tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:/hy/projects?page=20 2023-04-16T00:17:52Z tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/218600 2023-04-15T00:00:00Z 2023-04-16T00:17:52Z The purpose of this program is to provide kids support and guidance through playing soccer and also guiding them in academics to help them get to a higher education. The goal of this project is to help kids in the F-M area find resources and guidance that will help them excel in the soccer field and off the field. The goal is to have a 1 on 1 mentoring program where we can build relationships with the children and help them tackle problems or road blocks they face. it is also our mission to help children in this project find resources that will help them reach their goals in life. We want to start a summer program that will help kids prepare for their high school year and build a relationship with the children. We also want to make this a project that is all year long to help children with tutoring and improving themselves in the classroom. Abdikarim Ibrahim Ocean Stars FC United States Cass Clay https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/cassclay tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/217165 2023-04-13T00:00:00Z 2023-06-08T22:47:52Z AweomeStPaul is proud to announce our April 2023 grant winner-Community PowWow. Each year American Indian Magnet School on St.Paul’s Eastside hosts a PowWow to celebrate its students and faculty with traditional Native American Indian festivities. We chose this project because of its goal of bringing our community together. According to Teacher Julie Hutcheson-Downwind, The American Indian Magnet School in St. Paul focuses on teaching all students through an American Indian cultural lens. In addition to academics and Indigenous languages, students also learn about drumming and dancing. At the end of the school year, the school hosts a powwow for students, their families, the staff, and the public. Our school is located on the Eastside of St. Paul in Dayton's Bluff neighborhood. It is currently in its 32nd school year and has hosted a powwow each year. It is usually attended by 500-800 people in addition to the 500+ students and staff. Our students learn about the history and culture of Indigenous people mainly the Ojibwe and Dakota, the prominent tribes in Minnesota. Every Friday students gather together as a school and participate in a drum and dance gathering to celebrate the end of a learning week. Students learn many dance steps and learn about Indigenous dance regalia. Those who wish are also instructed and participate in our school drum group. Our school powwow is traditionally held in mid-June at the end of the school year. It is a one-day event. We invite families and the public to join us for dancing and celebrating. We also provide a meal and an honorarium for invited dancers and community drum groups. Sadly, we are not able to use instructional funds for this event. Honorariums are different than contracted services and food is not allowed to be purchased with instructional funds. We ask for donations in order to put on this event each year. It is very important to our school to be able to provide this cultural celebration at the end of the school year. We also honor our 8th-grade students who will be moving to high school, our students with outstanding attendance, and our teachers who have reached 25 years of service to AIMS. It is truly a community event attended by many families and community members year after year. Julie Hutcheeson-Downwind Community PowWow http://www.spps.org/aims United States St. Paul, MN https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/stpaul tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/217132 2023-04-12T00:00:00Z 2023-05-08T09:57:34Z As part of a series of workshops about climate adaptation we would like to create an interactive construction and educational activity about water awareness. In a neighbourhood in Rotterdam we started a project called Buurtklimaatje that’s all about water and green in the city. The goal is to create more awareness for climate adaptation and help residents to create a more green and resilient neighbourhood. Archiklas organises activities for children every Friday afternoon to contribute to their knowledge about green and water an make them enthusiastic about it. We purified water, we did research on the soil in Carnisse, we build shadow screens helping against heat stress, we made booklets about the journey of a waterdrop. We sowed seeds for plants and herbs and this Friday we’re going to allocated places for new trees to grow. The interactive construction we would like to make will allow children to experiment with water flows and discover how they can block water. This refers to the Dutch water system with dykes, water pump stations and the need to keep water in certain areas for a longer time due to climate change. Maël Vanhelsuwé - Stichting Archiklas Waterstromen: Hoe zit dat? (How does it work?) https://www.buurtklimaatje.nl/ Netherlands Rotterdam https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/rotterdam tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/214447 2023-04-12T00:00:00Z 2023-03-09T01:16:43Z We are sponsoring volunteer projects throughout the year. Groups of 20 - 100 volunteers join us for neighborhood improvement projects in this blighted impoverished area of Detroit where we are building affordable housing. There is a tremendous amount of vacant land in this neighborhood. By clearing overgrowth, dead trees, and trash the living environment for our residents is automatically improved. We have relied on borrowing equipment that is not always adequate for our tasks. With this grant we would purchase tools (loppers and saws) that volunteers will use throughout the year in improvement projects. The neighborhood has a storage container that we can keep the tools and make them available to others in the community when we are not using them John OBrien Brightmoor Volunteers http://NA United States Ann Arbor, MI https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/ann-arbor tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/217308 2023-04-11T00:00:00Z 2023-04-26T23:36:56Z When it comes to nature, small changes can ripple into large effects. We not only research & interpret these effects with own students — we also get our hands dirty sustainably rebuilding what was once lost. Before SSW built the gardens at History San Jose, it was filled with non-native plants & largely absent of pollinators. We wanted to learn about the history of the habitat, so we turned to locals who had lived through San Jose’s changes. One thing that kept coming up was that a once-large population of monarch butterflies & bees had vanished. To see if we could lure them back, an Eagle Scout built test beds. Our students filled the beds with native plants. Soon the bees & butterflies returned. Unexpectedly, they also saw a rise in passive pollinators like lizards, which has the added benefit of controlling garden pests. Thirteen years later, History San Jose is now a refuge for pollinators & people. We were allotted more land & with the help of over a thousand volunteers from NVIDIA Foundation, the lawns were transformed into an urban garden & an outdoor science lab. Our gardens have been an opportunity to help the underserved neighborhoods surrounding History Park. These neighborhoods were hit particularly hard by the pandemic. Food security became a huge issue, so it was vital to have a way to get fresh food & have outdoor space to enjoy. It’s wonderful seeing the gardens’ influence continue to ripple. Through our partnership with Sacred Heart Services we have shared the importance of native plants & pollinators with our students, community garden families, & Park visitors. We added some fairy houses that engage little ones to look closely at the plants & spark conversation between visitors & gardeners. They take the lessons they learn back to their homes, spreading support for pollinators across our community. By supporting our project you are not just funding the purchase of plants & soil, you are also supporting a community of people, animals & plants belinda lowe-schmahl Pollination Partners http://www.schmahlscience.org United States San Jose, CA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/sanjose tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/217581 2023-04-07T00:00:00Z 2023-04-07T20:37:36Z Austin's go-to guide for art, Almost Real Things, is collaborating with the art students from the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and a group of professional Austin artists working with unique textures and mediums to create this one-of-a-kind experience. The goal of the show is to create a more accessible art exhibition that caters to all of the different ways people experience art.A grant from the Austin Awesome Foundation will go towards printing signage in braille and covering materials costs for artists working on collaborative installations.installations. Natalie Earhart Touch the Art: An Interactive Art Exhibition http://touchtheart.eventbrite.com United States Austin, TX https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/austin tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/217403 2023-04-05T00:00:00Z 2023-05-30T03:16:27Z I have written a 22 page children's picture book titled 'I Live Here - Newcastle'. The story is about a little boy who has moved to Newcastle with his family. Over the 7 days of the week the boy visits some of the iconic landmarks and places of Newcastle. Through simple rhyme and eye-catching illustrations, the boy tells the tale of his weeks' adventure (which I know many locals will relate to) and falls in love with the city of Newcastle; declaring it the only place he wants to live. I am aware of the importance of children having text-to-self connections when reading, as well as connecting the text to the world around them. 