Awesome Foundation - Projects

Utrecht – Swing & swim like Tarzan

2018-11-28T00:00:00Z

What's more fun on a warm summer day then slinging yourself high in to the air from a rope on a branch, somersault and then plunge down into the cool water, while your friends are cheering and egging you on from the sides? Not much, I'd say. So let's make it happen in Utrecht City. Some years ago I was in Vang Vieng, Laos, where the famous Tubing takes place. You taxi upstream, get in the river and let yourself drift downstream on a "tube" (inner tube from a very big tyre). Was is the gentle flowing that made it so much fun? Nope. It was the giant tarzan swings that the locals made everywhere alongside the river, to lure the tourists in. And luring they did. It wasn't just fun to do, it's also fun to watch. I think Utrecht can use a bit of mildly risky, hugely playful fun! Something not too pc, not too granny approved, but just great fun for anyone with a pair of proverbial balls. PS. Proverbial balls are 100% vegan, gluten-free and completely genderless. ;)

Minas Gerais (Non-active) – "Empodera ELA"

2018-11-28T00:00:00Z

O projeto Empodera ELA é idealizado pelo Instituto Ambiental Aondê, realizado no Instituto Municipal Antidrogas (IMAD) – Comunidade Terapêutica Feminina Casa Madre Tereza de Calcutá em Uberaba/MG. Este projeto tem como objetivo principal levar o empoderamento feminino às acolhidas por meio de palestras, cursos de capacitação e oficinas. O empoderamento feminino, basicamente, se refere a dar poder para outras mulheres e cada mulher assumir seu poder individual. Com isso, há crescimento e fortalecimento do papel de todas na sociedade. O projeto foi embasado no Objetivo do Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODS) 5 da Organização das Nações Unidas (ONU) e foi divido em 5 eixos temáticos: saber, capacitar, empreender, valorizar e engajar. O projeto se iniciou em agosto a dezembro de 2018, sendo que o mesmo será reformulado e voltará em janeiro de 2019. Devido à alta rotatividade das acolhidas, não foi possível mensurar com exatidão o número de beneficiadas pelo projeto, inicialmente o IMAD acolhia 23 mulheres, destas, 15 estavam em situação de rua antes de receber o acolhimento.

Leiden – Canal Cups #6

2018-11-28T00:00:00Z

Prachtig die Leidse grachtjes, maar jammer dat ze zo vol met plastic zitten. Weg met dat wegwerp, Canal Cups pleit voor herbruikbare bekers! Wij willen met de Canal Cups expo bewustwording creeëren en zorgen dat de gemeente overstag gaat naar eco bekers. In onze expositie kun je al onze gefotografeerde bekers bewonderen.

Aviano (Non-active) – Recycle - Repair - Restore - Refurbish

2018-11-28T00:00:00Z

We’re a group of craftspeople committed to restoring things, putting them back to use in society. We live in the Aviano area and plan to refurbish objects for residents here.

Boston, MA – Boston Women's Memorial Statue Fashion Show

2018-11-27T00:00:00Z

The Boston Women's Memorial was erected in October 2003. The memorial is located in the Commonwealth Avenue Mall park in the Boston's Back Bay Neighborhood. Artist Meredith Bergman sculpted three statues in the likenesses of Phillis Wheatley, Abigail Adams, and Lucy Stone. Typically fashion shows are noted for famed "catwalk" and movement of a often female figure. I would like to have a fashion show and invite others to (temporarily) add a meaningful piece of clothing to one (or all) of the statues featured in the Boston Women's Memorial. Fashion designers are also invited to create original pieces for Phyllis, Abby, and Lucy. They're great women but their style is admitted a little outdated! Participants will be photographed with the garbed statue(s) and asked a reply to a short questionnaire about their personal connection to the women and history represented by the Boston Women's Memorial. Additionally, this statue fashion show project will help raise winter coat donations (and awareness) for Boston citizens experiencing poverty and/or homelessness. New/gently-used outwear donations from this statue fashion show project will be donated to emergency shelters in Boston. I will personally contribute a dinosaur-related piece of clothing to the statues.

Utrecht – Puzzle the emptiness away

2018-11-27T00:00:00Z

Het Neudeplein ligt er buiten festivals om maar leeg en verlaten bij. Terwijl het zo'n mooie en centrale plek is! Dat maken we allemaal mee wanneer een leuk festival er staat, zoals Tweetakt of de winterse schaatsbaan. Voor de tijden dat er geen bijzondere evenementen plaatsvinden wil ik daarom iets bedenken voor op het plein dat ook weer makkelijk weg te halen is. Een enorme legpuzzel! Een grote puzzel met een Utrechts tafereel erop, of een gewaagd edgy tableau vivant. Iedere voorbijganger kan dan puzzelen op het Neudeplein, en als het weer tijd is voor Tweetakt of het NFF is het binnen een handomdraai opgeruimd. De puzzelstukken leggen we vast aan kabels, of we maken er een schuifpuzzel van, zodat er geen stukjes verdwijnen. Leuk voor iedereen!

Northern Virginia (NOVA) (Non-active) – (working title)LGBT Abuse Experiences

2018-11-27T00:00:00Z

I am working on a stop motion animated documentary discussing topics of abuse within the LGBT community and the running theme of secrecy enabling abusers. I have a rough cut of one segment already up on Youtube, but I only had the resources to animate on threes, as I was using borrowed equipment on a very short term. With longer-term access to equipment, I would have far more than the allotted day to animate. I am starting with my own story, and likely branching out from there. Future animations depend of course on others coming forward with their own stories. Here is a very rough draft of a scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8bkH7oXwiM

Alaska (Non-active) – IAFN Community Pantries

2018-11-26T00:00:00Z

Interior Alaska Food Network, IAFN, is looking to create community pantries across Fairbanks, AK. These community pantries would be open to the entire Fairbanks community and modeled after the "Free Little Library" idea of stand alone pantries/boxes/installments that would operate on the basis of "Take what you need, leave what you can". While our current pantries in the area serve many people and do a wonderful job, there are some areas that could use the extra access. The Fairbanks Community Food Bank was consulted and is in support of our efforts.

