Awesome Foundation - Projecten

Philadelphia, PA – The Urban Farming Project (UFP)

2017-01-11T00:00:00Z

We at STEMcityPHL and US2020 PHL are looking to grow our Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) mentoring programs by developing the Urban Farming Project (UFP), an after school program for students attending Dr. Ethel Allen School in North Philadelphia. In this neighborhood, there is limited access to healthy and locally-produced food options. We plan to address this issue by building an oasis in a food desert. After receiving an enthusiastic approval from Ms. Eberhardt, Ethel Allen’s Principal, we will implement the UFP by utilizing our partnerships with the City of Philadelphia, Salvation Army’s 21st Century program, Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC), and Saul Agricultural High School. We will launch the UFP on Martin Luther King Day, where volunteers will build the raised garden beds and distribute soil. When the program begins in February, students will be separated into two groups (K-5 and 6-8). All forty students will learn how to grow fruits and vegetables, types of equipment to use, and the factors that promote growth through mentorships with agriculture professionals and volunteers from the community. We will supplement what is being taught during the school day by covering topics like life science, earth science, physical science, and mathematics. The specialized curriculum of this program will be designed in collaboration with Saul High School’s Dean of Agriculture, Jessica McAtamney. The UFP will connect an entire school from kindergarten through eighth grade. Students, staff, teachers, parents, and community members will all participate in a collective project in order to make an impact on both their school and their community. We hope that the implementation of this project will strengthen the school's climate and culture by teaching all participants innovative aspects of healthy eating and urban farming while building a sense of empowerment and accomplishment among everyone involved.

Ann Arbor, MI – Ypsi March for Love, Resilience, and Action

2017-01-10T00:00:00Z

We are a group of citizens planning a March in Ypsilanti on Inauguration Day as we grieve, resist, create, & celebrate our ability to flourish, using strengths from our diverse ancestors. We’ll march to mobilize, to prepare creatively for what’s to come, to focus on local issues and build local resilience, and to develop the interconnections between isolated silos in Ypsi. In the face of the coming administration, we plan to begin as we mean to go on. Monday Jan 16, Marchers will support Ypsilanti Community Schools' teens in their plan for a Martin Luther King Jr Day silent procession and art show commemorating Frederick Douglass. Our group will stand to support and witness the teens’ expression of grief, resistance, and creativity. Friday Jan 20, we will have an evening coffee-house to join and prepare for the march, share music, make banners and signs, and express our response to the election. With food and song, we’ll join together in an accessible space. Saturday Jan 21, our March route will pass by Ypsilanti locales that honor abolitionists, women of color, and others from targeted communities who have lived and thrived with bravery and creativity. A community art performance will celebrate our people power as WE inaugurate OUR vision for an interconnected future. We then offer a community gathering space weaving a web between resources like: voter registration and education; unions sharing their stories and educating on how folks can mobilize in their workplaces; a cozy space for breast-feeding and access to W.I.C.; NOW Washtenaw County; our local farmers and permaculture community sharing knowledge and seeds; a supervised child-play area; Planned Parenthood's project "Share your story about reproductive justice"; the Ypsi Hour Exchange; the Ypsilanti Sidewalk Project; and more.

Oakland, CA (Inactief) – Punks with Lunch — West Oakland

2017-01-09T00:00:00Z

Punks With Lunch makes approximately 150 lunches a week for people in West Oakland experiencing homelessness and distribute them with needle kits, hygiene packs and miscellaneous items such as dog food and tarps depending on funding and donations. Each lunch has a sandwich, fruit, water bottle, snack, and napkin. These lunches cost about $1 to make and we have been able to successfully grow in scope since our foundation. Originally starting in a small home kitchen, we now host meal prep in a warehouse in West Oakland and have two routes for distribution as well as a stationary needle exchange in more populated areas. We have grown personal relationships with the people we see on a weekly basis, and it’s a passion that has helped us forge both a stronger sense of community and a bond between our own volunteers. With winter approaching, we are hoping to expand our lunch offerings to include hot meals for our friends experiencing homelessness. With a limited budget and the difficulty of not being an established 501 c3, we’re seeking a solution to help our program continue to grow and offer even more services and resources with time. We’ve already establish a rapport with the people in our community but we’d like to see it grow. Punks With Lunch is already way more than we expected it to be in a tiny kitchen with five people one year ago, and we have high hopes for building something bigger than what our dreams have now grown to be.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactief) – No Somos Invisibles: We are Not Invisible

