (3) designated non-profit developed to address the need for students from undervalued and underserved communities to be introduced to Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STREAM). Our mission is to help students to develop and explore their passion (STREAM) by providing exposure, experiences, and engagement with high expectations for their success!! We promote collaborative innovation to engage students in their desired STREAM discipline(s) and innovate solutions to real world problems in their communities. The awesome project that we would like the Awesome Foundation to support is our STREAM Coding Camp. The STREAM Coding Boot Camp provides an experience for rising 7th and 8th grade students to learn computer coding in the summer regardless of their background in STREAM. These courses are intended to equip students with coding languages (HTML, CSS, JQuery, and Java Script) that can be used across all STREAM fields. We completed our Boot Camp over the summer of 2017 at Inglenook K-8 School with 10 students. Because of the enthusiasm of the students, we would like to launch an after school Spring 2018 Boot Camp at Inglenook K-8. This program would be similar to the Summer Boot Camp, but we would like the Summer students to help teach their peers as STREAM peer instructors along side adult instructors. We believe allowing a peer to peer teaching experience will allow for a non-traditional learning opportunity for all students participating in the Boot Camp.

Paris (Inactive) – Jouer l'image & Migrations sonores

2017-09-12T00:00:00Z

Mon projet concerne 2 ateliers d'action culturelle qui s'inspirent de mon travail de création à l'orgue de barbarie, un instrument de rue nomade, symbole d'échange et de lien social. Le premier, en partenariat avec L'Institut des Cultures d'Islam est à destination des enfants de la Goutte d'or. « Jouer l'image » est un atelier qui propose aux enfants de découvrir l'orgue de barbarie et son langage unique : le carton perforé. Les enfants participeront à un processus de création collective, à travers un travail de collages sur carton à musique, le tout joué lors d'un concert final. Le second, en partenariat avec le BAAM et FGO, est à destination des Migrants de Paris. « Migrations sonores » est un atelier de captations qui se propose d'aborder la question des migrants du point de vue du son, à travers un travail d'archivage de bruits, objets ou paroles de migrants. Une restitution aura lieu en public à la Rotonde où séquences enregistrées viendront dialoguer et vivre avec l'orgue de barbarie, dans sa plus stricte tradition d'instrument de rue et de machine sociale. My project comprises 2 cultural workshops, inspired by my creations with a barrel organ, a nomadic street instrument that symbolises exchange and social link. The 1rst workshop is directed towards the children of the Goutte dOr neighborhood, in partnership with the Institut des Cultures d'Islam. “Playing the image” is a workshop that invites children to discover the barrel organ and its music : the punctured cardboard. The children will participate in the creative process, using collage on music cardboard, and will take part in the final concert. The 2nd workshop will involve Paris migrants, in partnership with BAAM and FGO. “Sound migrations” focuses on capturing sounds and approaches the theme of migrants through the archival of sounds, noises, speeches of migrants. A show will be given at the Rotonde : recorded sequences will interact with the barrel organ, reconnecting it with its traditional role of street music and social device.

Asheville, NC (Inactive) – AC Reynolds Clothing Closet

2017-09-11T00:00:00Z

Our Awesome Project is to develop a clothing closet in the AC Reynolds School district for high school and nearby middle school use. Family to Family has been asked by the administrations and counseling staffs of AC Reynolds High School and AC Reynolds Middle School to help solve their challenge of having clothing on hand for students in emergency situations. Emergencies encompass personal hygiene reasons, noncompliant dress code clothing, clothing for special situations or for families who cannot afford alternatives for appropriate clothing. Other needs run the gamut from specialized clothing for arts, athletic, and specific academic programs, clothing for interviews and for the Graduation Project (Senior Exit Portfolio program) among other requests. Clothing teens is not easy and especially for families struggling economically. Students who are already marginalized often feel set apart as they only know “second hand” clothing. It is one thing to choose to go to “Goodwill” but to always have your clothing be less than what is “in” is often demoralizing. Our clothing closet seeks to provide dignity to all our students. F2F researched schools across the nation regarding this challenge, and came across the “boutique” or school clothing store concept. Big Picture High School in Burien, WA is an example we are emulating. Evident in our research is the importance of “normalizing” the use of a Clothing Closet on campus. By opening the store to all students, the Rocket Street Boutique can become the cool place to shop for all. Our clothing closet will be housed at the high school. Our business plan includes partnering with special needs students as part of their curriculum to enable them to experience real life skills for their future employment as well as provide this needed service to our community. Included in the plan will be the behind-the-scenes support for special services students’ to experience the autonomy and accountability of running a clothing boutique.