'I Live Here - Newcastle' provides local families with the opportunity to do this. It will engage the audience through real-life connections, evoke conversation and perhaps even intrigue those further afield to visit... Why not? It's almost a 7-day Newcastle travel itinerary for families. I have researched the History of Newcastle and included dual names for locations (eg. Newcastle – Mulubinba and Nobby’s – Whibayganba) to help educate and bring these Awabakal words into everyday language. There is also mention of the Christ Church Cathedral dominating the skyline and the significance of Joe Richley for Blackbutt Reserve, as well as other significant points of interest. I have spent countless hours, every day with my children exploring this incredible city of ours. I have captured many photographs of the various places we regularly visit and used these images to brief the illustrator, so my vision (and the real Newcastle) could come to life on the pages of a children's picture book. Mikhala Jeans 'I Live here - Newcastle' Children's Picture Book Australia Newcastle https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/newcastle tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/217725 2023-04-05T00:00:00Z 2023-04-05T11:28:52Z Last Year in June and October I organised 2 lightsaber battle's in Darling Harbour with about 100 people attending each. I want to run a similar event again to hand out free 500 lightsabers to Children and Children at heart to battle in Tumbalong Park. Each person will get to take their lightsaber home at the end of the day, and have good memories of their Duel of Fates. I will also try and contact Guiness World Records about setting the record for largest lightsaber battle in the Southern Hemisphere. I will set the record unofficially if they ask for a fee. I will do this on a Saturday, when Darling Quarter has a lot of foot traffic and fireworks on. This will brighten the landscape of Sydney for a day, and give a lot of children happiness and glee. In my first 2 events a lot of people came in professional looking cosplay and a lot of kids got dressed up as their favourite character too! Timothy Yang Free Lightsabers in Darling Harbour https://wegotthiscovered.com/events/a-star-wars-meetup-in-sydney-had-younglings-involved-in-an-epic-lightsaber-battle-they-deserved/ Australia Sydney https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/sydney tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/217492 2023-04-04T00:00:00Z 2023-04-13T17:19:15Z My project Crip Ecstasy is an immersive nightlife experience that centers accessibility and disability culture from the ground up. Working with a cast of disabled and non-disabled performance artists, DJs, ASL interpreters and Audio Describers, this installation will transform San Francisco’s Counterpuls into an environment where multiple forms of access intersect to conjure a new blueprint for what a club space can be. As the audience enters the venue, they are greeted with several different ways to engage with the space. In the main theater, music from a live DJ is simultaneously described on projectors for the D/deaf community. ASL interpreters translate lyrics alongside go-go dancers and performers with diverse disabilities, while an MC audio-describes movement in headphones for blind audiences. A chill-out space on the lower level invites those with neurodiverse experiences to unwind, lie down and/or stim in a sensorily welcoming environment. Multiple forms of seating are placed throughout the venue, including day-beds for reclined dancing. This event will require proof of vaccination and masks for Covid safety, with masks available for those who don’t have them at the door. As an artist with a physical impairment, many queer nightlife spaces in the Bay Area have been difficult to access for a multitude of reasons. Instead of waiting for a space to provide the accommodations that I need, I feel compelled to create an environment where myself and my community can truly thrive. As these various offerings for access and artistry live together in the space, how can we make sure that they don’t interfere with the various accommodations they provide? How can access be both a tool for equity as well as an intentional aesthetic choice? I look forward to exploring these questions with care, humility and a commitment to learning alongside the Bay Area’s rich disability arts community. Octavia Rose Hingle Crip Ecstasy https://www.instagram.com/crip_ecstasy/ United States San Francisco, CA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/sf tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/218073 2023-04-04T00:00:00Z 2023-04-05T09:03:10Z Ik ben werkzaam met jongeren uit Utrecht, met name Utrecht Zuid, waar ik zelf woon en vandaan kom. Ik creëer verbinding door creativiteit, de jongeren die met mij om de tafel gaan voor een initiatief krijgen het gevoel dat ze op een creatieve manier ongeremd kunnen brainstormen over hun ideeën. De jongeren die een creatieve uiting zoeken in muziek of kunst worden hierin ondersteund en gestimuleerd. In mijn visie mist er nog een connectie waarbij persoonlijke begeleiding mogelijk gemaakt wordt. Ik zou graag op een iets kleinere schaal dan de bestaande initiatieven fungeren, en vooral te investeren in persoonlijke 1 op 1 begeleiding. Om deze doelen te bereiken heb ik nog een aantal producten nodig, die ik in de begroting hieronder heb toegevoegd. Pieter Maas Studio Maass http://- Netherlands Utrecht https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/utrecht tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/215499 2023-04-03T00:00:00Z 2023-04-03T21:24:23Z A four part experimental short film about the simultaneous existence of opposing phenomena at the intersection of female sexuality, spirituality, surfing, and creativity. The film will transition poetically between hand-drawn stop-motion animation and live action footage - centered around two women from Santa Cruz CA and their process living with and healing from sexual trauma. Meehan plans to use the grant to purchase materials needed for the stop motion animation part of the film as well as support her collaborators. The film is planned for showing later this year. Emily Meehan Concurrent United States Santa Cruz, CA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/santacruz tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/217008 2023-04-03T00:00:00Z 2023-04-04T00:13:28Z Luna Composition Lab’s mission is to close the gender gap in the field of music composition. Founded in 2016 by composers Missy Mazzoli and Ellen Reid, Luna Lab provides mentorship and resources for young female, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming composers. Luna Lab aims to achieve a broad, lasting, and positive impact in the field of music by empowering and emboldening the next generation of musicians and creative leaders. Luna Composition Lab’s signature program—the Luna Lab Fellowship—offers six young composers one-on-one mentorship with acclaimed professional composers annually. Mentors guide fellows in the composition of a new piece of music that is premiered by a professional ensemble as part of a weeklong festival in New York City. This festival includes professional development activities, masterclasses with inspirational figures, networking events, and more. In addition, Luna Composition Lab offers a series of group composition courses—Adventures in Sound—that support young female, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming musicians who are interested in creating their own music. From notation and music theory to applied and hands-on compositional practices, students come away with a renewed sense of the possibilities for what composition can be. Luna Composition Lab continues to see the tangible, long-term results of its important work. Alumni of the fellowship program have gone on to receive national awards, attend the nation’s top colleges and conservatories, and have been commissioned by renowned chamber ensembles and orchestras. 75% of the program’s alumni in college are studying composition, and 100% are involved in music. In the 2022–2023 season, 100% of alumni of the fellowship program have been offered professional commissions. Luna Composition Lab Luna Composition Lab Fellowship http://www.lunacompositionlab.org Worldwide Awesome Without Borders (Ոչ ակտիվ) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/awesomewithoutborders tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/216971 2023-04-01T00:00:00Z 2023-05-25T18:16:22Z Առաջարկում ենք գյուղատնտեսական մթերքների այլընտրաքնային վերամշակում։ Գյուղատնտեսական տարբեր մթերքներից, մրգերից, հացահատիկից ստեղծել ուտելի սպասք, որը շատ լավ այընտրանքային առաջարկ է համեմատած թղթե և պլաստիկ սպասքի նաև սննդային տարրաների հետ։ Այն հարմար է։ Հարկավոր չէ լվանալ և իրականում այն կարելի է օգտագործել խորտիկների կամ քաղցր ուտեստների փոխարեն: Էկոլոգիապես մաքուր են, չեն աղտոտում շրջակա միջավայրը։ Ուտելի սպասքը կեր է հանդիսանում կենդանիների համար: Էկոլոգիական կրթական նշանակություն ունի երեխաների շրջանում: Պլաստիկի արգելումը և վնասակարությունը շատ մեծ է և առաջացնում է էկոլոգիական խնդիրներ, անգամ եթե մենք ուտելի ամանները թափենք անտառում կամ այլ վայրերում ապա դրանցով կենդանիները կսնվեն։ Նախագծի միջոցով կարող ենք լուծել հետևյալ խնդիրները՝ • Սնունդը էկոլոգիապես մաքուր տարրաներում պահել • Օգտակար ու մաքուր սնունդ օգտագործել • Երեխաներին անվտանգ տարրաներով սնունդ մատուցել • Պիկնիկների ժամանակ թափոնի, աղբի կառավարում • Էկոլոգիապես մաքուր այլընտրանքները գտնել մատչելի գներով • Աղբի խնդրի վերացում • Ներդված լումա՝ բնության պահպանման գործում • Սննդի կետերի համար սովորականից տարբերվելու հնարավորություն • Երեխաներին փոքր տարիքից բնապահպանության մասին սովորեցնելու՝ հետաքրքիր և համեղ սննդի միջոցով • Ֆերմերների համար թափոնները՝ որպես անասնակեր օգտագործելու հնարավորություն Իմ բիզբես գաղափարը ընդգրկում է մի շարք ոլորտներ՝ գյուղատնտեսություն, էկոլգիա, տուրիզմ և սննդի արդյունաբերություն Շուկայում իմ առաջարկվող սպասքը նորարարություն է, մրացակիցներ կարող են հանդիսանալ պլաստիկե, թղթե և ծղոտից սպասք արտադրողները: Լիլիթ Ուտելի սպասք Armenia Nature Armenia https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/naturearmenia tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/221456 2023-04-01T00:00:00Z 2023-05-25T18:15:13Z Ողջույններս! Սիսիանի Թիվ Չորս Հիմն. Դպրոցում սեպտեմբերից գործում է Դիզայներական խմբակ։Նյութ ձեռք բերելը ամեն անգամ խնդիր էր,աշակերտները սկսեցին հազվադեպ հաճախել խմբակ։Միտք հղացա դիմել Կապանի "Սոնատեքս" կտորի կոմբինատին և կտորի թափոններ խնդրել իրենցից։ Սիրով աջակցեցին և ուղարկեցին գեղեցիկ ու բազմազան կտորների տեսակներ։ Աշակերտները շատ ոգևորվեցին և սկսեցի հաճախ այցելել խմբակ։ Ես նրանց սովորեցնում էի պատրաստել պայուսակներ,մատների տիկնիկներ,զարդեր ևն։ Այնուհետև որպես ամփոփիչ միջոցառում,Ստվերների թատրոն կազմակերպեցինք։Սցենարը՝ թափոնները ճիշտ և խնայողաբար օգտագործելն է։ Ներկայացումը երաժշտական է և կոչվում է "Շունն ու Կատուն" , Հ. Թումանյանի հայտնի հեքիաթի հիման վրա գրված։ Թատրոնի ավարտին այցելուներին աշակերտները սովորեցնում են մատների տիկնիկներ պատրաստել թափոններից։ Թատրոնը մեծ հետաքրքրություն առաջացրեց դպրոցականների շրջանում։ Այժմ դպրոցում հայտարարել ենք թատերական շաբաթ ու դպրոցի մյուս աշակերտներին հրավիրել տեսնելու,թե ինչպես