2017-01-09T00:00:00Z

No Somos Invisibles (NSI), or "We are Not Invisible," is a weekly radio program, founded in 2012, that reaches 20,000 listeners throughout Peruvian society, the majority of whom are based in Lima. The program's purpose is to ensure that women and girls, marginalized due to their place of origin, accent, skin hue, race, ethnicity, poverty, gender, sex, and social station, are able to escape social invisibility and be heard. The program's target audience is domestic workers and their families, as it strongly advocates that girls doing child domestic work return to school. In Peru, domestic work is not recognized as a dignified profession, and women are often treated like slaves. NSI is a powerful advocate for those living on Lima's urban periphery, and women trapped working in houses. Through the airwaves, and increasingly through social media, No Somos Invisibles builds a community for women whose work is physically and psychologically isolating. Every week, the program focuses on a different topic, hosting the voices and opinions of girl laborers, adult domestic workers, psychologists, historians, and sociologists, among other civil society servants. The topic of each program covers subjects such as labor rights in Peru, child nutrition, consequences of child domestic work, the importance of a written working contract, sexual bullying in the workplace, Lima's history, racial identity, and the importance of valuing Pachamama (Mother Earth). Listeners are able to call the program to make their voices heard, while prepared recordings from women and girls who do not have telephone access are gathered the week before. These are just a few examples of past programs. A more complete list can be found here: http://gruporedes.org/radioblog/ NSI raises awareness about child domestic work and human trafficking, while advocating for gender equality, and just and dignified work for all. It is an essential voice in Peruvian society. It is a program of AGTR.

Seattle, WA – Kaya'and Scapa's Garden

2017-01-06T00:00:00Z

I have helped to build with small my own personal funds 40 gardens at the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe Elder's program. Each garden is unique to the elder and their families and vary from heritage honor gardens to vegetable, and flower gardens for beauty and food. We are in a food desert and the population is low income so Kaya (our word for Grandma) and Scapa (our word for Grandpa) have gardens that serve to bring wholesome food, areas for grandchildren to explore, and spaces for therapy and healing. I can provide articles from our Muckleshoot Indian Tribe Newspaper as for the last three years many articles have been written on this project. I also have pictures, data (graphs etc.) about the growth in three years from 4 gardens in 2013 to 40 as of 2016. I am out of personal funds as I spent $5,000 of my own funds over the last three years to establish the 40 gardens but need to get the earth built up with Moo Doo for next year's crops and flowers for our friends the bees.. I save seeds and we go to Seed swaps, so we have had seeds to get going in 2017. The garden started with one woman who was in cancer treatment and cried a lot. I asked her what made her happy and she said a "flower garden. So I built her one and put a small fountain in it and bird feeders and lo and behold she was out there every sunny day. She also grew pumpkins and sunflowers for her grandchildren who gleefully caught frogs to observe and free and ate the bounty. Then her sister who was disabled wanted one so I built her a cherub garden (her choice) with roses, and then the neighbor who was wheel chair bound asked for one so I built him a pond garden with a grog spitter. Well the moccasin telegraph works here and now I have completed 40 gardens of varying sizes and am broke.