Washington, DC – The Protégé Project

2017-09-11T00:00:00Z

The Protégé Project: Ward 8 Homework Assistance and Empowerment Program is a new non-profit program that is specifically crafted to address the obstacles that impede on the academic and personal achievements for at-risk African American boys between the ages of 10 to 14 within the Ward 8 neighborhood of Washington, DC. The program aims to combine innovative after-school homework support with community participation, mentorship-participants, which will improve their oral and written communication skills, and as a byproduct instill self-confidence in the boys through the safe and supportive environment. In Washington, D.C., particularly neighborhoods East of the River, African American boys face the grim realities of poverty, violence and a lack of meaningful educational opportunities. Although many nonprofits are working to resolve these and many issues plaguing the community, there are not enough efforts to completely rectify the harms that result from the institutional challenges these boys face. To help find a solution, a group of community members who are passionate about changing the future and breaking the cycle of institutional and systemic issues facing the community have decided to create a nonprofit that supports educators and parents to assist students in becoming productive members of the Ward 8 community.

San Francisco, CA – Insect Trading Cards

2017-09-07T00:00:00Z

I started photographing insects at the Essig Museum of Entomology at UC Berkeley as an art project. I use techniques to make the images look more like lithographic prints than like photographs. The techniques include lighting, exposure, and post-processing. This not only makes the images much cooler, but also makes it easier to see details. This got me thinking that the images could be used to create excitement about entomology, and spread interesting information about insects. The director of the museum has agreed to produce brief written material to accompany each image. The San Francisco International Airport will host a display of our images and text, together with specimens from the museum, for several months in the middle of 2019. However, the airport display will only reach a limited audience. I want to put the images and information in the hands of all kinds of people. My idea is to create insect trading cards. Each card will feature an image of an insect, and also information on one specific topic that is exemplified by that insect. Topics include -climate change's effects on beneficial and harmful insects - principles of evolution as exhibited in certain insects - general knowledge about insects Modeled on baseball cards, each card will feature an image of the insect on one side, with the common name (i.e. Rhinoceros Beetle), and genus/species that uniquely identify the insect (Augosoma centaurus for the attached image of the beetle with the large horns). The other side will include brief text including the stats (such as size and distribution) along with a description of the concept that the insect illustrates. My goal is to distribute the cards for free through venues such as the California Academy of Sciences and the Lawrence Hall of Science. A card could be given to each patron, adult and child. My connection with the Essig Museum will facilitate the distribution. More images are at http://davidgarnick.photography/gallery/insecta/

San Antonio, TX – Artist in Residence

2017-09-07T00:00:00Z

The lights come up and the dancers take the stage. You spend an evening in awe as a wordless story transports you to a place where time stands still. As the final curtain drops, you leave your seat and exit the lobby in sheer wonderment of the abilities of the human body. But you don't see the months of practice to bring a couple of hours to life. The endless drilling and nonstop doubt of a dancer's chosen path. Starving artists are a reality and for someone who has spent a lifetime dedicated to their art, it can be an uncertain future. San Antonio Dance Umbrella's Artist in Residence focuses on highlighting an up and coming choreographer in San Antonio and providing them with the opportunity to present their work in a professional capacity. SADU provides opportunities to the choreographer to present their work each month and receive audience feedback, utilizing the Liz Lerman Critical Response Process (CRP) which gives tools both to people who are making work and people who are responding to that work.

San Francisco, CA – Gilded

2017-09-07T00:00:00Z

I am a performance artist living and working in Oakland, CA. I use performance to test the limits of my body in relationship to Mexicanidad, Whiteness, and coloniality. I am lucky to be able to perform in small local community settings and museums such as the Broad Museum among others. In an attempt to communicate the weight and e/affects of contemporary American racial violence, I will push a car (in neutral) shrouded in a gold fabric to metaphorically perform what it feels like to walk around the world as a racialized subject. The title "gilded" alludes to the deceptive coating or surface; the inability for racialized subjects to perform proper affect. For the next installment of this performance, I will invite other women to push cars with me and create a procession of gold shrouded cars during a low rider exhibition in San Francisco and/or Los Angeles. Featured Photo: Robbie Sweeny

