Awesome Foundation - Projects

Newmarket – Fears, Cheers, & Unclears:Parenting in Digital Age

2015-08-25T00:00:00Z

We are a not-for profit organization looking to promote safety and well-being of students online. We also realize that in order to do this, parents need to be informed and involved. We would like to use the Awesome fund to help us host an panel discussion at the Town of Newmarket in which we assemble a panel of a few parents, kids, York Region Police for an interactive discussion about what we fear about the use of social media, how social media can be used in positive ways among kids, and clear up any misconceptions about what apps kids are using and how they are using them. We have approached Hannah Alpern, who has agreed to be a panelist. She was just featured by CTV news for her work with Bystander Revolution. The news story can be found here: http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/gta-youth-joins-a-list-celebrities-as-ambassador-of-anti-bullying-campaign-1.2503881?hootPostID=302dfa0748a8b174790f3182220df944 We are currently in the process of trying to find experts in the field of Social Media to join our panel. The evening itself will be open to parents in York Region. We will use social media to allow parents in the audience to interact with the moderator and panelists. We believe this to be an immensely important opportunity for dialogue and understanding as we all struggle to parent in the digital age. We'd love support of the Awesome Fund to help us do that! *Please note, information will be put on the website when we confirm date and venue.

Awesome Without Borders (Non-active) – 8th Annual Drama Festival

2015-08-24T00:00:00Z

Women’s Global Empowerment Fund respectfully requests $1,000 to support our 8th Annual Drama Festival, to be held on October 3rd, 2015 in northern Uganda. The annual festival addresses the issues of gender inequality, violence, land rights, food security, HIV/AIDS and other issues facing women in northern Uganda. As part of WGEF’s drama competition, Kikopo Pa Mon, women in our Credit Plus program create original plays highlighting their stories using music, drama, and dance. Each year, participants choose the theme. Past themes have addressed equality, educating girls, land and property rights for women, domestic violence, and women as a force for peace, security, and democracy. Women use the unique opportunity as a vehicle to directly speak to the men and community leaders who are in attendance. Because the issues addressed are sensitive and can be difficult to discuss directly, using music, dance and drama offers a different way to communicate while providing many other benefits including maintaining and celebrating cultural traditions. The competition provides a stigma-free environment in which to talk about sensitive subject matters; it promotes unity and team building, elevates women’s voices, and offers the opportunity to be creative and innovative. The beneficiaries of this project are women in the northern region of Uganda, women who are rebuilding and recovering their lives and communities after more than 25 years of violent conflict. The experiences of their past are as unique and varied as the women themselves, many are formerly abducted, child soldiers, or sex slaves. Most have experienced horrific sexual terrorism and others have lost their entire family. They all face the challenges of poverty and are working hard, committed to creating a brighter future for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Miami, FL – Wake up Miami!

2015-08-21T00:00:00Z

What about starting your Mondays off with a little bit of live music? PAXy, with the support of Miami-Dade County Departments of Transit and Cultural Affairs, will present a two-month series of ten (10) events called “Wake up Miami!” from October 5th to December 7th, 2015. “Wake up Miami!” will bring free live music to the Miami Government Center Metromover station Monday mornings starting at 8:30am. The programs will be from forty-five (45) to ninety (90) minutes in length and will feature classical, jazz, and world music presented by FIU School of Music students and other Miami-based performers. The project will bring life and movement to public spaces in the city. It will also bring a completely new and fresh look and sound to MDT. The program will encourage the community to enjoy both the arts and public transportation, with the added value of music’s benefits on health. Miami is growing fast; parking availability and traffic are now issues in high-density areas. Reducing parking needs and the number of people commuting in private cars is a necessity. This project will help increase the number and satisfaction of individuals using the Metrorail/ Metromover thus making Miami a better place to live, work and study. ANYONE who uses the Metrorail/Metromover or who lives or works close to the station can have access to this program and benefit from it. WHO ARE SOME OF THE MUSICIANS? Omine, Matthew Sabatella, Sean Dibble, Aldo Salvent Trio, Felipe Carvajal, French Horn, Buffalo Brown, Glenga Fernandez-Vega, Shira. We are attaching the project plan for more details.

Antigonish, NS (Non-active) – A Solar Karaoke Machine

2015-08-21T00:00:00Z

The Antigonish Community Energy Cooperative, exists to facilitate the installation of one million Watts of solar electric generating capacity in the Town and County of Antigonish. This will generate about 1% of the electricity consumed by the Town in one year. It’s a small but important amount. Imagine if we succeed in doing this every year for the next ten years. Considering the Town already generates about 30% of its electricity renewably, we could bring that up to 40%. And, we’ll try to inspire ten other communities to do as we are doing in that time. We are doing our part to bring about a future Nova Scotia which generates all of its energy renewably. We’re going to do it like this: Members of our Coop who wish to invest in solar for their homes, businesses, or organizations will become a part of our bulk purchase. If we can sign up 100 members to invest in a 10 kW system each – about the amount you’d need to power a typical family home – we will be able to offer each of them cost savings of about 10% off market value. Our members will require less time – about 12 years – to recover their investment than they would on the open market. But the equipment works for about 25 years. And we’re a Cooperative in the tradition of the Antigonish Movement, which was all about cooperative investment in the common good. Via a small surcharge on our members’ purchases, we’ll raise money for the direct relief of poverty in the local area.

Atlanta, GA – Blindness, Education and Training for Youth

2015-08-20T00:00:00Z

The purpose of the BETA project is to recruit, train, and empower competent blind persons with the skills and resources to serve as sensitivity awareness presenters, and education advocates (BETA Specialists) within the educational environment of blind students. Blind individuals traveling to various schools throughout Georgia to conduct blindness awareness trainings will help to dismiss the fears and stereotypes held by many that continue to negatively affect our blind youth. In addition, exposure to successful blind adults will help to educate parents and professionals about appropriate accommodations, and help parents set realistic academic expectations for their blind children. Furthermore, we know that the best advocate for a blind child is an educated blind adult. It is essential to have competent blind individuals participating in the education planning of a blind student to ensure the development and implementation of successful real world strategies that foster an effective educational environment for blind students. If you are and education professional that would like a BETA presentation at your school, if you are a parent that needs assistance from a BETA Specialist in developing and appropriate Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for your child, or most important, if you are a blind adult that would like to be trained to conduct effective BETA presentations and serve as an advocate for a blind child, please contact us. Georgians Empowered through Mentoring Success The aim of the Georgians Empowered through Mentoring Success (GEMS) program is to link blind and low vision young adults throughout Georgia, ages sixteen to twenty-six, with successful blind and low vision mentors for the purpose of increasing knowledge and participation in the vocational rehabilitation process with a resulting outcome of increased post-secondary academic success, high-quality employment, and community integration.

