tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:/fr/projectsAwesome Foundation - Projects2026-07-24T23:27:29Ztag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6567722026-08-16T00:00:00Z2026-07-24T23:27:29ZKuala Lumpur – Chrislin’s First Birthday Charity Fundraiser This year, Chrislin hopes to turn her birthday celebration into an act of kindness by raising funds to provide food and essential supplies for elderly homes, orphanages, and underprivileged communities.
If you would like to support this meaningful cause, donations from RM50 onwards are warmly welcomed. Together, we can bring hope, care, and smiles to those in need. 🙏
📅 If you will be attending the event, please RSVP with the number of attendees so we can prepare sumptuous meals for our volunteers.ChrislinChrislin’s First Birthday Charity Fundraiser MalaysiaKuala Lumpurhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/kualalumpurtag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6130742026-08-15T00:00:00Z2026-08-13T19:25:50ZCass Clay – Gals Guide Women's History Classroom in MoorheadGals Guide is creating a women’s history classroom in Moorhead, Minnesota. Our classes are targeted to adults, but we do host the occasional Girl Scout Troupe (we have our own Girl Scout patch, too!). Our classes are more than names and dates; we unearth wisdom, wellness, and solidarity with women we don’t generally hear about in school. Gals Guide class showcases the subtle and bold ways that women overcome obstacles. How you, too, can overcome obstacles, because if women in history did it with far fewer resources and rights – imagine what you can do?!!
Since 2016, Gals Guide has had classes about writing, history, crafting, pop culture, and more. Gals Guide has already taught over 1,500 students! Our classes are a gentle intellectual lane for people who want to learn and deep dive into women’s history for inner space and an interconnected community. With this new space in Moorhead, we’ll have in-person-only classes as well as classes broadcast from Moorhead to audiences around the world (we have a sister location in Ireland). Our classes are for people who crave meaning and equity for women, as well as time to pause and reflect on the bigger picture. Our goal is to educate and inspire women to apply the authenticity, bravery, and creativity of the women who have been hidden in the shadows of history for too long.
Gals Guide was formed in Indiana but moved to Minnesota in 2025. After a year of searching, we found a location in Moorhead for in-person classes and to house our 5,000+ women’s history resource book collection…now we need to get it ready for classes! Leah LeachGals Guide Women's History Classroom in Moorheadhttps://galsguide.org/United StatesCass Clayhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/cassclaytag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6216222026-08-15T00:00:00Z2026-08-13T15:26:08ZCass Clay – Cultural Healing at the Community GardenThe South Moorhead is a neighborhood project that brings people together through culture, food, art, and hospitality in South Moorhead. The garden is designed as a welcoming and safe space where immigrant, refugee, asylum-seeking, and longtime residents can gather without fear, build friendships, and celebrate their traditions.
Participants will grow organic vegetables, herbs, and culturally significant foods while sharing gardening knowledge from their home countries. The project also includes community meals where neighbors cook together, exchange family recipes, and experience the hospitality that is central to many cultures.
Storytelling and cultural art are at the heart of the garden. Community members will share stories of their journeys, traditions, and memories while creating art, music, and cultural displays that reflect their identities. These activities preserve cultural heritage, encourage understanding, and help neighbors learn from one another.
Led by Shana Khnano and Chalang Qadir both asylum seeker and Shan is paraprofessional supporting students with special needs, the project creates opportunities for healing, belonging, and connection. By combining gardening, cultural expression, and shared meals, the the garden strengthens neighborhood relationships, improves access to healthy food, and creates a place where everyone is welcomed, valued, and able to grow together. We have cross cultural exchangeShan KhanoCultural Healing at the Community Gardenhttp://N/AUnited StatesCass Clayhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/cassclaytag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6209362026-08-14T00:00:00Z2026-08-14T16:53:07ZNew York City, NY – Repair Cafe BrooklynWe're excited to announce that our July grant has been awarded to the Repair Cafe Brooklyn, a monthly community event in Crown Heights where volunteers help visitors fix beloved items like clothes, toys, electronics, small appliances, and bicycles. This grant will allow them to restock key materials more regularly so they don’t have to turn away repairs as often, and also to expand into more expensive repairs they haven’t taken on before, like phones and computers, where replacement parts are the barrier.
_We're modeled after the Repair Cafe tradition that started in The Netherlands in 2009, and now run in cities all around the world. Our goal is to build a culture of care & repair, slow down the consumption cycle, and keep items out of the waste stream. All our repairs are completely free, so this grant will help us buy more tools and supplies to keep repair accessible to everyone._
_You can sign up to volunteer or to get something fixed at repaircafe.nyc. Our next event is August 30th at Another World community space, 629 Nostrand Ave from 10am to 1pm. And if you don't have something to repair, you can still come to shadow a repair, learn some new skills, and enjoy coffee and cookies with your neighbors. We hope to see you there!_
* [See the list of upcoming events](https://www.repaircafe.nyc/upcoming-events)
* [Follow them on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/repaircafebklyn)
Taylor BehnkeRepair Cafe Brooklynhttps://repaircafe.nycUnited StatesNew York City, NYhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/nyctag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6503692026-08-12T00:00:00Z2026-08-12T15:19:01ZYerevan – Շինուհայրում խաղահրապարակի վերաիմաստավորումՇինուհայրը Սյունիքի մարզի խոշոր ու ամենամեծ գյուղական բնակավայրն է համարվում, գյուղին հարակից տարածքում է գտնվում աշխարհի ամենաերկար ճոպանուղին՝ Տաթևերը, գյուղամիջով է անցնում նաև միջպետական ճանապարհը։ Այստեղ են վերաբնակեցվել Արցախի մեր տեղահանված հայրենակիցները։ Գյուղն ունի մոտավոր 2660 բնակիչ, գյուղում շատ անելիքներ կան, բայց դպրոցական արձակուրդներին կամ առհասարակ երեխաների ժամանցի վայրերը բացակայում են, կա ցանկապատված խաղահրապարակ, բայց գույքը բացակայում է։ Երեխաները պատկերավոր ֆուտբոլի դաշտ են ընդգծում խաղում (ինչ ֆուտբոլային խաղ եթե ոտքերիդ տակ խճաքարեր են)։ Երեխաների առորյան խաղահրապարակում ավելի հետաքրքիր դարձնելու համար, որոշեցի այս ծրագրին դիմել խաղային ժամանց ապահովող գույք ավելացնելու մասին։
Խաղահրապարակը բավականին մեծ է ինչ թույլ է տալիս մի քանի խաղային գույք ավելացնելու։ Ծրագրում նախատեսվում է գնել՝
Վոլեյբոլի կանգնակ,
Շղթաներով փոքր երկտեղանոց ճոճանակ։
Վոլեյբոլի կանգնակը կապահովի մեծահասակ երեխաների ժամանցը իսկ շղթաներով փոքր երկտեղանոց ճոճանակը փոքրահասակ երեխաների։
Խաղահրապարակում առկան է 4 նստարան, որը ներկման կարիք ունի, դա ևս նախատեսվում է ծրագրի շրջանակներում իրականացնել։
Նաև նախատեսվում է ցանկապատի երկայնքով գույնզգույն ներկված մեքենայի հին անվադողեր տեղադրել՝ խաղահրապարակին գեղեցիկ տեսք հաղորդելու համար։
Որպես հավելյալ տեղեկություն, նշեմ նաև, որ հնարավորության դեպքում այլ ծրագրերի ևս դիմելու նպատակ ունեմ հատուկ խաղահրապարակի համար նախատեսված ասֆալտապատման համար, ինչը թույլ կտա երեխաներին մաքուր ու անվնաս խաղային ժամանց ապահովելուն։Լուսինե ԷմիրյանՇինուհայրում խաղահրապարակի վերաիմաստավորումArmeniaYerevanhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/yerevantag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6560772026-08-12T00:00:00Z2026-08-12T15:18:32ZYerevan – Village Voices ArmeniaVillage Voices Armenia is an intergenerational cultural heritage project that connects high school students from Yerevan with elderly residents in Armenian villages to preserve stories that risk disappearing.
As rural communities face migration, aging populations, and economic decline, valuable oral histories, dialects, traditions, recipes, and local knowledge are being lost. Through guided village visits, students will spend time with elderly hosts, documenting their memories, daily life, and cultural practices through interviews, photographs, videos, and written research.