Oakland, CA (Inactive) – Kick Ass Mural: 26th & West

2017-09-07T00:00:00Z

In March my husband and I caught out of towners tagging a neighbor’s building. We reported it, received half of their fine, and are reinvesting it back into our neighborhood beyond painting over crappy tags. I want an antidote to the fact that some of the people tagging and contributing to the blight are not even from the city; their argument is often “nobody cares”. The Kick Ass Mural project stands up to this notion by generating a beautiful and inspiring wall that is created together with and cared for by locals. I want to inspire local youth to take ownership of their streets and public surfaces through creative action. I have teamed up with local muralist Dave Kim to engage, train, and put paintbrushes in the hands of local kids to laugh at bad tagging and show the local community what street art can be when it’s done by neighbors. We got connected by a neighbor to Kewesi, who owns KES Fitness at 26th & West. A mural painted there by his friend was destroyed by tagging in 2013. This article will help describe why this effort is needed: http://www.mercurynews.com/2013/10/25/graffiti-battle-in-west-oakland-has-racial-edge/ Dave & I really connected with Kewesi and his space where he offers free drop-in martial arts classes for youth from the neighborhood to build confidence and mindfulness. We think that same energy and spirit of movement deserves to shine through on the outside. We have 12 people on the team so far to help us make this happen. The number is growing as we gain momentum towards the Kick Ass Event on November 3rd-4th. We’re hoping to add 12-15 youth from the area and we’ve already begun the outreach and planning for workshops with them and their schools. We’re excited to use the reward from the city to inspire more civic involvement. With the Awesome funds we can harness Kewesi’s great energy and give his connection with youth another method of expression outside of the dojo. This mural will be for locals, by locals, with kick ass pride!

Philadelphia, PA – The Music Mint

2017-09-06T00:00:00Z

We are a Music Project based in the Philadelphia area. Our Mission is for Musicians to get FREE content & Music Lovers to find upcoming artists! Once a month, we host 3 upcoming musicians/bands in our studio. During the session, we live stream original song recordings and conduct Q&As with the artists. Each following week, we release professionally produced videos of the studio recordings and behind the scenes photos!

Cass Clay – Dress for Success Specialty Clothing

2017-09-06T00:00:00Z

Dress for Success empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing confidence, clothing, and career tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Most of the women served are single mothers who focus all their time & energy on their children. They often sacrifice their personal comfort so their children have better lives. The suiting program provides professional attire for interviews and a working wardrobe once a woman is employed. Dress for Success strives to provide all tools necessary for a woman to be successful at work. Unfortunately, our funding has dwindled quickly for specialty clothing as the need has grown. We want women to work within careers instead of dead-end jobs. Lately, we have been focusing on development and doing more work within our Career Center to help women determine what field is the best fit. Many have gotten CNA certified and need specifically colored scrubs and sometimes even stethoscopes when they're hired at hospitals. Others have gone to trade schools for culinary arts or construction management and need non-slip shoes, chef uniforms, steel-toed boots, or tools. Not only does Dress for Success provide physical tools to succeed at work, educational tools are also provided. The Career Center provides assistance with all aspects of the job search including resume creation/critique & mock interviews. Monthly workshops help women acclimate to corporate culture, market themselves online, network, and address other pertinent topics to the recently hired. The Mentoring Program offers clients an introduction to creating and maintaining professional relationships. Professional women in the area are intermingled with past clients in a social environment that focuses on team building activities and outings. This outlet provides the perfect setting for organic relationships to form where mentors can provide ongoing support and advice to past clients which help women increase employment retention and promotions.

Annapolis, NS (Inactive) – Publication of an Annapolis Royal Photo book

2017-09-06T00:00:00Z

Awesome Annapolis winner for September 2017 is Melissa Fillmore from Past to Present Photos. She pitched that there is a push to spread the word that Annapolis Royal and its surrounding areas are desirable places to visit and live. What better way to do this than through a visual presentation coffee table style book. This book will help to further the efforts of inviting people to come, whether for a visit or long term stay and benefits the local economy. There will also be a benefit to those within our community who will get to enjoy the photography talent of their neighbours. Participation is open now and her goal is to have book published by late November and available for Christmas gifts. https://www.pasttopresent.ca/ Get in touch now to get your photo in the book.