Yerevan – X-ZIBIL: A Trashy Educational Experience

2015-08-20T00:00:00Z

X-Zibil is an educational exhibition that informs the general public about waste management in Armenia, creating awareness and willingness among individuals to act in favour of the environment. Ultimately, the exhibition compels the individual to consider the municipal solid waste that they produce on a daily basis. On a grassroots level, this exhibition empowers the individual to reconsider the simple choices they make relating to the products they consume and, in turn, the materials which they dispose and dismiss as ‘waste’. Our seemingly trivial choices in the house, compounded over time, may have a negative effect on the environment. Thus, every individual must realise that he/she has a significant impact, and thus, a responsibility to the natural environment. One, our main goal is to reveal to citizens normally unseen processes in their environment. Two, our secondary goal is to provide an opportunity to improve awareness of a particular problem and evoke some sort of response from citizens, either through a change of opinion or a shift in behavior, which could then spark larger debate and positive action. Three, our tertiary goal is to reveal to citizens normally unseen processes in their environment. These could be short-term ephemeral processes like air quality or traffic congestion on nearby roads, or long-term processes like growing crime incidence and climate change, providing an opportunity to improve awareness and evoke a response from citizens, through a change of opinion or a shift in behavior, which could then spark larger debate and positive action. Where did the idea come from? Ever wondered how much trash you produce? How does that compare with your own body weight? How about where your trash goes? What happens to it? We were curious too. Since before Armenia’s independence most waste management started with older women (“babiks”) with short brooms and ended with garbage dump sorter in the rolling hills of Sovietashen.

Tallahassee, FL (Non-active) – Unhoused Humanity

2015-08-19T00:00:00Z

Unhoused Humanity provides the easiest way to house the homeless. One of biggest barriers preventing those who are homeless from transitioning back into a home is not having enough money at one time to put down a hefty down payment (first and last month rent, security and utility deposits). According to the Point In Time Survey, About 20% of the 805 homeless individuals residing in Tallahassee have a steady income every month – they only need help with the deposit and then they can support themselves without returning to homelessness. I have started my own “Rapid Rehousing” program that provides eligible homeless individuals with the funds necessary to pay the upfront costs of an apartment. The homeless individuals are carefully selected by case working agencies throughout Tallahassee. The caseworkers go over financials with the client and make sure that their income is enough to continue the payment of rent on their own. The caseworkers then identify appropriate housing for the client and contact me for the funds necessary. I have already been able to house 10 people! The $1,000 will go directly to help transition eligible homeless individuals into an apartment. These funds can immediately house 2 to 3 people and serve as a momentum boost for the organization. This is the quickest and most efficient way to end homelessness in our community.

Minas Gerais (Non-active) – Saberes D’Avó

2015-08-19T00:00:00Z

Saberes D'Avó é um projeto iniciado na cidade de Prados-MG e tem como intuito estreitar a relação entre os idosos e jovens. O projeto consiste no ensino de programação para os estudantes do ensino médio. Eles utilizarão a ferramenta MIT App Inventor para desenvolver jogos do tipo quiz, utilizando como conteúdo desses jogos o conhecimento dos idosos. A primeira execução do projeto foi na Escola Estadual "Dr. Viviano Caldas", com a participação de 16 adolescentes. O objetivo deste projeto é avaliar o quão importante é a aprendizagem de programação para os jovens durante o ensino médio e após essa avaliação, criar um curso online de App Inventor, para ensinar pessoas que estão cursando ou já cursaram o ensino médio. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projetosaberesdavo/info/?tab=page_info

Gloucester, MA – First Parish Burial Ground

2015-08-18T00:00:00Z

First Parish Burial Ground over the years has been neglected and as a result the area has become overgrown, holes have formed in the ground and stones have either been vandalized or broken by the weather. With all of these things it makes it hard for the city to maintain the area and henceforth more damage occurs. To help stop the cycle we propose doing a fragmenting project. With this project we will be documenting the broken shards, safely collecting and housing them, cleaning and resetting the intact stones to prevent further damage and finally filling in the holes and depressions. By doing this the city can maintain the grounds easier by having the ground cleared for mowing and other types of maintenance; Thus making the area safer and usable once again as a wonderful outdoor public space.

Awesome Without Borders (Non-active) – Last Call

2015-08-18T00:00:00Z

LAST CALL is a feature-length documentary that goes inside the life of a remarkable Buddhist priest doing suicide prevention work in Japan. Since the 2008 financial crisis, the global suicide rate has been rising faster than ever. In the developed world, suicide is now the leading cause of death for people ages 15-49. In Japan, which has one of the highest suicide rates of all, a new wave of socially engaged Buddhist priests has emerged, determined to fight this problem. One of them is Ittetsu Nemoto. A 42-year-old former punk rocker who used to work at a Tokyo McDonald’s, Nemoto is not your typical Buddhist priest. He loves Prince, his motorcycle, and dancing all night at clubs. LAST CALL follows Nemoto as he works with desperate men and women to inspire them to keep on living. Having done this work for the last ten years, Nemoto has become known in Japan both for his extraordinarily high success rate, and for his unusual approach to suicide prevention, which includes one-on-one counseling sessions as well as dinners, parties, retreats, camping trips, and wild collaborative art projects. But when a health crisis puts Nemoto at serious risk, can he live by the same advice he gives out? How can we find happiness? What is the best way to live? And in the most trying times of our lives, how can we gather the strength to carry on? LAST CALL will shine a light on the inspiring work that Nemoto is doing in Japan, with Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. It will create an opportunity for discussion and education for communities and leaders worldwide who are struggling in the current economic climate. And as seen through the dramatic lens provided by the recent history of Japan, it will provide a sensitive, compassionate, and thought-provoking look at the rising global suicide rate, offering a model for how people can inspire each other to survive.

Boston, MA (Non-active) – Tilt-Down Fence

2015-08-17T00:00:00Z

Imagine a simple fence in your neighborhood park, that was at once a climbing play structure, but could also transform into a picnic table for the whole family. Awesome! This summer- that could happen! Tilt-Down Fence is not just a temporary urban art project, it activates a green-space that is otherwise unused. It is an urban stage set for cultural and community activities that can generate conversation between the immigrant communities in Dorchester. In serving the Vietnamese immigration population in Boston, as well as the immediate Dorchester residents, our transformative fence will create a place for a fun-filled ending to summer with water puppet shows, potlucks, and oral story performances. These fences are going to be made out of bamboo poles, a material completely atypical to the neighborhood of Fields Corner, but resonate with the Vietnamese population we are collaborating with. These not-so-simple fences are a play-ground for children and adults alike, and the local and immigrant communities. Don't miss out on the possibility to reimagine a different type of fence, a different type of park, here in Boston! We operate and LOVE collaborating with artists, designers from various backgrounds, and of course the community as well. so this summer project we have our incredible partners at the Vietnamese American Initiative for Development (Viet-AID) located in Dorchester, as well as their Youth Group from the Dorchester Environmental Action Program (DEAP). The Youth Group has already begun building their project in the garden lot located across our proposed site and we are eager to get this project started and join them this summer in getting the community excited about the upcoming change! You can follow our project on our blog: http://br-a-ce.org/projects/blog

Pittsburgh, PA – Black Girls Do Bike: Pittsburgh

2015-08-17T00:00:00Z

We want to encourage all women to take up riding, our focus just happens to be African American women who are 1. Under-represented in the larger cycling community and who are 2. Statistically more likely than their peers to be overweight or obese and suffer from heart disease, diabetes and hypertension. We encourage women to pay it forward and bring friends, family, and coworkers along for the ride. We foster a supportive environment for new riders with monthly "no drop" rides. And if you belong to a Black Girls Do Bike group then finding a riding partner(s) for a spontaneous ride can be just a post away.

