tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:/fr/projects?page=7 2026-01-08T04:18:15Z tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/426794 2025-12-31T00:00:00Z 2026-01-08T04:18:15Z We are an active organization started in 1954 in Ontario to preserve and promote the traditional Canadian style of square and couple dancing. All our board members are volunteers and all our callers are volunteers. We all enjoy being physically active by dancing; no dancing experience necessary, just a desire to move and have fun! Square dancing in the past was a male/female couples' activities. It has evolved to include dancing by position left or right rather than by male or female gender. Square dance moves can be done to any style of music and many dances/classes are a mix of traditional fiddle tunes and modern pop music. We have classes at community and seniors' centres throughout Ontario. Many of our square dance callers are senior citizens; the Awesome Foundation funding will be used to pay fees to Caller Lab to train our younger callers, covering travel costs of younger callers to attend Caller Lab training sessions and purchasing training materials for younger callers to use. This will give incentives to younger callers to join or to enhance their skills. From time to time, funds permitting a token honorarium is given to a caller. Marion Barker, Treasurer, Canadian Old Tyme Square Dancing Association Training newer square dance callers https://sca.uwaterloo.ca/cotsdca/1Activities.html Canada Toronto https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/toronto tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/401348 2025-12-23T00:00:00Z 2025-12-24T10:32:24Z 1 - Գյումրու 10 դպրոցների 100 երեխաներ գալիս են Միտ կրթական կենտրոն։ 2 - Կրթական կենտրոնում մի քանի օրվա ընթացքում սովորում են սավառնակ պատրաստել։ 3 - Իրենց պատրաստած սավառնակնորով մրցում են միմյանց դեմ։ 4 - Վերջում՝ ամենագեղեցիկ սավառնակներ պատրաստած երեխաները հնարավորություն կունենան մասնակցելու քաղաքի զարդարմանը՝ իրենց աշխատանքները կախելով քաղաքի տարբեր փողոցներում։ «Միտ» կրթական կենտրոն Սավառնիր երկնքում https://www.facebook.com/share/1HfBPo4DR7/ Armenia Yerevan https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/yerevan tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/396368 2025-12-18T00:00:00Z 2025-12-19T02:12:31Z We are three members of the Cemeteries Advisory Committee and have all been involved, over the last three years in providing public tours and information about the people who lived here during the Revolution. From that has grown the idea that we would like to make further use of all the information we've discovered and connect to the schools to help our students realize that this period was one of lively activity here and that traces of those people and time can be found today. We all feel that these ephemeral projects are innately interesting and, having done all the work and research to support the presentations, sharing this information, connected to activities and resources for school students that utilize the historical and accessible sites in Gloucester, would be a positive and more lasting application of our work. Cindi Williams, Melissa Hobbs, Carol Kelly We Were There United States Gloucester, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/gloucester tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/404358 2025-12-17T00:00:00Z 2025-12-18T20:37:31Z SitStayRead is Chicago's sole literacy organization leveraging the power of the human-canine bond to motivate emergent readers in kindergarten through second grade to develop a passion for reading that will lead them to become proficient, curious, and enthusiastic readers. SitStayRead advances children's literacy and builds confidence in young readers with its engaging, evidence-based curricula which incorporate social-emotional learning. Classroom residencies and family literacy events are enriched by individual and small group interaction with trained volunteer Book Buddies and Certified Reading Assistance Dog Teams. SitStayRead is a no-cost vendor for Chicago Public Schools, and also serves the Chicago Public Library, charter and parochial schools, and community organizations in our prioritized communities. More than 90% of our students live in low-income households, and attend schools where 60% of third-graders, according to the ISBE’s annual report, score below the national average in reading; in low-income CPS schools the 2024-25 average was only 21% proficiency. In 2024-25 SitStayRead dramatically increased its reach, serving more than 1,800 emerging readers, upon reentering Chicago Public Schools after a 4.5 year hiatus, and establishing a new, ongoing partnership with the Chicago Public LIbrary’s Children's Services and Family Engagement. Programs are delivered by a lean staff of 3.5, a growing cohort of seasonal contracted Program Leads, and a rapidly expanding corps of trained, volunteer Book Buddies and Certified Reading Dog Teams. Funding from the FDC Foundation will support our work in the 2025-26 school year, as we aim to reach 2,000 students and distribute more than 7,500 new books. In the fall of 2025, SSR has served more than twice as many classrooms and library branches as in the same period last year, due to a new organizational structure that includes seasonal Program Leads during the academic year, and a growing volunteer corps. This grant allows us to hire an additional Program Lead, ideally bilingual, so we can move a 2nd grade classroom on Chicago's west or south side off the growing no-cost residency waitlist list in early 2026. Supporting current or recent graduate students from the same neighborhoods we serve pursuing work in the education, social work, and mental health sectors is a secondary goal for this strategy of scaling. We receive each child as they come to us, building on their assets to move forward in their journey with language. Deirdre Harrison Canine-assisted literacy programs: CPS K-2nd Grade https://www.sitstayread.org/ United States Chicago, IL https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/chicago tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/403680 2025-12-15T00:00:00Z 2026-03-11T19:51:43Z The YVAC Education Fund is a youth-and student-led collective of artists, organizers, and mutual aid practitioners who gather year-round to listen deeply, meet basic needs, and create platforms for young people and their families to design their own solutions to the social issues they face. They are relaunching the Neighbor2Neighbor Initiative in Pittsburgh, a mobile mutual aid and food distribution project that brings free groceries, essentials, and care directly into neighborhoods across the county. Music, art, and youth creativity draw residents together during a pop up-event, while mutual aid ensures everyone leaves with what they need to thrive. This model strengthens neighborhood trust, supports youth leadership, and sparks collective problem-solving. Each pop-up event also creates safe, joyful spaces where youth, families, and neighbors connect through music, art, and community engagement. This model strengthens local networks, supports youth leadership, encourages neighborhood collaboration, and ensures residents can meet basic needs while building collective power and resilience. Davonte Johnson YVAC Education United States Pittsburgh, PA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/pittsburgh tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/387454 2025-12-15T00:00:00Z 2025-12-13T23:33:52Z Imagine facing homelessness while trying to finish high school. Matthew’s Voice Project stands beside these students every step of the way. Partnering with school social workers, we provide the essentials — rides, clothing, support — that help them stay in school and graduate. Because every diploma is more than a piece of paper; it’s a pathway to stability and hope. These students truly are the real MVPs. Calli Adamson Bakken Matthew's Voice Project http://matthewsvoiceproject.com United States Cass Clay https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/cassclay tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/381381 2025-12-15T00:00:00Z 2025-12-16T01:18:02Z Foster youth in Los Angeles often enter the system due to circumstances beyond their control—neglect, abuse, and abandonment. These youth face significant barriers, including mental health struggles, low high school graduation rates, and high interaction with the juvenile justice system and homelessness. “A Greater Me” is a 9-week empowerment program designed by Urban Uplift, Inc. to provide foster and underserved male youth age 14-21 with life-changing access to mentorship, professional development, and practical life skills. In 2025, our pilot program enrolled 40 youth and graduated 20 with overwhelmingly positive feedback. In 2026, we aim to expand this impact. The program integrates wellness education and access to healthy food through our expanding community garden, where youth learn to cultivate, harvest, and prepare nutritious produce as part of their personal growth. Our Project Aims, Goals & Community Involvement: “A Greater Me” aims to break the cycle of poverty, isolation, and disenfranchisement by equipping foster youth with the tools, connections, and confidence they need to thrive. Our 9-week program will take place from January 3 to February 28, 2026, and will include: • Workshops led by volunteer professionals: life coaches, HR executives, lawyers, DCFS social workers, healthcare workers, accountants, etc. • Gardening & Wellness Education: participants learn to grow vegetables —Workshops address food scarcity and teach youth how sustainable gardening can provide affordable, healthy meals for their families. • Vocational career exposure in barbering, plumbing, electrical work, construction, and other trades. • Job and college readiness include career panels and presentations from community colleges and the armed forces. • Life skills education: entrepreneurship, creative writing, etiquette, law enforcement protocol, and financial literacy. • Personal development: self-care, mental health, &civic engagement. • Peer mentorship, hot meals & clothing. Aixa Moran A Greater Me Foster Youth Program http://www.agmprogram.org United States Los Angeles, CA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/los-angeles tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/410851 2025-12-15T00:00:00Z 2025-12-16T19:44:12Z I am hoping to host a family night for the families of the students in my ELL (English Language Learners/Multi-language Learners) classes at DGF. I would like to host BINGO, serve food, have games, invite community organizations to share their