Orlando, FL – Unifying Our Diverse Community Via a Musical Meal

2017-09-05T00:00:00Z

Liverpool (Inactive) – K2AV Bands In A Box

2017-09-04T00:00:00Z

Okay, so in short, we squish entire bands into the few remaining red phone boxes in Liverpool. I went through my teens watching YouTube videos from La Blogotheque's Take Away Shows and NPR's Tiny Desk concert, wishing I could've been there or imagining what it would be like to play. As much as I love La Blogotheque, it only serves as an alternative platform for established performers. I remember setting up Sofar Sounds Bristol, but out of five acts, my boss only agreed to one act from Bristol, and brought the others in from London. It felt unfair. And it still restricted the audience to the attendees or those who already knew of Sofar. At the same time, venues everywhere were (and still are) closing down. However, fantastic musicians are down at your local pub, they just haven't had the right platform to get noticed. We hear this argument thrown about every now and then, but the option organisations typically go for is a city festival or a local zine, still limiting the audience and keeping it local. Now, our aim is to provide a platform akin to the quality and followership of Tiny Desk or La Blogotheque, but showcase our region's 'one's-to-watch'. The content sparks interest; we literally squish a whole band into a K2 or K6 phone box each week, interview them over the phone and record a stripped, improvised version of one of their songs. It highlights a different side of bands and so far we've had people swap guitars for vocal harmonies or melodicas, replace drums with gradual tearing of the pages in a phone book to create rhythm. K2 is the box, AV is Audio Visual. Why the phone box? They were designed by the same architect of the Anglican Cathedral, and every year, more and more are being torn up from the streets. They're British icons, but they're going into such disarray. We bring life to these quintessential kiosks, we rally crowds for Liverpool's talent and we boast the music scene of Liverpool with its touring acts. In short, we show bands in a box.

Austin, TX – Interwoven: A Community Weaving Project

2017-09-01T00:00:00Z

Interwoven is a community art project that will be held at the Rosewood-Zaragosa Neighborhood Center in East Austin. The workshops are an opportunity to build community and to create a designated community art space that is accessible to everyone. The workshops are free and open to the public and everyone is welcome to participate. The completed woven artworks will be displayed during East Austin Studio Tour, which gives an opportunity to not only showcase the community artworks, but also bring attention to the work/services that Rosewood-Zaragosa Neighborhood Center provides to the public. The idea is for the Interwoven Community Art Project to be the first of a series of community art events at the Center. Building the Austin community through art!

Boulder, CO (Inactive) – Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

2017-09-01T00:00:00Z

In honor of the Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), this concert is a collaboration with the Dairy’s Visual Arts department resulting in a festive evening of original artwork, altars, & great music. Admission to the event is very affordable for families, large groups, or individuals, at just $5 a person. The event will provide access to the Día de los Muertos art exhibits throughout the entire evening, paired with a musical celebration featuring Latin American music in the Dairy’s Gordon Gamm Theater, and a chance to participate in voting for the “People’s Choice” favorite altar competition. This event is geared towards building community by honoring a historical Mexican tradition & holiday - it will be catered for Boulder residents of all ages!

Melbourne (Inactive) – Dinosaur- Library Takeover: Kids change the world!

2017-09-01T00:00:00Z

Dinosaurs and awesome people alike- I invite you to join me on a mission to empower our community's youngest change makers! First, let me address the velociraptor in the room, yes you do see a product website listed which probably rings "WARNING- MARKETING" alarm bells but let me alleviate your fear. This project is not about profit or exposure for personal gain- it is about reaching out to unlock the potential of young people. I am a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) junkie who loves nothing more than providing resources to help create empowered young change makers. I'm also an 'accidental' author! In 2014 I started Chat For Change, providing opportunities for hundreds of young people to vlog, blog and create for change. In 2016 I fundraised to create 17 "SDG Squad" cartoon characters started school outreach. To further spread SDG awareness (and procrastinate from my final Masters essay) I self-published a children's book on the SDGs called - How Do You Wrap That? The idea is simple, put a crazy story book full of colorful characters and whimsical rhymes into the hands of parents and to spread the message that the best gifts we can give the world are those that can't be wrapped like food, safety and equality. The first 30 sales funded the donation of a book and lesson plan to 30 Primary Schools. Sales of the first 50 books raised the funds to create an e-book. Now I am now able to provide endless free e-copies to educators all over the world! My next wish is the most daring and one so awesome that I ask for your help. There are 51 public library networks in Victoria with 70,067 active borrowers. $1000 will help me provide 3 FREE hard copies to each library network! You see, this has never been about profit. It's about cementing in the minds of young people that they are powerful change agents and reminding young and old that human rights matter! It's not as out-there as your usual projects but please become a part of my library takeover.

Atlanta, GA (Inactive) – Latina Ladies in Tech

2017-09-01T00:00:00Z

LA South Bay, CA (Inactive) – Help Children with All Abilities!