Ottawa – Design For Citizens

2015-08-17T00:00:00Z

August’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to Jeffrey Neto, Tatiana Ulloa, and Cathryne Lillian Milburn, to support the development of simple visuals that explain public policies and government services for disadvantaged groups. Jeffrey, Tatiana, and Cathryne are working with the Shepherds of Good Hope, Ottawa’s largest not-for-profit organization dedicated to serving the needs of the city’s homeless and impoverished, to create an easy-to-read pamphlet that assists clients with a specific policy or service. That policy or service will be identified in consultation with those clients. “Many of those who use government services,” explains Jeffrey, “do not understand how they work. This is because the information presented by the government is not designed with the user in mind. We hope to present information so that those who use services are informed and empowered.” Jeffrey is a student in public administration, Tatiana in human security and peacebuilding, and Cathryne in marketing. Jeffrey and Tatiana also work for the federal government.

Boulder, CO (Non-active) – Block 1750 Buildout!

2015-08-17T00:00:00Z

Block 1750 (block1750.com) is a non-profit Dance Studio / community center that provides a home for people of all ages and backgrounds. A place where kids can go to study, relax, hang out with friends, and build their leadership skills through dance. A place where dancers, artists, and community members can utilize one of the nicest dance floors in Colorado for a creative endeavor of their choosing. A place where the purpose is community. The Block was built from scratch by Boulder dancers and business people wanting to make a lasting impact on youth. We spent 3 months of double shifts, late nights and good times building a 2000sqft sprung dance floor (donated in part by Denver Hardwood flooring company) and a 1000sqft chill area, fully involved with a kitchen, furniture (donated by the Painted Furniture Company in Boulder), and office/study room. We opened our doors in June of last year, and have hosted hundreds of classes (we have ~4 classes every weeknight), workshops, and random awesome events supporting local youth and the Boulder community at large. The Block boasts exceptional diversity: we have had multiple people come to our events and tell us outright how blown away they were by the ethnic, background, and age diversity they saw. If you live in Boulder, you know diversity isn't exactly our strong suit.

Seattle, WA – GiveSafe

2015-08-15T00:00:00Z

Confronted with the problem of not knowing what to do when asked for assistance on the street, we're creating a way to give in seconds without having to carry a dollar on hand. We're building low-cost, low-energy bluetooth wristbands called "beacons" and are distributing them to nonprofit shelters. The nonprofits issue these beacons to individuals in need. Citygoers who have our app will then receive a push notification when they pass by or meet one of the individuals, with the option to give $1 or more. Funds from the wristband can be redeemed at a partnered merchant and agency for a service the individual needs to advance their life, such as a workshop or class, a clean haircut, dental or vision correction, as well as basic needs.

New York City, NY – ACCESS N. BK: Flushing Avenue J/M Station

2015-08-12T00:00:00Z

There are 298 closed entrances to our city's subway network spread across 119 stations in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and The Bronx. Closed subway entrances have an overall negative impact on the neighborhoods they inhabit. The most obvious impact is the creation of bottlenecks inside and outside of stations. This not only results in increased dwell times, delays, and missed trains for riders, but it threatens street safety as crowds swarm to choke points at station entrances. Closed subway entrances also diminish economic opportunity. Vacant storefronts and struggling businesses abound near these closed subway entrances due to deactivated public space. Accessing Currently Closed Entrances in Subway Stations in North Brooklyn (ACCESS N. BK) seeks to remedy this issue in North Brooklyn. They are a group of urban planners and activists focused on re-opening closed subway entrances at stations in Bed-Stuy, Bushwick and Williamsburg. Decades ago, MTA closed entrances at many subway stations to (1) prevent crime and (2) cut operating costs amidst budget cuts. However, crime has plummeted and the city's population has grown. Ridership is nearing an all-time high, and the neighborhoods of Bed-Stuy, Bushwick and Williamsburg continue to densify. It is now more critical than ever for the these neighborhoods, and the city as a whole, to have better access to public transportation. Re-opening closed subway entrances offers a relatively cheap option to expand access and re-activate public space. ACCESS N. BK plans to take a creative and light-hearted approach to raising public awareness of the issue. They will be orchestrating a series of events combining street art, theater and technology with old-school community organizing tactics to bring awareness to this issue to the people in the affected communities and beyond. Follow them on Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr and you might just get to see one of their events in action! Why We Think This is Awesome We love to see people taking hold of a broken system and trying to fix it themselves, especially when that system is as core to the city as our subways. Taking on the MTA is no easy feat, but the team from ACCESS N. BK has some great ideas on how to bring attention to this issue while having fun in the process. Awesome!

Melbourne (Non-active) – Instagran

2015-08-12T00:00:00Z

When is the last time you wrote a postcard to your granny? ...Exactly. Even though we spend nearly every day becoming more "connected", it's pretty rare that we take the time to send our Grandparents a postcard. Insta-Gran makes it super easy to send your Grandma a postcard. It's 100% online, and 100% free. We take care of the offline work involved--like writing your words, and adding a stamp, and finding a mailbox. We hope the sweet response from your Granny encourages you to make it a habit.

Chicago, IL – Pop-Up Puppet Truck

2015-08-11T00:00:00Z

Have you ever been stuck in rush hour traffic? More specifically, Chicago rush hour traffic? After another long, stressful day at the office nothing is more welcome than 2 hour drive to a destination 7.9 miles away, right? Well if we're stuck in our vehicle anyway, we might as well be entertained. I propose to use my awesome grant to convert the back of my 2003 Ford Ranger into a pop-up puppet theater which will intentionally get stuck in rush hour traffic. The shows will be put on by puppeteers from the around the Midwest, and will cover a range of subjects and themes. The overall goal is to provide frustrated commuters relief from the stresses of everyday life, and allow for a break from the ordinary. The intention is to create a buzz and develop an appreciation for chance sightings. The truck will conduct shows in both the Minneapolis and Chicago areas.

San Antonio, TX – Awesome Play Equipment for Yanaguana Garden!

2015-08-11T00:00:00Z

Great cities have great downtowns, and great downtowns have great urban spaces. Hemisfair, the site of the 1968 World's Fair, is transforming into your urban oasis! The vision of the 21st Century Hemisfair, as developed with extensive input from the San Antonio community, is to create a series of awesome urban parks that are embraced by a vibrant and walkable neighborhood. Over time, Hemisfair will become our gathering place for everything from a day with friends to the city's biggest celebrations. The park will be free to everyone...how awesome! Hemisfair is already starting to schedule local non-profit programming so many agencies can continue to do their amazing work right here in our city. Farmer's markets, yoga, movies in the park and other park-sponsored programming will encourage park-goers to stay all day. Yanaguana Garden, the first awesome phase of Hemisfair's redevelopment, is scheduled to open this fall. The park will be larger than 6 acres in size, over 4 of which will be dedicated parkland. The design theme for this park is "play from pre-K to gray". Originally, bond funds from the City of San Antonio were awarded to the Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation and designated to purchase play equipment for Yanaguana Garden; however, those funds have been redirected, thus leaving no funds to make that purchase. Research has revealed that play is not only fundamental to community-building, but it is also a powerful tool for cognitive development. The support of The Awesome Foundation will enable local San Antonians to interact with each other, play, and enjoy the park to the fullest. Just imagine: you and your loved ones playing a game of bocce ball in the morning, grabbing something to eat for lunch in the park, enjoying a game of badminton or croquet in the afternoon, and relaxing on a park bench or taking a walk through the park as the sun sets. Doesn't that sound awesome?