resources, collaborative art, and more. This event would be solely for the families of the students who are enrolled in the ELL program at DGF. This is about 25 students, but the total people invited would be over 70. Many of the students that I serve have large families, but not all of their siblings are in ELL. My plan is to have the students very involved in the planning process and use it as a way to teach new vocabulary, concepts, and skills. I am hoping to host the event on a Saturday when we can have the best turn out. I know that many of the parents work night shifts, so a weeknight evening might not be the most accessible. I intend to reach out to parents for their input and availability as well. Hannah Griffin DGF ELL Family Night http://N/A United States Cass Clay https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/cassclay tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/393529 2025-12-11T00:00:00Z 2025-12-11T15:19:07Z The Great Lakes Plover Project (GLPP) is a Michigan-based nonprofit dedicated to protecting, restoring, and educating the public about the federally endangered Great Lakes population of the Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus). Through habitat stewardship, volunteer engagement, community education, and collaborative research partnerships, GLPP works to safeguard nesting sites, reduce human disturbance, expand public awareness, and cultivate the next generation of conservation leaders across the Great Lakes region. GLPP’s efforts are grounded in science-based management, community collaboration, and a deep commitment to sustaining the long-term recovery of this iconic shorebird. The Great Lakes Piping Plover is one of the most endangered bird populations in North America. With only 70–80 breeding pairs across the entire Great Lakes shoreline in a typical year, the population remains vulnerable to: Habitat degradation and shoreline development Human disturbance during nesting season Off-leash dogs and recreation-related nest loss Predation pressure from increasing predator populations Storm damage and climate-related shoreline change Lack of public awareness around beach-nesting birds Although recovery efforts have made significant progress, long-term protection will require expanded stewardship, education, and monitoring throughout the Great Lakes basin. Many beaches still lack trained volunteers, local outreach, or protection measures. GLPP fills this gap by providing community-based conservation, volunteer coordination, youth engagement, and on-the-ground support where agencies and park units cannot meet rising needs alone. The Board of Directors includes individuals with expertise in conservation, nonprofit leadership, community outreach, education, and financial stewardship. GLPP has a dedicated cadre of volunteers to support the mission and vision of the non profit, bringing a myriad of personal and professional experiences to the organization. Erica Adams Great Lakes Plover Project United States Ann Arbor, MI https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/ann-arbor tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/406793 2025-12-11T00:00:00Z 2025-12-16T22:37:08Z Breaking the Silence is an initiative by African Professionals of Australia (APA) designed to address mental-health stigma among men of African heritage living and working in Sydney. In many African communities, mental health remains a “taboo subject” often seen as a weakness or something to be hidden. As a result, too many men suffer in silence, especially the working demographic aged 25-45 years old. Research indicates that young African Australians face a dramatically higher risk of serious mental-health issues: an article published by University of Melbourne pointed out that “African Australian migrants are at ten times higher risk of experiencing mental health issues compared to the general population” (University of Melbourne, 2023). Additional research shows African migrant men under-utilise formal mental-health services due to stigma, cultural beliefs, and structural barriers (Flinders University, 2021). The event aims to create a safe and culturally sensitive space where men from diverse African backgrounds living and working in Sydney can come together, open up about mental health, and explore real solutions. The event will invite partners from NSW Health and other multicultural communities to build connections and link the participants to resources they can access at any time. By fostering conversation, sharing resources and building connection, we aim to normalise discussions around mental wellbeing and empower men from CALD backgrounds to seek support when they need it. Event Overview Date: Second week of March 2026 Venue: Sydney CBD Time: 6pm-8pm Format: The event will be facilitated by Dr Xavier Mulenga, a qualified mental-health expert, and a panel of community leaders with lived and professional experience. Target Audience: Open to all multicultural communities and targeting men from an African heritage living and working in Sydney Expected Guests: 40-50 Tendai Mbirimi Breaking The Silence: Tackling Men’s Mental Health http://www.apaau.com Australia Sydney https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/sydney tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/394354 2025-12-11T00:00:00Z 2025-12-12T16:47:38Z Our awesome project is the L.E.A.D. Special Education Caregiver Empowerment Series and is dedicated to transforming special education parents from overwhelmed observers into confident, knowledgeable advocates for their children. Special education law is complex, often feeling like an impenetrable fortress of acronyms and legal jargon. This complexity creates a significant barrier, leaving dedicated caregivers feeling isolated, stressed, and disempowered during critical educational meetings. When parents aren't fully equipped, their child’s educational plan often falls short. We dismantle this barrier by translating complicated legal requirements into accessible, easy-to-understand workshops and creating a vital support community. Caregiver Workshops: These are practical, hands-on sessions where we focus on core advocacy skills: breaking down the mechanics of IEPs and 504s, teaching parents how to write effective, measurable S.M.A.R.T. Goals, and ensuring they understand the legal requirements for services like Extended School Year. Casual Caregiver Nights: We recognize that advocacy is exhausting. These informal nights promote community, connection, and peer support, forging a much-needed "village" where parents can share experiences and reduce feelings of isolation. Every single workshop from the in-depth IEP Binder Night to the casual community meetups is offered 100% FREE of charge and hosted both in-person and virtually. This removes financial, geographic, and transportation barriers, ensuring access for all families who need it most. This is a good place to add that we provide accommodations as needed to remove further barriers. We don't just teach theory; we provide practical tools that lead directly to better educational outcomes for children with special needs. Informed parents result in stronger IEPs, and stronger IEPs result in better educational progress. Gina Greenawalt Caregiver Empowerment Series http://www.discover-lead.com United States Cleveland, OH https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/cleveland tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/367963 2025-12-11T00:00:00Z 2025-12-12T16:48:12Z Twice a month at W. 55th and Storer in Cleveland, We Think 4 a Change activates more than a food bank—it ignites a movement. Rooted in our mission to empower people living with HIV to lead, advocate, and thrive, this program is a living testament to what happens when equity, innovation, and community converge. WT4AC’s Food Bank delivery isn’t just about distributing groceries—it’s about redistributing power. Clients living with HIV aren’t just recipients; they’re leaders. Through stipended service roles, they guide logistics, welcome neighbors, prepare meals, and share knowledge. Their lived experience shapes every detail, from the layout of the tables to the tone of the conversations. It’s peer-led, dignity-driven, and radically effective. At each delivery, fresh produce, shelf-stable essentials, and culturally relevant ingredients are offered with care. But when neighbors hesitate to take unfamiliar items—like zucchini—WT4AC leans into creativity. We cook it. We serve it. We share the recipe. The zucchini noodle soup? A runaway hit. Light, nourishing, and full of flavor, it became a symbol of transformation: turning uncertainty into delight, and unfamiliarity into empowerment. This culinary curiosity is matched by strategic outreach. HIV prevention resources, leadership development opportunities, and health equity messaging are seamlessly integrated into the flow. Flyers, QR codes, and warm conversations spark new possibilities—whether it’s linking someone to care, inviting them into advocacy, or simply reminding them they matter. At W. 55th and Storer, twice a month, WT4AC proves that food justice is more than access—it’s agency. It’s what happens when a community refuses invisibility and builds power through every shared meal, every new recipe, every act of care. This is mutual aid reimagined. This is We Think 4 a Change. Michelle Jackson Rollins Feeding our Neighbors http://wethink4achange.com United States Cleveland, OH https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/cleveland tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/364856 2025-12-11T00:00:00Z 2025-12-12T16:48:59Z Bows4breastcancer makes and sells dog bows and girl bows at gamers markets. The sale of each bow funds one wellness kit for a breast cancer patient undergoing treatment. This organization started when my grandma was diagnosed with Breast Cancer she was given a brochure prior to her double mastectomy of what to buy post surgery and have on hand ready during treatment. The essential items included lotion, chapstick, wipes and losengers. They are placed in canvas bag that can be taken to treatments and reused. My grandma taught me how to make the bows and although I struggled at first making them since I’m not too crafty I eventually got the hang out making them. To this date I have made so many bows and have sold 200 bows. The sales of those made 200 wellness kits and have been delivered all through out Cleveland to clinics, gathering place, villlage project and peoples porches. My goal is to have 500 made and delivered by December. Emerson Krauss Bows4breastcancer https://www.instagram.com/bows4breastcancer?igsh=ZWloZ2o3aGFlMGF1&utm_source=qr United States Cleveland, OH