2017-08-31T00:00:00Z

Free to Be Me Drum Circle, and Unique Reflection have collaborated to create a magical space that will provide family entertainment combining recreation, dance, music, art, and sensory safe gym equipment in a safe, clean, climate controlled, adult parent/guardian supervised environment for all families reaching out to those with special needs and their loved ones. We are a dynamic team that brings the elements of fun and exciting drum circles that are filled with, creative expressive music, native and artistic instruments, vibrant decorations, music and self-appreciation education, dancing, singing and more. As well as Arts & Crafts that promote confidence, self-expression, high self-esteem, and loving yourself. using vibrant materials positive and inspiring images, and fabrics. We have been very successful mobile for many years and are looking for a great physical location to plant some roots. This unique partnership will be an enhancement for many children and families will all abilities, backgrounds, and cultures on a variety of levels beyond your imagination. We believe your gift will be the catalyst that will provide us the opportunity to be a great influence, assist in building and bringing out the natural intelligence and talents in children of all backgrounds and enriching the lives of families, and community. Your gift will be a pillar and anchor in making this magical place Rock!

Libraries (Inactive) – sharEd for Kids: Rotating Pre-K Library Concept

2017-08-31T00:00:00Z

Bobby Powers started sharEd for kids last year with the idea that low-income Pre-K classrooms in developing countries could better afford their learning materials and curriculum if the materials were shared or rented by the schools (just like accessing materials from a library) instead of having to pay a large sum to purchase everything they needed for the whole school year. The idea was that these schools could access the same quality of materials and training as higher end private schools if they were able to bear the cost together. sharEd is a social venture leveraging a rotational library concept to provide low-income preschools with a new themed Pre-K curriculum kit every month. The team piloted sharEd in Pune, India last year for 4 year olds and had great feedback from the teachers and schools. This year they are trying to add on classrooms at nursery and kindergarten levels. What our grantee has to say: "The Libraries Awesome Foundation Grant will be used to sponsor 4 classrooms of 3,4, and 5 year-old Pre-K students at the Shewantabai Dangat Patil English Medium School in Pune, India. The sponsorship will fund the school to participate in the sharEd for Kids Training and Curriculum Innovation Program. As a part of the program, all 4 classrooms will receive a new Themed Kit (for example: Nature Around Me) every month this academic year from sharEd's Library of play-based learning materials, and the teacher's will be enrolled in a monthly training and observation program. The program will help the school transition from a teaching approach based on rote learning to a developmentally appropriate, activity-based approach using a new curriculum and engaging learning materials. It will benefit approximately 160 Pre-K students this year and advance the skills of 8 teachers and teaching assistants who have no previous training in quality Early Childhood Education methods." What our trustees have to say: "I think this is a creative answer to the problem of unaffordable curriculum materials in developing countries. They've already achieved some degree of success and are looking to expand, extended the benefits of affordable educational materials to more students. For an ongoing initiative in a non-Western country, I think this is sustainable and scalable, worthy of our investment." "This project is supported by a solid and sustainable commitment to early education efforts." "This really is a great project idea that would benefit so many young students."

Adelaide – Systemic Consensus Voting App (sexy title needed!)

2017-08-31T00:00:00Z

Hi Awesome Foundation Team, I want to get a phone app developed that will record & calculate the voting preferences when a group of people vote the using the Systemic Consensus Voting method. The app would be a bit like the Doodle Poll phone app., but is simpler, & would deliver a much more sophisticated outcome. Standard democracy (first past the post) & Consensus Voting (75% majority) leaves up to 49% & 25% of constituents unhappy with a voting outcome. Systemic Consensus Voting resolves this problem simply, easily, and fairly. Instead of voting 'for' something (& against something else), voters consider the needs, concerns & feelings of their fellow constituents. Voters then vote for options that they are 'least resistant to', or more simply, they vote for things that they 'can live with' / works best for the overall welfare of the whole group. The option with the least resistance is the 'winner'. It's a bit like the preferential voting system used to elect Federal Senators. Who knows, it might even superseded the cumbersome white senate ballot paper, or even smooth a pathway for direct democracy. This video gives a good overview of how it works. https://youtu.be/3wR5YXYECOE

Minas Gerais (Inactive) – ITAKA no Goretti

2017-08-30T00:00:00Z

Este é um projeto que será desenvolvido no Centro Social Itaka Escolapios, localizado no bairro Maria Goretti, da região Nordeste de Belo Horizonte. O Centro Social, atua dentro das Políticas de Assistência Social, com foco na prevenção à criminalidade, com crianças e adolescentes de 7 a 17 anos de idade. O Projeto Itaka no Goretti, através oficinas e dinâmicas de grupo, busca trabalhar com os educandos, temas de cidadania, e participação. O projeto visa discutir com as crianças sobre o bairro que estamos localizados, que a maioria deles vive, e juntos pensarmos em ações de transformação social. Este tipo de trabalho, busca desenvolver nessas crianças e adolescentes, um sentimento de pertencimento no bairro em que moram, a torná-los responsáveis de cuidar do nosso espaço, e meio ambiente. O trabalho consiste nas oficinas, onde iremos desenvolver noções de participação, cidadania, para no fim realizar uma transformação concreta no bairro.