Awesome Without Borders (Non-active) – A day in the forest

2018-11-26T00:00:00Z

Amazon Forever is a non-profit organisation, developed in collaboration with the Conservation Center for Species Survival, located in Iquitos, Perú, that promotes conservation of white sand forests and other Amazonian ecosystems. It does so through positive contact with nature, environmental education, and research and preservation of wildlife. In 2016 we took a survey in some schools in Iquitos, the biggest city of the peruvian Amazon, and found out that nearly 80% of children do not the forest that sorround them, this condition is known as Nature Deficit in Children. A DAY IN THE FOREST: Through the development of emotional education strategies and lived experience, thousands of children from Iquitos and the communities surrounding it have the opportunity to spend a day in positive contact with nature. As a result, they are able to develop emotional connections, and to understand the importance of conserving the nature that surrounds us. By providing children and the local community a profound experience in our native Forest, we will grow empathy in children from Amazonian schools who will have the opportunity to visit our Natural Protected Area and learn about the importance of Amazonian conservation through a Botanical Garden, an Eco Library, and paths in one of the last white-sand forests that exist.

Kingston – Special Meals at St. Andrew's

2018-11-25T00:00:00Z

I an not 100% sure that this would qualify as an awesome project. However, I am the Director/Coordinator of Meals for the Homeless and Needy in the Kingston Community. We serve a free hot meal every Sunday night from Sept to end of June at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church downtown at 130 Clergy Street E. We have been advised by the KFLA Public Health Unit that we have to renovate our prep kitchen in Gill Hall to comply with health unit rules. We do not have a dishwasher, or a hand washing sink. Just the regular 2 sink method like you would have in your home. According to Health Unit rules we have to 4 sinks. 1. Hot water wash, 2. Hot water rinse, 3. Hot water & sanitizer, 4. Separate sink for hand washing. Better yet, we would like to install a dishwasher and a sink of sufficient depth for washing and sanitizing stock pots. This is a costly reno and we need all the help we can get, to prevent our program from being shut down. We are one of only 2 places that serve a meal on Sunday. The church is also used by 2 other groups who provide for the community. One is "The Mess Studio", where folks are welcome to come in to be creative with painting on canvas, or learning pottery skills every week from Tuesday to Thursday. They are served a light lunch and the doors are open from 10 am to 2 p.m. Then beginning Nov 1st, the Kingston Street Mission also shares the same space and they are open from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., to allow a warm safe place for street people to come and get in out of the cold and they provide hot chocolate and snacks for everyone. The church does not charge us rent fees to use the space . We are working together to try to raise enough funds to do the necessary renovations and keep our programs active for those who need us. If this is not allowed, I will understand, so please let me know if I should proceed. By the way, all of our helpers including myself and the leaders of The Mess Studio and the Kingston Street Mission are volunteers.

Newmarket – Overcoming the frustration of public speaking

2018-11-23T00:00:00Z

Hello everyone. Thank you for this awesome opportunity.As a former primary school teacher back in my country, I wanted to pursue my career here in Canada. I've come through many hard trials because of my English language and accent.I was rejected. I felt not good enough, frustrated and embarrassed. Have you ever felt that way ? Have you ever felt that however hard you try there is still a lot to learn ? I have had a conversation with teachers on this topic on how to overcome the frustration of language learning. In high school, each student has to give a 20-minute in class presentation of a paper relevant to the topic of each class. Many students approached the teacher to be excused for this requirement on the grounds she/he is terrified of having to speak in front of others, especially in English as a second language. They are willing to do an alternative assignment that doesn't involve a presentation. Many of them are good enough students but not confident. Because of that, I would like to offer youth a public speaking workshop where they learn to : -overcome anxiety -deliver a powerful message -be concise -sound natural and conversational -get rid of annoying speech habits such as 'um" and 'up" -speak with flowing words and sentences -perfect pronunciations

Yerevan – Let's feel the cosmos/Արի զգանք տիեզերքը

2018-11-22T00:00:00Z

Our awesome project is about sharing astronomy with people who are visually impaired and blind. This project is written by 8 members (children aged 12-13) in our school astronomy club - their first project ever. I asked them six questions, to which they answered the following: *** "Blind children do not have opportunities to see the cosmos. Our goal is to make them feel the universe and its secrets. We will prepare touchable planets, touchable moon, constellations, star balls with cold and hot temperature, we will play for them the sounds of the cosmos, and will tell them stories about cosmos. We just need the materials and computer. And we would like to do these activities for coming New Year". After attending our astronomy club for one year, these children have accumulated enough knowledge to share it with others. Sharing is the best way to understand what they have learned. Also, sharing is the best way to open their heart and mind. That's why I decided to submit their project to the AWESOME foundation. I want them to feel awesome for the idea they have and for their willingness to share.

Philadelphia, PA – Community Outreach/Overdose Prevention Project

2018-11-21T00:00:00Z

We are a small non profit called Operation in My Back Yard. We do outreach in Kensington providing healthy meals, hygiene kits, wound care, overdose reversal drugs and training, safe injection education, substance abuse treatment referrals, financial assistance with sober living costs and harm reduction education. On a typical outreach day, we serve between 100-200 meals and distribute around 50 doses of overdose reversal drugs to individuals who are homeless and use drugs.

New York City, NY – Fresh Pipes:A Concert of World Premieres for Organ

2018-11-21T00:00:00Z

_The pipe organ is historically an instrument that was at the forefront of innovation: it was the original synthesizer with hundreds of pipes that mimic other sounds. The organist, adjusting the sound of the pipes in real time as he or she played, was the original music producer. Historically, composers were excited to write organ music, as the instrument’s versatility and possibilities acted as a playground for the imagination. Composers today are intimidated by the organ’s heritage and unaware of its modern possibilities, resulting in a contemporary repertoire that is stale and irrelevant. The current contemporary music scene is fertile with experimentation; composers are hungry for new ways to produce sound, which the organ can satisfy._ _I would like to bring the organ back as a sonic laboratory for composers and allow them to express new ideas. My collaborator Shannon Murphy and I would like to make this happen by commissioning four young composers to write new works for the organ that push the boundaries of organ repertoire while building a new audience for the organ and contemporary music._ _Over the next few months we will work with these composers and help them learn how to write for the organ, showcasing their resulting work at a concert on February 5th, 2019, at St. Michael’s Church in New York City. The concert, titled “Fresh Pipes: A Concert of World Premieres for Organ” will feature Shannon and myself as the performers._ _We have chosen four composers whose work we believe in: Victor Baez, Aris Antoniades, Lydia Chang, and Suzanne Kosowitz. All four come from different countries and diverse ethnic backgrounds, and have already showcased that they are capable of writing fresh, innovative works. Through these commissions, we hope to breathe new life into the organ repertoire and lend much-needed diversity to this white, European, male-dominated field. This project will demonstrate that this instrument is not limited to the confines of antiquity._ You can get your [tickets to the February 5th concert right now](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fresh-pipes-tickets-52843470242)!