Sydney – The Seaside Scavenge

2015-08-11T00:00:00Z

The Seaside Scavenge is more than just a beach and street cleanup. It's about putting a value on litter and focusing on the experience while doing it. In the lead-up, we ask people to clear out their wardrobes and donate their belongings. At the Seaside Scavenge location, we set up a market with all the fantastic things people have ‘thrown’ our way. Then for every ten pieces of litter people pickup on the Seaside Scavenge, they trade it for one bottle cap that has been painted to distinguish it from other rubbish. All litter items are equal in value because every single piece makes a difference. Each item in the market is priced at the value of 1, 2 or 3 bottle caps and this is their trash currency to be traded for some funky goods. Later we separate and quantify the rubbish into categories: straws, coffee cups, plastic cutlery and cigarette-butts etc and pass the data onto Tangaroa Blue that keeps a nation-wide database of beach litter items collected. We also focus on the experience. We don’t just want people picking up litter, we want them to come back and do it again with their friends because, let’s face it, picking up other people’s litter even on a beautiful beach, isn’t many people’s favorite past time. So what do we do? We throw some live music into the mix! This definitely attracts a crowd. We have already held one successful event at Coogee Beach, Sydney where we had over 100 people attend. What we would like to do for the next event is to engage more musicians, and we also would like to invite artists to run workshops on creating art and objects from the litter. This will demonstrate to everyone that even single-use items can be used again and again. This is how we plant a seed for change, for awareness and for the future!

Awesome Without Borders (Non-active) – Fast Driver Mom at Indy!

2015-08-10T00:00:00Z

I am a woman who grew up in country where it is illegal to drive. But it was always my dream to drive fast. Finally, at the age of 45 I took the plunge. For the past 17 months, I have been developing my skills as a high performance road course track driver. This morning I received an email about a once-in-a-lifetime event. Literally. It has never happened before, and according to professionals in the industry, it will likely never recur. The Mid Ohio Region group of the PorscheClub of America has arranged for club high performance drivers to use the Road Race Course, aka Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. When I had first heard about this, there were no openings left, and I had exhausted my annual track budget. But I put my name on the wait list anyway since it was almost certain I would not be picked. But: I was picked! Now, I will be driving to West Lafayette, Indiana to drop my son off for the start of his freshman year at the engineering program at Purdue University. After moving him in on August 18th, I will drive to Indianapolis to prepare my race car for club circuit the high performance driving event of my life. Earlier this year, after nearly crashing my antique Porsche 911 on track, I realized it was too dangerous to continue tracking a stock street car. After consulting with my friend and mentor Mike James, I realized I had to make a change. Safety being my primary goal, and keeping my costs for maintenance and repairs in check, I decided to buy a Spec Miata race car. This car has the necessary equipment to keep my safe, and is much less expensive to repair and race. But it is not street legal, so I had to purchase a trailer as well. These two purchases have depleted my budget so that now I am in the red. In addition, this car will force me to become a faster driver: a momentum driver. That will lead me to my ultimate goal one day: getting a club racers license. My hope is that my dream will inspire women everywhere!

Sarnia (Non-active) – The Global Citizenship Summit

2015-08-07T00:00:00Z

The second annual interdepartmental College-wide event, the Global Citizenship Summit, will take place during International Week on November 18th, 2015! This year, we are making it moer interacting and on a grander scale. Here is how you can help! The theme: #debunkthemyth Would you answer "yes" to any of these questions: Do you have access to clean drinking water every day? Is your home considered adequate shelter? Have you had access to education? Are you free to love whomever you want? Do you feel safe to worship in the religion of your choice? Have you ever fought in a war? Through the Global Citizenship Summit at Lambton College, privilege and stereotypes will be openly discussed and addressed. Our interactive stations, community members and groups, and with the help of the Awesome Foundation, our keynote speaker will provide a space to relish in the fact that what we share is greater than what we don't!

Portland, OR – Portland Underground Grad School

2015-08-07T00:00:00Z

Portland Underground Grad School (PUGS) is low cost, community-generated education for Portland. It's school for daily life. It allows Portlanders to make connections and friendships by going to class and learning something, just like you did when we were younger. There are no prerequisites, no tests, and no credentials; just learning outside the expensive, non-inclusive university industrial complex. People vote on the courses they want, so it's really as community generated as you can get.

San Francisco, CA – homobiles app hackathon space

2015-08-05T00:00:00Z

Homobiles provides safe transit to people who, because of their perceived gender or sexuality, are at risk on the street, taxis, ride shares or public transit for whatever they can afford to give. We are creating an App for easier and quicker Homobiles access that will help safely identify the riders and drivers in the system with photos. We are also adding a way for people to get quick help in emergency situations. With this money we will rent the LGBT center in San Francisco for a couple of days and during that time we will work on the website interface and App. Our pals the drag queens, burlesque babes, porn starts and the band 'the homobiles' will be there and we'll have lots of snacks and drinks from local eateries. We are planning a fun event where the coders will be entertained during their App hacking. Our plan is to keep providing emotional and physical safety for people. Ultimately we'd like to become a franchise that will open up safety to other cities in the US and worldwide, where it is often even more of a life or death issue. We have the international trademark and are ready! We can also help create more cash flow opportunities for visibly queer people.

Liverpool – Swings!

2015-08-05T00:00:00Z

my quick idea! We always talked about the swings in Boston sounding amazing, why don’t we use our £500 and buy as many rope swings as we can, a ladder and spray paint www.awesomeliverpool.co.uk on the swing seats, and dish them out around liverpool…. theres my pitch anyway!

Awesome Without Borders (Non-active) – 2015 Adaptive Dance Camp and State Outreach Progra

2015-08-03T00:00:00Z

Keshet has been involved with integrating artists with disabilities and abled-bodied artists into dance programming for the past 18 years. In late July 2015, Keshet will be offering its first-ever, one-week Adaptive Dance Camp in Albuquerque, NM for youth. It will be followed later in the summer by a State Outreach Tour, bringing adaptive programming, performances, and teacher training to three communities in New Mexico. The Adaptive Dance Camp will focus primarily on dance, but will include elements of theatre, music, and performance production classes for 20-25 children between 10 and 18 years old with physical and developmental disabilities. Daily classes in each of these four areas that are tailored to the unique needs of the youth with disabilities will be led by a lead artist supported by artist assistants. The camp will culminate with an original performance open to the public showcasing the talents and skills of these enthusiastic campers. Following the close of the Albuquerque Dance Camp week, approximately six performers will continue an additional four days of programming to shape their work into a touring production. This touring production will then travel to three communities within New Mexico with a projected total audience reach of 1,000 people. Each community visit will include a traditional performance, outreach classes for community participants, and teacher trainings to support the creation and continuation of adaptive dance programming in these communities. Keshet’s goal is to provide hands-on workshops for at least 300 students of all abilities and backgrounds and provide teacher training to at least 25 educators who are interested in developing integrative dance programs within their communities.