The collected materials will be preserved in a free digital archive and interactive village map, making them accessible to future generations, researchers, schools, and the public. Other than documentation, the project encourages meaningful relationships between generations, reduces loneliness among elderly participants, and helps young people develop a deeper appreciation for Armenia's rural communities and cultural heritage. The pilot program will begin with three villages near Yerevan and three participating students, ending with a public exhibition showcasing their work. The students will stay one week in the village or they can choose to travel daily with public transportation. Our long-term vision is to expand across Armenia, creating the country's largest archive of village oral history and ensuring that the voices, memories, and identities of rural communities are preserved before they disappear.Loucine Mazloumian, Ani Manvelyan, Tamara Podosyan, Kamila MartirosyanVillage Voices Armeniahttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1qH_soCzbuSCnlGkrFXX8vbQmF28C6dNot61hYjlui2w/edit?usp=drivesdkArmeniaYerevanhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/yerevantag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6551512026-08-12T00:00:00Z2026-08-12T15:20:04ZYerevan – Երիտասարդ առաջնորդների լաբորատորիաՄեր նախագիծը նպատակ ունի Սյունիքի մարզի 14–25 տարեկան երիտասարդներին տալ այնպիսի գիտելիքներ և գործնական հմտություններ, որոնք կօգնեն նրանց դառնալ իրենց համայնքների ակտիվ և պատասխանատու առաջնորդներ։ Ծրագրի շրջանակում կանցկացվեն ոչ ֆորմալ կրթական դասընթացներ առաջնորդության, հաղորդակցման, թիմային աշխատանքի, կամավորության, նախագծերի մշակման և համայնքային խնդիրների լուծման թեմաներով։
Մասնակիցները կաշխատեն թիմերով, կհայտնաբերեն իրենց համայնքների իրական խնդիրները և կմշակեն փոքր նախաձեռնություններ՝ դրանք լուծելու համար։ Ծրագրի ավարտին լավագույն գաղափարները կներկայացվեն համայնքի ներկայացուցիչներին և կստանան աջակցություն իրականացման համար։
Նախագիծը կարևոր է, քանի որ շատ երիտասարդներ ունեն գաղափարներ, բայց չունեն անհրաժեշտ փորձ, ռեսուրսներ և մենթորություն։ Մենք ցանկանում ենք ստեղծել միջավայր, որտեղ նրանք կսովորեն, կհամագործակցեն և կվստահեն իրենց ուժերին։
Արդյունքում առնվազն 30 երիտասարդ կստանա նոր հմտություններ, կստեղծվեն մի քանի համայնքային նախաձեռնություններ, իսկ ծրագրի նյութերը հասանելի կլինեն նաև այլ երիտասարդների համար՝ ապահովելով ծրագրի երկարաժամկետ ազդեցությունը։Արեն ԱռաքելյանԵրիտասարդ առաջնորդների լաբորատորիաArmeniaYerevanhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/yerevantag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6593822026-08-11T00:00:00Z2026-08-12T17:21:43ZSan Francisco, CA – Cardboard Art ArcadeWe want to make a collaborative, human-powered cardboard art arcade! We will work with artists, families, kids, and adults in our community to make a cardboard arcade, with claw machines, fortune tellers, joke dispensers, art vending machines, peep shows, jukeboxes, arcade games, puppet shows, bubble machines, and more, all made and powered by people, and all made of cardboard. We are going to have a series of build parties to work on them together, and when there are enough machines we will have an arcade! Nicole CatrettCardboard Art Arcadehttp://Artschm.artUnited StatesSan Francisco, CAhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/sftag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6082922026-08-10T00:00:00Z2026-08-12T00:04:13ZBaltimore, MD – ArtWorks in ProgressArtWorks in Progress (AWIP) turns Baltimore's construction sites into temporary outdoor galleries. We commission Baltimore artists to create or license work at architectural scale, 600+ linear feet of fence wraps, murals, and mixed-media installations, on active development sites across the city. The result: artists get high-visibility commissions at a scale most never access, neighborhoods get curated public art during the noisy, ugly years of construction, and developers get a cultural asset instead of a plywood eyesore. AWIP is also a creative workforce pipeline. Each project pairs commissioned artists with Morgan State students (art & architecture) who learn fabrication planning, install logistics, and construction-admin workflows on real sites. Apprentices walk away with portfolio work, paid hours, and direct relationships with developers, architects, and construction managers shaping Baltimore.Our proof of concept: a install in Remington with Baltimore artists Wickerham & Lomax on a Seawall Development & Charm City Buyers site. That project showed every part of the model works, the artists can produce at scale, the students can run the install, and developers want this on their fences. For the 2026 pilot, we're scaling to four sites with confirmed partners (Seawall, Downtown Partnerships, and Maryland Economic Development Corporation at Morgan State). AWIP solves an architecture/design workforce that rarely gets paid hands-on work before graduation and creative workforce opportunities to Baltimore artists.Ariana ParrishArtWorks in Progresshttps://nosremebaltimore.org/artworks-in-progressUnited StatesBaltimore, MDhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/baltimoretag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6595382026-08-09T00:00:00Z2026-08-10T14:49:02ZNewburgh, NY – Voices In MotionAsk a young person in Newburgh how they are really doing, and most have never been asked. Voices in Motion hands them the microphone and says: tell us your story. We are listening.
There is a fourteen-year-old in Newburgh right now who writes poetry in the margins of her notebook and has never shown a single line to another person. There is a boy who dances in his room with the door closed because he does not yet believe the world wants to see him move. There are dozens of young people in this city carrying stories, talents, and truths that have never had a stage, an audience, or even a single adult who stopped to say: I want to hear what you have to say.
Voices in Motion exists for them.
This is a one-day youth creative empowerment event built on a simple, powerful idea: that when you give a young person space to tell their story through poetry, movement, and honest conversation, you give them something far greater than an activity. You give them proof that their voice matters. You give them the experience of being seen and celebrated by their own community. And for a young person who has spent years being told to be quiet, that experience can change everything.
The event is planned for Saturday, September 26, 2026, in the City of Newburgh.
A young person arrives in the morning, maybe nervous, maybe guarded, not sure what to expect. They are handed a journal that is theirs to keep, and for the first time someone tells them that what they write in it has value. In the workshops that follow, they are guided gently into their own creativity: writing spoken word poetry about who they are and where they come from, moving their bodies in expressive dance, sitting in circle with other young people and discovering they are not alone in what they carry.
By afternoon, something has shifted. The guardedness softens. A girl who arrived silent reads three lines she wrote and the room snaps for her. A boy who never thought of himself as an artist realizes the words pouringRobin HollandVoices In Motionhttps://react7.org/United StatesNewburgh, NYhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/newburghtag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6367682026-08-09T00:00:00Z2026-08-10T14:54:29ZNewburgh, NY – NFA North CourtYard Beautification (Eyrie Commons)The NFA student Future Leadership Team is a group of 9th-12th grade students that come together weekly to help raise student voice, community action, and civic readiness. This team of students thrive to become future leaders in their school and local community. During the school year the team noticed that the NFA Campus courtyards were not being used to their potential. One of the court-yards in particular was not maintained and had become unusable by students and faculty. The courtyard had become overgrown and dirty. The idea was to not only clean up the courtyard in the school, but to make it a usable space for students who wanted to go outside on their free periods and relax and escape the stress of the school building. They brought together multiple teachers, administrators, and community partners to create a plan to clean the courtyard and then furnish it. Students would use this area as a space to read, relax, and get some sunshine on their face before their next class. They even named the project the Eyrie Commons. Eyrie stands for the highest point of an eagles nest which is the Newburgh symbol and mascot.
This court yard will be maintained by the Future Leader Team, NFA buildings and grounds, custodians, and staff.. The courtyard will become a symbol of the positive change students can have on their school community when given the opportunity. Scott BrogliaNFA North CourtYard Beautification (Eyrie Commons)United StatesNewburgh, NYhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/newburghtag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6592772026-08-07T00:00:00Z2026-08-07T14:52:33ZConservation and Climate – Living Forest Network — Bioeconomy amazon Deep in the Brazilian Amazon, in one of the most isolated municipalities in the country, a paradox plays out every day: the forest is extraordinarily rich — full of rare native fruits like açaí, patauá, abacaba, buriti and cacao — yet the indigenous Huni Kuin and riverside families who steward this territory live in extreme poverty, with no viable economic alternatives. Without income, the forest gets cleared.
The Living Forest Network (Rede Floresta Viva) flips this equation. Instituto Flor da Floresta – Ni Huá, a women-led civil society organization based in Jordão, Acre, operates a freeze-drying and cold-pressing laboratory that transforms these native forest fruits into high-value superfoods and essential oils. We buy raw materials directly from producer families at fair prices — creating the first reliable income many of these families have ever had from the standing forest.
The results speak for themselves: over 30 families already integrated into the supply chain, confirmed buyers in Brazil and Chile, and a new freeze-drying machine arriving in August 2026 that will double our capacity. The technology was recognized as a Social Technology by the Fundação Banco do Brasil (2026), and our health model has been awarded by CONASEMS and documented by Fiocruz.
But this is bigger than products. We are building a women-led producer cooperative, planting 5,000 native seedlings in degraded community areas, and training a new generation of community multipliers to carry the model forward — long after any grant cycle ends.
The forest is more valuable standing than cleared. We are proving it, one family at a time.romina lindemannLiving Forest Network — Bioeconomy amazon http://institutoflordafloresta.orgWorldwideConservation and Climatehttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/conservationandclimatetag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6517542026-08-05T00:00:00Z2026-08-12T22:42:16ZNewcastle – Legup Project Newcastle/Hunter Valley The Legup Project is a small charity run by volunteers
who want to help, not judge.
We support numerous homeless camps around
Newcastle and the Hunter Valley
by providing them with:
* A hot meal
* Tents and tarps
* Sleeping bags
* Clothes
* New underwear
* New socks
* Toiletries
We are also seeking donations of the above items
to distribute to the homeless.
If you know of any individuals on the street,
camping in parks or you would like to volunteer
please reach out to our Facebook page:
Legup Project Newcastle/Hunter Valley.