https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/cleveland tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/410620 2025-12-11T00:00:00Z 2025-12-14T22:50:14Z For families who have lost a baby, moments of connection and remembrance mean everything. In 2026 Olive & Kin will run two sets of creative workshops for bereaved parents in collaboration with Red Nose. Red Nose is helping with the organisation and arranging venues but their community engagement budget is very small so they are unable to contribute financially. One set of workshops will guide families to hand build and glaze a candle vessel. The other will guide them to make a mug. Each project runs over three sessions. The first two sessions focus on shaping and painting/decorating. The final session is about connection, ritual and meaning. For the candle workshops we will gather together and light our candles as part of the global Wave of Light. A local social enterprise has generously offered to pour and refill 12 candles at no cost to families. For the mug workshops the final session will be led by a breathwork and mindfulness facilitator. Parents will drink tea or cacao from the vessels they created for their babies and will have space to breathe, share some light refreshments and be held by community that understands. We already have a small amount of partial funding from a Northern Beaches Council grant but we need some extra support so that we do not have to rely on donations that would usually go toward our free ceramic urns. These workshops offer connection, healing, a sense of belonging and a creative outlet! We expect to support 24 families and we know there is strong demand as our recent Christmas workshops filled quickly and many parents told us how meaningful the experience was. Hannah Fitzpatrick Rituals of Remembrance Workshops 2026 http://www.oliveandkin.com.au Australia Sydney https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/sydney tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/366632 2025-12-11T00:00:00Z 2025-12-17T17:59:30Z Congratulations to our December 2025 Awesome grantee Tapan Sharma. He will provide ACT/SAT Prep classes for Saint Paul students this Spring. According to Mr. Sharma, “As a teacher and tutor for over 20 years, I've helped students at high-poverty schools around the country do well on the ACT and SAT to make college an option, first through MasteryPrep, who hired me to teach 40+ Exam Prep Boot Camps all over the U.S., with groups of 2-100+ in everything from a band room without desks where I improvised with music stands to a classroom without any lights where I improvised by not minding. “Then, I started teaching on my own through Wellspring Education, where I am now building success through my solo classes at Eden Prairie High School and Edina High School. In terms of accessibility, however, I want to go further, and farther: I want to teach a free one-day ACT and SAT class open to St. Paul high school students, up to 36 students, 12 from each of Central High School, Humboldt High School, and Harding High School in Spring 2026, allowing the schools to choose by nomination or lottery based on interest. I will reserve a room at a Saint Paul Public Library on a Saturday and deliver my 6-hour course to give students a boost on their exam, whichever they decide to take. “The class will be delivered no later than May 2026, since the last Spring test dates are June 6 (SAT) and June 13 (ACT).” Tapan Sharma ACT & SAT Exam Accessibility in St. Paul http://wellspringforward.com United States St. Paul, MN https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/stpaul tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/407782 2025-12-11T00:00:00Z 2025-12-17T18:12:46Z We are so pleased to fund an experience for St. Paul 8th grade students to attend a social justice lecture featuring Justice Alan Page. Teacher Jamie Williams says, “I am a teacher-facilitator of Dare 2 Be Real at Capitol Hill Middle School in St. Paul. Dare 2 Be Real is a student-led anti-racist group comprised of 23 culturally diverse 8th graders. Their mission is "to do our best to eliminate racism and discrimination within our school and community through educating ourselves and our peers." “These students are social justice leaders in our school community and have a unique opportunity to see social justice pioneer, Justice Alan Page speak at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota on February 13, 2026. “Students would take a field trip to Carleton to hear Justice Page. Afterward, we will meet in a conference room so students can debrief and reflect on what they heard and learned. Students will be prompted to consider ways to apply what they've learned to our school community and beyond. “Additionally, while on campus, they will get an opportunity to tour the facilities and have lunch in the dining hall. Hopefully sparking an interest in post-secondary education!” Jamie Williams Medium-Sized Social Justice Leaders to Hear Page! United States St. Paul, MN https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/stpaul tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/369311 2025-12-10T00:00:00Z 2026-01-14T21:00:24Z The project, "Scaling VP Designs with Curated Discovery Bundles," will establish our new product line, VP Curated Discovery Bundles, and build the necessary e-commerce infrastructure to scale VP Designs from a local Westminster maker into a thriving regional and national wholesale brand. The VP Curated Discovery Bundle is a high-quality, themed book and gift package designed to promote literacy and the joy of discovery. Similar to "Blind Date with a Book" products, each book is wrapped and decorated, paired with small, curated gifts that enhance the reading experience. To stand out among similar product lines, the Bundles are designed for all ages, including age-appropriate items that complement the book. For example, a kid's picture book like The Velveteen Rabbit would include crayons, stickers, art kits, and an activity book. This activity book, made up of rabbit-themed coloring pages, drawing and writing prompts, will encourage the young reader to engage with the story beyond its pages. Thoughtful Sustainability is a key pillar of VP Designs as my original products were made by upcycling old book pages and thrifted items found primarily in Carroll County-based stores. These bundles feature gently used and pre-loved books, thus reducing waste and giving excellent literature a second life. We will soft-launch the bundles through Kelly + Co on Westminster's East Main Street in late October/early-November with future plans to expand into bulk options for parties, corporate gifts, and book clubs. This initiative will also help fill a growing need in our community for fun, literacy-focused products. Virginia Warner Scaling VP Designs with Curated Discovery Bundles http://www.vpdesignsco.com United States Westminster, MD https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/westminster tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/386603 2025-12-09T00:00:00Z 2025-12-09T21:27:11Z Raices y Carino is a cross-cultural family center on Freedom Boulevard in Watsonville. We provide an equitable, inclusive, and safe space for the community to gather and raise their children together. We focus on connecting diverse families, educators, and organizations to create cross-cultural connections and wellbeing for the whole family. When you visit the center, you see adults interacting with children across languages and cultures, sharing their lives in the most beautiful way. Our hope is that this foundation paves the way for future generations throughout the county to value a multicultural society. We've long held bilingual ceramics classes twice a year with attendees as young as 7 and as old as 70. Our ceramics instructor has dreamed of shifting from a pop-up type setup with folding tables and lots of loading/unloading to a dedicated space. After we received an eviction notice just last month, we found a different building by the Watsonville Airport that not only is a fabulous fit for our overall programs, but also has enough room that we can create a permanent makerspace and ceramics studio within the center. This grant will be used to complete a partition so the creative space can be separate from other activities at the center. This allows us to increase the frequency of our art and ceramics classes, and to offer multiple programs at once. Nora Yerena Ceramics studio space for Raices y Carino http://www.rcfam.com United States Santa Cruz, CA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/santacruz tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/415409 2025-12-09T00:00:00Z 2025-12-11T20:31:15Z We'll decide what to put here later. Kendra and Dante Puppet & clown art resistance United States San Francisco, CA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/sf tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/366699 2025-12-08T00:00:00Z 2025-12-09T02:56:17Z Organization Mission Radical Love Resource Center is a new nonprofit dedicated to serving unhoused individuals in Essex County. For the past seven years, we have operated entirely through grassroots outreach, providing meals, clothing, water, harm reduction supplies, nursing advocacy, case management, and assistance with critical needs such as detox placement, obtaining IDs, and securing birth certificates. Funds for housing applications. Transportation to appointments Purpose of Funding Request We are applying for the microgrant to establish and maintain the required minimum balance for a nonprofit business checking account. Opening this account is a vital step in our development as an organization, as it will allow us to: • Securely accept community donations • Apply for larger grants and funding opportunities • Provide transparent financial reporting • Build organizational sustainability Without this account, we are unable to accept donations formally or grow beyond individual contributions made informally. The initial $500 deposit to the account will unlock the infrastructure needed to manage funds responsibly and expand our impact in serving people experiencing homelessness. Impact By enabling us to open this account, your support will directly strengthen our ability to: • Continue weekly food and outreach services, which currently serve 20+ individuals each Sunday • Expand case management services to connect people with healthcare, detox, and housing • Increase our capacity to provide survival supplies such as water, clothing, and hygiene items This microgrant would not just be about opening a bank account it is about opening doors for the unhoused community