գործարար,ստեղծող,խնայող Շունը և մաքրասեր,կոկիկ,սիրուն,բայց ավլած֊թափածը իր տանից դուրս անող Կատուն դառնում գործընկերներ և մշակում աշխատանքից ավելացած թոփոնները։ Հարցերով ամփոփում ենք թատրոնը և վարպետաց դասի արդյունքը։ Զարա Գասպարյան "Ոչինիչից ամեն ինչ" https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02fg6i1zjAD1DTByJvZTMaDEzd5LoxwhKxTnisGjJ6JeZckbFNdReoXX764ih1Ru5Ql&id=100001684854716&mibextid=Nif5oz Armenia Nature Armenia https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/naturearmenia tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/212652 2023-03-31T00:00:00Z 2023-04-06T17:12:41Z We are thrilled to award the first Awesome Tulsa grant to Dawn Tree, with her project Icee & Paint. The trustees felt that Dawn's work bringing free art workshop series to our community was an exceptionally awesome project, and we encourage everyone to check out Dawn's many awesome projects around Tulsa! To learn more, please visit: http://www.utreep.com/ _________ Project Overview: A series of art workshops for youth ages 7-15 yrs old, they will sip on icees/slushies and paint. This program will launch at Lacy Park Recreation Center in April. About the Winner: Hi, I'm Dawn Tree. I am a practicing fine artist and founder of Underground Tree Studios. Through the studio I work to engage/uplift the community through the showing of my own personal art, art instruction and organizing art experiences. I enjoy nature and exploring through travel. I have been an artist over 30 years and the journey has been challenging but fulfilling Dawn Tree ICEE & Paint http://Utreep.com United States Tulsa (Ոչ ակտիվ) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/tulsa tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/212949 2023-03-31T00:00:00Z 2023-04-01T02:40:21Z Between 52% and 68% of Black students are missing from gifted and talented identification in Texas, with a lack of support and critical development for success in advanced coursework. This grant will help support gifted programs for Black students in Travis County by funding transportation for SCD Enrichment’s Austin-based summer camp. Shalelia Dillard Creating Gifted Programs that Represent Austin https://www.scdenrichment.org/ United States Austin, TX https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/austin tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/214480 2023-03-31T00:00:00Z 2023-03-31T17:00:55Z **Awarded a Fat Cat Fab Lab Maker Residency for April-June, 2023** From April to June of 2023, Stuart Anderson will be joining the Fat Cat Fab Lab Makerspace community as he brings to life his idea for a Ride-able Dragon Electric Skateboard. Stuart is the founder of [Weather and Knots woodworking](https://linktr.ee/weatherandknots), and co-founder of [Ghostskate](https://www.ghostskate.com/), a MeetUp based skateboarding community group in NY, NJ and Chicago. The goal of the Dragon Board is to create an icon of electric and unpowered transportation that inspires people to think about where these vehicles belong on our roads. The Dragon Board is meant to catch the imagination of onlookers and welcome people to open their minds to what skateboarding can mean to them. The ride-able dragon electric skateboard is set to have a 3D sculpted face, claws & tail, lighting for visibility & safety, breath smoke and articulating wings. At the end of his residency Stuart plans to teach a class for the Fat Cat Fab Lab Makerspace community on vacuum press skateboard building. Stuart Anderson Flying Dragon Electric Skateboard https://www.instagram.com/weatherandknots/ United States New York City, NY https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/nyc tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/217572 2023-03-31T00:00:00Z 2023-04-04T15:50:04Z SpotPOTS is a project of Make4Covid. Make4Covid is a Colorado-based 501(c)(3) non-profit that started in 2020 and originally had over 2,000 volunteers who created and distributed over 100,000 pieces of PPE for free at the beginning of the pandemic (see Make4Covid.co for more info). Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (aka POTS) is an autonomic nervous system disorder. In recent years, Long COVID has caused a surge in POTS. Pre-pandemic estimates were 1-3 million Americans suffered from the disorder. Since then, research estimates that at least 6 million Americans have POTS. One of the main characteristics of POTS is an increased heart rate upon standing. For adults, if there is a heart rate increase of 30 bpm or more within the first 10 minutes of being upright, this would be considered a positive result as long as a person isn’t experiencing orthostatic hypotension. Symptoms that may also be seen in POTS include lightheadedness, shortness of breath, brain fog, and fatigue. SpotPOTS is an app which allows users and doctors to learn more about the condition, test for, and receive information which may help lead to a formal medical diagnosis. However, SpotPOTS itself does not provide any diagnoses. Our free app guides users through a 10 minute stand test where users input their heart rates at instructed times. Upon completion, a results page is generated showing any heart rate changes on a visual graph. Our app calculates and tells users if their heart rate meets the technical criteria for POTS (although we emphasize that this isn’t a diagnosis). Additionally, users can take a validated COMPASS-31 survey which may provide insights into other symptoms. These symptom results are displayed on a bar graph which is also built into the results page. The app uses randomized access codes so that we do not collect any personal health information. We do not know who our users are or what information they are entering. With that said, users do have the ability to retrieve previous results using the randomized codes which we provide at the start of an assessment. SpotPOTS isn’t meant to act as a diagnostic tool, but we present data and information based on user inputs which can be shared with medical providers in the hopes of leading to a formal diagnosis and treatment. **What our grantee is saying:** "Our team working on SpotPOTS is humbled and extremely appreciative to receive this grant from the Awesome Foundation’s Disability Chapter. We are currently testing the app with patients and medical providers and this funding helps as we move towards a public launch. POTS affects millions of people and current estimates show that 25% of those affected become disabled. Despite this, POTS is often poorly understood and can take years to receive a formal diagnosis. We want to help change that. We want to thank the Awesome Foundation’s Disability Chapter and its Trustees for believing in this project and believing in us. We’re hopeful that when released, SpotPOTS will become an impactful tool in education as well as helping users receive a formal diagnosis and treatment from medical providers." **What our trustees are saying:** "I love this project because it's a perfect example of mutual aid. It is so hard to get appointments with medical providers, and so many medical providers do not understand POTS." Doug Gord SpotPOTS Worldwide Disability https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/disability tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/218965 2023-03-31T00:00:00Z 2023-04-08T09:56:19Z Help us celebrate art, craft, engineering, and sciences (STEAM) with local makers at Birkenhead Central Library and Williamson Art Gallery on 3/6/23 for the first ever Wirral MakeFest, a free one-day community event that encourages innovation, promotes emerging fields, and is uniquely focused on sustainability. Because Birkenhead is one of the top deprived areas nationally, we aim to make this event accessible for all, as it’s projected that STEM jobs will grow 11% by 2031. Through fun hands-on experiences of VR, coding, engineering, and art with experts, we hope to inspire the next generation to dream, innovate and create. Key to our plans is to reach underserved communities including low income families and SEND families. According to the Children’s Commissioner ‘SEN are significantly less likely to be in work and, on average, have much lower earnings 15 years after Key Stage 4’. Part of the day will be having families interact with makers who can showcase non-traditional routes into roles like gaming and crafting. MakeFest will be fun and inclusive for all, and to emphasize this, we’d like your help to rent a planetarium to provide a sensory experience that will support SEN families. During Makefest, Williamson Art Gallery will be highlighting their Apollo Remastered exhibition which combines art and science of space travel through photos of the first moon landing. We wanted a way to enthuse families with space and ensure families visit both venues. We also wanted to provide a sensory area for families at the library, as it is open plan, it can be overwhelming to SEND families. To help minimise this, and to engage the wider public, we want to hire a planetarium and facilitators to put on 10 space shows during the day that are wheelchair accessible and SEND supportive. People of all ages will be able to sit on the floor and look at the stars inside the inflated planetarium and hear about their courses through the solar system. Diana Powell Wirral MakeFest Planetarium http://www.wirralmakefest.org United Kingdom Liverpool https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/liverpool tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/219502 2023-03-31T00:00:00Z 2023-05-17T01:13:31Z March’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to Stephanie Plouffe to support her community art show for chronically ill and queer creatives. “[Below the Dirt Art Exhibit] (https://www.instagram.com/belowthedirtartexhibit/) aims to provide an accessible space for people who have been mistreated in workplaces or in their own families due to their circumstances or identity,” explains Stephanie. “Unlike a lot of art exhibits and fairs, Below the Dirt doesn’t require the artist to pay a fee to participate. This way, absolutely anyone can take part, no matter their financial situation.” “I created this art exhibit after experiencing discrimination at my former workplace when I requested accommodations for my chronic illness and had to wait eight months for any action,” Stephanie continues. “By that time, my symptoms had worsened to the point where I could no longer work. I wanted to take part in some of the great art shows this city has to offer, but I couldn’t afford to.” “I realized that although this experience might be new to me,” says Stephanie, “it sure