Chicago, IL – Know Your Rights Education

2018-11-21T00:00:00Z

First Defense Legal Aid is a non-profit organization that helps people when they are arrested and held in police custody by providing them with a free lawyer when they call 1-800-LAW-REP-4. FDLA’s goal is to increase the amount of people that get lawyers at police stations as that number is at % 1.5. % 1.5 of people getting legal representation when they are in police custody is an unacceptable number, thus FDLA’s goal is to is to bring that number up. In order to make the number go up, FDLA has a Street Law Corps that conducts outreach such as door-to-door, leafleting, and Know Your Rights Workshops. By doing this, the hotline number has been distributed to a greater number of people. Street Law Corps’ outreach efforts have come a long way and they are reaching more people now than ever before. They are currently hosting weekly youth clubs where youth can come after school to learn about their rights through skits, art projects and other creative means. Creativity is a way to get youth involved and engaged, especially when learning about things that can save their lives.

Miami, FL – Warehouse 4726

2018-11-21T00:00:00Z

Warehouse 4726 exists as a working arts/studio space in The Bird Road Arts District in Miami. Operated by Jean Blackwell Font and Ignacio Font, both visual artists, with partnership from Rosie Gordon-Wallace, Founder and Director of Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator. As members of the visual arts community here in Miami, we realize the power of the arts and collaboration; our goal is to support visual artists to mature and to think deeper through offering affordable studio space, artist exposure and development. We offer a diverse set of workshops and meetings as part of a community outreach effort in a neighborhood that has been quietly developing the arts community for decades. Our workshops and meetings are geared towards artists and the needs of the artistic community. In the past two years we have held free workshops and meetings in website development, blogging, social media, grant application, artistic techniques and journaling. We have also hosted artists talks and community conversations (like My Miami Story by the Miami Foundation.) We recently held a conversation based on a podcast about creativity and diversity. This seasons calendar will feature a official Art21 screening and conversation, My Miami Story 2018 (our third year), we are participating in the Creative Capital Dinners Project, a special project of the Fridge Art Fair Miami 2018 and monthly open studio nights. We also participate in events hosted by our partners at Warehouse 4726.

Miami, FL – BOLD

2018-11-21T00:00:00Z

BOLD is by students and for students. As Branches’ first-ever student magazine, it provides our children and youth with the incredible opportunity to cultivate and share their stories. Each semester, students get the chance to explore their love of writing, photography, and design as they work together to create something uniquely theirs. Our student writers are challenged to think outside the box and pitch their own stories, which has lead to analyses of their favorite video games, whimsical comics, and candid advice columns. Depending on the story they choose to pursue, writers also get the chance to interview their teachers. Then, our student editors, who have applied and been chosen to lead a team of writers, review their peers’ work and offer constructive criticism. Our student photography team works together to tell their story through pictures. In our last issue, they showed readers what “A Day in the Life of a Branches Student” looks like, using GoPros to document their daily routine. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the photography team is the fact that students who love to take pictures on their phones are finally taught how to handle a camera like a professional. Our student designers are given space in the magazine to showcase their artwork. Members of this team are generally paired with writers in order to help bring their characters to life. But they also have the opportunity to collaborate with our Creative Director, helping shape the overall look and feel of the magazine. After each team member has lent their talents to the production, their hard work is rewarded with a copy of BOLD to be shared with family, friends, and teachers, and to be cherished for years as a sign of something they may have never thought possible. Altogether, BOLD opens new doors for our students, educating them about unfamiliar and exciting careers in the arts, showing them how to work as part of a team, and giving them creative space to sharpen their skills.

Awesome Without Borders (Non-active) – FCFCEP Child Welfare Film Festival and Symposium

2018-11-19T00:00:00Z

OVERVIEW: The Foster Care Film & Community Engagement Project (FCFCEP) is a grassroots, volunteer-run, effort which provides current and former foster youth the opportunity to share their stories through film, writing, art, and public speaking. Our mission is threefold: 1. To share rarely heard foster youth stories 2. To provide foster youth professional development opportunities 3. To create a greater understanding of the foster care system among a wide, general audience. EVENT DETAILS: In May 2019, during National Foster Care Month, we will host a Child Welfare Film Festival and Symposium in NYC to raise public awareness and give foster youth a chance to be heard. The event will consist of film screenings, Q&A’s and discussion panels. Select documentaries from our own film series will be screened throughout the festival alongside curated films by other artists. We will have an open call for film submissions; entries will be judged for inclusion by foster care alumni and film professionals. This will empower foster youth by giving them a say in how they are portrayed in the media, and help create a more accurate public representation of the child welfare system. All films will address topics such as abuse, neglect, mental health, substance abuse, sibling separation, adoption, identity and other themes which often affect foster youth and are portrayed in our series thus far. Short films invited to screen will be grouped by theme and foster youth, foster parents and social workers will speak on the selected themes following each screening. We will host three events; each will be 2.5 hours and will include a 90 minute film screening and Q&A, followed by a 60 minute discussion panel. Attendees will have the opportunity to stay after the formal event is over to continue the conversation.

Pittsburgh, PA – Crickets to Betsy! A Farm for Fun & Bugs

2018-11-19T00:00:00Z

Crickets to Betsy! has been an ever evolving project whose focus is introducing the people of Pittsburgh to entomophagy, the practice of eating edible insects. Its main goals have been cultivating sustainability, accessibility, education, nutrition, and fun! In many different parts of the world eating insects is nothing new, but here in the United States we're still slow to catch on to the trend. Edible insects are an excellent source of nutrients, use a fraction of the resources that other sources of protein do, and have an extremely small carbon footprint making the decision to incorporate them into one's diet a simple one. It's not for everyone of course, but for those looking to explore new ways of being mindful about what they put into their bodies, and how that affects the planet, Crickets to Betsy! is here to assist. By establishing a cricket farm in Pittsburgh, I hope to offer everyone the chance to explore entomophagy in an inclusive and educational environment. Crickets, and other insects, will be available for purchase, educational programs will be offered, and products made with our insects will also be available to the public. It is so important to me that every Pittsburgher, regardless of race, nationality, sexual orientation, and/or socioeconomic status, has the opportunity to make healthy choices for themselves and their environment. To that end, I will explore ways of keeping costs low for everyone. Life is too short not to take chances and try new things. It is my dream, with Crickets to Betsy!, to offer an experience many probably would not dream of having in their lifetime. I have seen firsthand how fun and happy eating a bug for the first time can be for friends and family, now I would love to bring that to more new friends and family of Pittsburgh.