to receive consistent, reliable, and compassionate support. Suzy Kirvan Radical love resource center United States Rockport, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/rockport tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/382883 2025-12-06T00:00:00Z 2025-12-13T19:10:37Z In the heart of the District of Columbia, multilingual learners and students with disabilities often face overlapping barriers to success—language access, cultural isolation, and disciplinary disparities. This project proposes the creation of 'Multilingual Peace Circles,' an innovative program that merges bilingual instruction (CLIL), social-emotional learning, and restorative justice practices to foster inclusion and engagement across DC Public Schools. Through Peace Circles, students will explore empathy, kindness, and cooperation while building bilingual vocabulary and confidence. The initiative will take place in three diverse DCPS schools, selected to represent the linguistic and cultural diversity of the city. Each participating classroom will receive a bilingual 'Peace & Language Kit,' materials for restorative circles, and teacher training to implement inclusive bilingual lessons that promote peace and understanding. By combining restorative justice and bilingual education, this project addresses multiple DC priorities: improving multilingual instruction, reducing disciplinary disparities, and promoting cultural inclusion. Results will include improved classroom climate, stronger family engagement, and a scalable toolkit that can be shared districtwide. Rafael Guillermo Pizarro Multilingual Peace Circles United States Washington, DC https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/dc tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/364324 2025-12-05T00:00:00Z 2025-12-05T15:14:17Z Solving climate change is not a financial or technology problem that needs to be solved, it's a people problem. Millions of people want to use their job to fight climate change, but that pathway to do so is incredibly confusing and exclusive. Roles, skills, networks are all unclear and feel inaccessible for someone that wants to work on climate. OpenDoorClimate is a project to make climate career networking more accessible for everyone. It is a grassroots movement of active climate professionals that are making themselves publicly available to chat with anyone interested in working on climate issues. We are trying to help people overcome the top barrier to getting a climate job: lack of network or connections in the climate career space. And we're doing that with the most simple solution, by finding time to talk - human-to-human. What started as a simple hashtag on a LInkedIn post, has grown into a global movement of thousands of climate professionals implementing an open door policies, and holding over 50,000 chats with people interested in climate work. Conversations have led to jobs, companies being started, and even friendships forming. We need more people working on climate and we, as climate professionals, can help with just a short chat. Daniel Hill OpenDoorClimate https://www.opendoorclimate.com/ Worldwide Conservation and Climate https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/conservationandclimate tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/369755 2025-12-04T00:00:00Z 2025-12-05T13:41:00Z Ես ուզում եմ ստեղծել «Կարդա և Վերադարձրու» փոքր գրքապահարանների ցանց քաղաքի տարբեր հատվածներում։ Իմ նպատակն է ոչ միայն խթանել ընթերցանությունը, այլ նաև զարգացնել վստահություն և փոխանակման մշակույթ համայնքում։ Յուրաքանչյուր պահարան կլինի գեղեցիկ, յուրահատուկ ձևավորված և տեղադրված այնպիսի վայրերում, որտեղ մարդիկ հաճախ են լինում՝ դպրոցներ, ուսումնական կենտրոններ, հանրային տարածքներ։ Ինձ համար կարևոր է, որ մարդիկ տեսնեն՝ գրքերով կիսվելը ոչ միայն օգտակար է անձնական զարգացման համար, այլ նաև միավորում է մարդկանց և դարձնում համայնքը ավելի ակտիվ և կենդանի։ Յուրաքանչյուր պահարան կստանա տեսանելի ուղերձ՝ «Կարդա և Վերադարձրու», որպեսզի մարդիկ գիտեն՝ կարող են վերցնել գիրք, կարդալ և վերադարձնել կամ փոխանակել ուրիշով։ Ես պլանավորում եմ ներգրավել տեղական երիտասարդներ և արհեստավորներ, որպեսզի ստեղծվեն ոչ միայն գրապահարաններ, այլ նաև համայնքային արվեստի գործեր, որոնք կլրացնեն քաղաքային միջավայրը և կծնեն ստեղծագործական հետաքրքրություն։ Այս նախաձեռնությունը կմիավորի մարդկանց՝ հարմարավետ և բնական միջավայրում, որտեղ նրանք կարող են գտնել նոր գիտելիքներ, զրուցել և փոխանակվել գաղափարներով։ Ես հավատում եմ, որ փոքր ներդրում՝ գեղեցիկ և տեսանելի նախագծի վրա, կարող է ունենալ մեծ ազդեցություն։ Այս նախագծով ես ցանկանում եմ խթանել ընթերցանությունը, կապեր ստեղծել մարդկանց միջև և ոգեշնչել երիտասարդներին ավելի ակտիվ, հետաքրքրասեր և պատասխանատու լինել համայնքի հանդեպ։ SARKIS SHAHINYAN Read & Return – Փոքր գրքապահարաններ համայնքի համար Armenia Javakhk https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/javakhk tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/366706 2025-12-03T00:00:00Z 2025-12-05T06:45:40Z Lotus ASOCSA was created as a safe, compassionate, and non-judgmental sanctuary where survivors of trauma are met with empathy, understanding, and hope. Our mission is to break the silence surrounding trauma, reduce the stigma that often isolates survivors, and ensure that no woman ever feels she must carry her pain alone. Currently, our region lacks after-hours support groups, leaving many survivors to face their most vulnerable moments in isolation. This gap in care creates an urgent need for accessible, ongoing support — without which the consequences can be deeply damaging. Lotus ASOCSA addresses this critical need through peer-led support groups that provide survivors with a welcoming space to share their experiences, be heard, and begin the healing process alongside others who truly understand their journey. For many participants, these groups are not just a form of support — they are a vital lifeline. To continue this essential work, we are seeking funding to provide stationery and journals to our participants. These materials empower survivors to find their voice, express their feelings, and engage more deeply with the healing process. Your support will also help amplify awareness about the urgent need for after-hours trauma support services, reaching women who may still be suffering quietly and unaware that help exists. With your help, Lotus ASOCSA can continue to offer hope, healing, and connection to those who need it most — ensuring no woman has to face trauma alone. Jillian Rae Lotus Asocsa http://lotusasocsa.org.au Australia Lower Hunter https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/lowerhunter tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/366874 2025-12-03T00:00:00Z 2025-12-04T10:37:53Z We are seeking funding to support our weekly Glasgow Drop-In, a vital community space for local Care Experienced people aged 16 and over. For many of our members, growing up in care has led to experiences of isolation, stigma, and disconnection that often continue into adulthood. The Glasgow Drop-In directly addresses this by creating a safe, welcoming place where people can come together in a shared positive identity, build friendships, and feel a true sense of belonging. It is not only a social group, but also a hub of opportunity, where members can take part in well-being activities, explore creative interests, and connect to other Who Cares? Scotland membership offers. Now running for over two years, the Drop-In takes place every Thursday evening at our National Office in Glasgow. Each week, members can enjoy games, group activities, food, and conversation, alongside occasional special trips to the theatre, cinema, or theme parks. Crucially, one of our Lifelong Advocates is always present. This means the Drop-In is not only fun and social, but also a safe place to seek advice, raise concerns, and access rights-based support that many otherwise struggle to find. The impact is clear. In a recent survey, 94% of members said the Drop-In had helped them develop relationships that matter to them, and that it made them feel good about themselves. The words of participants speak volumes: “It’s the first time in my life where I have been made to feel welcome and part of something.” “Thursdays are my favourite day of the week, because I get to see you lot.” “I’ve met new people and reconnected with old friends.” “I feel safe and happy when I’m there.” “I attend because it helps my mental health, I feel people listen to me when I'm here and it's safe, and cause the staff understand me" The Glasgow Drop-In is more than a weekly meet-up. It is a lifeline of connection, joy, and belonging for Care Experienced people, helping them to thrive, not just survive. Andy Robin Glasgow Drop-In https://www.whocaresscotland.org/get-support/join-a-group/ United Kingdom Glasgow https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/glasgow tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/384090 2025-12-03T00:00:00Z 2025-12-04T21:48:51Z My project is mainly about repairing the broken and worn-down instruments that have been neglected in the band storage room of GMHS (Georgetown Middle High School). There are many instruments in there that have been collecting dust and many of them are non-functional anymore. There is also the opportunity for families in Georgetown to bring their own personal instruments for repair as well. As a Boy Scout and someone who also loves music, I saw this as an opportunity in order to repair the broken instruments in the band room. A part of this project will be working with volunteers in order to perform minor dent removal and cleanups, while others will include hiring the help of professionals to perform major repairs. I plan on also hosting music events in order to raise additional money as repairing these instruments are not cheap. Leyang Zhang Royals Music Project https://royalsmusicproject.weebly.com/ United States Georgetown, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/georgetown tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/343233 2025-12-03T00:00:00Z 2025-12-04T21:48:28Z Art & Soul - The Creative Club & Homework Hub is a result of my passion for teaching, working with kids, and doing my part to facilitate meaningful growth for the kids of our community. I am a licensed teacher whose dream is to bring new opportunities to Georgetown and the surrounding area. Sports are fantastic and our kids participate on town teams, but we also need a space where kids can problem solve, design, build, create, make mistakes, rebuild, communicate, work with a team, and ultimately, everything in between! I want to create a place where kids are excited to be afterschool or while on break. A place that offers clubs for any of the following: Arts and Crafting, STEM, Board Games, Legos, Creative Writing, Book Clubs, or Volunteering/Charity Work. I also envision Art & Soul being the spot where kids want to come to do their homework, work on projects, get some guidance, or be challenged and enriched by a licensed teacher and even more importantly, by a community member who deeply values giving kids a place to safely take risks. For photos and videos please visit - Facebook: Art & Soul - The Creative Club & Homework Hub Kristen Nicholson Art & Soul - The Creative Club & Homework Hub https://artandsoulcreativeclub.com/ United States Georgetown, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/georgetown tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/403993 2025-12-02T00:00:00Z 2025-12-03T00:34:28Z The Lineage & Legacy Recording Experience™ (LLRE) is a culturally grounded storytelling and archival project rooted in Black oral tradition, music, ancestral reverence, and communal memory. LLRE creates immersive spaces where Black people can remember, reflect, and record the stories that make us who we are, including: • Studio Experiences — intimate, guided recording sessions where participants respond to music and memory prompts and leave with audio keepsakes. • Remembering Walls — interactive installations at community events where people reflect, honor their ancestors, and name the stories that shaped them. • Lineage & Legacy Rememberings™ Deck — a 54-card companion deck with music cues, memory prompts, playful moments, and youth-friendly cards used to spark storytelling in families and community gatherings. • Activations & Pop-Ups — place-based storytelling moments Across these touchpoints, Lineage & Legacy protects Black stories that are often forgotten, unrecorded, or held quietly within families. It ensures our voices are remembered with care, joy, and dignity. Earlier this year, we captured over a dozen powerful recordings from Black women founders, mothers, grandmothers, and daughters. They shared stories about lineage, maternal inheritance, entrepreneurship, joy, survival, and the songs that shaped us. With this grant, I will transform those recordings into the Lineage & Legacy Album, a mixtape-meets-audio-documentary that blends storytelling, music cues, interludes, and sound design. The album will reflect how Black women in Baltimore are showing up in a socio-political climate working against us—and doing so with brilliance, tenderness, and intergenerational strength. This project will also bring closure to early 2025 Lineage & Legacy activations and culminate in a community Listening Party in February/March 2026. Brittany Janay Lineage & Legacy Recording Experience https://www.lovingaccountability.com/lineageandlegacy United States Baltimore, MD https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/baltimore tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/389731 2025-11-30T00:00:00Z 2025-11-15T00:58:49Z Skkm orang asli church 21st anniversary fundraising dinner Goh ming hun Skkm orang asli church 21st anniversary dinner Malaysia Kuala Lumpur https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/kualalumpur tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/378315 2025-11-30T00:00:00Z 2025-12-02T02:19:35Z I’m creating Resonances on the Water, a participatory sound and poetry performance along the St. Lawrence River in Montréal. The project invites audiences to listen to and reflect on the river’s shifting soundscape—its natural rhythms, industrial echoes, and human stories—through a series of short performances and recordings that blend clarinet, spoken word, and field sound. Each performance transforms a public riverside space into a listening site. Audiences will be given small audio recorders or QR access to short sound pieces that merge archival river sounds, poetry, and live music. The goal is to reawaken our connection to water not just as a resource, but as a living presence with memory and voice. The project will culminate in a one-day outdoor event with invited musicians and writers, followed by the release of a short digital EP featuring recordings made along the river. It combines artistic expression, environmental awareness, and community participation, creating a shared experience that resonates beyond the performance itself. By reimagining the St. Lawrence as an instrument and storyteller, Resonances on the Water encourages audiences to listen deeply—to sound, to the environment, and to one another. Kristine Dizon Resonances on the Water Worldwide On the Water https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/onthewater tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/370042 2025-11-30T00:00:00Z 2025-12-29T19:20:17Z November’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to [Allan André] (http://allanandre.com) to support public, co-created art. “[opncnvs] (https://www.opncnvs.ca/) is building a public art studio where anyone can create, connect, and explore the creative mindstate,” says Allan. “So far, we’ve hosted activations at Nuit Blanche, Geary Art Crawl, and Future Block Vanier, as well as pop-ups at Grounded Kitchen and Drip House.” “Our next project,” he continues, “is a month-long creative exhibition where every canvas begins blank and evolves through public participation. Each label will feature a title prompt, and participants will sign their names as co-creators. The works will grow over time, then be auctioned to raise funds for our first permanent public studio.” “Rooted in Ottawa’s creative community,” says Allan, “opncnvs believes every blank canvas is an invitation to connect, create, and reimagine what art can be together.” Allan is a multi-disciplinary artist known for his murals and live painting. He is also a founding member of the Ottawa Black Art Collective. Allan opncnvs pop up http://www.opncnvs.ca Canada Ottawa https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/ottawa tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/399240 2025-11-30T00:00:00Z 2025-12-17T08:21:05Z This project is a community initiative that delivers food parcels to people using cargo bikes instead of cars or vans. Many people who need support cannot get to a walk-in foodbank because of mobility issues, health problems, vulnerability, or lack of transport. To make sure no one goes without help, volunteers cycle around Liverpool delivering food directly to people’s doors. The volunteers use large cargo bikes with storage boxes on the front, allowing them to carry heavy and bulky food parcels safely. They deliver weekly across areas such as L4, L5, and L7. This helps people who are isolated, unwell, or unable to travel, and it means they still receive food support throughout the year. An important part of the project is its focus on the environment. By choosing bikes instead of motor vehicles, the team reduces pollution, saves fuel, and cuts down carbon emissions in the city. Cargo bikes are a green and sustainable way to travel, and they also help volunteers stay active. Because the bikes cost less to run than vans, more money can go into supporting the people who need help. The project also aims to show how cycling can be part of the solution for cleaner, healthier cities. Volunteers hope that more foodbanks will start using cargo bikes in the future to reduce car usage and make local deliveries more eco-friendly. Many of the people receiving deliveries cannot leave their homes because of physical health, mental health, or other challenges. For them, having food brought directly to their door makes a huge difference. Alongside food parcels, the organisation also offers other support such as low-cost food options, computer access, and signposting to additional services. Overall, this project shows the power of combining community care with sustainable transport. By delivering food on bikes, volunteers are supporting vulnerable people, protecting the environment, and building stronger neighbourhoods. Aisha Habumuremyi Ride to Norish http://col8.org United Kingdom Liverpool (Non-active) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/liverpool tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/383065 2025-11-30T00:00:00Z 2025-12-01T16:12:17Z Our Mission Disability Community for Democracy, Inc. is a peer-run disability grassroots organization in the United States dedicated to preserving, protecting, and defending liberal democracy and our civil rights, no matter who is in power at the local, state, and federal levels. Our Vision Disability Community for Democracy, Inc. is committed to ensuring that disabled Americans, who comprise close to 30% of the population, are seen, heard, included, elevated, and given a seat at the table. In addition, we aim towards proportionate representation in politics, government, society, and other spheres. **What our grantee is saying:** Disability Community for Democracy, Inc. celebrated its inaugural anniversary on December 2nd. Following the 2024 election cycle, I knew that the Current Occupant of the White House and his co-conspirators posed a threat to the disability community. This realization motivated the establishment of Disability Community for Democracy, Inc., to emphasize safeguarding the rights of individuals within the disability community and to offer a platform for political engagement rooted in intersectional disability liberation. As the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Disability Community for Democracy, Inc., I am aware that our efforts over the past year have been impactful, especially given our status as a new organization; however, receiving this grant signifies the recognition of our impact. The Awesome Disability Award represents the inaugural grant awarded to Disability Community for Democracy, Inc. This financial support will amplify our civic engagement initiatives by enhancing our messaging and refining our website. Nieta Greene Disability Community for Democracy, Inc. https://linktr.ee/dcdinc12 Worldwide Disability https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/disability tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/367848 2025-11-30T00:00:00Z 2025-12-01T16:48:39Z We are excited to support the Foster Bike Park as our November grant recipient! Foster Bike Park, located next to Yankee Stadium on [164th St in The Bronx](https://maps.app.goo.gl/Zy9Y2HuVhDNCH8Rm7), is a former ice skating rink that has been home to the BMX community since 1988. With generations of riders coming through the park the space is a staple of BMX in NYC and beyond. Brendan Vail writes: _"The DIY wooden course constantly changes and we are excited to be making some much needed repairs to the park through the cold months to keep things running smoothly into the spring._ _"We provide helmets everyday and give out new and refurbished bikes to kids in the community regularly as well as hosting a number of annual events to bring riders from all over the northeast and beyond out to hang and ride."