isn’t new to many other people living with disabilities. So that’s when I knew that there needed to be a way for chronically ill and queer artists to have a chance at selling their art without taking a huge financial risk. I'm a big advocate for giving back to my community, and this was the perfect way for me to do just that.” Stephanie is an artist and musician who loves understanding why humans behave the way they do. She hosted the first Below the Dirt Art Exhibit last August in her own back yard. On June 30, the second show [will be held at Saw Gallery] (https://www.instagram.com/p/CsFJ4g_gEpg/). Stephanie Plouffe Below the Dirt Art Exhibit https://www.instagram.com/belowthedirtartexhibit/ Canada Ottawa https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/ottawa tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/216098 2023-03-30T00:00:00Z 2023-03-31T04:34:43Z Good morning, My name is Jason and I am the founder and president of Twin Lights Recovery Inc, a non profit operating a men's sober living house in Gloucester, MA. We are a 12 step house, that creates a structured, safe, clean environment for men to transition back to life while in early recovery. Jason Favaloro Twin Lights Recovery men's sober living home http://www.twinlightsrecovery.com United States Gloucester, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/gloucester tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/216396 2023-03-30T00:00:00Z 2023-03-31T17:00:38Z **Awarded a Fat Cat Fab Lab Maker Residency for April-June, 2023** For the past year, we have been working on a series of projects that examine the phenomena of glass collisions among migratory birds in NYC. Alongside conservation scientists, we are collecting the bodies of individual songbirds who died in collisions with glass windows, 3D scanning them, and reincarnating them out of the material that killed them. We exhibited an early version of this project at the Under Over Through show at New Lab last summer. We now have the opportunity to continue developing this work into a solo show taking place on Govorner’s Island this summer. We are searching for funds and resources to make new pieces that are truly awesome. Humans have been mesmerized by birds for centuries, making them the star of myths and folklore in every culture. Now they are often overlooked. Every morning birds who collide with buildings are swept off the streets, leaving no trace of the impactful event that just happened. During the Fat Cat residency, we’ll create human-sized bird sculptures assembled of 3D-printed parts. An accompanying AR piece will hint at future myths, creating a mesmerizing experience of multispecies worldbuilding. Drawing on Governers Island’s relationship to the sea and indigenous heritage, as well as Fat Cat Lab’s commitment to forming a creative community, we’ll weave together stories that illustrate the past, present, and future entanglements of the creatures of the air and earth (birds and humans). We’ll continue to develop our process of scanning and printing glass collision victims, to reincarnate them from different materials of the urban environment. We’ll develop AR animations that reference scientific myths that were upheld as fact until bird migration was discovered only 200 years ago. For example, Aristotle’s theories of transmutation in birds, or Olaus Magnus’s declaration that Swallows hibernate underwater for the winter. These stories and more hint at the mystique surrounding these strange yet familiar creatures. Stay tuned [@leslieandgal](https://instagram.com/leslieandgal) or check us out at https://leslieandgal.com Leslie Ruckman & Gal Nissim Swan Song https://leslieandgal.com/swansong/ United States New York City, NY https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/nyc tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/213390 2023-03-29T00:00:00Z 2023-04-27T10:46:39Z Walk by Moonlight, Georgetown – An Evening by Small Businesses, For Small Businesses What is this Event? Keep the Lights on for Small Businesses. A new monthly summer evening program in Georgetown to get to know the town businesses and enjoy and fun community-based night out with friends, family, couples, and more. Businesses Along the Route Are Invited to Stay Open to invite participants to shop, visit and learn more about your business. All businesses will offer free snack/food and some will offer drinks. Businesses will have evening discounts, coupons, demonstrations, or free items. 1. Wednesday June 14th 5:30-7:30pm 2. Wednesday July 12th, 5:30-7:30pm 3. Wednesday August 9th, 5:30-7:30pm Michelle Aulson Walk by Moonlight, Georgetown http://na United States Georgetown, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/georgetown tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/218123 2023-03-29T00:00:00Z 2023-03-29T02:04:35Z The Josh Hanson Memorial Bike Clinic is a newly re-named annual FREE bike clinic in Fairbanks, Alaska that has been helping (as it was previously called) "Fix Yr Sweet Bike" since 2014. We are a collective of bicycle mechanics who come together in the spring each year to tune bikes & teach our fellow riders how to repair minor problems on their own. Bicycles are liberatory & awesome & - with just a little learning - accessible to many. We stage our clinic at public places & focus on helping people who cannot afford to take their bikes to a regular shop. In the past, this has included fixing children's bicycles at a local subsidized apartment complex & at downtown homeless outreach events. Many of our unhoused neighbors do not have the resources to buy supplies & their bicycles are usually in rough condition because of it. The winter's up here are tough & when bicycles are ridden without proper winterization things break. These folks often have no other transportation options & they sure don't need their life to be harder in this way. Our basic service includes checking gears & derailleurs for shifting issues, the drive train, brakes, tires, cables/housing, wheel & frame alignments, wheel spokes, head stocks & seat poles. Our event is always free & we provide as many tools & supplies as we can. We would like to put together basic bicycle care kits to give out at the event as well as buy more of the high-need items that we always run out of due to the limits of our own finances. This Year, the Josh Hanson Memorial Bike Clinic will be held at Fairbanks' local soup kitchen,the Stone Soup Cafe - where several of our clinic mechanics work &/or volunteer to feed their vulnerable neighbors, year-round. This is one more way that we can serve our community. Hannah C. Hill Josh Hanson Memorial Bike Clinic http://n/a Worldwide Homelessness (Ոչ ակտիվ) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/homelessness tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/215080 2023-03-28T00:00:00Z 2023-03-29T17:01:52Z Waters Elementary focuses on ecology and stewardship and has a dedicated class where students in all grade levels learn about technology and environmental science. We have adopted a Chicago River Bank, Sunken Gardens. Students will use this as a mobile lab, since it is so close to our school, to run water samples, collect data, and help slow erosion along the shore line. Currently, the site is in disarray and overrun with an invasive species-Buckthorn. Buckthorn holds a chemical in its roots that stops other plants growing near it, so in order for more native plants to be grown, we will need to cut Buckthorn along the bank. While we have a few of the items needed, they are old and sparse. We would like to purchase more loppers to cut the base and branches of the Buckthorn, goggles and work gloves for students to use for protection, and equipment to carry these supplies to and from our school each day. This project will be ongoing maintenance throughout many years, but the replacement cost of the materials will be spread out and not as high as our initial purchases. Kerrie Rovito Clear the Chicago River Bank of Invasives! http://www.waterselementary.org/gardening--environmental-science.html United States Chicago, IL https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/chicago tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/217964 2023-03-28T00:00:00Z 2023-03-29T03:25:00Z We are a small group of neighbors in the Hazelwood neighborhood (the area with the highest rates of gun violence in the city) who are organizing a place-making project this June. We have been accepted as a site in this year's Village Building Convergence (https://villagebuildingconvergence.com/) , a flagship event with eight days of workshops, placemaking, presenters, and community building that has been going on for twenty years in Portland. Our project is a covered cob bench on SE 127th between Stark and Burnside - the Weary Wanderers Waystation, for the parched and famished pedestrian in our desert of a neighborhood. Ideally the bench will include a community cupboard and a cob oven (though those might be add-ons during next year's Convergence). And the roof will include rainwater catchment that feeds into an existing rain garden. We are getting design help from the natural building experts and designers with the City Repair Project (hosts of the VBC) and community support from the neighborhood to help build it - including formerly homeless neighbors now housed in the Safe Rest Village two blocks away. The images attached are of other cob bench projects constructed through the Village Building Convergence, which we will be using as inspiration and plans for our own design. Jenka Soderberg The Weary Wanderers Waystation https://villagebuildingconvergence.com/ United States Portland, OR https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/portland tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/215064 2023-03-27T00:00:00Z 2023-03-28T00:58:49Z Our Adult Transition Program for individuals with disabilities works on 4 key domains which include: • Independent Living Skills • Vocational and Employment Skills • Personal and Social Skills Leisure and Recreation Skills. We would like for you to be an integral partner in the successful implementation and growth of the BLAST program. Because this program is unique, the facility needs are quite different than the needs typically associated with our traditional classrooms. In order to properly support the teaching and learning of skills aligned to the curricular framework mentioned above, our classroom (or Learning Lab) is designed to simulate real-world living quarters. The learning labs contain a Bedroom suite, Living room suite, kitchen/dining areas, as well