San Francisco, CA – nègre

2018-11-17T00:00:00Z

Since my childhood, I have watched downtown Oakland transform from a largely boarded up environment that emptied before dark into the vibrant shopping and nightlife destination it is today. In observing this transformation, it has been clear that the majority of the businesses that have moved in are not there to serve the black community. More, the newer businesses themselves are most frequently symbols of the displaced black communities that once lived throughout the area. So I want to create nègre, a socially-engaged creative intervention that functions as a pop-up store, for the month of December. nègre is a black-walled boutique that sells black- and multi-colored clothing, jewelry, accessories, housewares, and other unique items that prominently feature the color black, all made by members of the African diaspora. nègre will also host one free community-oriented event per week, including a video screening, a dance performance, a one-night visual art event, and a closing party called The Blackest Friday. The pop-up boutique at Dream Farm Commons—a new, artist-run space at 349 15th Street in Oakland that will need to be transformed into a retail store—will open to the public on December 4th and close on December 30th. The store will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays from noon to 7pm. nègre is about using the boutique format to highlight blackness in a space where boutiques are potent symbols of the displacement of long-standing black communities. It's also about drawing attention to the ways in which blackness is (under)valued in our society by creating a space where blackness is hypervalued, both in form and in content. nègre, as implied above, is focused on supporting local black artisans by providing a space for the makers to generate income during the busy holiday season. It is also about showing that we are still here surviving and thriving in the face of all that’s happening to our communities.

San Francisco, CA – Tricyclolo

2018-11-17T00:00:00Z

Tricyclolo is a publicly cited sculpture that is informed by the Filipino tricycle, a ubiquitous three-wheeled transport in the Philippines. They are brightly painted, adorned with burloloy (dangly décor), ornate designs and slogans. They are often embellished with names of loved ones and patrons. If a Rocker motorcycle and an baroque Mod scooter had an offspring in Southeast Asia, it would be a Filipino tricycle. Through the Awesome Foundation, I’m seeking to support primary research, design and materials tests towards the construction of a native San Francisco tricycle. The main fabrication will be funded through the San Francisco Arts Commission and community partners in the Bay Area. This proposed tricycle will be designed with elements in the Bay that exemplify the SOMA Pilipinas Cultural District. The protected sidecar allows for decorative content and possible patron acknowledgement. SOMA Pilipinas Cultural District has identified a need for a public collective identifier. The presence of a familiar signifier in the streets of San Francisco can be a poetic place holder for a cultural identity. This community-developed tricycle will be built with local iconography in SOMA Pilipinas that will embolden and empower a community that suffers from decades of displacement and are often ignored. Public presentations will range from casually driving around San Francisco to more formal exhibitions. For example, Tricyclolo can be used to assist those with mobility challenges in SOMA. The sidecar can be nostalgic space for recording conversations with elders in the community to capture their stories and wisdom. Occasionally, the sculpture will be displayed as a static artwork and potentially as an addition to the Pistahan parade or other events where SOMA Pilipinas presence is needed.

San Francisco, CA – Robot 44

2018-11-17T00:00:00Z

Hi, My name is Sean and I am a high school student at The Nueva School in San Mateo, California. I am currently building a full size humanlike robot for fun and am looking for additional funding to this project. I am currently building the lower body portion of the robot and and have almost completed it. While the base has been designed and I have started building it, I am in need of more parts and materials. This has been a passion project I've worked on since the start of Freshman year and I am excited to see it through. You can read more about my project here: https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/bringing-a-life-size-3d-printed-robot-to-life Please let me know if you would like any more photos or videos! Any help would be sincerely appreciated! Sincerely, Sean Cheong

Oahu, HI – Refurbish Kalaheo HS Drivers Ed Vehicle Garage.

2018-11-16T00:00:00Z

As a student at Kalaheo HS, the first thing we see when entering campus is a rundown, dilapidated garage. The wood is dry rot, paint is faded and there is a large amount of termite damage. It is truly an eyesore and as a student, I want to feel proud of my school. To see this as the first thing upon entering is sad for not only me as a student but for other students and our staff who work so hard for us. I would like to refurbish this shed that holds our drivers ed vehicles. The project will include replacing and painting all wooden doors and walls, repairing the roof and coordinating with the high school art department to paint the school logo on the front doors. This project will not only improve our school pride but it will also improve our school's first impression. I'm hoping this will demonstrate to other students that we can make a difference at our school and in our community. Thank you so much for your consideration.

San Antonio, TX – Winter Relief

2018-11-15T00:00:00Z

We are hosting sewing projects around the San Antonio area, to teach basic sewing and pattern skills. We make children's clothing and accessories. All items made at our projects are then donated to local organizations such as Haven for Hope, San Antonio Children's Shelter, and Boysville. We provide these items to try and bring relief to the organizations, and to bring awareness to the community.

Raleigh, NC (Non-active) – Raleigh "GAYTEWAY" Project

2018-11-15T00:00:00Z

The "GAYTEWAY" project will install sidewalk murals at the intersection of McDowell and Morgan Street, one of the main access points to Raleigh's "Gayborhood", as a part of Stonewall Sports-Raleigh hosting our National Tournament in Raleigh in June 2019. Raleigh's "Gayborhood" is essentially located in the downtown warehouse district. Currently, the Raleigh LGBT Center, Legends Night Club, and Flex Night Club are located here. If you are coming down Capital Boulevard you would first drive past the "Gayborhood" at the intersection of McDowell and Morgan Street. At the intersection is a restaurant called the District , which is LGBT owned and operated as well. At the this intersection, on the sidewalk areas in front of the District I want to have a welcoming LGBT sidewalk mural that start at the sidewalk intersection and spreads out in two directions (going west on Morgan Street and south on McDowell Street).