_ This AwesomeNYC grant will help keep Foster Bike Park in working order before their big renovation which is scheduled to begin at the end of 2026. [Follow the park on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/fosterbikepark/) to keep up on our the free events that they host through the year Brendan Vail Fix Up Foster Bike Park https://www.instagram.com/fosterbikepark/ United States New York City, NY https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/nyc tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/370297 2025-11-30T00:00:00Z 2025-12-05T03:03:04Z Electric Neon Clock is a multidisciplinary performance and installation based on a 119-page WWII Canadian government custodial file that details the forced displacement, dispossession, and surveillance of my Japanese Canadian family. While my past work has explored the lives of strangers through found objects and media, this project pivots inward—to archival materials that belonged to my own family, offering a deeply personal entry point into a collective history. Presented as a fictional auction, Electric Neon Clock transforms dry bureaucratic records into a living, participatory experience. The gallery becomes an imagined auction house, where audience members, seated as remote bidders, listen through telephones receivers to story fragments, bidding instructions, and surprising asides. A voiceover and original musical score layer in historical context and emotional tone, while projections, performance, and archival materials (including family photos and 16mm film footage) bring each “lot” to life. Each item in the Kobayashi family inventory, once seized by the government, is used as a narrative anchor to explore migration, memory, and the complexities of value. What is the worth of a children’s harmonica or a fishing boat, when seen through the lens of forced uprooting? Who gets to assign meaning to personal history? This immersive and sometimes humorous work invites audiences to grapple with the bureaucratic coldness of state surveillance and the warm, fragile details of lived experience. It's a meditation on how we inherit trauma, how we keep stories alive, and how art can transform loss into connection. Currently in development, Electric Neon Clock will premiere as a solo exhibition at the Art Gallery of Mississauga located in the GTA in Summer and Fall of 2026. A.S.M. Kobayashi Electric Neon Clock https://www.asmk.ca/WP/performance/electric-neon-clock/ Canada Toronto https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/toronto tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/410785 2025-11-30T00:00:00Z 2025-12-17T08:21:16Z At The Croissant of Inequality, our community café in Kensington, we run a much-loved weekly Special Needs Karaoke session every Wednesday daytime. It has quickly become one of the happiest parts of our week, a safe, joyful space where adults with disabilities, additional learning needs, and mental health challenges can sing, socialise, build confidence, and feel celebrated. We want to expand and enhance this project so it can reach even more people and offer a truly awesome experience. Many of our regulars face significant isolation and rarely have opportunities to take part in fun, accessible activities. Karaoke might seem simple, but for our group it is transformative: it encourages communication, supports emotional expression, builds friendships, and gives people a chance to shine in a community that fully embraces them. We’re applying for £500 to create “The Croissant karaoke Club”, an improved version of our Wednesday sessions with: Better equipment (microphones, props) A small PA upgrade to make vocals clearer for those with hearing difficulties Lyric sheets in accessible formats Themed weeks to spark imagination (Disney, musicals, 80s classics, etc.) Refreshments so everyone feels welcomed and included Every penny will directly enhance the experience for participants Kensington is one of Liverpool’s most deprived areas, and this project offers a rare opportunity for people with additional needs to participate in something fun, expressive, and confidence-building. The café is already a trusted environment, meaning those who would struggle in mainstream settings feel safe enough to join in. This project is imaginative, unusual, and deeply joyful. It takes our already-loved karaoke sessions and turns them into a supportive, confidence-boosting weekly event that brings energy, laughter, and belonging to people who need it most. Sue Burke The Croissant of Inequality http://www.l-c-r.co.uk United Kingdom Liverpool (Non-active) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/liverpool tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/388414 2025-11-30T00:00:00Z 2025-12-17T08:20:54Z A Space For Us is a 3-step process identifying how to make cultural spaces in the Liverpool City Region more accessible and welcoming for people with disabilities. Disabled-led Tip Tray Theatre, in collaboration with 20 Stories High, Knowsley Council, Sefton Council & Culture Liverpool will map spaces, create 3 case studies & an artistic response with local disabled artists and evaluate & circulate our findings to the sector in order to establish positive and lasting sector change for venues, artists and audiences. The arts sector continues to exclude disabled people—both as audiences and as artists. 100% of our team identify as disabled and neurodiverse. 37.5% of our participants identify as disabled. 38.5% identify as neurodiverse. 71% come from working-class backgrounds. Barriers We Encounter Daily -Lack of accessible facilities and transport. -Limited or non-existent BSL, audio description, or relaxed performances. -Underrepresentation of disabled people on stage and in staff teams. -Unsafe or unwelcoming environments, often caused by lack of awareness or poor communication. By placing disabled voices at the centre of consultancy, creative practice, and evaluation, we can shift the cultural sector from exclusion to belonging. This isn’t just about access—it’s about reshaping the cultural landscape to reflect society more honestly, more fully and more creatively. Our research and maps will be released publicly, alongside the artistic responses. This vital research will create resources that will be available to all, providing disabled people with maps that can be used to improve their experience at cultural venues, and information for venues to improve access. “This was the most accessible workshop I’ve ever been to. Fidget toys, clear communication, quiet space, everything thought of. It showed me what the arts could look like if disabled people were truly centred.” –Participant at a Tip Tray Theatre movement workshop 2025 Maisy Gordon A Space For Us http://tiptraytheatre.com United Kingdom Liverpool (Non-active) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/liverpool tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/373632 2025-11-28T00:00:00Z 2025-11-28T15:27:51Z Aunty's House is a community art studio and program space inclusive of all youth, which includes having dedicated zones for youth. Much of their programming is centered on facilitating parent-artists and visitors bringing their kiddos to the space. In order to make this more efficient, AFRI is supporting Aunty's House with funds for the production of moveable walls. The walls will create areas that give kids a sense of independence whilst being close to the adults. The walls will be fabricated by a mom and "wicked amazing carpenter." Lilly Manycolors Aunty's House: Building Walls / Making Space http://www.auntyshousestudio.org United States Rhode Island https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/rhodeisland tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/367154 2025-11-27T00:00:00Z 2025-11-27T20:36:58Z Մեր նպատակն է վերափոխել Գյումրիի հասարակական պատերը՝ տեղադրել կեռամիկական գորգեր (ceramic tile murals)՝ համայնքի մշակութային և էսթետիկ արժեքները լուսաբանելու համար։ Յուրաքանչյուր գորգը կլինի ձեռագործ, տեղական կեռամիկ ձեռագործարանների պատրաստած, օգտագործվելու են գույներ և դիզայններ, որոնք արտացոլում են Գյումրու պատմությունը, մշակույթը, ինքնությունը։ Այս կեռամիկական գորգերը ոչ միայն կդառնալ քաղաքային զբոսաշրջության նոր տեսարժանություն, այլև կիրականացնեն համայնքային հպարտություն, ներգրավվածություն՝ երիտասարդների, արվեստի ուսուցիչների, կամավորների։ Վաղարշակ Ասատրյան Գյումրու պատերի գունավոր կյանքը https://www.instagram.com/chamur_gyumri?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MW11cnRiNW5zMDFpcw== Armenia Yerevan https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/yerevan tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/370373 2025-11-27T00:00:00Z 2025-11-27T20:37:25Z Functional Juggling is a creative initiative that uses the art of juggling as a tool for inclusion, coordination, and emotional expression. Through workshops and performances in schools, community centers, and NGOs, we introduce juggling as a fun and accessible way to improve focus, balance, and teamwork — while inspiring joy and curiosity. In Armenia, a country still facing isolation and the effects of displacement, Functional Juggling offers a space for connection and empowerment. Participants learn not just tricks, but confidence and resilience — discovering that mistakes are part of the play, and success comes through rhythm and collaboration. The project aims to deep the work already done with different institutions, where we have worked in 2025, with children and adults with disabilities (Unison NGO; Mayri), and elders (Mission Armenia). Here are some useful links to understand the power of this work: https://hetq.am/en/article/172498 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA2AfJGnVv8 https://youtu.be/KyvsRSRFSR4?si=4C06tgWPIgEY4uM4 Juggling transforms the way we think about learning, failure, and collaboration. It’s playful yet deeply human — an art form that brings people together across borders, languages, and abilities. In Armenia, where opportunities for creative and inclusive education are limited, this project opens new ways to move, think, and connect. It also engages teachers and social workers, introducing them to new educational and therapeutic tools. Functional Juggling in Armenia is more than a workshop — it’s a movement for joy, resilience, and inclusion through circus arts. With your help, we can create more tools for engaging people with differrent mental and physical barriers, such as the Juggling