Ann Arbor, MI – Raising Awareness About Juvenile Justice

2015-08-03T00:00:00Z

The DRC will present the film 15 to Life: Kenneth’s Story on October 14, 2015 at the Michigan Theatre. The film shows the life of Kenneth who was 14 when he was convinced by a 24-year-old neighborhood crack dealer — his mother's supplier — to join him on a month-long spree of four armed robberies. Kenneth’s accomplice planned heists in Tampa, Florida and carried the gun. For his limited role in the crimes, Kenneth was tried as an adult and received four consecutive life sentences and has no opportunity for parole. There are more than 2,500 juveniles serving mandatory life sentences in the U.S., including over 350 in Michigan. In the 1990s, states passed laws allowing more juveniles to be tried as adults and receive mandatory life sentences because of a perceived rise in violent youth crimes. Mandatory life sentences remove the judge’s discretion in sentencing and do not allow the judge to consider a juvenile’s developmental immaturity or related social and emotional deficits, which may impair a juvenile’s decision-making capabilities and diminish criminal culpability. In 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Graham v. Florida that mandatory life sentences for juveniles convicted of crimes other than murder were unconstitutional. The lower courts were then left to decide whether the new Supreme Court case should be applied retroactively and allow juveniles with mandatory life sentences to be resentenced. This legal issue is still being litigated. After the film, Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Timothy Connors will moderate a panel of experts on the legal and social issues surrounding mandatory life sentences for juveniles. Confirmed panelists include Attorney Deb LaBelle, who has been at the forefront of litigating juvenile lifer cases, and Dr. Brian Sellers, EMU criminologist who specializes in studying juveniles in the criminal justice system. Other experts in the treatment and rehabilitation of juveniles in prison are expected to participate as well.

Orlando, FL – 1000 Student OCPS Marching Band at Creative City

2015-08-03T00:00:00Z

On October 17, Downtown Orlando will come to life with art and performance as part of the Creative City Project. One of this year's key performances will be a 1000 student marching band comprised of over 1000 students from high schools throughout Orange County stretching along Orange Ave from Pine St to the Dr Phillips Center! These students will create a wall of music filling the streets of our city and rising up into the stratosphere! We're working in conjunction with Scott Evans, administrator over the Visual and Performing Arts of Orange County Public Schools. He says, "I am thrilled that our students will have such a wonderful opportunity to explore art outside of the classroom walls and experience the application of their artistry" and praises the Creative City Project for our "visionary efforts to engage our community in the arts." This free event depends on the generosity of the community. We have received tens of thousands of dollars in in-kind donations to make this event and all of its performances come to life in 2015, but there are still so many cash expenditures associated with such an undertaking. You generosity will help us put 1000 students from our city in the public space performing as part of a night of arts featuring Cirque du Soleil, Orlando Ballet, CFCArts Orchestra, dozens of other arts organizations, and over 100 independent and emerging artists. The Creative City Project words to connect all the residents of and visitors to our city with the incredible artists of our community! I hope you'll help us make this dream a reality! Cole NeSmith Executive Director, Creative City Project

Raleigh, NC (Non-active) – RECESS RALEIGH

2015-08-01T00:00:00Z

The brain-child of Nick Neptune, RECESS RALEIGH was a community building cookout/field day, mirroring those childhood field days we all remember so fondly from our childhood. The event doubled as a fundraiser for The Helping Hand Mission which is a great local nonprofit that does a lot of work uplifting and assisting economically disadvantaged communities in Raleigh. This event was held in August to bring adults back to the playground and to raise money for back to school supplies for the kids!

Austin, TX – Anthropos All-Stars CD Project

2015-07-31T00:00:00Z

Anthropos Arts matches professional musicians with students in high-poverty schools for one-on-one music lessons, mentoring, group rehearsals, and performance opportunities at Austin’s most seminal music events and venues (ACL Fest, SXSW, Pachanga Fest, Stubb’s, and more). Anthropos teacher/mentors can be one of the few reliable adult relationships students have; consistent encouragement and added accountability from an inspiring teacher/mentor has proven to positively affect student attitude and work ethic. Anthropos students learn that their efforts pay off in improved skills and the respect of their peers, teachers, and packed houses of applauding fans. The purpose of the Anthropos All-Star CD Project is to fund a recording project that will give students a real, professional studio experience as well as a recorded works for their college auditions and resumes.

Whangarei (Non-active) – #localsinthelimelight

2015-07-31T00:00:00Z

Celebrating the awesome places and people in Whangarei. We will install frames around town that put in the spotlight places and faces. The frames will be positioned in a way that till allow people to jump in, smile, take a photo, and them encourage them to upload and tag them online.

Madison, WI (Non-active) – The Found Painting Project

2015-07-30T00:00:00Z

The goal of The Found Painting Project is to offer some inspiration, joy, or a bright spark of surprise to someone else's day. Each original painting is 3x4 inches in size and carries with it an invitation to take it home, information about the project, and a way to connect online. Secured with a nail and sealed in a plastic bag, the paintings are protected from the elements until they are found. Since the project launch last summer, I have created 115 paintings and hung them in 12 states and numerous cities. With a grant of $1,000 from the Awesome Foundation, I will bring 60 paintings to diverse communities across the city of Madison in public areas such as parks, bus stops, shopping districts, nature paths, or other areas where people tend to walk or congregate. Funding will cover the expense of the paintings ($840) as well as my travel costs from Chicago ($160). I plan to spend the next several months creating 60 original paintings specifically for Madison, and hang them over a weekend in late summer. Please visit The Found Painting Project website (www.foundpainting.com) to read more and see what people are saying about their experience finding a painting. More about my work as an artist and painting images from The Found Painting Project can be found at www.chaiwolfman.com.

Whangarei (Non-active) – Steam Roller Printapalooza

2015-07-29T00:00:00Z

The Steam Roller Printapalooza will be held at The Quarry Arts Centre and Te Kowhai Print Trust and is inspired by a number of Print Making Steam Roller Festivals that run annually in America. We plan to hire a ride on steam roller for the day and print large scale woodcut prints on to canvas &/or paper. The general public, local polytechnic and surrounding primary and secondary schools will be invited to produce wood or linocuts and bring them down on the day to get inked up and steam roll printed. We will have one large scale collaborative woodcut that will be cut out over a few weeks and finished off on the morning by whoever is willing to take part and will be printed in the afternoon. We hope to also have a large handheld push roller for smaller prints. We will also have a T shirt printer printing t shirts with silk screen and woodcut and other printmaking demonstrations. It will be an interactive, festival style day of awesome printmaking shenanigans. There will also be food and music. The attached photos are of other steam roller festivals.