All donated items go directly to the homeless.Vanessa NeriLegup Project Newcastle/Hunter Valley AustraliaNewcastlehttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/newcastletag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6652572026-08-05T00:00:00Z2026-08-07T01:20:56ZSydney – Ollie’s monster drawing challenge I have designed an A5 book full of 80 weird and whimsical drawing prompts. It’s a game we have been playing with my son since he was 3 years old. For example: Draw a monster that is part giraffe, part whale, part beetle, and is playing the drums.
Whenever we went on long car rides, when he struggled to sleep, and then during a 16 month long treatment for cancer starting in 2022. Unfortunately, in June 2026 he relapsed and has recently started chemotherapy again.
He’s excited to turn this game into a drawing book that he can do at hospital but also hand out to his friends and other children on ward. It’s a simple idea and easy to create project, but hopefully an enjoyable one we can share that’s suitable for most ages and abilities. Naomi Jepson Ollie’s monster drawing challenge https://www.instagram.com/olliesmonstershop/AustraliaSydneyhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/sydneytag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6207982026-08-05T00:00:00Z2026-08-05T21:21:12ZYerevan – փոքր միջամտություն մեծ ազդեցությունՆախագծի նպատակն է գեղագիտական և փոքր բյուջետային միջամտությունով վերափոխել Երևան քաղաքի Հերացի անմխիթար վիճակում գտնվող շենքի 16/37 կողային պատը։ Բարելավել և էլ ավելի արժեքավոր դարձնել ճարտարապետական շինությունը ստեղծագործության միջոցով։ Տվյալ նախագիծը կբարձրացնի
իրազեկվածությունը Կովկասյան ընձառյուծի մասին՝ Հայաստանի հազվագյուտ և անհետացման վտանգի տակ գտնվող կենդանիներից մեկի մասին։ Ընձառյուծին քաղաքի միջավայրում պատկերելով՝ որմնանկարը կհիշեցնի մարդկանց, որ այս կենդանին միայն բնության մաս չէ, այլ նաև Հայաստանի բնական ժառանգության կարևոր խորհրդանիշներից է։
Հաշվի առնելով, որ վերջին տարիներին Երևանում սթրիթ արտ-ը սկսել է ակտիվ զարգանալ՝ ունենալով ինչպես դրական, այնպես էլ բացասական հետևանքներ, այս նախագիծը առաջարկում է հավասարակշռված և գիտակցված մոտեցում։ Այն ոչ միայն վերափոխում է պատը, այլև ստեղծում է գաղափարային միջամտություն, որը խոսում է քաղաքի, բնության և հասարակության փոխկապակցվածության մասին։Արման Ստեփանյանփոքր միջամտություն մեծ ազդեցությունArmeniaYerevanhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/yerevantag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6175622026-08-05T00:00:00Z2026-08-06T11:08:46ZLower Hunter – Stevie Goes to School & Mr Mindful: Wellbeing I have created a series of children's books designed to support mental health, wellbeing, kindness, resilience, and positive conversations between children and their families. My goal is to print and donate these books to local preschools and primary schools throughout the Hunter region, ensuring every child has access to stories that encourage emotional literacy and a love of reading.
The series includes Stevie Goes to School, which helps children feel safe and connected as they begin their school journey, and Mr Mindful, which teaches children that it is okay to talk about feelings, ask for help, and show kindness to others.
The project aims to reach children in Cessnock, Singleton, Branxton, Greta, Rutherford, and surrounding communities. By partnering with schools, I hope to provide free resources that support wellbeing initiatives, Book Week activities, kindergarten orientation programs, and family conversations at home.
My vision is simple: every child deserves to know that it is okay to have feelings, to ask for help, and to feel connected through stories and reading.Amy Louise DaggStevie Goes to School & Mr Mindful: Wellbeing http://www.steviegoestoschool.carrd.coAustraliaLower Hunterhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/lowerhuntertag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/5945282026-08-03T00:00:00Z2026-08-03T22:59:12ZOrlando, FL – Thorton Park Public Art Project Red Scarlet Mural Awesome Foundation Grant Request – Thornton Park Public Art Project
Our Awesome Project
The Thornton Park Main Street District is excited to launch a new public art initiative that will transform the side of Red Scarlet Salon, located at 717 E. Washington Street, into a vibrant outdoor gallery celebrating creativity, community, and the power of public art.
We have issued a Call for Artists to create three large-scale mural panels, each measuring 13' x 20'. The response from our local arts community has been overwhelming—we have already received 35 artist submissions and we are thrilled by the enthusiasm and talent represented. We have selected 3 artists haved created a unique mural that contributes to the visual identity and cultural richness of Thornton Park. Attached is the conceptual design.
This project builds upon Thornton Park’s longstanding commitment to public art and storytelling through murals. . Through projects like these, we use public art to spark conversation, celebrate history, and inspire future generations.
Thornton Park Main Street DistrictThorton Park Public Art Project Red Scarlet Mural United StatesOrlando, FLhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/orlandotag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6292462026-07-31T00:00:00Z2026-08-06T05:35:19ZDisability – FishEnableFishEnable manufactures adaptive reel-assisted fishing reels that help people with upper-extremity mobility limitations participate in fishing with greater independence. Many Disabled veterans, rehabilitation patients, stroke survivors, amputees, and people with limited hand or arm function are excluded from fishing because standard reels require repeated grip strength, wrist motion, and two-handed coordination.
This project will support FishEnable’s Community Access effort: getting adaptive fishing equipment into the hands of Disabled people through veterans’ programs, rehabilitation centers, adaptive recreation groups, and community fishing events. FishEnable reels use push-button assisted retrieval to reduce the physical barrier of reeling while still allowing the participant to cast, fight, and land fish as normally as possible.
The goal is not just to sell a product. The goal is to restore access to an outdoor recreational activity that provides independence, confidence, social connection, and therapeutic benefit. This grant would help FishEnable provide discounted or demonstration reels for programs serving Disabled participants, gather feedback from real users, and expand access to adaptive fishing in communities that otherwise may not be able to afford specialized equipment.
**What our grantee is saying:** Receiving this award is an incredible honor. Fishing creates lasting memories, like taking my five-year-old grandson on his first fishing trip, and I believe everyone should have the opportunity to experience those moments. Thank you to Awesome Disability for helping FishEnable make fishing more accessible.Ian HudsonFishEnableWorldwideDisabilityhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/disabilitytag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6601072026-07-31T00:00:00Z2026-08-09T23:11:25ZToronto – Freestyle Socials: How to Disagree BetterLately, disagreements can feel pretty contentious–if you’re not with us, you’re against us. This increasing polarization isn’t so awesome. But Freestyle Socials are! It’s a conversation based “serious” game with fun questions and surprising rules that help us bridge divides so we can think better together.
We’re planning an awesome event featuring Dr. Aviva Philipp-Muller, a researcher whose work on deeply held, hard-to-shift attitudes has landed her in the Wall Street Journal. We’ll explore how depolarization might actually start with perceptions of our own in-group, how those same cognitive shortcuts are exploited by snake oil marketing, and what actually works when the facts don’t seem to matter.
We’ll do this through well-crafted, two-sided questions. Players pick sides and share their reasoning. Sounds simple enough–but the twist? If the other side’s reasoning surprises you or makes you laugh, you have to switch sides! Peppered between questions are conversations with CBC’s Anthony Morgan and Dr. Philipp-Muller that provide further insights and spark even more discussions. Disagree. Laugh. Learn. Repeat.
What makes this game even more awesome? It’s supported by research. It may feel counterintuitive to ask black and white questions but under the right circumstances, disagreements can turn into laughter, connection and even wisdom. A lot of research (https://www.anthonymorganscience.com/thescience) suggests there are things we can do to have better conversations, like identifying shared values, practising curiosity, and having more informal contact. Freestyle Socials was developed in response to this research to help us get unstuck from the polarization cycle.
This live, interactive, and energizing event will leave people laughing and thinking differently about the information we consume, the divisions that feel impossible to bridge, and our own role in all of it – without losing faith in humanity!Anthony MorganFreestyle Socials: How to Disagree Betterhttps://www.anthonymorganscience.com/freestyle-socials#EPjhrACanadaTorontohttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/torontotag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6142292026-07-30T00:00:00Z2026-07-31T01:17:44ZGloucester, MA – Cape Anncestry: Building a Heritage Network Cape Anncestry is a new and evolving collaboration dedicated to uncovering, preserving, celebrating, and elevating the cultural and historical contributions of Cape Ann's ethnic communities.
Sal Zarilli, Laura Ventimiglia, and Maria (Mia) Millefoglie serve as the volunteer leadership team, connecting community partners, historians, artists, educators, cultural organizations, and residents to document and share the immigrant and ethnic experiences that have shaped life on Cape Ann.
Our project builds on the success of our inaugural project, Branded: Gloucester's Hidden History of Enemy Aliens — launched with the support of Awesome Gloucester and expanded through grants from the Mass Cultural Council and the Essex Community Foundation. Community response to the writing series, public presentations, and forthcoming documentary has been overwhelmingly positive. To date, more than 200 community members have attended presentations, and our content regularly reaches between 1,300 and 2,000 people through the Down the Fort Facebook page. Branded is featured on GlobalBoston, a digital platform attracting more than 10,000 visitors each month.