Board, sensory props (beanbags, pois, etc), stilts, and others. We believe that your support can bring a lot of possibilities for Functional Juggling to get more visibility and importance inside Armenia, where it's still an unknown technique for many. Ezequiel Guiragossian Functional Juggling in Armenia https://www.instagram.com/circo.fractal/ Armenia Yerevan https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/yerevan tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/369619 2025-11-25T00:00:00Z 2025-11-26T03:18:19Z Altgeld Gardens, a historic Chicago Housing Authority community on the city’s far South Side, is home to generations of families who have faced systemic disinvestment, limited resources, and barriers to opportunities. Many residents experience economic hardship and food insecurity, and the community has few safe, family-friendly holiday activities. Light Up the Season was created to change that; to bring joy, unity, and pride back to Altgeld during one of the most meaningful times of the year. This annual celebration transforms the neighborhood into a bright, welcoming winter wonderland. Volunteers from across the city come together with residents to decorate 15–20 lamp posts along 130th Street and throughout the Gardens, surrounding the community’s 30-foot holiday tree. The result is a neighborhood-wide display that brings warmth and light to an area that too often goes overlooked. Beyond the decorations, Light Up the Season offers something even more special;connection! Families gather to enjoy hot cocoa, music, and photos with Santa. Children receive free toys and warm coats, ensuring they not only feel the spirit of the holidays but also have what they need to stay safe and comfortable through winter. A festive photo backdrop invites neighbors to capture memories and celebrate their community together. The project’s goals are simple but powerful: Beautify Altgeld Gardens with festive lights and decorations that inspire pride and positivity. Bring joy to local families by providing toys, coats, and refreshments at no cost. Engage volunteers in meaningful service that fosters connection and community ownership. Increase visibility of Altgeld Gardens through local media and social coverage that highlights the community’s resilience and unity. With support from this microgrant, Light Up the Season will continue to grow; spreading holiday cheer, strengthening neighborhood bonds, and reminding residents that they are seen, valued, and celebrated. Ricardo Waddy Light Up the Season Tree Lighting Celebration https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/mentoring-groups-bring-holiday-spirit-to-the-south-side/ United States Chicago, IL https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/chicago tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/392734 2025-11-24T00:00:00Z 2025-12-01T02:33:28Z At River Montessori High School, a micro-school that offers replicable, mixed-income, Montessori education, our downtown campus shares a large greenspace with First Presbyterian Church on Colfax Avenue—open patches of land are not so rare in the heart of downtown South Bend, where much of the grand architecture of our once-booming city center has been lost. Every day, this unassuming lot transforms into a hub of student life: a lunch spot, a volleyball court, a place for aikido practice and archery drills, a field for casual football, and an outdoor classroom where students breathe, move, and connect. We see so much potential in this space. We envision a living hedge—a native plant border that transforms this open lawn into a defined and beautiful outdoor sanctuary. This hedge would serve multiple purposes: offering visual privacy, reducing street noise, supporting pollinators, and decreasing the weekly burden of mowing. It’s a small ecological shift with a big ripple effect. Our students are eager to help design, plant, and tend the hedge as a project that blends science, sustainability, and stewardship. The church supports the idea, and the broader community would greatly benefit from the beautification of this space. This project is also part of something bigger. South Bend is experiencing a meaningful resurgence—from its post-industrial slump to now, South Bend has become a city known for startups, the arts, and vibrant public spaces. With each passing year, the downtown corridor becomes more walkable, more inviting, more alive. As the lights come back on downtown, we want to add to the beauty. A thoughtfully planted native hedge along Colfax contributes to our city’s momentum—a living symbol of how beauty, ecology, and education can work together to transform a block, a community, and a city. A native hedge isn’t flashy, but it IS awesome: it’s low-maintenance, high-impact, and entirely rooted in South Bend’s growth-centered spirit. Kira Bragg RMHS Greenspace Beautification https://rivermontessorihs.org/ United States South Bend, IN https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/southbend tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/392407 2025-11-24T00:00:00Z 2025-12-01T02:34:24Z Safe and I just purchase Cushing Manor, a second empire home in the historic Washington District that used to be an award winning bed and breakfast. For the past decade, it was neglected and needs a lot of work. Our goal is to fully renovate this home to make it shine once again. We will fully rebrand the business and have decided on the name Brickhaven Inn Bed & Breakfast. We are excited to immerse ourselves into the community and be part of the current effort to rebuild South Bend. Amanda and Safe Brewer Renovating South Bend’s Newest Bed & Breakfast https://www.brickhaveninn.com/ United States South Bend, IN https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/southbend tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/380563 2025-11-24T00:00:00Z 2026-03-08T22:51:58Z This project In the spring of 2022, Jackie Wilda and I began work to establish a free-standing community free fridge (or "freedge") in the Near Northwest Neighborhood with the goal of addressing food insecurity, minimizing waste, and building community through the sharing of resources. We were able to launch this project in the spring of 2023 through the generosity of an Awesome Foundation grant and the gifts of time, ideas, and resources from our neighbors. Now, two years later, we've made great progress on those goals with the help of many volunteers and partnerships with Cultivate Food Rescue and Sunchoke Farms. Team member Ben Lerman has made this project truly sustainable by working with volunteers to coordinate pickups from Cultivate five days/week. Molly Moon has contributed deep knowledge of food systems and fundraising through her work with the Purple Porch and Unity Gardens. Together, we distribute hundreds of pounds of food per week by placing it in an outdoor fridge and a set of cabinets (both housed in a protective shed) that is open at all hours. This resource differs from some food banks and pantries in that there is no need to "prove" need in order to access it and it the people who use it can go at their own convenience. We would like to expand these efforts by adding an upright community freezer and a shed redesigned with accessibility in mind. In fact we already have the plans because a group of architecture students from Notre Dame designed them for us during a collaboration on MLK day in 2024. Adding a freezer would allow us to share a larger quantity of food each week and meet greater need, especially in the wake of cuts to government safety net programs. A redesigned shed would continue to protect the fridge/freezer from theft, while also making it easier for anyone with mobility challenges to use the cabinets. We love knowing that our neighbors both contribute to and benefit from this resource. Tara Smithson Neighbors Nourishing Neighbors http://feedafriendsouthbend.com United States South Bend, IN https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/southbend tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/365456 2025-11-21T00:00:00Z 2026-07-22T02:10:21Z The Indigenous Justice Coalition (IJC) is a youth-led 501(c)(3) network (EIN: 33-4292786) that partners with Indigenous nations to advance advocacy, environmental justice, and civic engagement. In the Bay Area alone, we’ve built 12 active chapters with over 300 members who lead educational workshops, advocacy projects, and service initiatives. The IJC is focused on supporting the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe—the Indigenous people of this land whose federal recognition was wrongfully stripped in 1927. We see it as our responsibility as San Jose students and community members to amplify their voices, which have been oppressed for centuries. The IJC operates on three interconnected fronts: legislative affairs, finance, and education. Through legislative advocacy, we’ve secured 90+ letters of support for federal recognition from elected officials and even traveled to Washington D.C. to advocate directly in Congress. On the finance side, we co-authored successful proposals including a $500,000 California Air Resources Board grant and a $10,000 Indian Land Tenure Foundation grant for the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, while partnering with 13 organizations to pursue over $537,500 in 8 additional pending grants. On the education and service front, we’ve hosted 21+ public events about the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe: from marching in the Rose, White & Blue Parade, to organizing a Bellarmine College Preparatory school assembly that reached 1,800 students, to leading environmental workshops of 150+ attendees each and hosting a booth at the Stanford Powwow that engaged with 30,000 people. Our vision is to make San Jose a place where Indigenous history is honored, youth are empowered, and communities come together to celebrate and serve the voices of those too often erased. With Awesome Foundation San Jose’s support, our organization will expand educational workshops and community service projects that involve thousands of students to amplify Indigenous voices. Aaron J He Indigenous Justice Coalition http://indigenousjusticecoalition.com United States San Jose, CA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/sanjose tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/366342 2025-11-20T00:00:00Z 2025-11-21T02:50:56Z The second-floor girls' bathroom is by far the most used as well as the most in need of some TLC. Which is why I've been working on a complete renovation and re-painting of it. With a garden mural around the mirrors/chalk wall, Elegant and uplifting patterns on the majority of the