Los Angeles, CA – Accessing Justice through Graphic Advocacy

2018-11-14T00:00:00Z

As a recent law school graduate working in the public sector, I am constantly searching for new and innovative ways to serve low-income clients who are facing a variety of complex legal issues. I recently was connected with the Graphic Advocacy Project, which is run by a team of social justice advocates who expertly utilize visual communication in order to make difficult legal concepts accessible to everyone who needs them. As a social justice lawyer, I am especially interested in developing new ways to explain legal concepts to non-lawyers. This vision for a more just world depends on the ability to communicate. I want to work with the amazing team at Graphic Advocacy Project in order to develop a new legal guide for people in poverty called "The Life of a Lawsuit" that will enable all community members to understand their legal rights and help them learn how they defend themselves in court. The goal of this project is to teach the diverse and vulnerable communities I serve about their legal rights in order to increase their access to justice. The team I will be working with uses a variety of graphic devices to combine words and drawings that create a compelling visual narrative. Their expertise directs the reader to key points and delivers complex information in a clear, engaging way. Most importantly, the Graphic Advocacy team is able to use unique illustrations to distill complicated topics into powerful imagery. The motivation behind this project is simple: humans process visuals faster than text. Combining words with clear and useful graphics increases our ability to comprehend and synthesize new information. Visuals engage us, motivate us, and stay with us long after we've seen them. Public interest lawyers are communicators, and with your help, this project will enable me to use the best tools I can to help as many people as possible. The legal services I provide to clients are always free, and this new visual resource would tremendously expand my impact.

San Jose, CA – Art in the Community

2018-11-14T00:00:00Z

The Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Association has had an awesome 2018 by introducing our Art Studio series. Painting and sculpting on canvas, jewelry making, jack o' lantern and wreath making. Classes are free (funded by our Beautify San Jose grant) to our immediate residents and adjacent neighbors. Our venue is hosted for free by our local Moose Lodge.

Ottawa – Helping with Bikes

2018-11-14T00:00:00Z

November’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to Chris Taylor to support Helping with Bikes, which provides used bicycles to those in need. “We receive donated bikes,” explains Chris, “and refurbish them for families and individuals that are making new beginnings in our community – refugees, families fleeing abuse, recovering addicts, people impacted by fire or other disasters.” Helping with Bikes is part of Helping with Furniture, which has helped re-establish more than 1,500 households in Ottawa. From its modest workshop and small team of dedicated volunteer mechanics, Helping with Bikes provides more than 200 fully refurbished bikes per year to clients of Helping with Furniture. “We truly believe that bicycles change lives, and are a simple solution to some of the world's most complicated problems,” says Chris. Chris is retired from a career in environment and safety regulation, and is the Founder, Chief Mechanic, and Trainer at Helping with Bikes. He estimates that while working he commuted about 60,000 km by bicycle.

Adelaide – Empowerment Symposium 2019

2018-11-13T00:00:00Z

Leave No Woman Behind: Stories to Build Strength and Kindness Empowerment Symposium 2019 This program uses a two pronged approach to educated women in prison about the need to engage with each other and with corrections officers while inside, and with parole officers once released. The program will deliver literature detailing stories from criminalised women who have exited the criminal justice system, and will provide examples of successful outcomes of other rehabilitation programs. Secondly, the program will provide criminalised women outside of the criminal justice system access to creative writing and public speaking workshops to develop skills in communication, and the tools to create a support resource publication, to be distributed to the program’s audience. The program will benefit: women in prison, who currently have limited access to support material to assist with their incarceration. Recently released women, who may have limited skills in writing and public speaking, and therefore have limited confidence in their abilities to effectively communicate Those affected by criminalised women: -the children and families from whom women are separated upon their incarceration, who may have experienced the disadvantages of a criminalised woman’s lack of engagement with corrections and parole officers -the community, who may have been repeatedly exposed to a cycle of criminalised behaviour The program will provide education for women currently in prison, in the form of increased understanding of the need to develop positive relationships with each other, with corrections officers and with proper engagement of the Community Corrections system upon release. We anticipate an increase in engagement with community engagement programs (parole, Seeds Of Affinity), with a long-term commitment to reducing rates of recidivism. SOA is an established community organisation with many ongoing projects. This project is new and currently does not receive any funding.

Sydney – Music Therapy for the Elderly

2018-11-13T00:00:00Z

I am currently disabled. I am however able to visit nursing homes and play music for our elderly folk and have had amazing positive results to their health. In some instances we have had them up dancing ( those that are mobile ) to some old Elvis tunes. It has been very rewarding. This information below is being stated by many medical experts :- "How Music Therapy is Beneficial to Seniors Music therapy can promote better physical and mental health in a variety of ways by: Relieving boredom Motivating movement Rekindling positive memories Shifting negative thinking patterns Calming nervousness Encouraging happy thoughts Promoting social interaction" My wife and I have found it very rewarding and we now have 5 facilities that we play in. We are in need of some equipment for this project. We have been using borrowed equipment which needs to be returned. Currently I am injured and unable to work and this gives me a sense of purpose. Thank you for considering my project.

Newburgh, NY – Field Trip

2018-11-12T00:00:00Z

Field Trip is a modern day general store in front and in the back we have production for our other business Hudson Naturals. Hudson Naturals is small batch apothecary that makes soap, lotions, candles and scrubs. Field Trip moved to Newburgh not only to grow as a business but to help Newburgh grow as a community. We want a place where the people of Newburgh could come and shop but also learn how to make soap and other apothecary goods. For 2019, Field Trip will host free public classes once a month at the store. The owners of the store would like to teach the public about the process making all the apothecary goods that Hudson Naturals produces. This would help educate the area about the health and wellness benefits while also bringing people together in making things for a day. Field trip is about taking an adventure into the world of Makers. Makers believe that grassroots efforts combined with the passion to create, using craftsmanship, creativity, conscious repurposing and sustainability, can contribute to a heathy and holistic lifestyle.

Awesome Without Borders (Non-active) – Know your rights!

2018-11-12T00:00:00Z

Anti-choice movements have seized both political and public discourse. We would like to run an awesome online campaign to reach millions of Polish women stripped from their basic reproductive rights (access to abortion, fertility treatments and proper maternity care). We will use Facebook, Twitter and media outlets to educate about reproductive health rights and what options are available abroad and via telemedicine. Polish women deserve to know their rights and have them respected!

South Bend, IN – Alegría Tea Company

2018-11-09T00:00:00Z

Alegría Tea Company is an online business that promotes healthy living, poverty alleviation, and lasting joy. By selling teas, the company raises funds to be used to create programs that combat poverty and homelessness in the most evidentially-effective ways. I, the owner of this company, have spent the past several months creating programs for homeless children living at Hope Ministries (rescue mission in South Bend). I have a vision of using education and therapeutic services to combat the root of the poverty cycle that these homeless children are trapped in—targeting both the physical and the emotional forms of poverty in their lives. By providing daily after-school tutoring and homework help, offering resources and guidance to succeed academically, serving as an advocate for students and their parents in the school system, matching students with personal mentors and additional therapeutic services, and working with parents to best support their children, these children have found hope of escaping the cycle of homelessness and pursuing their dreams. For this reason, I created this tea company where all profits are used for these programs and services. Additionally, these teas are each extremely healthy and work towards specific health goals (for example, HAPPY tea is for weight loss, SMILE tea is for skin detox, etc.). I am very excited about the potential that this company has to change lives!