Seattle, WA – Free Children's Books for Reluctant Readers

2017-01-06T00:00:00Z

We are the South Sound Reading Foundation, a small non-profit that provides free books and story times for low-income children and families in five different counties. Teachers often contact us when they have a reluctant reader who could use a little extra help. Generally these children are living in poverty or don't get a lot of attention from adults at home. We find out what the child is interested in and provide the teacher with several books to fit the student's reading level and favorite subjects. The teacher then hands out these books to the student over the course of the school year. Helping a reluctant reader become a competent or even avid reader helps that student become more successful in school and life. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, two thirds of all students who cannot read proficiently by the end of 4th grade will end up in jail or on welfare. It is our mission to help children discover the magic and wonder of reading.

Annapolis, NS (Inactief) – TARTAN WAVE

2017-01-06T00:00:00Z

Coming ashore Spring 2017! My name is Kimberly Gunn, and I've recently designed and officially registered the "Annapolis Royal 2017 Celebration Tartan". In anticipation of Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017, Annapolis Royal now has a celebration tartan of its very own. Designed locally with the intention of creating a lasting “cultural fabric” for this area; the Annapolis Royal 2017 Celebration Tartan is inspired by the seasonal colours of the North Mountain, the Annapolis River and Bay of Fundy, as well as our lush green landscapes, lupines and red soil. It is celebratory, and modern, with a nod to history and place, but with a vision to a bright, shared future in the true home of New Scotland in Canada. This project is new, will create immediate local employment, and community pride. Through the creation of a new tourism product - and the chance to promote ourselves as the true home of New Scotland - we have an opportunity to give visitors a new reason to discover Annapolis Royal, beginning in 2017 (Canada's 150th birthday). Tartan Wave will employ local artisans to produce “Made in Annapolis Royal” fashion, home, and bespoke items using the Annapolis Royal 2017 Celebration Tartan as its primary design material.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactief) – Chapati dinner for refugees

2017-01-03T00:00:00Z

We are a group of volunteers on Lesvos island in Greece. According to official numbers, 6000 to 7000 refugees are stranded here. This Christmas they will be away from home, in refugee camps, often far away from their families. Despite the saddening situation and the dire conditions they live in, we want to make the 24th of December a special day for everyone. We are No Border Kitchen and every day, twice a day,we cook vegan food for refugees since 2014. We normally cook for 600 people. This time, we are going to cook for 6000. We know we can do it, we are working with an amazing (awesome!) group of people and organizations. We are raising 4,800 euros for the event and 1000 euros will be an amazing and very welcome contribution!

Dubai (Inactief) – Reel Friends

2017-01-02T00:00:00Z

The idea of RF/BBB: Using videos to facilitate new friendships and to prove that the human spirit, particularly that of innocent and curious kids, open minded and resilient youth across oceans can transcend misunderstanding, prejudice, hardship, and chaos, RF/BBB will open a channel of communication between elementary boys and girls, ages 5 to 12 within six Muslim majority nations and six US states to aid in cross cultural introductions and sharing. From March 20 RF.BBB kicks off a rolling 90 day initiative that will include notes letters, and drawings in Arabic and English (translated as needed) from/to kids. لإثبات أن الروح البشرية , لا سيما روح الشباب, تتجاوز كل الحدود و اختلاف الثقافات بين الأمم, فإن برنامج (RF/BBB) أصدقاء السلام: لنكن أصدقاء عبر الحدود), سوف يفتح قنوات تواصل بين تلاميذ و تلميذات المرحلة الابتدائية الذين تتراوح أعمارهم من 5 إلى 12 سنة من سبع دول إسلامية مع نظرائهم من سبع ولايات أمريكية. خلال هذه المبادرة التي أطلقتها منظمة DIREسيقوم التلاميذ بعمل كتابات و رسوم باللغتين العربية و الإنجليزية (يتم ترجمتها عند الحاجة) يتم تبادلها بين التلاميذ في كل زوج من البلد المستهدف