Fueled by this success, future initiatives include the public viewing of the full-length documentary in 2027, as part of the 100th Anniversary of St. Peter’s Fiesta, and projects emerging from outreach to Portuguese, Irish, and other ethnic groups.
Objectives:
:• Build a living archive of oral histories, photographs, artifacts, written narratives, and documentary films.
• Preserve community knowledge by recording stories before they disappear.
• Inspire intergenerational connections through programming, public events, and community conversations.
• Increase public access to cultural history through exhibitions, publications, documentaries, and digital storytelling.
• Foster dialogue about cultural identity, belonging, and historical memory.
• Create opportunities for community members to contribute their own stories
Maria MillefoglieCape Anncestry: Building a Heritage Network United StatesGloucester, MAhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/gloucestertag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6054872026-07-28T00:00:00Z2026-08-10T17:06:46ZChicago, IL – Poems Under the DryerPoems Under the Dryer turns laundry day into a poem and a portrait. On Saturday, Aug 1, the start of Black August, I set up my manual typewriter inside Bubbleland, a neighborhood laundromat on Western, and write a free, original poem for anyone who wants one while their clothes spin. You tell me your name, your week, your kid's nickname, whatever's on your mind, and I write it on the spot. I also take your picture on Polaroid film, so you leave with both a poem and a portrait.
This is ekphrastic practice: art made in response to art and to people, in the lineage of Evie Shockley's The New Black. The poem-and-Polaroid pairing makes it literal. A face becomes a poem, and the poem sits beside the face.
A laundromat is one of the last rooms a whole neighborhood still shares. I'm Chicago's first Youth Poet Laureate and the originator of hood-womanism, and I put that work where people already are: free, no ticket, no bookstore. Before you go I scan your poem and Polaroid; the originals are yours, and the scans become a zine that stays at the laundromat so the block can read itself back.E'mon LaurenPoems Under the DryerUnited StatesChicago, ILhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/chicagotag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/5791842026-07-22T00:00:00Z2026-08-06T03:03:10ZFleurieu – Awesome Street libraries As the owner/ operator of She sews I have seen the cost of living crisis hitting people hard in Mclarenvale.........both financially but also mentally. Simple community kindness can really make someone's day.
I'd love to purchase two "Awesome"Street Library boxes and install them on Liddiard street on the way to the Shiraz trail. One for children's books with a magical garden underneath and one for general books.
Street Libraries are a beautiful home for books, planted in your front yard. They are accessible from the street, and are an invitation to share the joys of reading with your neighbours.
Street Libraries are a window into the mind of a community; books come and go; no-one needs to check them in or out. People can simply reach in and take what interests them; when they are done, they can return them to the Street Library network, or pass them on to friends.
If anyone has a book or two that they think others would enjoy, they can just pop it into any Street Library they happen to be walking past.
They are a symbol of trust and hope – a tiny vestibule of literary happiness.Megan Caldersmith Awesome Street libraries https://streetlibrary.org.au/p/the-two-story-house/AustraliaFleurieuhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/fleurieutag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6528682026-07-22T00:00:00Z2026-07-23T05:59:15ZOahu, HI – Nurturing Beginnings: Breastfeeding ProgramRonald McDonald House Charities Hawaiʻi (RMHC Hawaiʻi) provides a home-away-from-home for families who must travel to Oʻahu so their children can receive lifesaving medical care. During these extended hospital stays, many mothers face the additional challenge of maintaining breastfeeding while caring for a critically ill or medically fragile child. Unfortunately, many arrive without a breast pump or are waiting months for insurance approval, making it difficult to provide breast milk during this critical time.
Our Nurturing Beginnings: Breastfeeding Support Program ensures mothers have access to reliable breast pumps and essential pumping supplies throughout their stay. Breast milk provides important nutritional and immunological benefits for infants, particularly those with complex medical conditions, while also strengthening the bond between mother and child during an incredibly stressful experience.
RMHC Hawaiʻi serves approximately 360 families each year, and we estimate that nearly 75% of mothers staying with us would benefit from access to a breast pump. However, our current inventory consists of only four hospital-grade pumps that are approximately eight years old and showing signs of wear. The limited number and aging equipment often leave mothers waiting for access when they need it most.
Funding from this grant will help us replace aging equipment and expand the availability of high-quality breast pumps, ensuring mothers have dependable access whenever they need it. By reducing barriers to breastfeeding, we can support maternal well-being, improve infant health outcomes, and provide comfort and stability for families navigating one of the most difficult times in their lives. Every additional pump helps ensure that no mother has to choose between caring for her hospitalized child and maintaining her breastfeeding journey.Tatsu SasakiNurturing Beginnings: Breastfeeding Programhttp://www.ronaldhousehawaii.orgUnited StatesOahu, HIhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/oahutag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6181962026-07-22T00:00:00Z2026-07-23T05:59:56ZOahu, HI – Beyond the Horizon"Beyond the Horizon" is a student-run, professionally printed, multilingual literary and art magazine at Kaimukī Middle School that serves as a powerful creative outlet for expression and empathy. Now preparing for our fifth annual volume, this project celebrates student voices by publishing their stories, poetry, and artwork in a full-color book that is printed and distributed to all students and staff on campus.
What makes our project truly "awesome" and unique:
- A dedicated student editorial team (grades 6-8) drives 90% of the production. They review submissions and use an empathetic feedback framework to help their peers refine their writing and art, fostering leadership and collaboration.
- To honor our diverse student body, we actively seek and publish creative pieces in students' native languages alongside English translations, promoting inclusivity and cultural pride.
- In the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM) contest, Volumes 2 and 3 earned the prestigious "First Class" rating (the highest designation), competing against middle schools, high schools, and colleges nationwide.
- We print and distribute copies of the book to our regional feeder elementary schools to inspire future students, bridge the transition to middle school, and build deep community connections.
Our goal for Volume 5 is to engage at least 95 students as editors, writers, and artists. In an increasingly digital world, holding a physical, high-quality book containing one’s own published voice is a transformative experience that builds lasting self-esteem, empathy, and belonging.Matthew TomBeyond the Horizonhttps://sites.google.com/k12.hi.us/mrtom808/beyond-the-horizonUnited StatesOahu, HIhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/oahutag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6030422026-07-21T00:00:00Z2026-07-22T05:20:13ZPortland, OR – The Sardines PartyIt's a city-wide game of Sardines, reverse hide-and-go-seek at urban scale. One location is hidden; everyone seeks it. When you find it, you join the party already in progress, packing in tighter and tighter until the last seekers arrive.
Ticket holders (free registration required due to venue capacity and the need to send clues) receive text message hints that grow more specific over the course of the evening. The final clue is revealed via RFID tags hidden around the city (scan one, get the location). Tags are distributed citywide so no participant is ever far from one.
The destination is a sea-themed all ages party: thematic music, food, drink, and appropriately-themed attire required for entry. But the party is almost secondary to the journey. Strangers move through neighborhoods they might not visit, scan hidden tags, sift through text clues, and converge on a secret. Emily and Elliot ThistlebriarThe Sardines Partyhttps://www.makeportlandweirder.comUnited StatesPortland, ORhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/portlandtag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6208302026-07-21T00:00:00Z2026-07-24T16:54:02ZNewburyport, MA – Sensory Aids at the LibraryLibraries are not the silent spaces they once were. The children’s room at the Newburyport Public Library is a vibrant, colorful place that can occasionally veer into (happy) chaos. Noise and activity levels in a public space like the children’s room can overwhelm anyone, but for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, or sensory processing disorders, they can be prohibitive. To try to mitigate the worst of the noise and harsh overhead lighting, we’ve put in sound-absorbing installations and added light-diffusing panels to the high-traffic areas. We’ve also added sensory panels to the walls, to create areas for emotional regulation. The idea was to provide visitors with a more soothing physical environment and in turn improve their overall library experience.
This project would allow us to go a step further and provide four types of sensory aids to any child who needs them during visits to the library. Sensory floor tiles promote balance and coordination skills; the colorful liquid inside the tiles can actually provide either stimulating or calming sensory feedback depending on the needs of the user. Weighted lap pads provide proprioceptive feedback, which grounds the nervous system and is great for kids who have a hard time staying in one spot during story time. Glitter-filled calm-down jars encourage emotional regulation and mindfulness. These jars also double as timers: caregivers can give kids the time it takes the glitter to settle before they move on to their next task, making transitions less stressful. Lastly, noise reduction headphones help users manage sound sensitivity and would enable children to attend larger programs that might otherwise be too overwhelming for them.
Libraries are for everyone. These sensory aids would be available both to neurodivergent children and their neurotypically developing peers and would further our goal of making the library a more welcoming place for all the children of Newburyport.Allison PriviteraSensory Aids at the LibraryUnited StatesNewburyport, MAhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/newburyporttag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/5489912026-07-21T00:00:00Z2026-07-24T16:57:48ZNewburyport, MA – 6th Indigenous Peoples Day Cultural CelebrationImagine Studios partners with local city leaders, nonprofits, Indigenous and non-Native organizations, businesses and community members, to celebrate Newburyport's 6th annual Indigenous People's Day, October, 10-11, 2026 at Newburyport’s Waterfront Park. This creative arts celebration enhances our city's waterfront park community activities and reputation as an awesome place to live as well as a cultural tourism destination.