Disability – DisabilityAfterDark Podcast

2017-08-30T00:00:00Z

The DisabilityAfterDark Podcast is the only podcast dealing specifically with the often undiscussed topic of sex and disability. It is completely self-produced by Andrew Gurza. In its 54 episodes, it has amassed over 14,400 downloads and have featured topics around sex and disability that we rarely talk about; consent and disability, the realities of sex, sexuality and disability that do not get touched upon. The program also opens up a platform to allow disabled people to come on as a guests and assert their sexuality by telling their stories about sex and disability in their own words. So often when we hear about sex and disability it is not from a first person narrative, and this program aims to change that. Lastly, DisabilityAfterDark is a program that can help to educate the non-disabled community around sex and disability. It helps to answer their questions, makes them think, and gives them a whole new perspective they may not have considered. What our grantee is saying: "I am so honored to receive the #AwesomeDisability Award for DisabilityAfterDark. It means so much to me because I self-produce the show, and it is currently one of the only programs focusing on sex and disability exclusively. To be able to receive funding that I can use to grow the program, and open up conversations around sex and disability even more is just, well, awesome." Image description: Andrew Gurza's shirtless silhouette sits in his wheelchair against a dark blue background. "DisabilityAfterDark with Andrew Gurza" written in yellow lettering above this image. Come As You Are Cooperative Logo on bottom left of this image.

Tallahassee, FL (Inactive) – Painting program for low income kids

2017-08-29T00:00:00Z

The Paint and Chill Experience is an after school painting program that creates a space for kids to become more innovative mentally through creative expression. Partnering with Joseph Ward, a local author of an educational book series that highlights iconic figures in history entitled "On the Shoulders of Giants," the PAC Experience intends to introduce a cultural aspect of knowledge through arts and education. This outreach project will allow the youth to explore creative individuality through free flowing expression, while giving them better guidance and opportunities for them to succeed. By following my basic principles of design, the students will be able to develop team building skills through collaborative murals, become inspired by creating original portraits of their favorite heroes and gain access to their goals by painting self portraits for vision boards. At the end of each month, an exhibition will be held in honor of the students who participated, any pieces sold will go towards art scholarships for students interested in perusing a career in the arts. Our goal at PAC is not only to help those children who don't have access to the arts, but also to construct a program for local artists to receive career opportunities within their area of expertise. Contracted artist will be able to exhibit their work for promotion and be responsible for teaching classes or assisting the youth that come to paint. As a result, the artists' participation will help build confidence within the youth that will shape them to become leaders in the creative community.

Austin, TX – Gender Unbound

2017-08-29T00:00:00Z

Gender Unbound is a one-day festival that uplifts transgender and intersex artists, musicians, and performers. The econd annual festival will be held on September 2, 2017 at Vuka North Lamar in Austin. Gender Unbound offers a rare opportunity for the general public to learn about sex and gender minorities in a context outside of "bathroom bill" legislation or a celebrity's coming out. This event celebrates and empowers an often marginalized community with a vibrant night of music, film, performance, and visual art. After a hard year of rhetorical, legislative, and physical assaults against trans and intersex people, a party fueled by creative expression is greatly needed. Gender Unbound also provides access to vital services like trans and intersex social/support organizations, free HIV and STI testing, and nonpartisan voter registration at the festival.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Hello Neighbor Community Potluck

2017-08-28T00:00:00Z

Founded in 2017, Hello Neighbor is a post-settlement refugee program that pairs refugees with American citizens as part of a four-month mentorship program to support refugees in self-sufficiency and integration into the community. We are really excited to be a newly launched initiative and have gotten great traction in just a few months. We create community events in addition to the mentors and mentees getting together to help create community in the program and support each other. Some of those events have a cost and that is where we are focusing for the Awesome Without Borders Grant. Being a refugee here in the U.S. is incredibly isolating. They go to school and work and come home. To have opportunities to make American friends and do American things is completely foreign to them. Hello Neighbor is the first opportunity many of them have, whether they have been here 6 months or 5 years, to interact with American families.

Ottawa – Foodsharing Ottawa

2017-08-28T00:00:00Z

August’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to Carolin Ross to fight food waste through Foodsharing Ottawa. “We are a group of volunteers who fight food waste in the Ottawa region,” explains Carolin. “We are working together with stores to save food that would otherwise go into the bin. We take care of everything from picking up the food, sorting through it, and bringing it to charities. In the last one and a half years we have saved over 15,000 lbs of food.” Foodsharing Ottawa will use the award from Awesome Ottawa on marketing materials. “We want to draw more attention and spread the word,” says Carolin. “The more people involved, the more food we can rescue and the more we can give back to our community.” She hopes to save another 50,000 lbs of food over the next year. Want to get involved? Visit Foodsharing Ottawa’s website to volunteer or become a cooperating business, or check the group out on Facebook or Twitter. Carolin grew up in Germany and moved to Ottawa two years ago, after working and travelling in Australia, New Zealand, and Scotland. She works at a start-up and lives with her husband and two dogs in Britannia.