Austin, TX – Austin Cares Homeless Initiative

2016-12-31T00:00:00Z

In 2016, Sarah Ellis and Lauren Seiss had the idea of creating care packages to distribute to Austin's homeless. After seeking the counsel of local homeless outreach organizations (FrontSteps and Mobile Loaves & Fishes), they invited friends to join them. "Within days," Lauren says, "our event unexpectedly BLEW UP! Over 400 care packages were created that evening, and everyone in attendance asked us the same thing: when is the next event?" Explains Lauren: "Austin is overflowing with young people who, in my experience, want to contribute to their community but don't have a lot of easy, secular options with which to do so. This initiative will provide a fun and thoughtful way for people to practice generosity in their everyday lives, and perhaps even lead them to mobilize into social action in other ways. Our primary hope for this idea is that the small gesture that our participants make will provide the spark needed for them to get engaged in civil service." A $1000 grant from the Austin Awesome Foundation will go towards making their January 2017 care package event even bigger by funding the purchase of items that haven't been donated.

Alaska (Inactief) – Youth on Record Alaska

2016-12-29T00:00:00Z

I started Youth On Record Alaska (YORAK) five years ago in collaboration with South Peninsula Haven House and Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic's R.E.C. Room which is a youth resource and enrichment co-op. YORAK is a music production and recording program for teens age 12- 18 that teaches teens to produce various types of music using Logic Pro, Midi keyboards, microphones, and other devices. Our program reaches music and artistic expression in many different forms whether youth come to work on melodies or lyrics; it's a safe space to encourage teens' differences to shine through. 15 yr. old Colton Morris, a student of two years said of the program, "YORAK is all about music. It's a passion. It's one of my best joys. It's about listening and making music and having a choice on how you create your music." If a person walks into the R.E.C. Room on a typical Friday afternoon YORAK they would see between 3 and 15 students with headphones on, laptops open sitting at the table all together- laughing and talking in a way that helps them collaborate and grow their projects. They are sharing their lyrics and I am playing different samples of what they're working on with positive feedback and support coming from all students in the room. There may be other students in the closed-in office section recording their parts of a collaborative song. As the founder of this program, my goal has always been to see my students grow and become mentors of their peers. Two of my students have officially become part of the leadership team, one as a sound design specialist, and one as our development coordinator. We're all about allowing opportunities for youth to go beyond their own creative development to inspire their peers to grow further in their talents as young musicians and positive role models. My goal for YORAK is to continue to collect donations and funding which will be used primarily to update equipment so that more students can participate in these weekly classes.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactief) – Resistance Roller Derby Glasgow

2016-12-27T00:00:00Z

Resistance Roller Derby Glasgow is a roller derby league for queer and trans youth, starting up in Glasgow, Scotland. We are only the second junior league in the country, and the only junior league in the world that is explicitly intended for LGBTQI+ youth. We will create a safe and financially accessible space for young people to get active, both physically and as politicised members of a global society, through the development of a radical youth-led sporting community. Modern roller derby originated in queer subculture in Austin, Texas and its revolutionary nature has spread with it around the world, leading to an international movement of connected and empowered athletes. Being a part of this movement is an ideal way for young people to develop agency and self-confidence that they can take with them into advocating for themselves in other aspects of their lives. LGBTQI+ young people have lower rates of participation in sport and are more likely to be dealing with barriers such as mental ill health, homelessness and abuse than other young people. Building a positive community around physical activity has the potential to break down these barriers and help create healthy habits in a population that faces glaring health inequalities. In addition to financial accessibility, we are committed to making a space that is inclusive for those who are systemically disenfranchised as result of other axes of oppression such as race and disability, and we will work constantly to ensure that anyone who wants to take part can. We are all about radical kindness and elevating each other. We want to bring joy and positivity into the lives of queer youth, who often have a tumultuous adolescence. As trans and queer adults living in Glasgow, we feel it is our responsibility to make the space we wish we had had, and in the process we hope to connect our young people with an intergenerational international community, full of real live examples of how queer adulthood can look.