This free family friendly cultural event is growing and this year includes two days. It includes an opening ceremony with intertribal representatives, city and state officials and community members. The event highlights Indigenous artists, musicians, drummers, singers, dancers, and hands on participatory programs, performances and activities.
This event also aims to increase awareness and appreciation of our city's Indigenous Peoples Day holiday, as well as the history, heritage and continuing cultural presence of Native peoples in what is today Newburyport.
A key milestone of this event is the second annual launch of a traditional mishoon (dugout canoe) made last year at Newburyport’s Custom House Museum along the Merrimack River waterfront clipper heritage trail, by Wampanoag master boat makers. This paddle also includes a hand crafted birch bark canoe made by Indigenous artisans. This public boat paddle brings increased attention to the Merrimack River as our city's critical natural landscape and cultural heritage resource past and present.
The event welcomes all ages from Newburyport and beyond. Local students volunteer and participate in community service opportunities. Project partners include Newburyport Human Rights Commission, Community Media Hub, Custom House Maritime Museum, Merrohawke Nature School, Alliance of Climate and Environmental Stewards, Lowell's Boat Shop, YWCA, Trustees of Reservations, Newburyport Art Association, MA Center for Native American Awareness, Ohketeau Cultural Center, Cultural Survival and others.Kristine Malpica6th Indigenous Peoples Day Cultural Celebrationhttps://imaginestudios.org/indigenous-peoples-day/United StatesNewburyport, MAhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/newburyporttag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6335762026-07-20T00:00:00Z2026-08-13T21:34:36ZPoughkeepsie, NY – the Pollinator FestivalFor one weekend, residents of all ages and abilities will be invited into hands-on experiences in music, theater, dance, drawing, cooking, printmaking, pottery, textiles, painting, planting, harvesting, and tasting. Some people may come to watch a short performance; others may make something with their hands, learn from a local artist, plant a seed, taste something grown nearby, or discover a creative practice they never knew they loved.
The Pollinator Festival takes place on September 12th and 13th at the Northside Hub. The event takes place from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday.
The festival is also a living preview of a larger vision: a sustainable Pollinator Art Hub in the City of Poughkeepsie, where multidisciplinary arts programming, shared practice, wellness, food, farming, and public participation can happen year-round. For a city already rich with creative energy, the Festival plants a visible seed for what comes next: a more connected, vibrant, and participatory Poughkeepsie.
We are building momentum and need your help to realize these lofty goals.
Karl Kruszynskithe Pollinator Festivalhttp://TBDUnited StatesPoughkeepsie, NYhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/poughkeepsietag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6198732026-07-19T00:00:00Z2026-07-23T14:22:02ZDetroit, MI – The Board WalksThe Board Walks is a free, phone-free, five-mile Saturday morning walk where strangers become real friends — one conversation at a time. And in Detroit, it has caught fire.
The walk started in Austin in 2022, with eight people who just wanted real conversation instead of small talk. Four years and 200+ walks later, it's a beloved weekly ritual. And this January, it came to Detroit. The first walkers showed up and walked five miles through the snow together. That kind of start forges something: those early walkers became genuine ride-or-dies.
Six months in, Detroit is one of our most alive chapters. The stories are unreal. A 65-year-old woman came to her first walk and said she'd been searching for exactly this community for 20 years. A newcomer brought his mom, who was moved to tears to learn her son had found people who cherish him. One regular put it best after just three weeks: "I feel like I've been in this walk for three years." The group has grown so close they now meet up outside the walk: hockey games, concerts, real friendship.
Here's how it works: every Saturday, anyone can show up — no cost, no app, no agenda — bring a question they're curious about, and spend two hours actually talking to people of every age and background. A few simple rules make the magic: bring a topic, be curious and kind, share the mic, and float between conversations. No networking, no phones, no small talk.
Detroit is full of people craving exactly this: somewhere to belong that isn't a bar, an app, or a screen. We've built incredible word-of-mouth momentum in just six months, and we want to make sure Detroit gets to keep this, every single Saturday, for the long haul.Elle Beecher HoganThe Board Walkshttps://www.meetup.com/the-board-walks-detroit/United StatesDetroit, MIhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/detroittag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6122842026-07-19T00:00:00Z2026-07-23T14:21:43ZDetroit, MI – Salt & Celluloid / Soundtracks & Soulfood Sundays Soulfood & Soundtrack Sundays / Salt & Celluloid Film Series is a community-centered event series that brings together food, film, and conversation in Detroit. The project creates welcoming spaces where residents can gather around shared meals, watch culturally significant films, and engage in meaningful discussions about food, history, creativity, and community.
Through Soulfood & Soundtrack Sundays, guests experience curated meals inspired by music, storytelling, and Southern food traditions. Salt & Celluloid expands that experience through film screenings paired with themed culinary offerings and post-film conversations. Together, these events celebrate Detroit’s rich cultural diversity while creating opportunities for connection across neighborhoods, generations, and backgrounds.
Our goal is simple: use food and film as tools to bring people together and strengthen community.Chi WalkerSalt & Celluloid / Soundtracks & Soulfood Sundays https://www.instagram.com/wildflowerhospitality/United StatesDetroit, MIhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/detroittag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/5956832026-07-16T00:00:00Z2026-07-18T15:53:13ZKingston – Digital AdventuresI am creating a neuro-inclusive video game club for youth ages 11–18 in the Kingston area.
There are many neurodivergent youth in our community who are not involved in extracurricular activities but spend a lot of time playing video games. This project creates a safe, welcoming space where they can come together, enjoy something they already love, and build meaningful connections with like-minded peers.
In the short term, I will host monthly events at the Maltby Centre, including video game tournaments with snacks, drinks, and small prizes. These events will be open to youth of all abilities and support needs, ensuring accessibility and inclusion for everyone who wants to participate.
Over time, the goal is to grow into a bi-weekly club where members can regularly meet, play a variety of games, and build friendships that extend beyond the club itself. As the group grows, members will help shape the identity of the club by choosing a name, designing a logo, and contributing ideas to make it their own.
The Maltby Centre fully supports this initiative and will provide space, equipment (TVs), staff support, and promotion through our existing channels. With a small amount of start-up funding, we can quickly launch and begin reaching youth who may otherwise remain socially isolated.
This project is about turning a solitary activity into a shared experience—creating connection, belonging, and community through gaming.
Chad StromDigital AdventuresCanadaKingstonhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/kingston-ontag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6060122026-07-15T00:00:00Z2026-07-15T16:54:33ZCass Clay – Songs of Peace, Protest, and HopeMerrill Piepkorn and the Fargo-Moorhead Unitarian Universalist Church (FMUU) are partnering to do a free concert in Broadway Square on a Sunday afternoon, on August 2nd. It will be a wide roster of accomplished performers, including powerful vocalists, electric bands, acoustic guitarist/singers, and a string quartet. They are all donating their time. The songs are being curated to be inspiring, thought provoking, and with a theme of social justice, democracy, and hope. This concert will be a strong, moving experience that we believe will encourage people to action. Numerous non-partisan non-profit and organizing groups are going to have tables. We hope this will be a catalyzing community event.
The current performer roster includes:
Merrill Piepkorn,
Pat Lenertz,
Gina Powers,
Gregg Temple,
Darrin Wentz,
Jeff Johnson,
Crop Dusters
Fourfeathers band,
Lannie Faleide
Melissa Niemi,
Justice for Stringbean
Norden String Quartet
In line with the policy of Broadway Square, this will not be a political rally.Bill ThomasSongs of Peace, Protest, and HopeUnited StatesCass Clayhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/cassclaytag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6111272026-07-15T00:00:00Z2026-07-27T01:42:28ZLake Mac – Black Light NightsIn 2026 I launched Glenrock Ghost Fungus Tours to see glow-in-the-dark ghost mushrooms inside Glenrock State Conservation Area. The response has been amazing. The ghost fungus only blooms for a month each year. Local families have voted overwhelmingly that they want more nature offerings. As a result, I plan to develop a new tour: Black Light Nights.
This tour involves taking groups of 8-10 people into the Lake Macquarie Council side of Glenrock State Conservation Area at night with UV (black) torches. Plants, animals, insects and lichen all appear in neon colours under the black lights. This is a colour of the bush people have not seen before. Interpretation and all equipment will be provided.Karen LiveseyBlack Light Nightshttp://www.karenlivesey.com/ghost-fungusAustraliaLake Machttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/lakemactag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/5772392026-07-14T00:00:00Z2026-07-19T21:59:13ZNewmarket – Newmarket Camp Scholarship ProgramOur program is QUALITATIVE WITH LIFELONG IMPACT boosting mental health/social well-being: 2 or more low-income local Newmarket area children impacted by life-threatening illness will be sent to camp/program of their choice to reintegrate back into play/social life (to $500/child).
Our program is not a cookie cutter camp that all must attend; the idea is for each child to select a program/camp that interests THEM based on personal preferences and needs (i.e., some have stamina for overnight, others can join a half-hour per week. Requests vary from horseback/robotics/sports/dance/drama/music/arts-crafts/swimming/etc.