Alaska (Inactive) – Enhancing Playback Theatre for Underserved Youth

2017-08-25T00:00:00Z

The story of this project begins in 2010, when Cassidy Phillips and I collaborated with a group of homeless youth to create “Alice in the Underground: a play about youth homelessness.” It raised community awareness about the issue and inspired us to start Breadcrumbs Theatre Company to create more such plays based on stories from our community that often go unheard. In 2016, one of the youth who was pivotal in the creation of “Alice” passed away. His death strengthened our resolve to create more theatre for and about the “unheard.” We were excited to learn about Playback Theatre, a method in which a group of performers asks audience members for true stories from their lives, and then uses improvisation, music, and minimal props to re-play those stories back to the audience. In 2016, two of our company took a class in Playback in Port Townsend, Washington. This spring, we held our first Playback performance at the Fairbanks Youth Facility (FYF). During our hour-long visit, we spent the first half playing theatre games with the youth, and second half performing playback, always inviting them to join us as performers or musicians. In this short hour, we found ourselves connecting with the youth in powerful and validating ways. We returned twice more, and were excited to find that each time, the youth were more engaged. Nicole Stellon-O’Donnell, a teacher at FYF, saw the positive impact of our program and wrote a Fulbright Alumni grant to provide a small stipend to company members who volunteer their time and also help offset other costs. We are talking to the Nenana School District about hosting us for a similar series of interactions with their students. We would like to expand our reach to other underserved Alaska populations in other communities. To deepen our impact, we need to improve our skills with further training, and to purchase better materials so we can create a more polished, professional presentation of the important stories that are shared with us.

Newcastle – Slow Food Hunter Valley Community Cooking Project

2017-08-24T00:00:00Z

Slow Food Hunter Valley commenced this community food program in 2014 in response to local needs. The program involves taking donated foods from nearby farms, local gardens and businesses,and turning it into nutritious and tasty meals. The meals are made under the guidance of local chef and Slow Food leader Amorelle Dempster. Amorelle instigated the project in 2014, kindly enabling the food preparation to take place in her cafe alongside the normal operation of the cafe. Throughout the week, for 35 weeks of the year, a dedicated group of volunteers of all ages and stages of life, prepares and cooks the donated food. The completed meals are boxed on Saturday mornings ready for to be collected by OzHarvest on Monday mornings. The meals are then distributed to disadvantaged people within the community through organisations such as Maitland Neighbourhood Centre, Carries Place (a womens refuge), Samaritans Youth Accommodation Service Maitland, CRC Rutherford and Mindaribba LALC Maitland. In 2016 we were pleased to have provided a total of 3723 meals to local people in need. We are always striving to produce our food more efficiently as the need in the local community is growing.

Oahu, HI – Tryke for James

2017-08-24T00:00:00Z

James has had severe brain damage. He has a tryke that is being made to accommodate his special needs. James cannot sit or stand on his own. He will use this tryke to ride a bike like a normal child. He doesn't get a chance to do much than move on the ground rolling or commando crawling. He does practice on his gait trainer walking. He will get to use new muscles while pedaling his tryke.

Oahu, HI – Waipahu Safe Haven Immigrant Resource Center

2017-08-24T00:00:00Z

The Waipahu Safe Haven Immigrant Resource Center is located in a Weed & Seed Office on Pupupuhi Street in a Hawaii Housing Apartment building which we have transformed into a holistic center servicing students from k-12 in afterschool tutorials, Adult education for many of our COFA community adults who we then help with job readiness skills. We have developed two Steering committees (Chuukese, and Marshallese) from our adult education classes, who provide guidance in the types of resource and education they'd like for their community. An example of this, was the Chuukese Culture and Language classes which we are providing on Saturdays for the Chuukese students who are losing their language. The classes are being provided with the guidance of the Leeward District ELL supervisor and the Chuukese language teachers. Our partnerships provide resource services, Waipahu community Coalition, Legal Aide, Public Health Nursing, Access to health insurance, Students from the Waipahu High School educational pathway volunteer their time to help with tutorials for our younger students and the Leeward District ELL program assist us with interpretation and VISTA/Americorp positions which help us to coordinate the programs . Additionally, we also run a sewing center for our migrant women. These women who have limited English abilities learn how to use their skill to earn some income for their families. The Safe Haven Computer Access Center, as it was initially called, was created to address a need for more computer access for our youth and adults in this geographical area. Our ultimate goal is to improve the success of students and adults in this area by improving family literacy which we hope would improve the community. We provide tutors to help with homework, and training for adults in English and to do job searches, write resumes, and provide a place where those in need could access documents to receive help with services.