South Bend, IN – The Ragamuffin Bakery: An East Bank Holiday Pop-Up

2018-11-09T00:00:00Z

As my largely wholesale business, The Ragamuffin: A Mostly Wholesome Bakery, continues to thrive in South Bend, we are hopeful that an expansion to a storefront in the East Bank is just around the corner. The East Bank is a great fit for us in terms of its growing and evolving residential base, the sustainability focus of the Howard Park/East Race/DTSB neighborhood, and the compatibility with those using the river trail, the new ice rink/spray pad, children’s bookstore, Unity Garden, schools, places of worship, and more. Wholesome, house-made croissants, bagels, scones, GF cookies and muffins, breads, hand pies, ice creams, along with locally roasted, fair trade coffee would be a wonderful addition to East Race and add to the welcoming retail density of the area. By opening a holiday pop-up bakery, we hope to further familiarize the public with the quality and diversity of our baked goods, culminating in establishing our own storefront East Bank location in 2019. We are currently negotiating with the owners of two different retail spaces for our pop-up, and will have settled on our spot by the time this grant is awarded. The Ragamuffin is committed to using local, organic ingredients as much as possible and in encouraging fellow female entrepreneurs. The local foodie community is thriving and supportive of one another, making collaborative creativity an exciting reality!

South Bend, IN – PLTW Biomedical Science

2018-11-09T00:00:00Z

PLTW Biomedical Science students are take on real-world challenges – and they’re doing it before they even graduate from high school. Working with the same tools used by professionals in hospitals and labs, students engage in compelling, hands-on activities and work together to find solutions to problems. Students take from the courses in-demand knowledge and skills they will use in high school and for the rest of their lives, on any career path they take.

Poughkeepsie, NY – Broken Dolls

2018-11-09T00:00:00Z

Vegan (Non-active) – Vegan Awareness Drive

2018-11-09T00:00:00Z

We are starting a six month vegan drive filled with movies, food demos, cooking demos, lectures and more in the city of St. Pete The point of this project is to gain more plant-based supporters in the area. Our team was part of the group that aided the Pinellas County School Board with creating 10 plant-based meal options. The school board will be eager to expand past 10 meal options if demand is high and we want to help this! We want parents to know the option is out there and why it is healthy. W e want community members to be involved so they will know the benefits in petitioning their school board to add more plant-based options for children. We are also creating a petition to urge law makers to remove the clause in the Federal ***** that mandates cow milk be served at schools. Page 4146 of the Federal register.states: Restrictions on the sale of fluid milk. A school participating in the Program, or a person approved by a school participating in the Program, must not directly or indirectly restrict the sale or marketing of fluid milk (as identified in paragraph (d)(1) of this section) at any time or in any place on school premises or at any school sponsored event…..” We are collecting signatures to change this mandate.

Oakland, CA (Non-active) – Planting Justice: Grow Food, Grow Jobs, Grow Commu

2018-11-08T00:00:00Z

Planting Justice (PJ) was founded in Oakland in 2009 with the mission to empower people impacted by mass incarceration and other social inequalities with the skills and resources to cultivate food sovereignty, economic justice, and community healing. Since its inception, PJ has designed and implemented culturally relevant and empowering educational, informational, and outreach activities and programs on the topics of waste reduction, composting, artistic-salvaging, food justice and security, and urban agriculture and gardening that directly impact more than 6,500 youth and adults per year in Alameda County and its surrounding areas. PJ provides living-wage careers to a staff of twenty-eight (28) that includes 12 formerly incarcerated individuals. Over the first 9 years of its existence, PJ has grown to invest more than $2,100,000 per year in reducing waste through local food and economic justice education and service programs in Alameda County, with 50-70% of funding each year coming from innovative, revenue-generating fee-for-service programs and a diverse and steadily growing base of individual local contributors. We operate three social enterprises, a landscaping service that has built 450 edible gardens in Oakland, 5-acre food forest farm, and a 2-acre Nursery, which are at the core of an “ecosystem” of projects, programs and activities that provide employment opportunities and training to community residents and formerly incarcerated people, increase access to nutritious and fresh produce, promote healthy nutrition and self-care practices, preserve and protect the environment, and strengthen our communities’ capacity to take control of their lives and address the myriad challenges they face. Our work and business model have been recognized at a regional and national level, as evidenced by an article published in the Business Section of the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/17/business/urban-farming-exconvicts-recidivism.html

Liverpool (Non-active) – Kick Ass Community Christmas dinner

2018-11-05T00:00:00Z

The project is to address food poverty in the local community and create a save and happy space at one of the loneliness times of the year! This is for up to 70 people (£7.14pp) We will be providing - three course traditional Christmas meal -music and activities - goodie bags -pressies for kids to take home -social interaction and a possibility of continuing into the new year

Ann Arbor, MI – Lenses Collective

2018-11-05T00:00:00Z

Lenses Collective is a collaborative photography and writing program for seniors (55+) and youth (middle and high school students) in the East Lansing community. The 7-week program is designed to bring youth and seniors together to explore generational perspectives and experiences through dialogue, creative writing, and photography. Beginning October 2018, up to twenty participants will meet for two hours a week in the East Lansing Public Library. Sessions will include an activity that sparks discussion around a theme (i.e. identity, life stories), time for small group dialogue, and a photography-based activity through which participants share their experiences. As the program progresses, we’ll focus on participants’ collective artistic projects. This will be achieved largely through the creative processes of photography and writing where participants are encouraged to express their life experiences, desires, and imagined futures. We believe that the greatest opportunities for sustained learning and growth lie in meaningful relationships built amongst the diverse group of participants. Therefore, several hours will also be set aside for community building activities and structured dialogue aimed at creating lasting, meaningful relationships across generations. The project will culminate in a collaborative art exhibition opening at the library and eventually traveling to various venues throughout the community. In this pilot program we aim to: - create opportunities for dialogue and engagement between a diverse group of youth and seniors in the EL community - create an intensive writing and photography curriculum that can be shared with schools and libraries across MI - create a traveling exhibition comprised of photographs and writing developed by the participants - spark public discussion on intergenerational community-building - donate cameras to the library for use on future community collaborations - publish a picture book of participants’ work