as an area designed for group instruction. It is through systematic and sustained instruction in real-world environments that they will learn the skills needed to achieve optimal post-school success. We currently have a need to fulfill flexible seating options and that will address various sensory and adapted needs for our unique students. This grant will address those needs by allowing us to purchase various seating options. Kellie Emery Flexible Seating for Young Adults Worldwide Awesome Without Borders (Ոչ ակտիվ) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/awesomewithoutborders tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/217418 2023-03-27T00:00:00Z 2023-03-29T10:17:52Z The Canady Foundation for the Arts is introducing our inaugural CFA Youth Improv Slam! This Improv Slam will include the students of our awesome Youth Improv program, which is open to high school students of color throughout the DMV area. The program’s mission is to bridge the gap for students of color whose exposure to the arts is disproportionate to their counterparts. We focus on three key skills: leadership, social activism, and entrepreneurship while also providing students a safe space to explore their creativity and comedic intuition. In our pilot program last year, over half of our participants reported increased confidence with public speaking and 100& of students reported they would participate again! We couldn’t do it without our outstanding team, all professional actors of color, who have dedicated themselves to empowering and enriching the DC youth community through their passion for the arts. CFA collaborates with several community partners including Kweli TV, Theater J, DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Washington Improv Theatre, Harlem Comedy Festival, Standup Comedy to Go, and DC Parks and Recreation-making this a true community partnership to fulfill a need for high school students seeking a safe, challenging, and creative outlet. The Slam will be a live and unscripted performance competition and the winners will be crowned the “Best Youth Improv Team in D.C”. This friendly competition is meant to facilitate peer cooperation and be a culminating demonstration of everything the students have learned throughout their time in the program. Local high schools in the 2023 program include Dunbar High School, Maya Angelou Public Charter School, Kipp DC College Preparatory, and Cardozo Education Campus. Canady Foundation for the Arts / Marjuan Canady 1st Annual CFA Youth Improv Slam https://www.canadyfoundationarts.org/improv United States Washington, DC https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/dc tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/216331 2023-03-24T00:00:00Z 2023-03-25T09:00:07Z Դպրոցում սովորողները 45 րոպե X 6,7 նստում են դասի կամ բարկանում են ընկերոջ, ուսուցչի, ընտանիքի անդամների վրա կամ դասից հետո սպասում են սպասասրահում որևէ խմբակի մասնակցելու համար և վերջապես ուղղակի հոգնում են; Այս ամենը ամենօրյա և առօրյա սթրես է: Որպեսզի երեխաները կարողանան լիցքաթափվել, հանգստացնել նյարդերը, նկարեն, գրեն պատին (սովորաբար պատերին գրել չի կարելի, իսկ երեխաները այնքան շատ են սիրում պատերին գրել), անել այն ամենը ինչ ցանկանում են, մեր դպրոցի թիմը որոշեց ստեղծել ՛՛ԱնտիՍթրես Պատ՛՛, որի վրա կարելի կլինի գրել, նկարել, խզբզել կավիճով և/կամ մարկերով: Կարինե Կոստանյան AntiStress Wall Armenia Yerevan https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/yerevan tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/217239 2023-03-24T00:00:00Z 2023-03-24T15:41:20Z Psychology is a fascinating and valuable field that can provide insights into human behavior and improve our daily lives. However, much of the research and knowledge generated in psychology remains inaccessible to the general public. This project aims to develop a series of educational resources to bridge this gap and promote the understanding and application of psychology in everyday life.   The primary objective of this project is to develop a series of accessible and engaging resources that explain and demonstrate the principles of psychology in everyday life. The series will aim to: 1. Increase public awareness and understanding of psychology as a field and its potential applications in daily life. 2. Empower individuals with practical knowledge and skills to improve their mental health and wellbeing, relationships, and overall quality of life. 3. Address common misconceptions about psychology and promote evidence-based practices and interventions. Donna Roberts Psychology in Everyday Life Italy Aviano (Ոչ ակտիվ) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/aviano tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/216722 2023-03-23T00:00:00Z 2023-05-11T20:57:18Z Our project is about improving our school. It is called a Legacy Project where we look for projects that can help our school. We are in the enrichment program and we are trying to get money to fund our legacy projects. We have six individual legacy projects that each belong to one person. We have AlumFinder, Steps to Inspiration, Musical Steps, 4 Square Reborn, Colorful Columns, and History in the Painting. These six legacy projects each have individual purposes and most of them require a lot of money. We have AlumFinder, which is a legacy project about helping current Maunawili Elementary students learn more about past Maunawili students and help build a better community in the Maunawili school. This project does not require any money. The next legacy project we have is Steps to Inspiration, where we repaint some of the stairs that lead to the upper building. This project's purpose is to make the stairs leading to the upper building look nicer because the paint has been wearing off a lot. This project will cost $350. The next legacy project is Musical Steps, where we will paint the other stairs that lead to the upper building like a piano keyboard. This legacy project will cost $100. The next legacy project is History in the Painting. In this project we will paint a mural about the year on the upper building. We are doing this legacy project so we can paint the history of the school. This project will cost $150. The next legacy project is 4 Square Reborn, where we will repaint the 4 square area because the paint has been wearing off for a while now. This legacy project is to help improve the 4 square area so it is more enjoyable to play. This project will cost $150. The last legacy project we have is colorful columns. This legacy project is to paint all the pillars in the lower building. We are doing this to make it look better, and we will also add inspirational quotes on the pillars so people can be inspired when they see the pillars. This project will cost Dee Takeno Legacy Projects - Maunawili school United States Oahu, HI https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/oahu tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/205477 2023-03-22T00:00:00Z 2023-04-09T12:41:28Z O projeto minha cadeira de rodas não é minha prisão vem em constante a fim de promover inclusão social. Dando equidade e qualidade de vida a pessoa com deficiência a Ampare associação pela inclusão da mulher e pessoa com deficiência vem à tempos promovendo essas ações com ajuda da população e de outras ONGs. Nosso objetivo principal é que realmente as Órteses e próteses e outros serviços possam chegar às pessoas que realmente precisam e pretendemos continuar a faze lo..empregos desde já a gratidão pela ação de vcs ♿ O projeto visa adquirir 60% em cadeira de banho outros 40% em cadeiras de rodas . O proponente é Maurílio Dias Jardim, presidente do Conselho da Pessoa com Deficiência em Brumadinho e presidente da Ampare e da Ambejota. Comped@brumadinho.mg.gov.br ambejotabrumadinho@gmail.com amparebrumadinho@gmail.com Sempre agindo em prol de inclusão total da pessoa buscando acessibilidade nas cidades e para todos . Maurilio Dias Jardim Minha cadeira não é minha prisão e minha liberdade Brazil Brumadinho https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/brumadinho tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/214094 2023-03-20T00:00:00Z 2023-03-21T12:47:42Z I'm currently working with Florida Department of State and Folklore Society to preserve Florida's skate heritage. I'm using funds from the project to build a pop-up skatepark that I can bring to different parts of town every week. I'm also building a digital archive of Florida skate architecture, and interviews with innovators and historic figures. Zach Moldof Chuck Dinkins Has A Posse Stickers http://www.skatebud.com United States Orlando, FL https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/orlando tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/214749 2023-03-20T00:00:00Z 2023-03-21T02:26:44Z I am a master degreed educator and generational steward of the grounds of the first public school for African-American children in rural Walker County. Please visit www.rosenwaldacres.com for extensive and historic information on the Rosenwald School#1 Centennial Project. We have already received 2 grants from H-E-B in support of our annual, free to the public, “Back to Our Roots” Earth Day Music Festival on April 22. The “ Back to Our Roots” Earth Day Music Festival is scheduled for April 15, 2022. We also need funding for artists for our free to the public “Zydeco, Blues and Storytelling Festival” on the Rosenwald outdoor stage H-E-B just funded, for Juneteenth. Kijana Wiseman-Fusilier, Rosenwald School Centennial Project https://rosenwaldacres.com Worldwide Awesome Without Borders (Ոչ ակտիվ) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/awesomewithoutborders tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/215699 2023-03-20T00:00:00Z 2023-08-31T20:01:35Z The AMP scholarship program allows Protohaven to offer free classes for 10 BIPOC individuals from the Wilkinsburg community. BIPOC individuals often do not feel welcome in makerspaces and typically see them as places that are "not for them." Protohaven has been working to intentionally remove barriers to access (both financially and culturally). Protohaven is Pittsburgh’s largest nonprofit community makerspace. There are 15 areas of making, including woodshop, blacksmithing, welding, jewelry, 3D printing, textiles, lasers, and more. Through AMP, Protohaven is able to provide income-based rates for classes, and memberships to those who qualify. Protohaven works on programming that intentionally removes barriers to access for under-resourced and under-represented individuals. Amber Epps Access to Making Program (AMP) Scholarships http://www.protohaven.org United