Nairobi (Non-active) – Library-in-a-Box (LIB)

2015-07-29T00:00:00Z

LIB is ideally a community initiative that is aimed at providing the students at the under-served Ndiini Primary School with a functional library. This school lies in the outskirts of Kahawa Sukari, a middle class suburb and is the only public entity in the area. It caters for children in the surrounding underprivileged communities. As it is, they have no physical library, neither do they have an extra room that can serve as a library. Therefore, we will affix a lockable metal box in each class to serve as a mini-library and thereafter stock it with grade appropriate books. We are engaging the community to donate all their old, no longer used recreational readers or alternatively sponsor a book to help us reach our target of 1000 books. We plan and hope to commission the Library in a Box on September 4th 2015 as a surprise for when the kids open school for their final term. We are working with the Headteacher of the school as well as the teaching fraternity to realize this and they have promised (and are excited) to re-institute the un-used Library time back into the weekly lesson curriculum.

Awesome Without Borders (Non-active) – Adopt-A-Jean

2015-07-28T00:00:00Z

Downs Designs has 18 styles of jeans for individuals from ages 2 and up. Because individuals with Downs Syndrome have many issues that are unique to their syndrome, most typical clothing does not fit properly. Our Downs Designs jeans are proprietary designs custom fit to the unique body shape of a person with Down Syndrome. Below is but a short list of the numerous design challenges a person with Down Syndrome faces: a) Individuals with Down Syndrome have a short femur. Pants are almost always too long and not tapered correctly at their knees. This means hemming a typical pair of pants still leaves ill-fitting clothes. b) Most individuals with Down Syndrome have limited fine motor skills. This makes buttons and zippers particularly frustrating. Often they are forced to choose between depending on others to dress relatively well or wearing sweatpants they can pull on themselves. Most choose independence. People with Down Syndrome have relatively low muscle tone. This makes holding in their tummies difficult and they often have larger, rounder bellies. The vast majority of people with Down Syndrome push everything they wear under their tummies, causing the pants to hang even lower in the front and exposing their behinds in the back. c) There are other health issues such as thyroid and heart problems. Both thyroid issues and various medications can cause sudden, excessive weight gain. d) Today, most children with Down Syndrome are mainstreamed into public schools. They want to fit in and wear clothes like their peers. We believe there is a direct link between appropriate clothing options and self-esteem. For example, they may need help undoing their pants to go to the bathroom to avoid wetting their pants. Everyday. This assault on their independence can lead to lasting humiliation. They also may feel less confident because of poorly fitting clothes or clothes that are not in style. The list goes on. We are the only business that offers this unique service and product

Chicago, IL – Open Source Furniture: Enzo Mari Design Workshop

2015-07-27T00:00:00Z

We’re going to do an awesome workshop where everyone can take a piece of furniture home! In 1974, Enzo Mari published a do-it-yourself guide to furniture making that taught a generation how to build their own functional, practical, and beautiful pieces using only rough boards and nails. Mari’s designs were easy enough for beginners to build but timeless in their sophistication. 40 years later, we want to bring that entrepreneurial spirit to a workshop on a warm summer afternoon in our space that will teach 20 participants the basics of furniture building with a critical, responsible, and sustainable eye. Together, everyone will build their own chair over the course of a few hours, and will be able to either take it home with them or donate it to the museum. We see Mari’s approach to design as very similar to our own: it empowers us to think of making things as a way of communicating, and to question what we make in terms of how it is serving a greater good. Put simply, design makes life better because it acts as a unifying platform for discussion, opening up opportunities for us to come together and connect. We hold these workshops because we believe that a museum is a neutral ground where those different viewpoints and experiences can gather to consider a common problem. We want people to be able to use their hands, in a collaborative space. We want people to learn from one another, and from us. And we want to make sure that great ideas aren’t forgotten.

Philadelphia, PA – History Truck: Chinatown North Block Party

2015-07-27T00:00:00Z

Now two years old, History Truck is a mobile museum creating interdisciplinary neighborhood exhibitions with the people who live, work, and play in Philly's places in spaces. In our first year of work, we collaborated with the East Kensington Neighbors Association, St. Francis Inn Ministries soup kitchen staff and guests, the Kensington Community Food Co-op, and the neighbors of Huntingdon Street to create an exhibit titled Manufacturing Fire at Little Berlin gallery which explored postindustrial textile mill fires and activism within the neighborhood over time. In its second year, partnered with Temple University's Center for Public History, I worked with the Free Breakfast Program art collective, artists Theodore A. Harris, Tree House Books, and Philadelphia Urban Creators to create They Say They Gonna Build, an exhibiition exploring the history of community building and university expansion in North Philadelphia. In 2015-2016, we will work in Chinatown North to create our third exhibition using our process of relationship-based history making to decide what the show will be about.

Washington, DC – ATTIC DC

2015-07-27T00:00:00Z

I've visited cities all over America. I love walking around and exploring unique neighborhoods. But what I've noticed more and more is that individual cities are slowly losing their character -- every city is starting to look the same. From the same Starbucks on every corner to the same clothing stores. My project, called ATTIC, is meant to help reverse this trend. It's designed to help local, independent retailers compete in a marketplace that is now as dependent upon their digital presence as their physical one. So what ATTIC does, as a start, is pull together the latest inventory from vintage furniture stores all over the DC area into a single website. It makes shopping from local, independent businesses a bit easier and a more likely alternative to shopping at big-box chains. The goal isn't to have people shop online from these stores, but to motivate them to get out and visit the stores. To that end, ATTIC doesn't sell products from the businesses -- it just markets them and introduces local options to the community.

San Francisco, CA – Litter Critters

2015-07-24T00:00:00Z

We make art out of trash collected at the beach to make people think about the plastic they use and discard, and to raise money to support Save the Bay's efforts to clean up and restore the San Francisco Bay. How it all started: After hearing on the radio that there is more plastic than plankton in some parts of the ocean my seven-year-old daughter and I started picking up trash at the beach once a week. One, day, she held up two pieces of plastic and said, “this looks like an elephant”. Because we are a crafty family we took them home and turned them into our very first Litter Critter. After this we decided to sell them and give part of the money to the “Save the Bay” foundation. My dream for this project is to take groups to the beach (and even through neighborhoods) to collect trash and then have workshops where we turn the trash into art. With this grant we will pilot Litter Critter workshops and buy supplies. So far the response to Litter Critters is amazing. People love the idea, love supporting cleaner beaches, and LOVE to make art out of trash.