walls, and a much more appealing color palette than hospital white. The aforementioned chalk wall is a big point of controversy because of the vandalism, but I say that the girls should not only have the opportunity to make their own mark, but also write lovely, uplifting things. It being a chalk wall that eliminates the issue of harmful and upsetting vandalism. Helping leave the school a little better and a little prettier than when I first came would be such a wonderful opportunity. And with this money, I can make this vision a reality and then some. Marliese Bowers Girls bathroom renovation. United States Gloucester, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/gloucester tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/369422 2025-11-20T00:00:00Z 2025-11-22T00:06:22Z Homelessness in Kingston continues to grow, and with it the number of people struggling to meet even their most basic needs. As of September 2025, Kingston’s by name list recorded 600 people actively experiencing homelessness. Behind that number are hundreds of individuals doing their best to survive without access to clean water, bathrooms/showers and laundry. At Trellis HIV & Community Care, we see how something as simple as clean clothing can change how a person feels about themselves and how others see them. For those living outdoors or in unstable housing, being able to wash their clothing affects more than their appearance. It touches health, dignity and belonging. When clothing is dirty or damp for long periods, it can lead to skin irritation and infections, worsen existing health conditions, and create barriers to accessing work, housing and health care. It can also contribute to social isolation and the kinds of stigma that keep people from seeking help. The Laundry Project was created to respond to this very gap. With support from Awesome Kingston, trellis plans to purchase second hand laundry machines, and establish a low-barrier laundry space for people experiencing homelessness and poverty in Kingston. It is a small, practical step towards restoring the dignity and health of those who are often forgotten. This project grew out of ongoing research being conducted through St Lawrence College. My applied thesis “Laundry access, personal hygiene and health outcomes: Impacts on the quality of life for people experiencing homelessness in KFL&A”, examines how access to laundry and hygiene services influences well-being. While formal data is currently being collected, early observations and community discussions point to a clear truth: without access to laundry people lose far more than cleanliness, they lose confidence, connection and a sense of self worth. Kingston currently has one laundry option for this population, however the hours are limited and by lavinia the laundry project Canada Kingston https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/kingston-on tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/368089 2025-11-20T00:00:00Z 2025-11-21T02:48:46Z For the third year in a row, Together Gloucester is leading Operation Keep Gloucester Warm, a community-wide effort to collect and distribute winter coats, boots, and snow gear to local children, families, and individuals in need — all for free. Last year, we distributed more than 400 new and gently used coats, along with boots, hats, mittens, and snow pants to our neighbors, young and old, housed and unhoused. With rising costs and cold New England winters, too many of our neighbors face the season without proper protection from the cold. This year, we’re expanding our reach with more collection sites, local business partners, and volunteers. We’re working with schools, churches, city departments, and neighborhood organizations to make donating easy and to ensure every coat finds a new home. The event culminates in a joyful community distribution day on Saturday, December 6 at Trinity Church, where families can select the items they need in a warm, welcoming environment. Operation Keep Gloucester Warm reflects what makes our city so special — neighbors looking out for neighbors. Every coat, every act of kindness, and every partnership helps keep Gloucester’s community spirit alive. Kristin Michel 3rd Annual Operation Keep Gloucester Warm https://www.facebook.com/TogetherGloucester United States Gloucester, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/gloucester tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/368932 2025-11-20T00:00:00Z 2026-01-04T00:29:07Z The problem: "Many species of pollinators are experiencing dramatic declines. Populations of native bees and other pollinators are threatened by climate change, pesticide exposure, habitat degradation and agricultural intensification, declining populations of native flowering plants, and introduced pathogens."- Audubon Pollinators provide pollination services to over 180,000 different plant species and more than 1200 crops. That means that 1 out of every three bites of food you eat is there because of pollinators. - The Pollinator Partnership With the dramatic decline of pollinators, more than 1,200 crops are also at risk of declining thereby decreasing the amount of food produced. Since most pollinators can only travel up to 5 miles (depending in the species), many towns throughout New England have created Pollinator Paths. These are patches of land at a school, along the highway, in parks, or in people's backyards where plants necessary for pollination are grown. Our neighboring town of Beverly, MA is an example (see Project website) of where a robust Pollinator Path has been implemented successfully. Currently, neither Hamilton nor Wenham have a Pollinator Path which means their pollination is limited in distance. I am therefore, applying for seed money (literally and figuratively) to add more Pollinator gardens in our two towns so that Beverly's bees, for example, have someplace to land in Hamilton or Wenham before pollinating again in another neighboring town with a Pollinator Path. My aim is to provide a link where there currently is none. Heather Ryan Hamilton Wenham Pollinator Path https://www.greenbeverly.org/garden#map United States Hamilton-Wenham, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/hamilton-wenham tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/366863 2025-11-19T00:00:00Z 2025-11-21T03:06:55Z The Newcastle CALD Tutoring Centre is a community-driven initiative designed to support young people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, especially refugees and migrants. Many of these students face significant barriers such as language challenges, disrupted schooling, and limited access to educational resources, which impact their academic performance and confidence. The centre will provide free English and Math tutoring sessions for high school students every Thursday, running weekly two-hour programs from February to November. These sessions will be led by qualified educators and trained volunteers who will provide individualised support to improve literacy, numeracy, and overall academic skills. Project Aims: Prepare students for their educational pathways by introducing them to different options for higher education and careers. Encourage refugee and migrant students to pursue education opportunities confidently and overcome barriers to participation. Provide mentoring to help students choose their future field of study and understand the steps needed to achieve their goals. Foster social inclusion and community connection by creating a culturally safe and supportive environment. Offer workshops for parents to better engage with their children’s education. By bridging these gaps, the Newcastle CALD Tutoring Centre will not only improve academic outcomes but also inspire a lifelong love of learning and ambition for future success. Ashraf Abdelbaky Newcastle CALD Tutoring Centre http://www.caldconnect.org.au Australia Lake Mac https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/lakemac tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/382437 2025-11-19T00:00:00Z 2025-11-07T06:43:50Z BGAM & PENGAMAN-PDRM CHARITY DRIVE TO PHUKET 2025 KL - IPOH - KANGAR - PHUKET - HATYAI - KL 19TH - 24TH NOVEMBER 2025 (6D5N) Empowering the next generation Every mile of this incredible adventure contributes directly to BGAM Tun Hanif Omar Education Fund & Pengaman-PDRM Autism Centre. Foo jong wee Charity drive to phuket https://forms.gle/r6ZkeGpwfoTPvbcL7 Malaysia Kuala Lumpur https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/kualalumpur tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/384186 2025-11-18T00:00:00Z 2025-11-19T03:36:40Z Swim Meet is a public art event series I began at my local indoor swimming pool at Matt Dishman Community Center in Northeast Portland last spring. The events are created collaboratively with local artists of the Dishman community I've met during my daily swims, and utilize social practice art methodologies to expand how the pool can be a site for play, creativity, and community-building. The project was started in response to the reduced play-based social programming at the Dishman pool due to citywide budget cuts following the pandemic. Using the appropriated language of the “swim meet,” or swim events where swimteams race one another, we’re interested in rethinking the idea of a Swim Meet to be a gathering space for fellow swimmers of all ages, identities, and abilities to find joy and intergenerational connection through unconventional pool parties. In this project so far we have hosted an underwater singing circle, a monthly Hot Tub Book Club where we discuss books about swimming while we soak, and a social club for Unsynchronized Swimmers. We’re seeking funding to continue our Swim Meet series so we can provide 5 additional public events from January - June 2026. The events will be informed by past Dishman favorites, like cardboard boat races in the pool, as well as introduce new artist-led programs like a poetry reading from the diving board, a disco splash mob with the Friday morning aqua aerobics class, and an attempt to set Portland's record for largest group cannonball. The Dishman pool is a compelling site for this project because it naturally brings many different kinds of people in the neighborhood together and encourages a culture of care, camaraderie, and curiosity. Because swimming pools have historically been a site of inaccessibility on the basis of race, religion, gender identity, sexuality, ability, and body type, we are interested in how Swim Meet might recenter the pool as a place of leisure, joy, and equity for all Dishman patrons. Clara Harlow Swim Meet United States Portland, OR https://www.awesomefoundation.org/fr/chapters/portland