States Pittsburgh, PA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/pittsburgh tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/216991 2023-03-20T00:00:00Z 2023-04-10T20:14:01Z The Brain and Body Coalition is on a mission to help the community of Poughkeepsie and the BIPOC population to remind them of a simple fact the brain is part of the body In other words, mental health, and physical health are directly connected so we should take care of both and also remember that we can comfortably speak about both. Our organization provides different trainings and tools to the community, and we are currently servicing Dutchess, Ulster, Putnam and Westchester Counties. We provide these tools by way of trainings, education and advocacy. We have already provided Mental Health education kits to FDR High School, and Poughkeepsie High School. We have also secured and MOU with Nubian Directions on 248 Main Street in Poughkeepsie Providing their group with a workshop titled “It is what it is, breaking down the Barriers of Stigma” we have also provided Narcan training which is something we will continue to provide. We find that it is important to support the adults that are supporting our children so the workshops and trainings that we offer are geared for adults. We also know that our youth are under a lot of stress. Even more so since the pandemic. So as part of our mission in teaching the skills to handle a mental health condition we are providing wellness and educational packets to our children in the community. Since the brain is part of the body and whole health and wellness is very important, we know that distributing helpful information along with items like fidget spinners, and stress balls, mindful activities, and a list of culturally competent resources is beneficial for both families and our youth. This project is just not awesome. It is super awesome because when it is seen, into fruition we will be able to help our children who are being affected coming out of the pandemic and they do not know how to handle their emotions. Having access to these materials will be beneficial. Heather Ann Pitcher Community Wellness Kits during May and July http://www.brainandbodycoalition.org United States Poughkeepsie, NY https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/poughkeepsie tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/216104 2023-03-18T00:00:00Z 2023-04-21T13:56:11Z Sleep in Heavenly Peace chapters utilizes community volunteers to come together to build and deliver twin-size beds (that can be bunked) to kids aged 3-17 that are sleeping on the floor or in other uncomfortable situations. The volunteers deliver these beds, fully furnished (frames, mattresses, sheets, pillows, and blankets) to children in need; they partner with local organizations, churches, businesses, and community members to build them! Chapter leadership and their core team show volunteers how to take a pile of wood, and with drills, sanders, and saws, construct twin bed frame components. SHP's simple design is easy to follow and takes no woodworking experience to learn. During SHP community "Build Days," volunteers learn about the organization and the need in "their town" and take pride as they transform piles of lumber into twin bed frames. Following each build day, volunteers deliver the beds to local families that requested/qualified for one. SHP Build and Delivery Days facilitate community engagement by providing a fun and practical opportunity to volunteer their time. The SD-Watertown Chapter was established in September 2021 and is run by volunteer Chapter President Katie Stransky. This is an all volunteer run Chapter and the goal for 2023 is to raise funds, raise awareness of child bedlessness, build and deliver 150 beds to kids in need in Watertown. Sherri Hines No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town SD-Watertow http://www.shpbeds.org United States Watertown, SD (Ոչ ակտիվ) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/watertown tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/214986 2023-03-17T00:00:00Z 2023-03-17T20:46:29Z Our Musical Instrument Petting Zoo program directly supports our mission to help more children reap the educational, therapeutic and social benefits of playing music. Children living in under-resourced communities often do not have the opportunity to be introduced to musical instruments along with the joy and benefits of music making. We bring acoustic & electric guitars, ukuleles, keyboards and dozens of different types of percussion instruments for children to interact with in a safe and informal environment. This experience is often to referred to as a "please touch museum" for musical instrument – in some cases, this is a child’s first opportunity to hold an instrument. Our volunteer teaching artists demonstrate the instruments and then guide the children on how to properly hold the instrument and make their first musical sounds. These events often act as inspiration for children to begin thinking about playing a musical instrument. Academic research has shown that playing music provides a multitude of benefits for children. These benefits include higher test scores in math, science and reading that come from actual physical changes in the brain (enlarged corpus callosum, which is the neural pipeline that connects the left logical side and right creative side of our brains). Children also experience boosts in several "soft skills" including patience, perseverance and discipline. These skills along with resulting boosts to their self-confidence absolutely translates to other activities in their life. As part of our Philadelphia events, we provide information to families about resources for low and no cost instruments and music lessons. Our ultimate goal with these events, is to give kids the best of chance of success no matter what career path they choose later in life. Vincent James Musical Instrument Petting Zoos https://www.keepmusicalive.org/instrument-petting-zoos United States Philadelphia, PA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/philadelphia tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/215312 2023-03-16T00:00:00Z 2023-05-23T16:11:42Z Learning how to sew changed my life. It was the first time in my life that clothes actually fit me. By adding hems, darts and elastic, suddenly it wasn’t my body that needed to change, it was the clothes. Having this essential skill changed how I see myself and helped me accept my body. For the past two years, I have facilitated free weekly fashion design and sewing workshops for residents at Lotus House Women’s Shelter in Overtown, Miami. Class participants hone their sewing and fashion design skills with weekly activities: making tote bags from button-up dress shirts, upcycling t-shirts into cute wraps and adding drawstring details, dying textiles, fashion sketching, mood boarding, bikini making and more. The residents bring in their own garments and learn how to repair and alter them, bringing a newfound confidence to themselves and their bodies. And they learn about sustainable upcycling using materials from the Lotus House Thrift Store in Wynwood and donate fabrics. The sessions culminate in a runway show and photoshoot where Lotus House guests model self-styled outfits along with their own upcycled garments. Lotus House’s mission is to advocate on behalf of women, youth and children experiencing homelessness, to raise awareness of their special needs; inspire innovative, holistic solutions that truly break the cycle of childhood abuse, domestic violence and homelessness; and advance service driven research and enlightened public and social policies for greater understanding, social inclusion and resources for women and children experiencing homelessness. Through these fashion design and sewing workshops, the women and youth experiencing homelessness gain confidence, life and trade skills and are empowered to envision themselves in new ways. Becca McCharen-Tran Empowering Women through Fashion https://chromat.co/blogs/news/lotus-house-sewing-classes United States Miami, FL https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/miami tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/216742 2023-03-16T00:00:00Z 2023-03-17T13:09:57Z We want to run a free, arts-oriented Earth Day celebration in Skeleton Park this spring. Specifically, we want to provide the all-ages Kingston community a space to come together on Earth Day and reflect on the climate crisis through creative practices. We are hoping to offer a variety of artistic activities, including collaborating on a large portable mural for local climate protests, decorating used t-shirts with climate slogans, making buttons that can be worn to raise climate awareness, and potting wildflowers with attached educational leaflets to encourage people to start pollinator gardens. We also want to incorporate music, poetry, and nature therapy into the event with guitar playing, singing, spoken word poetry, and group meditation. This event will also be home to the final celebration of our currently underway poster and button contests, which challenged the youth of Kingston to design posters and buttons which imagine a “fossil free” Kingston – in alignment with 350 Kingston’s current campaign to demand a 50% city-wide reduction in carbon emissions by 2030. This awesome project builds off our successful 2022 Earth Day event, where we invited the surrounding community to join us in the park for climate-related crafting, including poster-making, chalk drawings, sunflower kits, and a drum circle hosted by Ollin.ca. Overall, our Earth Day celebration is intended as a space where Kingstonians can meet not only to celebrate nature, but to reflect on and process our anxieties surrounding climate change, and together think through collective and creative ways that Kingston can continue to tackle the climate crisis at home. Ultimately, by making climate action accessible, fun, and community-oriented, we can strengthen the overall climate movement in Kingston and beyond. New Climate Stories Earth Day Celebration 2023 https://newclimatestories.wordpress.com Canada Kingston https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/kingston-on tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/214312 2023-03-15T00:00:00Z 2023-05-05T16:32:58Z We started our “My Bedding” Project in February 2022 with the desire to create customized bedding sets for youth who have aged out of foster care, are currently in foster care or have been adopted. As social workers we found the need to create a warm, and loving