New York City, NY – Alliance for Girls in STEM

2015-07-24T00:00:00Z

We are a publisher of picture books that show girls as the main characters in stories with science, technology, engineering, and math themes. Our target audience is girls from 4-9 years old, with an emphasis on girls from underrepresented minority groups. By creating a series of children’s books that follow their characters’ interests in astronomy, robotics, marine life, and a host of other topics, we can present STEM subjects to girls as viable career goals and options in an entertaining way. Further, by drawing girls of different ethnicities as the main characters in different series, we can show a wide audience of girls someone who looks like them and who takes an interest in science and the world around them. We therefore will use picture book stories to model the kind of world we want our girls to live in, the world of the future where tech is as natural and necessary as the air we breathe. Why We Think This is Awesome AwesomeNYC loves this project because it is a unique approach to tackling the challenges of getting women involved in science and technology, it comes from a place of true passion for change, and the project is just getting kicked off and we're happy to be able to help push it along. Says Sean, "I volunteered for a coding program with mostly 8th graders, and one of the students said "I've never read a story where a girl built something before." That's why I'm doing this."

Miami, FL – WHEELS: Tactical Urbanism Neighborhood Greenway

2015-07-23T00:00:00Z

WHEELS is a project of The East Coast Greenway Alliance, Green Mobility Network/Bike SoMi, the City of South Miami, and many dedicated volunteers, with the goal on getting more people taking bike with transit trips for transportation and recreation on the week of Nov 11-15, 2015. The Awesome Foundation can help! One small but very important project is the tactical urban implementation of South Miami's 58th Avenue Neighborhood Greenway, which runs the entire north-south length of the city. The idea is that people can use 58th Avenue, a green, local street to bike and connect to transit. 58th Avenue connects to our our downtown, the South Miami Metrorail, the Underline, local schools, the community center, and parks and neighborhoods. See http://www.citylab.com/design/2012/03/guide-tactical-urbanism/1387/ and also,http://www.southmiamifl.gov/documentcenter/view/1118

Tallahassee, FL (Non-active) – Teens & the Law

2015-07-23T00:00:00Z

In 2014 I hosted the first Teens & the Law Event at Rickards because I was concerned about the increase in altercations between youth and law enforcement. This was a very sensitive issue for me because many of my classmates were fearful of the police. Because I had participated in the TPD TAC camp my views of the police was different from my peers. Our parents taught my sister and me to be PROACTIVE and NOT REACTIVE. I also didn't want to lose a friend because they didn't know how to react if they were stopped by the police. I thought that if they learned first hand from law enforcement why they stop people, what happens if you are stopped, how to respond to law enforcement if you are stopped, what NOT to do, how you converse with law enforcement during a stop and what the officers are thinking and feeling when they make a stop- that this might PREVENT PROBLEMS for students and officers. I asked my classmates what they thought about the idea and many thought that we couldn't get them to come out and talk to us. I spoke with my Principal and SGA Sponsor and asked if we could host the event for the Sophomore class. When I got their approval, I spoke with the City and NOBLE and they agreed to participate in the event. Because nothing like this had ever been hosted at Rickards or any local high school, we did not know what to expect. It was AWESOME! The students hung on every word, the officers were honest and open with student questions, the videos were informative and we ALL left the event with a different view about law enforcement. We even had students take advantage of the ride-along opportunities with the different departments and are seriously considering a career in law enforcement. All from one event! We received a lot of positive feedback about the event but we were limited to hosting the workshop for Sophomores only. What impact could we make in Tallahassee if all students got this information? The James S. Rickards Student Body Cabinet will use all Awesome Project funds to host a series of Teens & the Law events for James S. Rickards and students from Godby, Lincoln, Leon and Chiles high schools. I have already received commitments from TPD, FAMU and FSU police departments, FDLE, ATF and NOBLE to be trainers and speakers for the event at no charge.

Amsterdam (Non-active) – THE Bike

2015-07-23T00:00:00Z

Imagine one bike, fitted with a GoPro (or other camera) and GPS tracker. It is given to a random person who may use it. When he or she is done using it, it must be given to a next person to use. Then when he or she is done the same repeats. This continues, night and day. What will happen to the bike? Where will it go? Who will use it? All these questions will be answered.

Minas Gerais (Non-active) – FA.VELA

2015-07-22T00:00:00Z

O FA.VELA tem como objetivo principal criar oportunidades para o desenvolvimento do capital humano, intelectual e econômico em comunidades inseridas em situação de vulnerabilidade social é a principal missão do FA.VELA, organização sem fins lucrativos que nasceu, no ano de 2014, como uma alternativa para fomentar e acelerar a transformação social dos moradores de comunidade de baixa renda, nossa primeira intervenção é no Morro do Papagaio. A organização é liderada por 10 jovens empreendedores sociais e atua por meio de quatro projetos principais: PIPA – Programa de Intervenção Participativa em Aglomerados, FA.VELA JAM, FALA FA.VELA e FA.VELA ESCOLA. Fazendo uma alusão ao nome FA.VELA, queremos ser uma espécie de vela que impulsionará a real inclusão socioeconômica de indivíduos que desejam transformar a sua vida. Nosso objetivo é estimular uma conscientização em prol dessa mudança social e gerar condições para que essas pessoas coloquem em prática as suas ideias e objetivos.

Newmarket – Back to School Back Packs

2015-07-22T00:00:00Z

Every year our clients sign-up to receive a Back to School Backpack from Women's Centre of York Region. Each new backpack is age and gender relevant and contains (at a bare minimum) a reusable water bottle, a lunch kit, school supplies and a gift card to purchase additional school supplies needed. In 2014, 97 back-to-school backpacks were provided to clients to ensure their children (and they themselves if returning to school) have the necessary supplies to participate in school. Our goal - age and gender appropriate backpacks, water bottles and lunch kits for every applicant who expresses the need. We want to ensure families are equipped with these supplies so they can focus on other life necessities. We also want to encourage parents to provide healthy meals and water to their children to increase their energy and participation in school. By providing the supplies we encourage parents to think about and use them. This program is offered to low income families in York Region who are current clients of the Centre, participating in at least one of our programs (Making Changes Life Skills, Financial Empowerment, Counselling etc.) More than 40% of our clients are low income households and 22% report they are single mothers with dependents under the age of 18. In 2014 we served over 863 women at the Centre and our need continues to grow.

Bend, OR (Non-active) – Save the Monarchs!

2015-07-22T00:00:00Z

Monarch butterflies are one of the most beautiful, interesting, and endangered animals in the world. They pass through our region every year, which means we have a great opportunity to help them survive by planting the native milkweed their lives depend on. Our project has two components. First, we'll work with Bend's community gardens (there are 11) to build raised beds and plant native milkweed and other blooming plants. We'll also create signage to educate people about milkweed, monarchs, and other native pollinators. Second, we'll host a public presentation by a local monarch expert who will educate people about monarchs and explain how to plant them in our own gardens. Interesting facts about monarchs: • Their population has dropped 90% since the 1990s. • They weigh about as much as a paperclip but migrate thousands of miles over several generations. • Milkweed plantings have successfully aided monarchs in areas including Madras, Clarno (along the John Day River), Medford, Portland and between Prineville and Terrebonne.