Children are devastated financially/socially/emotionally; allows kids to be kids again, creating much-need good memories during a very difficult time and sense of being a regular kid. Whether the child is the patient, sibling or has an ill parent, all are impacted by illness. Pediatric patients are robbed of childhood; siblings feel neglected telling parents they wish they were sick (to get attention); others reverse roles, becoming caregiver to ill parent, thus interrupting healthy psychological development. Family dynamics change so escaping helps in unmeasurable ways, permitting youth have a typical childhood experience.
Healthcare professionals (i.e., child life specialists/social workers from Southlake Hospital/Hospital for Sick Children) refer vulnerable to us when they identify that they could benefit socially/emotionally. The U.S National Library of Medicine explains “... importance of quality of life when dealing with childhood cancer...quality of life is what the child says it is...” (www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/).
“It is important to address ongoing and emerging needs of the child and their family to achieve complete and long-term healing” (kidswithcancer.ca). The American Psychological Association warns of social/emotional consequences including anxiety, difficulties with peer relations, inhibited withdrawn behaviour. We counteract impact.
Laurie Docimo - SHINE THROUGH THE RAIN FOUNDATIONNewmarket Camp Scholarship Programhttps://shinethroughtherain.ca/camp-scholarship/CanadaNewmarkethttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/newmarket-ontariotag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/5929192026-07-14T00:00:00Z2026-07-16T21:49:50ZSan Francisco, CA – San Francisco ContemplariumWe’re building the San Francisco Contemplarium: a neighborhood institution for honoring the human journey — the joys, losses, transitions, questions, and becoming that make us human.
In a city and modern society where many may feel lonely, rushed, or disconnected, we create warm, beautiful spaces where neighbors can pause, reflect, and feel less alone. Our public gatherings include Reflection Jams, where people journal and share; Seasonal Ingatherings, where we honor life transitions through accessible ritual; and Reflection Stands, pop-up installations where passersby can write what they’re carrying and leave a small intention for someone else.
Over the past year, we’ve seen how hungry people are for these kinds of offerings. We recently launched a Neighborhood Flamekeeper cohort of 13 community members, who learned skills of presence, ritual, and accompaniment and helped hold public offerings for the neighborhood. At our Autumn Ingathering, where neighbors gathered to honor losses and the turn of the season, participants rated the event 9.3/10 for creating an authentic space to honor loss and 9.2/10 for feeling emotionally supported.
Our awesome project is to bring more of these new contemplative neighborhood spaces to life in San Francisco: gatherings and pop-up rituals where ordinary people can honor the extraordinary experience of being human together. Someone might come to reflect on a hard transition, celebrate a small joy, grieve a loss, or simply take a breath in community.
We think it would be awesome if every neighborhood had beautiful, accessible spaces where people could slow down, be honest about what they’re carrying, and leave feeling more connected to themselves, each other, and the city.Seanan FongSan Francisco Contemplariumhttps://www.sfcontemplarium.org/United StatesSan Francisco, CAhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/sftag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6203672026-07-10T00:00:00Z2026-07-20T18:58:16ZSt. Paul, MN – Saint Paul Democracy DefenseAwesomeStPaul is proud to fund St. Paul Democracy
Defense, our chapter’s latest grantee.
“We are facing an existential threat to our democracy. What we've learned over the last year in Minnesota is that we can build a strong and resilient coalition of neighbors that is able to stand up to authoritarianism in a powerful and nonviolent way. We must continue to mobilize. The midterm election is underway. Early voting for primaries has already begun in Minnesota. During Operation Metro Surge, I helped organize hundreds of my neighbors in Saint Paul to educate local businesses on their fourth amendment rights and provide them with materials to help make their employees safer. I'd like to do this again with voting. I plan to canvass my neighborhood to help folks understand their voting rights and to build a coalition of neighbors in Saint Paul to help fortify our democracy by standing together to make sure our elections are fair and free from interference.” Theresa GlaserSaint Paul Democracy Defensehttp://N/AUnited StatesSt. Paul, MNhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/stpaultag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6243652026-07-09T00:00:00Z2026-07-20T18:52:29ZSt. Paul, MN – The St. Paul Pop-Up Cinema ProjectCongratulations to our July 2026 grantee. This project will create an awesome community event.
“The St. Paul Pop-Up Cinema Project" is a lightning-fast, highly visible public art event designed to celebrate the neighborhoods of St. Paul through beautiful visual storytelling. On Friday, August 21, 2026, our creative team will transform an empty public park wall into a vibrant, free community outdoor theater for one night only.
Over a focused two-week period prior, we will use our high-end cinema equipment to shoot and edit three 2-minute micro-documentaries spotlighting local St. Paul unsung heroes—a neighborhood street artist, a beloved community gardener, and a local youth mentor.
This is is a pure community celebration. We’ll project these gorgeous, broadcast-quality stories onto a massive wall, bringing neighbors together under the stars to share in public joy and localized pride. To keep the momentum alive after the event, we will place small, weather-proof plaques featuring interactive QR codes at the filming locations so passersby can scan and stream these beautiful neighborhood stories all year round. It’s brief, highly impactful, visually stunning, and entirely free for the community.”Curtis CarswellThe St. Paul Pop-Up Cinema Projecthttps://moonkfilmsdevoted.com/United StatesSt. Paul, MNhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/stpaultag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6037072026-07-08T00:00:00Z2026-07-22T13:52:29ZAnn Arbor, MI – Cloverly Village Little Free LibraryCloverly Village is a small condo association on the south side of Ann Arbor in Ward 3. Our community comprises 76 families, many of whom have limited financial resources.
One project we've considered is installing a Little Free Library within Cloverly Village. We believe it is a great opportunity to provide residents with easier access to books, encourage literacy (especially since many of the residents are new parents), and foster neighbor-to-neighbor interactions and connections. Unfortunately, the cost of purchasing and installing a Little Free Library is beyond what our association can afford at this time. We have some of the lowest dues in the city ($285/month) to help keep Ann Arbor affordable. Because of this, every penny goes into upkeep.Calvin TuttleCloverly Village Little Free LibraryUnited StatesAnn Arbor, MIhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/ann-arbortag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6115572026-07-08T00:00:00Z2026-07-22T14:02:38ZAnn Arbor, MI – Youth Environmental Press TeamThe Youth Environmental Press Team is an organization run under Earth Charter Indiana, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Its mission is to spark youth advocacy on the climate crisis by providing a platform for young people to write, edit, and direct journalistic content on climate and the environment, allowing the generation who'll live with the effects of climate change to share their voices and be heard. By republishing content produced by high school journalists for their school newspapers, along with producing original content, the Youth Environmental Press Team shares stories of youth advocacy, the science of climate change, and personal opinion stories. Recent examples from Ann Arbor include “Ann Arbor’s Youth Environmental Activists,” “Ann Arbor Hosts Annual Huron River Day,” and “Ann Arbor’s Renewable Energy Revolution.” YEPT currently spans over a dozen states, and is growing weekly; at each of our Zoom meetings, the video boxes grow smaller and smaller as more people join. With monthly guests (anywhere from a climate scientist to a New York Times reporter) and near-endless opportunities for youth leadership, the Youth Environmental Press Team is creating a platform where, finally, teens get a say in how we can impact our world. Our two adult advisors, Jim Poyser and Angela Yeager, oversee the project; however, the majority of the leadership is taken on by high school students. From leading Zoom meetings to editing articles to deciding what stories matter most, high school students are leading the way in the narrative of climate change and the state of our environment. In an effort to garner more content from Michigan and create a specialized team of high school directors, the Youth Environmental Press Team is working to build a Michigan chapter of the program.
Zia WalkerYouth Environmental Press Teamhttps://yept.orgUnited StatesAnn Arbor, MIhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/ann-arbortag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6105682026-07-06T00:00:00Z2026-07-20T19:58:22ZNewburgh, NY – Still Here: Portraits & Voices of NewburghI'm an 18-year-old photographer and recent Newburgh Free Academy graduate, and I already spend my time shooting these streets — the corners, the buildings, the people who've been here longer than I've been alive. This project turns that into something the whole city can see.
Over two weeks in August, I'll photograph Newburgh's living history: longtime residents, the places that hold our stories, and the everyday life that doesn't make the news. Alongside the portraits, I'll record short interviews — how the city has changed, what people want remembered. Then I'll bring it home as a free public exhibition and a printed report-back booklet that pairs each portrait with the person's own words, so the people in the photos and their neighbors can hold it in their hands.
I'm doing this in August on purpose. August is Black August — a month to remember Black history, resilience, and the freedom struggles of the people who built and held communities like ours. Newburgh's living history belongs in that tradition, and I want to document it and give it back during the same month it honors.
The exhibition and report-back will be free and open to the public at the Creative Communication Center, 140 South Street. It's a collaboration across generations — a young person's camera and a longtime resident's voice in the same frame — in a city that's usually described by outsiders. This is Newburgh telling its own story, and it leaves something behind: a printed record made by someone who's from here.Heller Munguia DelgadoStill Here: Portraits & Voices of Newburghhttps://newburgh-living-history.vercel.app/United StatesNewburgh, NYhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/newburghtag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/5519202026-07-01T00:00:00Z2026-06-30T14:59:46ZOrlando, FL – Horse Puppets - Page ProductionsI would love to create something like these wind horse puppets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFlXN0rwpfc
Having a group of these puppets mill around, move in beautiful sequences, and interact with people in a public, downtown Orlando area (Lake Eola, downtown areas, etc.) would be an amazing, whimsical sight for the people of Orlando to experience. I would like to build something similar, although I might not make them as tall and I might use different building materials (e.g. paper mache). I also would like to create at least 4 horse puppets operated by puppeteers.