environment which starts with the services that each youth receives, but also within their physical environment. Our goal is to change the stigma of foster care by providing quality bedding that each youth and young adult requests and providing the kits directly to them. “My Bedding" Project: Children and youth receive a customized comforter set with a matching decorative item (i.e., poster, wall décor, and/or decorative pillow, etc.), books, mattress protectors, and a pillow for their bedroom helping to establish a sense of pride and security. Our process: resource parents, social workers, and/or youth/young adults submit their request, we purchase the items, and then we deliver directly to the youth/young adults. These items will remain in their care even if they transition into a new home or out of foster care. “It’s for them!” Lakiesha Hohl My Bedding Project https://www.sandlfosterfamilyagency.org/ United States Los Angeles, CA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/los-angeles tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/215940 2023-03-15T00:00:00Z 2023-09-04T04:09:45Z Moths are awesome. No, not moths of the insect variety, although those are pretty incredible too (as are dinosaurs, of course!). We are MoTHs: Mums of the Hills; a Dandenong Ranges-based community group dedicated to supporting women through motherhood. Established in 2015, we have grown from a local online support group to 5.5k-strong village with several sub groups and a keen focus on local advocacy. We are on a super thrilling mission to open our very own awesome mums hub. This magical, whimsical, wondrous space will enrich our beautiful community in ways that honestly make us giddy with excitement! The hub will be a safe, nourishing and inclusive place, where mothers can connect and feel grounded in their community. We have big plans, HUGE plans: workshops, events, advice sessions, crisis support and more. And yet we are also equally excited for the simpler things, such as a place to recoup and have a cuppa. The awesome news: we have a location! A sweet spot in the gorgeous town of Belgrave. We invite you to check out the video linked below where you can meet Belinda Young, our founder, taking us on a tour of our future home. (It is worth dropping mention here that Belinda was the 2023 Australian of the Year, Victorian Local Hero! That’s how amazing and vital her group is to the hills) https://youtu.be/JBelFoi7guc The not-so awesome news: the costs involved in this project are daunting – but we will not be deterred, awesomeness shall prevail! Our Vision is a future where mothers and families are connected, supported and empowered to overcome common challenges and thrive in a hill community. Our Mission is to support the well-being of mothers by creating a blended online and face-to-face community in which mothers connect and thrive. https://www.mumsofthehills.com.au/ https://youtu.be/WBM9gAYwg8g https://www.facebook.com/mumsofthehills Mums of the Hills (Madeleine Coyle) A hub for Mums of the Hills https://www.mumsofthehills.com.au/ Australia Melbourne (Ոչ ակտիվ) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/melbourne tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/216412 2023-03-15T00:00:00Z 2023-04-04T16:29:33Z This last summer I led a group of artists and volunteers and we created 6 murals at the Churches United homeless shelter in Fargo ND. It was a project that aimed to bring some color and life to a crisis center that was unfortunately very dull and lacked many colors. The project was long and it took six months. In that time I notice in real time how much having those art murals impacted the residents of that shelter and how positively they engaged and remarked on them. After that experience, I had this urge to do more similar mural paintings around town. Mural paintings can be part of the community and serve as a source of joy, wonder, and a way for people to engage with the arts outside of museums and art classes. Franklin Ugochukwu Murals http://N/A United States Cass Clay https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/cassclay tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/215898 2023-03-14T00:00:00Z 2023-03-20T13:04:40Z This project is about learning to grow vegetables and herbs in containers. 25-30 Germantown community members will participate in this 6-month project as learning gardeners, and an additional 5 will join as teaching gardeners. At the beginning of the project, participants will be provided 3 potted tomato, basil, and pepper plants, and the materials needed for starting another 2 plants of their choosing. Each learning gardener will be paired with a teaching gardener who will offer them one-on-one support from April-September while they dig into container gardening. There will also be journaling and a monthly check-in for the whole group, allowing folks to build community with each other along the way. Participants can grow inside or outside, and from the convenience of home, making this particularly accessible for seniors or other folks who may have mobility issues. It will be especially useful and relevant for folks who don’t have yards where they can garden. This project is about producing food locally, gaining easy access to fresh and nutritious food, building confidence and self-esteem, connecting people of similar interests, creating greater food security, reducing transportation impacts of the food system, connecting with the nature and the natural process of growing food, fostering a spirit of community-self-reliance, and learning in a supportive environment. We will also connect folks to other activities of our organization if they want to further develop skills such as seed-saving, preparing, and preserving food. Particularly over the last few years of encouraged isolation, many people, especially those most vulnerable, have had a growing feeling of being disconnected and lonely. Our project offers a way for people to reconnect and to meet new people, in a way that feels safe, comfortable, and easy. On top of that, they get to develop a new skill which will build confidence and a sense of empowerment. Lindsay Stolkey At-Home Container Gardening Support Project http://www.greatgtown.org United States Philadelphia, PA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/philadelphia tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/214599 2023-03-13T00:00:00Z 2023-03-13T20:25:26Z Atlas Assistance Dogs helps people with disabilities train their own service dog so that they can gain greater independence in their daily lives. Along with our clients and their dogs, we are helping to democratize service dog training so that service dogs aren't only for people who have the money to afford one or who are lucky enough to obtain a trained dog from an institution. We challenge traditional assumptions about who can train service dogs, how dogs should be trained, and what dogs and people can accomplish together. Many people, including many in the service dog world, believe that people with disabilities can’t train their own service dog. Our clients are helping to show that they can! We create a customized training plan for each client and their dog. We teach clients disability-mitigating skills and how to self-advocate. We help refine the dog’s and client’s ability to work in distracting public environments and ensure they have the skills and confidence necessary to navigate anywhere they go in day-to-day life. We use only positive, ethical, fear-free training methods. We treat both our clients and their dogs with respect and kindness. Our skilled Team Facilitator volunteers work hands on, at least twice a month, with our clients and their dogs, training and coaching them throughout the program over a period of at least six months. A client-dog team that passes our Public Access Test at the end of the program, is established as a certified Atlas team and earns their vest and ID card. Atlas does not have a physical location. We support clients across the United States, as long as we have Team Facilitators available in their area to work with them. Our clients take online courses coupled with their one-on-one in person training, so the hands-on training is conducted in all the places the client regularly frequents. Michael Kolar Service Dog Training and Certification http://www.atlasdog.org Worldwide Awesome Without Borders (Ոչ ակտիվ) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/awesomewithoutborders tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/212941 2023-03-12T00:00:00Z 2023-03-13T00:29:54Z The Vegan Challenge 2.0 is an ongoing project that aims to raise awareness and educate people throughout Denmark about the benefits of a plant-based diet. The project builds upon the success of our Vegan Challenge campaign, VeganerUdfordringen, which created an online platform where participants can access information, recipes, and support. This new project will take it to the next level by developing new educational videos and resources to make the information more accessible, engaging, and interactive for everyone. The project will focus on reducing the exploitation and cruelty of animals for food by promoting a plant-based diet. It will help educate people on the ethical, environmental, and health benefits of a plant-based diet and how they can make a difference in the world by making compassionate food choices. The videos will be designed to be interactive and engaging, with quizzes and infographics included to make the information more accessible and easy to understand. The project team will work hard to ensure Danish-speaking audiences easily understand the videos and are inclusive and respectful to all. Overall, the Vegan Challenge 2.0 project is an exciting and innovative way to empower people in Denmark to positively impact animals, the planet, and their health through education and awareness about a plant-based diet. Jason Møller Vegan Challenge 2.0: New, Engaging Videos http://veganerudfordringen.dk Worldwide Vegan (Ոչ ակտիվ) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/vegan tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/216965 2023-03-12T00:00:00Z 2023-03-20T15:32:02Z 80% of brain development occurs in the first three years of a child's life. During this formative period, skill gaps between socio-economic, racial, and ethnic groups become apparent and widen as children grow to school age. The Newburgh Basics utilizes five simple research-based strategies that stimulate brain and language development and support school readiness through play, singing, storytelling, and positive