Gloucester, MA – Colorful Characters of Gloucester's Early Days

2015-07-21T00:00:00Z

Colorful Characters of Gloucester’s Early Days is the name of a book targeted for young people who wish to learn about Gloucester’s history through a collection of its most colorful characters dating from 1600 – 1900. Based upon an original collection of dramatic monologues researched and developed for performance back in 2009, Dr. DiPrima will adapt these historical monologues into autobiographical sketches for juvenile readers. This book will feature over twenty historical characters ranging from Sachem Masconomet to the early explorers and settlers of Gloucester, to the religious leaders, the inhabitants of Dogtown, the schooner fishermen, merchants, writers, artists, scholars and eccentrics of this vibrant community. It is a work intended for illustration and publication. Completed copies will be placed in each of the public school libraries, the archives of the Sawyer Free Library and the Cape Ann Museum. I will approach each of the teachers (grade 4, 5, 6 & 8) who cover the history of Gloucester as part of their social studies curriculum in order to effectively disseminate the book among all students.

Alaska (Non-active) – Mobile Mending Vardo

2015-07-21T00:00:00Z

I used to run the Mobile Mending booth at the Spenard Farmer's Market in Anchorage. I brought my sewing machine, fabric, notions and thread to the market and set up a tent where people could bring me items in need of repair. I hemmed pants, patched holes, fixed zippers, sewed on buttons, closed up seams, and tucked in frayed edges. It was a remarkably successful enterprise in a way. Though I was mobile, in the sense that I moved my little mending tent to and from the market, I wanted to be even more mobile, capable of traveling around in a little cart or trailer. And I also didn't like setting up and working in weather that often was cold, windy and rainy. I wanted to be both mobile and warm. So... I am building a little vardo (a Romani or gypsy wagon) on a small 5' x 8' trailer. It is sort of like a little camper, with a bed, fold-down table, shelves and a tiny kitchen - but way more romantic. (Google images of 'vardo' to see what I mean!) Part of the reason for building the vardo is so I can set up a little mending station and be truly mobile. I have a hand-crank sewing machine for places with no electricity, but will also incorporate electrical outlets and wiring so I can plug the vardo in to power my trusty 1964 Singer sewing machine. I plan to visit places around the state, and let folks know in advance that I will take in their mending. Once I'm in a community, I will offer workshops, meet people, listen to their stories, and mend their worn and loved textiles.

Ann Arbor, MI – The Washtenaw ID Project

2015-07-20T00:00:00Z

Imagine life without an ID. Jane is unable to make a doctor's appointment or fill a prescription because she does not have a proper ID. Sean recently had an interview for a job, it was going well until his potential employer asked for ID and the one he could produce is with the name and image of Emily, who no longer fits his gender identity/expression. John, a permanently disabled man in his 50's, receives Supplemental Social Security Income, but has no photo ID. When John's government checks come in, he has to ask someone to drive him to a distant storefront where for a 20% fee, he can get his check cashed. These vignettes are confronted by actual people. In Washtenaw County, there are approximately 38,000 undocumented individuals facing barriers like the stories above. Without an ID, folks not only have difficulty opening bank accounts, getting a library card, filling prescriptions, or signing a lease, but they are also afraid to participate in public events, speak out on political issues and approach government bodies. In response to this social injustice, in 2012, service agencies, community advocates and public officials formed the Washtenaw ID Project Task Force to organize the creation of a program that would offer government-issued photo ID to all residents regardless of immigration status, housing status, gender identity or other identifier. In November 2014, the County ID Program passed and will roll out in May 2015; it will be the first county-government issued ID card in the country and the first local ID card program in the Midwest. Now the ID Task Force's focus must shift towards leading an outreach campaign to raise awareness and provide support to those in need of the Washtenaw ID. Synod Community Services has established an ID Support Clinic to raise a needs-based scholarship fund for those who could otherwise not afford an ID; provide technical support navigating the card requirements; and hold public education events to inform the public.

Ann Arbor, MI – Festival of the Honey Bee

2015-07-20T00:00:00Z

Festival of the Honey Bee is a three day festival dedicated to celebrating honey bees. It takes place in Ypsilanti, MI during the first weekend in September. Friday kicks off the weekend with a city-wide art show and live music, presented in partnership with First Fridays Ypsilanti. Saturday, we hold educational events for children and adults at the Ypsilanti District Library, and on Sunday: Bike2Bees, an urban hive bike tour, and the Bee Bazaar vendor fair round out the festival. The festival started in 2013, as an effort to raise awareness about honey bees and create a space for appreciation and creative expression about bees. People love the festival, and it has been very successful, all while run on a shoestring budget, personal funds, and with huge thanks to community partnerships and through tens of hours donated by volunteers. Getting investment from the community would allow us to take the festival to the next level, stop funding it with personal funds, start to build a festival bank account, and share the celebration and appreciation of bees with more people in our community.

Ann Arbor, MI – The CivCity Initiative: Pre-Election Potlucks

2015-07-20T00:00:00Z

The CivCity Initiative is a new nonprofit focused on increasing awareness of how local government works and motivating residents to participate in civic life. We intend to saturate the community with opportunities to get educated, informed and engaged – from formal events like workshops & classroom projects, to more whimsical outreach like puppet show re-enactments of city council highlights or "Puppies at the Polls." One project we're developing is the Pre-Election Potluck. It works like this: A host invites 10-12 people – neighbors, friends or co-workers – to their home for a potluck dinner. At least 2 weeks prior to the potluck, each guest is assigned to do research on one local candidate or ballot proposal, so that all local candidates and ballot proposals are covered. At the potluck, everyone shares the info they've gathered & the group discusses the local ballot. It's a way to get educated by crowdsourcing the work on local election issues and sharing it in an informal social setting. We'll be piloting a few of these this summer prior to the Aug. 4 primary. The goal is to develop a how-to kit this year that describes how to organize a Pre-Election Potluck, as well as a short video to show what it's like to participate. The video will be used to recruit dozens – hundreds! – of hosts in 2016, when there will be significantly more items on the local ballots.

Pittsburgh, PA – Poetry Houses

2015-07-20T00:00:00Z

As you are walking through the city, on your way to work or lunch or an evening out with friends, you see a tiny wooden box on a mailbox post titled "Poetry House." Behind a plexiglass door are four postcard-sized poems, free for the taking. When you check back in a couple weeks, the old poems are gone and new poems have popped up in their place. Soon, you can't wait until the next re-up of your local Poetry House. This is the vision behind the Poetry Houses public art project. Our plans are to build and install four Poetry Houses around the city of Pittsburgh. Every two weeks, for a year, a brand new batch of four poems will arrive like magic in the Poetry Houses. Each of those batches will include: a local poet, a local teen poet, a teen poet from anywhere in the world, and an adult poet from anywhere in the world. The Poetry Houses have an online component, too. On a time delay, we will publish images of each poem postcard released through the public houses so anyone in the world can access the poetry, not just people in Pittsburgh. The motivating factor behind the Poetry Houses is to make poetry fun and accessible. When we say accessible, we mean both intellectually accessible and physically accessible. Poetry these days has a reputation for being impossible to understand and meaningless for everyday life-locked away in an ivory tower. We want to show people that poems can be anything, from strange and mystifying on through to simple and sweet. The poems we choose for the houses, then, will tend toward the narrative and the humorous as opposed to the experimental and fractured. And by installing Poetry Houses alongside sidewalks and other places with good foot traffic, we are physically making poetry a part of people's everyday lives.