I helped launch the Christmas and Spring Puppet Festivals in Winter Garden, FL (2020/2021), producing original shows. I also handcrafted and performed with paper mache puppets in my production THE NOEL (2022) - https://youtu.be/RRb_zQF46q4. I also constructed a Jack Pumpkinhead puppet out of paper mache as well - https://youtu.be/o_7MJezrWpk
I have choreographed many dance pieces in Orlando. I am certain I will use these horse puppets for a future dance piece that is currently germinating in my mind - a large cast dance piece involving a racing expedition across the nighttime Sahara Desert.
Here are some videos of my past choreo pieces:
FORTUNA (2025): https://youtu.be/M9ufesxcDv8
TWISTER (2024): https://youtu.be/hWNCGU4OLd8
CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF (2025): https://youtu.be/8SB9iPZxab8Ryan PageHorse Puppets - Page ProductionsUnited StatesOrlando, FLhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/orlandotag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/5917242026-07-01T00:00:00Z2026-07-03T10:57:08ZSydney – Empowering Women: WoodchixWoodchix Foundation has workshops for Empowering Women in woodwork, joinery and DIY. They are taught hand tools, machinery, decorative joints, safety and a whole lot more.
I am passionate about educating and teaching women hands-on skills in woodwork & joinery, building confidence, self esteem and preparing women to consider trade apprenticeships.
Membership is $199 per year + $10 per visit. I would like to get grants for women who are not financially able to join. $1000 will give 5 women an opportunity join and learn.
Should Woodchix be approved for a grant I will be approaching Women's Health Centres, refuges, and local Penrith based organisations who assist DV women to offer these women who are in great need of support, friendship & inclusion these memberships.
Having grant money to offer these memberships on a regular basis would be ideal as there are so many in need and of all ages and cultures.Gill EnterkinEmpowering Women: Woodchixhttp://www.woodchix.auAustraliaSydneyhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/sydneytag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/5953552026-07-01T00:00:00Z2026-07-08T10:46:28ZNewcastle – Steel City Malibu ClubSteel City Malibu Club was established in 1982 and has been running monthly social competitions since. It has always been a club of connection. Bringing together those who love longboarding and holding a space for surfers to uplift one another. Friendships have formed through this club, leading to members going on surf trips together. The club has also helped boost members confidence through taking part in courses and running charity events.
As memberships have dropped over the years and fees have increased, this year we are hoping with the help from our local community we can boost our advertising efforts and improve our monthly comp set up and attract more members. Mel Steel City Malibu ClubAustraliaNewcastlehttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/newcastletag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/5924212026-06-30T00:00:00Z2026-07-04T20:42:07ZDisability – MSDCI at UTMBThe UTMB Chapter of Medical Students with Disability and Chronic Illness (MSDCI) is a newly established, student-led initiative dedicated to building a more inclusive and accessible medical training environment while extending that impact to patients with chronic illness in our community.
Our work centers on creating both a supportive community for disabled medical students and advocacy beyond the classroom. Students with disabilities and chronic illness are often underrepresented and frequently navigate training in isolation. We aim to change that by establishing consistent spaces for connection, peer mentorship, and shared problem-solving, fostering a sense of belonging within a demanding training environment.
We are developing programming that connects lived experience with clinical practice. Through our “Beyond the Textbook” lecture series, physicians and advocates will discuss invisible illnesses, atypical disease presentations, diagnostic delays, and strategies for delivering more patient-centered care. These events encourage diagnostic humility while challenging assumptions about who belongs in medicine.
Beyond campus, MSDCI at UTMB is planning an Inclusive Medicine Initiative in partnership with the Life Skills Program at a local highschool. Medical student volunteers will lead interactive workshops that familiarize students with common healthcare experiences, including blood pressure measurements, stethoscopes, routine examinations, and communicating with healthcare providers. By creating positive, low-stress healthcare interactions, we hope to reduce anxiety, increase health literacy, and build confidence navigating future medical encounters.
As a new chapter without institutional funding, our immediate goal is to establish sustainable programming that supports both trainees and community members, while our long-term vision includes expanding into resource development and research on systemic barriers in healthcare.
**What our grantee is saying:** "Receiving this grant is a meaningful vote of confidence in our executive board and in the mission we're building through MSDCI at UTMB. This support will help us expand initiatives like Beyond the Textbook while developing future programs focused on accessibility, advocacy, and disability inclusion in medical education — including our Inclusive Medicine Initiative, designed to help combat white coat anxiety for high school students with disabilities. We are incredibly grateful for this investment in our work and excited about the impact it will have on our members and the communities we serve."Ciara MartinezMSDCI at UTMBWorldwideDisabilityhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/disabilitytag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/5618292026-06-30T00:00:00Z2026-07-08T15:35:16ZNew York City, NY – Rockaway Art RoomRockaway Art Room (RAR) offers free art classes in the Rockaways while paying teaching artists a fair wage. In creator Jamie Soltis's own words:
_Income should never be a barrier to the arts! So far, RAR has hosted classes in watercolor and weaving, acrylic painting for beginners, found-object mandala creation, and intermediate oil painting. We also host our weekly Drawing Meetup, where we get together to draw all casual-like in various locations on the peninsula. All of our classes are open to all ages, and we love seeing new, intergenerational friendships blossom._
_With the generous funding from the Awesome Foundation, we'll be able to offer a new class in sculpting that will serve 20-30 eager art lovers!_
_If you're visiting the Rockaways this summer, please [join us](https://jamiesoltis.com/rockawayartroom)! Most of our classes start at 6pm, so if the lifeguards wrap up for the day and you don't feel like getting on the train yet, you can hang out with us for a while. And any kind of support is so deeply appreciated! We fundraise [here](https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/rockaway-art-room) and are on IG [@rockawayartroom](https://www.instagram.com/rockawayartroom). Although the Rockaways is a goldmine of creative people, we do not have classes in the arts as part of our infrastructure, and many of our residents have shared sentiments like, "We really needed this here," or "This neighborhood is often forgotten." So yes--please come to a class or a Drawing Meetup so we can get to know you! xoxo_
Jamie SoltisRockaway Art Roomhttp://jamiesoltis.com/rockawayartroomUnited StatesNew York City, NYhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/nyctag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/5948612026-06-30T00:00:00Z2026-07-27T22:48:21ZToronto – Sew You Wanna SewSew You Wanna Sew is a program that will serve 10 Queer and Trans Asian youth through a weekly 7-week beginner workshop series on sewing clothing that will run from July 4th-August 22th, 2026 at Cecil Community Centre. The first six weeks will allow participants to complete two projects and grant them the tools and knowledge to continue experimenting with garment construction on their own. We will cover topics such as: introduction to hand sewing and machine sewing, selecting fabrics, understanding and using patterns, installing zippers, and mending/altering clothes. The end goal of the series will be for participants to have sewn a small zipper coin pouch or tote bag, and a pair of pants (style depending on the participant’s interest and skill level). Throughout this process, we aim to inspire participants to build a more self-sufficient, sustainable, gender-affirming relationship to clothing, and to unleash their creativity for self-expression. We intend to equip participants with knowledge, tools, and confidence to continue sewing and altering their own clothes. In the last week (August 22nd, 2026), the program will end with a showcase where participants will be able to share their creations and experience while socializing. They will also have the opportunity to be professionally photographed in the garments that they made during the program.The QuArtz ClusterSew You Wanna Sewhttps://www.instagram.com/quartz.cluster/CanadaTorontohttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/torontotag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/5939352026-06-29T00:00:00Z2026-06-29T23:38:17ZPoughkeepsie, NY – Poughkeepsie PorchFest Poughkeepsie PorchFest is a free, annual event celebrating live music, performance, and community spirit. Originally conceived during Covid as a neighborhood gathering in the Southside Historic District, PorchFest has blossomed into a festival that draws attendees from across Poughkeepsie and throughout the Hudson Valley region. Since its launch in 2020, the event has fostered connections among hosts, neighbors, and musicians, many of whom return each year to perform. Community members take special pleasure in seeing how some of our younger performers have developed and grown in the craft over the past 6 years. PorchFest showcases an impressive variety of both professional and amateur talent. With over 50 bands and solo performers on nearly 30 porches and lawns, attendees can experience everything from Scottish bagpipes, bluegrass, and R&B, to show tunes, alternative rock, jazz, classical, country, Latin, spoken word, and more. Strolling through the Academy Street Historic District, visitors are treated to a vibrant tapestry of unexpected musical styles. The event is a testament to Poughkeepsie’s rich cultural diversity and the community’s embrace of the arts.