physical contact. These organic activities don't require large sums of money or significant parental education, which makes the Newburgh Basics equitable and accessible to families of all cultures, languages, incomes, and racial demographics. The Basics also supports the identification of learning challenges which helps families seek services earlier. The Newburgh Basics was launched in 2017 and sustained through collaborations with the Childcare Council of Orange County, Head Start of Eastern Orange County, Orange County Department of Health, Cornerstone FHC, Montefiore Hospital Kaplan Birthing Center, Access Supports for Living Healthy Families, Newburgh Free Library, Newburgh Jewish Community Center, and Newburgh Armory, however, during COVID the Basics became inactive. The Basics collaborative provided parent workshops and events to introduce the Basics and how to use them, and also provided professional development to childcare providers on how to implement the Basics in their daily routines with children. The Newburgh Basics Family Day will take place 5/27/23 from 2:30 to 4:30 pm @ the Newburgh Armory. The event will include: Fun interactive family learning stations that will introduce the Basics to families and how to organically use them. Distribution of Newburgh Basics Bags which include books, local resources, and how to use the Basics organically throughout the day. A free subscription to Basic Insights - daily Basic info, tips, and Pamela Peterson Newburgh Basics Re-Launch https://www.newburghbasics.org United States Newburgh, NY https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/newburgh tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/211456 2023-03-09T00:00:00Z 2023-03-10T15:04:19Z About 3MB: Men Mentoring Men and Boys affectionately know as “3MB” is an organization which provides male youth and Men with a sense of brotherhood in the efforts to prevent them from spiraling to negative activities such as gang involvement, alcohol, drugs, premarital sex, and various peer pressures by exposing them to a higher power and with weekly discussion groups, community service, and recreational activities. Mentors and members desire to make a difference in each member’s life by assisting each other in managing problems and reinforcing positive values, giving them the opportunity to adopt those positive values and apply them to their lives so that they can become productive males in the community. Our Vision Empowering male youth to become positive productive adults while inspiring men to become effective leaders in the community, to assist in filling the gap of the absentee fathers by providing optimistic male role models. Our Mission Statement To teach and educate male youth and men to make wise decisions and good choices by providing them with mentors, leaders, training, and support through hands-on learning experiences, spiritual education, group discussion, life skills training, social skills, and recreational activities. 3MB was founded in 2003 and currently hosts a daily afterschool program which came about mid pandemic to help address the needs of working parents whose children may have fallen behind due to not having adequate academic and social support during the global shutdown and beyond Our program prides itself on exposing young people to experiences beyond their normal exposure by taking them on educational field trips, college tours, community service projects, annual camping trips, conferences, and even mini vacations Music, drama, and exposure to the Arts are paramount to our program as well. We have a sister organization as well which is the Girl Talk Mentoring Program. The two together do outings and comprise a 4H program as well. Faith Lloyd-Smith 3MB AfterSchool http://3mandb.org United States Cleveland, OH https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/cleveland tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/205369 2023-03-09T00:00:00Z 2023-04-16T16:58:34Z AwesomeStPaul is proud to announce our March 2023 grant recipient. The Urban Village is bringing our Karen families together for this camp experience. Thank you Urban Village for your awesome work in our community. According to their application, “At The Urban Village, we understand resettlement as a generational reality rather than the more commonly understood three month process of initial landing. Being that most Karen families arrived after 2006, the initial challenges of resettlement are still prevalent in our community. One of the biggest challenges identified by multi generational members of our community is the youth’s struggle with the intersectionality of understanding and connecting with their cultural identity. It’s no secret that disconnected and unrooted youth are prone to experience violence, disenfranchisement, and substance abuse at a higher level. Currently we are seeing a spike in Karen and Karenni youth engaging in violence at school. We see this as a manifestation of the inner turmoil and confusion created by a lack of connection to any culture or identity. We know that a more rooted youth in their own identity is also a more empathetic and curious youth towards understanding other’s identities. The truth is our Karen and Karenni youth don’t feel quite Karen/Karenni enough for their parents, and not quite “American” enough for their peers. Because of this, in 2022 we launch our first ever "Knyaw Camp" (Knyaw is how you say Karen in the Karen language). This past summer we took a 100 youth from our community up to St. Croix state park for a 3 day camp experience that focused on deepening the connection to cultural identity as well as healing from traumatic experiences. This year our camp centered around 4 key topics with small group breakouts: My History, My Experiences, My Identity, and My Responsibility. We also played games that many youth played in refugee camps, cooked culturally relevant foods, and spoke and sang in the Karen language. The whole idea around this camp was to create safe space where Karen kids can come together and explore about their experiences and identity. What happened was so incredible that we want to offer two camps next summer. We hope you'll join us.” Ku Hser Knyaw (Karen) Camp https://www.theurbanvillage.org/projects-6 United States St. Paul, MN https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/stpaul tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/216554 2023-03-09T00:00:00Z 2023-03-10T15:04:38Z AMIS (French for "friends") is a volunteer-led effort to help newcomers to northeast Ohio who are seeking legal status but do not have an easy path to citizenship. Specifically, we focus on assisting asylum seekers with expenses that are not covered by other social service agencies or government programs. AMIS started as a grassroots effort in 2018 when one of our board members was asked to become a sponsor for a Haitian asylum seeker being illegally detained for two years in a NEO jail. A group of Cleveland area residents raised over $16k to help pay his legal fees and support for his wife and children in Haiti. Since then, we have helped over 100 people with medical bills, trauma counseling, legal fees (DACA fees), rental assistance, utility support, and various other emergency needs. All the money we have used over the past five years has been directly from our generous donors, and one of our goals for 2023 is to seek grant funds to help diversify our funding sources and grow our impact. Samantha Ryder Americans Making Immigrants Safe (AMIS) http://amisohio.org United States Cleveland, OH https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/cleveland tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/216581 2023-03-09T00:00:00Z 2023-03-10T15:04:03Z The Peter Rabbit project is a community mutual aid network bringing a creative approach to community engagement and sustainability through ethnobotanical initiatives that facilitate community self-sufficiency and interconnectedness within the ecosystem. It is a movement to provide accessible resources while inspiring joy and wonder. Through the enchanting nature of connection, community, plant and nutrition education, this highly-adaptable project is intended to empower the community. The Peter Rabbit Project strives to cultivate healthy communities through activities, resource sharing and support that develop a relationship between nature and humanity. Inspiring collective action through community fun, and providing educational and sustainable solutions for urban farming, sustainable foraging, nutrition access, and ecosystem management, the Peter Rabbit Project uses inclusivity and accessibility to achieve a vision of equity and food sovereignty. It empowers community engagement with the ecosystem; creating self-sufficiency, eliminating food insecurity, food waste, soil and water erosion. Neighbors donate their unused edible flora, and we facilitate the harvest (or eradication for invasive species), delivery, recipe and nutrition information to the community. Utilizing indigenous methods of cultivation and harvest to revitalize the land to maintain a mutualistic relationship between the community, flora, water, and soil; avoiding harsh chemicals and destructive farming techniques. I started this project in my neighborhood to help my neighbors manage natural spaces and provide education about the nutritious biodiversity within our native ecosystem. Selena Awesome Vicario Peter Rabbit Project United States Cleveland, OH https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/cleveland tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/213219 2023-03-08T00:00:00Z 2023-05-08T01:02:44Z Change Space is less a project and more of a vessel. It is a place of openness, curiosity, and authenticity. A lot is splashed around with these words and concepts in our world today. At Change Space, we seek to truly embody them, creating space for respite for our visitors, customers, and clients. Community is what we are for one another. Change Space exists to be a haven and home for people who are awakening into personal development, spiritual growth, our interconnectivity, our responsibility to one another, and realness in communication. With gratitude, Change Space houses good energy and good people. Holding this space for others, for ourselves, for the changes that are vital to a conscious shift in our collective sense of self and of embodied love is our mission. Cari Pierce Ongoing efforts to BE community for one another https://www.changespacecommunity.com United States Westminster, MD https://www.awesomefoundation.org/hy/chapters/westminster