Liverpool (Non-active) – Christmas for Bereaved Children

2018-11-05T00:00:00Z

Each year we work with 200 children across Merseyside who have been affected by a loss (be that through death, incarceration, divorce etc.) and we would like to make their next Christmas without their loved one(s) memorable and magical. Christmas is a family time and the first Christmas without your loved one can be difficult for anyone. For children we always want to make Christmas magical and protect them from the cruel reality the world often offers. This Christmas party is a chance for young people to: Meet other children in a similar situation Feel they are not alone Learn to enjoy the Christmas period with acceptance of the change in their lives. Alongside the children, Christmas is hard for the whole family, especially if here is someone missing. The Christmas party will bring a little bit of hope into each family to show they are not alone and Christmas can be a time to create new memories and remember great times. This Christmas party will give families the chance to: Feel less isolated Meet other families Give parents respite during a busy and often frantic period. Liverpool Bereavement Services provides 1:1 and group counselling for children, young people and adults who are going through a bereavement or loss. We understand that it's hard to move back to 'normality' after a loss and this party will be a chance for families and children to start building a new normal with the changes in their lives.

Awesome Without Borders (Non-active) – Ballotpedia's Election Day 2018 Coverage

2018-11-05T00:00:00Z

For just over ten years, Ballotpedia has been providing voters in the United States with factual, trustworthy election information. In that time, we’ve written over 265,000 encyclopedic articles which have garnered over one-billion pageviews and more than 35,000 media mentions. People are hungry for unbiased and accurate information about politics! The work we do takes place year-round with our writers gathering and verifying candidate and ballot measure information. That information is available to voters through our Sample Ballot. Ballotpedia’s Sample Ballot allows voters to quickly and easily see who and what is on their ballot from the federal level all the way down to local races like school board elections. The work we do throughout the year on ballot information culminates on Election Day. On November 6, 2018, voters across the country will be deciding on 35 U.S. Senate seats, 435 U.S. House seats, 6,070 state legislative seats, and numerous state executive and judicial seat. As Election Day rolls on, Ballotpedia’s staff will be working tirelessly to update our readers with the accurate and trustworthy information they’ve come to expect from us. Our staff of over 40 professional writers work in 6-hour shifts around the clock in the days leading up to and including Election Day making sure our information is up-to-date and accurate. While the work is serious, we do our best to make it fun for our staff as we come together to serve our readers. In fact, to show their appreciation for our work, we’ve even had some of our supporters send coffee gift cards to help support our staff in our ‘round the clock efforts to serve voters on Election Day. Ballotpedia’s Election day efforts are nothing short of awesome.

Antigonish, NS (Non-active) – A Pink Envelope October

2018-11-02T00:00:00Z

This month we decided to run our very popular pink envelope campaign for the third time. Essentially we put $5 into 200 very pink envelopes that had an 'open me' sticker on the outside and spread them around Antigonish last Saturday Oct 27th. A note inside informed the finder that they have received $5 from us but asked the person to consider paying it forward by doing something nice for someone else and then perhaps letting us know via the hashtag #awesomeantigonish or sending us an email. The response was fantastic, so many people took the wind fall and decided to make another persons day brighter. Actions ranged from donations to existing charities, which some folks doubled the contribution, others used the find as a learning opportunity for their young children to understand the power of giving. We took the time to make a public google drive folder where you can read some of the stories and see some photos from the day. Link: https://goo.gl/KAp13c A big thanks to everyone in Antigonish for recognizing this initiative as a powerful way to display the exponential power of giving. If you found an envelope we would love to hear your story in the comments.

State College, PA – Aquaponics at State High

2018-11-01T00:00:00Z

We have a rooftop greenhouse on the new high school dedicated to teaching sustainable food production (see photo). We are in the beginning phase of getting this greenhouse up and operational with at least one system coming online before the holidays. This greenhouse belongs to the entire school, not just one department. The plan is make it a cross-disciplinary teaching tool. Our focus will be on the question, how are we going to feed 10 billion people in 2050? We currently have a student club and interested adults but we hope to have courses in the future. We have the aquaponics systems in place. We also have and area in the greenhouse for R&D and construction of smaller systems to give to the elementary schools so our younger students can garden all school year. And from there we are limited only by imagination. We also want to teach community ed classes in the future.

North Minneapolis, MN – BLAQ Love

2018-11-01T00:00:00Z

I am a local artist who is practicing ways to use dance and meditation to inspire healing on the Northside. I am the artistic director of the Northside dance company BLAQ. We use dance as a rites of passage to evoke change/healing in ourselves as well as our various communities (Black, Queer, Deaf, etc.). I have been working towards creating another pedal of BLAQ named “BLAQ Love”. BLAQ Love is a dance/guided meditation/activity session that is solely focused on Self Care/Love practices for women. Through BLAQ Love, people will be more intentional about their time spent focusing on healing and reclaiming their love for themselves and others around them. I plan to provide sessions 3-4 times a week. A Session at a Glimpse: Each individual would come into a a dimly lit space, with light music and the scents of sage and incense. Warm temperature. They pick a crystal, because each one has a meaning, they will decide what energy they would like to pull from for their session. Yoga mats are laid out in front of a personal mirror. Each session has a max of about 15 people. I will guide the session in guided meditation and light stretching. I will also guide us through activities that promote self reflection. Each session will be 1hr 30min and end with group reflection.

Newcastle – Bearfoot Theatre

2018-11-01T00:00:00Z

Bearfoot Theatre is a local youth managed theatre company. Bearfoot has a focus on producing predominately original works of theatre, which convey relevant social messages and give a voice to young artists. They aim to assist the development of local writers by providing opportunities to workshop their scripts and to bring together a diverse and inclusive community of creatives from all facets of the industry, fostering opportunities for these people to apply their skills in a professional setting. In 2017 they produced "Do Your Parents Know You're Straight?" which is an original full-length play. The show was incredibly well received, with many members of the audience suggesting that a touring production is in order. "In an alternate reality where heterosexuals are the minority and homosexuality is the norm, a straight teenage boy, Casey Miller, struggles to find himself. Feeling isolated, the aspiring author creates an imaginary friend in his stories– an awkward lesbian in a heterosexual society. She acts as a reflection of Casey as he documents twisted versions of his reality through her eyes." DYPKYS was written in support of the LGBTQ+ community to offer hope (especially to youth) in our society- and to hopefully change some minds. "One of the most moving pieces of theatre I have seen created in my life." "I for one am still emotionally drained because this show is indescribable" "An excellent portrayal, mind-opening for a lot of straight people. Very healing and also excruciatingly revealing." "Last night was the first time I've ever given a standing ovation to a Newcastle production- It is everything theatre should be."