We are on social media at:
@poughkeepsie_porchfest
https://www.facebook.com/POKPorchFest
Here are links to several articles/calendar highlights about Poughkeepsie PorchFest:
https://wrrv.com/the-5th-annual-poughkeepsie-porch-fest-music-and-community-come-alive/
https://calendar.chronogram.com/hudsonvalley/poughkeepsie-porchfest/Event?oid=21572281
https://www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley/culture/article/poughkeepsie-porchfest-photos-2023-18333844.phpMary Reynolds, David Hennigsen, Julie Gutierrez and Michelle BoddenPoughkeepsie PorchFest https://www.facebook.com/POKPorchFestUnited StatesPoughkeepsie, NYhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/poughkeepsietag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/5823402026-06-29T00:00:00Z2026-07-02T11:22:48ZWashington, DC – A Hand Dance Tribute To "Dancin' Tony This project honors Gene Ray Artis, affectionately known as “Dancin’ Tony,” a beloved legend in the Washington, DC hand dance community. For more than 70 years, he has been a central figure in the hand dance community, admired for both his distinctive style of hand dancing and his lasting influence on those who come in contact with him.
The National Hand Dance Association is assembling an invaluable collection to preserve Dancin’ Tony’s legacy. The collection will be donated to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library’s People’s Archive repository in July 2026, the month he turns 90.
The collection will include:
• Clothing
• Photographs
• Award statues
• Washington Post articles about Dancin’ Tony
• Oral history interviews with Dancin’ Tony and others who have known or danced with him over the past 70 years
On Sunday, August 2, 2026, the National Hand Dance Association will host a public tribute to celebrate Dancin’ Tony’s life and contributions. The event will feature the following:
• A screening of the documentary short Dancin’ Tony: A Dancing Legend
• A panel discussion featuring four people who have known Dancin’ Tony for many years and can speak to his character and impact.
•Audience participation during the “Dancin’ Tony Hand Dance Party”
Dancin’ Tony’s family will be bringing him to the event. Although he currently resides in a nursing home, his spirit remains strong, and he is mobile with the assistance of a wheelchair.
This long-overdue tribute celebrates a gentleman deeply loved by the hand dance community and ensures that his legacy will be honored for generations to come.
The National Hand Dance AssociationA Hand Dance Tribute To "Dancin' Tony https://www.facebook.com/nationalhanddanceassociationUnited StatesWashington, DChttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/dctag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/6039992026-06-25T00:00:00Z2026-06-25T13:56:56ZRhode Island – The Poetry Pour: PVD Poetry CrawlThis June, AFRI is supporting The Poetry Pour's inaugural PVD Poetry Crawl, set for September 2026. Their plan is for a month-long, city-wide event that turns 22 local businesses into temporary galleries for the written word.
20 poets each contribute 1 poem which is then printed in full inside a "Poetry Shot,” a free, pocket-sized zine installed at said businesses. Patrons pick up a "Poetry Shot" with their drink at the bar or their latte at the counter; on the back is a QR code they scan to visit a dedicated landing page to learn more. about the artists. Participating small businesses will be identified by the poets themselves.
The whole thing gets more people reading poetry, aware of local poets and locally owned businesses, and serves as a point of entry for an ongoing poetry-focused newsletter. Salena J. DeaneThe Poetry Pour: PVD Poetry Crawlhttp://thepoetrypour.beehiiv.comUnited StatesRhode Islandhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/rhodeislandtag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/5744502026-06-25T00:00:00Z2026-06-26T08:07:54ZYerevan – Քարի ներսում թաքնված աշխարհի բացահայտումըՄեր նախագիծը նպատակ ունի երեխաների հետ միասին բացահայտել Հայաստանի բնական միներալների աշխարհը։
Մենք երեխաների հետ միասին բնության մեջ փնտրելու ենք բնական միներալներ՝ ագաթ, հասպիս, ամեթիստ և այլ քարեր, ապա հատուկ քար կտրող հաստոցի միջոցով կտրելու և մշակելու ենք դրանք՝ տեսնելու համար, թե ինչ գեղեցկություն է թաքնված դրանց ներսում։
Շատ քարեր արտաքինից սովորական տեսք ունեն, սակայն կտրվելուց հետո բացահայտվում են զարմանալի գույներ, նախշեր և բյուրեղային կառուցվածքներ։ Այս գործընթացը երեխաների համար դառնում է միաժամանակ գիտական, ստեղծագործական և ոգեշնչող փորձառություն։
Մենք արդեն ունենք երեխաների հետ աշխատելու փորձ, և տեսել ենք, թե որքան մեծ հետաքրքրություն ու ոգևորություն է առաջացնում այս ձևաչափի գեոարշավը։ Երեխաները մեծ հաճույքով մասնակցում են որոնման գործընթացին, գտնում իրենց առաջին միներալները և ցանկանում են տեսնել դրանց ներքին կառուցվածքը։ Սակայն ներկայումս նրանք հնարավորություն չունեն անվտանգ պայմաններում մշակելու իրենց գտած քարերը, քանի որ անհրաժեշտ մասնագիտական հաստոցներ և համապատասխան պայմաններ չկան։
Նախագծի շրջանակում նախատեսում ենք ոչ միայն ձեռք բերել քարերի մշակման համար անվտանգ և հարմար հաստոց, այլ նաև պատրաստել տեղեկատվական բուկլետներ և ուսումնական նյութեր տարբեր միներալների մասին։ Դրանց միջոցով երեխաները կկարողանան ավելի հետաքրքիր և մատչելի ձևով ծանոթանալ յուրաքանչյուր քարի ծագմանը, առանձնահատկություններին, գույներին և կիրառություններին, ինչը փորձառությունն ավելի տպավորիչ, կրթական և հիշվող կդարձնի։
Նախագիծը երեխաներին հնարավորություն կտա․
ճանաչել Հայաստանի բնական հարստությունները,
սովորել միներալների և քարերի մասին,
զարգացնել հետաքրքրասիրությունը և ստեղծարար մտածողությունը,
ավելի մոտ լինել բնությանը,
և սեփական ձեռքերով մասնակցել բացահայտման գործընթացին։ՆորայրՔարի ներսում թաքնված աշխարհի բացահայտումըhttps://www.instagram.com/minerals_arm?igsh=MTNqMmhybDJvcG5oNw%3D%3D&utm_source=qrArmeniaYerevanhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/yerevantag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/4584432026-06-24T00:00:00Z2026-06-24T15:56:53ZAustin, TX – The Big Swap & Flow: Keeping I Slay Free for AllAt I Slay, we believe every body deserves a seat at the table. We are a 100% volunteer-lead organization in Austin, Texas, founded by two Latina, LGBTQIA+ sisters with the mission to empower plus-size individuals through community, art, and healthcare access. Our project is a monthly heartbeat of radical inclusivity: we host a signature plus-size clothing swap alongside movement classes (like Pilates and dance), art workshops, and social gatherings design specifically for plus-size bodies.
Our impact is tangible. In our first year, we welcomed over 400 participants and donated more than 10,000 items to local nonprofits. Our community feedback shows these events are vital; participants report increased confidence, improved body image, and a deep sense of belonging. For many, we provide the first safe space to try movement classes or find affordable, stylish clothing without judgment.
Currently, our 10-person working board-all plus-size women with lived experience manages everything from logistics to advocacy. However we want to ensure these programs remain 100% free for a community that often faces financial and systemic barriers to wellness.
This grant will cover three full months of core monthly rhythm-3 flagship swaps and 6 “in-between"classes and socials, helping sustain a safe harbor where plus-size bodies are not just accommodated, but celebrated.Kristen JonesThe Big Swap & Flow: Keeping I Slay Free for Allhttp://www.islaylife.orgUnited StatesAustin, TXhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/austintag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/5981272026-06-23T00:00:00Z2026-06-24T13:46:52ZChicago, IL – Live at principle barbers: TIMBRE Jazz at RT 66 Live at principle barbers: TIMBRE Jazz at the Lawndale Route 66 Festival will bring live jazz, food, and community gathering into a barbershop located directly on Historic Route 66 in North Lawndale. On August 23, 2026, the Lawndale Route 66 Festival and Classic Car Show will take place along Ogden Avenue, directly in front of principle barbers. I want to use that moment to open the shop and backyard as a welcoming cultural space where neighbors, festival visitors, artists, families, and car show attendees can experience live music and West Side hospitality.
The project will be part of TIMBRE, a live music series I created to bring high-quality jazz and community-facing performance to North Lawndale. TIMBRE uses principle barbers as a nontraditional venue where music, conversation, design, and neighborhood pride meet. For this special Route 66 activation, I plan to present at least three live performances throughout the day, along with food and refreshments inside the shop and in the backyard.
This project is awesome because it turns an everyday barbershop into a cultural stop on Route 66. It highlights North Lawndale as a place of beauty, craft, music, history, and community—not just a place defined by deficit. The event will support paid opportunities for local musicians, bring people into a Black-owned business, and create a warm, creative space during one of the biggest neighborhood events of the summer.
The TIMBRE activation will also connect to the larger spirit of the Lawndale Route 66 Festival: cars, culture, music, local business visibility, and neighborhood unity. The goal is simple: let people hear something beautiful, eat something good, meet someone new, and experience principle barbers as part of the cultural life of North Lawndale.Bobby PriceLive at principle barbers: TIMBRE Jazz at RT 66 https://principlebarbers.com/United StatesChicago, ILhttps://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/chicago