Newmarket – Back to School Backpack Program (Women's Centre of

2017-08-23T00:00:00Z

At Women’s Centre of York Region our 2017 Fall Back to School Backpack drive is in full swing. Women’s Centre of York Region (WCYR) is a non-profit organization that offers programming and services to women who are looking for positive change in their lives. Unlike any other organization in York Region, our programs and services are offered at little or no cost. Through our programs, women gain the skills and knowledge to build and maintain healthy interpersonal relationships, make decisions about their finances, gain access to income and employment, start businesses, go back to school, and take on leadership roles. We do this through various programs from counselling to life skills, financial literacy to career exploration. WCYR’s Tangible Supports program offers a variety of services to help low to moderate income women move from financial vulnerability toward sustainability. Our clients access monthly grocery cards and bundles with personal care items, as well as seasonal supports through annual campaigns such as our Winter Hamper and Back to School Backpack programs. We rely on community support for the success of our campaigns, and are seeking your support for our Back to School Backpack program. We are assembling new backpacks, lunch bags, and water bottles for girls and boys of various ages, as well as for adult learners. Based on last year’s numbers and increased demand this year, we are projecting a need for 100 backpacks, lunch bags, and water bottles for our clients and their children. We hope to distribute the backpacks to qualified clients by late August/early September.. We appreciate your consideration of how you can further support our clients. Many of our clients have difficulties making ends meet and often can’t afford back to school items. This program ensures that all children and adult learners have access to the tools they need to be successful in starting their school year – with dignity

New York City, NY – We the Ppl: Politics for Those Who Can't Vote

2017-08-22T00:00:00Z

Whenever youth become more engaged in politics and government, positive change occurs. Whether in the sit-ins and rallies of the Civil Rights Movement or the modern day Women's March, whenever youth are given the opportunity to increase their civic engagement, progress is on the horizon. Created in 2016 by a high school student in New York City, We the Ppl is a political podcast and blog that provides people who can't vote (whether due to citizenship, criminality, age, or anything else) a platform to discuss their thoughts on politics, government, and civic engagement. From complex immigration policies to the Black Lives Matter Movement, WTP provides factual, well-researched political news and commentary from an underrepresented viewpoint. They've interviewed teens, tweens, experienced political journalists, and even a politician. Listen to bi-weekly episodes on iTunes and SoundCloud and explore blog posts at wethepplpodcast.com. This Awesome Foundation will help increase We the Ppl's number of global correspondents and ambassadors and provide even more people with an opportunity to change the world. We can't wait to see what the future holds.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – A Woman to Know

2017-08-21T00:00:00Z

Every day I write a daily newsletter featuring a different woman from history. I've featured women from all different industries, backgrounds and periods of history -- including Sylvia Rivera, the trans rights icon; Trotula, one of the earliest people to study women's medicine; Murasaki Shikibu, the Japenese novelist who wrote "The Tale of Genji" and more. I hope that in reading it, my newsletter subscribers learn more about notable women from history, even though many aren't including in our standard history books.

Piqua, OH (Inactive) – Piqua Pride Community Wide (PBIS at PJHS)

2017-08-21T00:00:00Z

Piqua Pride Community Wide - Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Kind At the beginning of the 2016-17 school year, Piqua City Schools implemented PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports). Our ultimate goal is to improve overall school climate and lay foundations for building relationships that will pay dividends in the future. At school and and in the community, Piqua Junior High School students are expected to be respectful, responsible, and kind, which are the three district-wide expectations. We hope to develop a positive school environment by teaching all students the expectations for our junior high school and utilizing incentives when students demonstrate respect, responsibility, and kindness. By concentrating on positive behaviors, we hope to create and maintain a positive and safe learning environment that will transcend into good citizenship in our community. To continue this initiative in the 2017-18 school year, we are implementing several recognition and incentive programs. The utilization of Indian Cards will be one of these incentives (see attachment). Students will receive an Indian Card when a staff member observes them demonstrating respectful, responsible, or kind behaviors. Cards will be turned in for weekly, monthly, and quarterly drawings. In addition to the Awesome Piqua grant, we will be applying for other grants and requesting donations from local businesses.