Disability – The Brain Injury Climbing Club

2018-10-31T00:00:00Z

We want to establish a rock-climbing club for people who have survived brain injuries. Headway East London is a charity working with over 600 survivors and their family members across 13 London boroughs, supporting them to discover new value in lives impacted by physical and cognitive disability. We believe climbing can be a transformative activity for our members. Climbing is recognised as having significant benefits for people with neurological impairments, encouraging physical rehabilitation and the ‘neuroplasticity’ vital to recovery. But perhaps even more importantly, climbing can change brain injury survivors' sense of who they are and what they can achieve. In pilot groups we have already supported around 12 survivors to discover climbing. In the words of one of our members, a young Eritrean woman significantly disabled by a brain infection, “Climbing has changed my idea of what's possible for me. I’m finding confidence in doing something I never thought I could do, and taking back control of my own life after everything that’s happened to take that control away from me." Another of our group says that “When I climb, I feel able.” In addition to these benefits, our club will form an inclusive and supportive community for some of the most isolated and vulnerable people in our city. We will run eight formal inclusive climbing sessions across the first six months of 2019 at the Castle Climbing Centre in Stoke Newington, supporting around 20 people with a wide range of access needs to take part. As our club members become more experienced climbers across the six months, we will meet more regularly and our more confident climbers will take on roles supporting newer members. Our hope is to foster a self-sustaining and diverse community of committed disabled and non-disabled climbers, developing confidence and self-understanding through a shared experience of overcoming challenges on the wall. What our grantee is saying: "It means so much to have the support of the foundation and to be a part of this network of inspiring projects and people. We think climbing is special - at once mindful and playful; an empowering individual practice and a social movement which brings diverse people together - and we want to make it open to everyone, no matter their access requirements. This grant will allow us to take a step towards that. We're so grateful for that show of confidence, in us and in the ability of brain injury survivors to do extraordinary things."

Oahu, HI – streetARThawaii (Mud Hen Family)

2018-10-31T00:00:00Z

streetARThawaii is grateful to have been awarded $1,000 to paint 13 traffic signal boxes on Waialae Avenue and Harding Avenue on September 22 and 23. streetARThawaii will not only be painting four more boxes in Kaimuki; but we will be sprinkling a bit more magic. A family of Mud Hens, a Mom, Dad and their three babies will be painted along Waialae Avenue (which means Mud Hen Waters). The hens will be spotted on four different locations on four buildings along the Waialae Avenue sidewalks. Recently one of our original 13 boxes was tagged on 16th Avenue and Waialae Avenue. streetARThawaii has decided to purchase a very expensive anti-graffiti wax coating to protect the 13 existing boxes as well as all future boxes. This was an unexpected expense but one that is necessary in order to protect our artists’ beautiful works of art. *Note: streetARThawaii does not have a website but had to fill in a website in order to transmite the application.

Leiden – Gorgeltjespad #5

2018-10-31T00:00:00Z

Op Texel heb je het Sommeltjespad. Natuurmonumenten heeft het Kabouterpad. Het idee is hetzelfde; een mini-wandeling van 1 km voor jonge gezinnen met als thema de Gorgels (kinderboeken Jochem Myjer). Houten beelden worden gebruik om een soort kunstzinnige speurtocht te vormen voor kinderen in het bos. Als locatie zouden bijvoorbeeld de Leidse Hout of het Merenwijkbos kunnen dienen.

Oahu, HI – Public Art in Kailua

2018-10-31T00:00:00Z

We are eagerly seeking support to create a piece of modern public art in Kailua to promote art in our community and to beautify our part of Kailua near Hardware Hawaii Kailua. We have partnered with the local art community and the organization Pow Wow to complete a 10'x21' mural and a 3'x50" mural that celebrates our community and inspires us to do our part daily. The artist will be one for the organizations founders and local artist Kamea Hadar. At Treehouse we are encouraging the arts by hosting local galleries at a discount and encouraging small business and entrepreneurship. This piece can make a big difference both for locals and local artists for years to come. We are be so hugely appreciative of your consideration and time. Mahalo Nui Loa, Keno Knieriem

Washington, DC – Night of 1,000 Fridas

2018-10-30T00:00:00Z

I’m working to get 1,000 depictions of Frida Kahlo out in the public on January 25, 2019 as part of a project called Night of 1,000 Fridas. You can view the locations and events here: http://theodorecarter.com/fridahubs/ So far, I'm up to 270 pledged Fridas and contributors include award winning artists and musicians, kids, former professional athletes, an Olympian, and a mayor. Art will include street poetry, bone assemblage, yarn bombing, and other amazing works. Participants are invited to create visual art, a performance piece, or maybe something I haven’t thought of yet. On the big night, everyone is encourage to share their work with the pubic and post about it using #1KFridas While people can contribute from all over, many participants are in the D.C. area, and if I received this grant, I could increase the local focus. Why Night of 1,000 Fridas? - Frida was an amazing artist who led an inspiring life. - To encourage everyone of all ages and abilities to create art. - To bring art into public spaces. - To create community. - To see if we can. - 1,000 public images of a bisexual Latina communist revolutionary could do the world some good right now.

Alaska (Non-active) – Supporting Literary Events In Seward, Alaska

2018-10-30T00:00:00Z

Seward, Alaska is an amazing town filled with remarkable literary talent. The Seward Writers Collective is a homegrown group of writers that diligently meet throughout the year to share work, support each other and bring our collective Alaska lives to life for others through stories, essays, poems and spoken word. Although Seward is on the road system and just a 2.5 hour drive from Anchorage, it can be challenging to attract authors and workshops without necessary funds to support their visit. In addition, venues for local readings, fliers, refreshments, and other needed supplies are paid for by participants because there is a great desire to host literary events in town. This proposal seeks support to host literary events in Seward to help grow the emerging literary scene and support writers that have so much to give and share with the community. These funds will be utilized to host literary events, workshops and support the Seward Writers Collective in order to grow the literary contributions of Seward writers and create opportunities for more people to join the writing community. These funds we will allow us to collaborate with the Seward Community Library, 49 Writers and other groups to expand offerings to the Seward community. In addition, a portion of the funds would be set aside to assure young writers space in workshops at no cost.