Antigonish, NS (Inactief) – Here She Comes a-Wassailing

2016-12-22T00:00:00Z

I will schedule musical performances of a festive nature between December 18-30 in various locations around Antigonish, including at the RK MacDonald Nursing Home, Green Meadows Nursing Home, Highland Crest Home, St.James Hot Lunch program, The Antigonish Library Senior's Cafe, The Friendship Corner, and so on. These wonderful locations and events have requested my services in the past in spite of their lack of funds, and I have obliged, enjoying every minute of it. I would love to return and revisit these people I have such an appreciation for, and who really love music, in a celebration of the holiday season! I have special secret surprise guests in mind for these ceilidh's as well!

New York City, NY – Action Item Fair

2016-12-20T00:00:00Z

The Action Item Fair is taking place on Saturday, January 14th - a daylong inquiry into clear, concrete steps that New Yorkers can take in order to support our neighbors, friends, family and fellow citizens who need it most. Hosted by ThoughtWorks in Manhattan, the event will run from 11am to 5pm and will bring individuals and organizations together to add new talent and energy into progressive causes. Rather than reinvent the wheel, Action Item Fair invites its audience to seek the counsel of experienced leaders of progressive efforts. Attendees will meet with organizations that are deeply invested in systemic solutions to social, economic and environmental issues. The goal is for each person to leave with specific action items they will take to propel the movement forward. Actions may include advocacy, campaigning, consumer boycotts/ conscious consumerism, ethical investing, lobbying, demonstrating or acts of protest. To meet that goal, part of the day will include a "fair” for individuals to connect with organizations in 1-1 conversations. Accompanying panel discussions and skill-building workshops will detail the many forms activism can take, and will provide tools that will empower participants to take the necessary steps towards realizing a better society for us all. In order to help keep the event free for attendees, and AwesomeNYC's grant will help fund lunch to be provided by the Snowday Food Truck (a social enterprise that employs formerly incarcerated youth). If you are interested in attending you can RSVP now.

Boulder, CO (Inactief) – James Biar Memorial Fund

2016-12-20T00:00:00Z

James Biar was a LOST BOY/FOUND MAN of SUDAN. I was his American Mom for 16 years (as well as Mom to Colorado Lost Boys of Sudan). He passed away suddenly on Sept. 16, 2016 due to undetected Acute Leukemia and had a massive brain bleed. He leaves behind a wife and 5 children ages 11 months to 8 years. Although never legally adopted, for 16 years James was truly my son, and I am grandma to his 5 children. I am raising money to help his family.

Pittsburgh, PA – Hope Night-- AKA: Inauguration Night

2016-12-19T00:00:00Z

Mr. Rogers once said in an interview: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping. To this day, especially in times of “disaster,” I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers—so many caring people in this world.” I am currently organizing an interfaith, bipartisan paper lantern lift off to take place at any church, non-profit, business or organization of any kind that believes in celebrating diversity and actively trying to keep ALL people in our beautiful country safe, uplifted and whole. If a group of people can agree that they believe in love, then I am encouraging them to set off paper lanterns together on inauguration night. Hope Night will LIGHT UP our city with little beacons of hope- little demonstrations from all the helpers. In addition to lighting up the sky on inauguration night, I also want to infuse social media with posts about the lantern lift off to help break up the mud slinging, fear mongering and hate speech that will no doubt be rampant in people's social media feeds this Inauguration. So, I'll be encouraging all participants to post on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram with the following: #HopeNight, #BeTheChange and #SafeZone I'll also be keeping a registry of participants so at the end of this, we can have a list of love-filled churches, businesses, etc, for everyone needing to "look for helpers" post-inauguration. In my perfect world, Hope Night would be a recurring event every anniversary of Inauguration night for the next 4-8 years. I don't have a website yet, but that is coming soon!

San Jose, CA – San Jose Rocks

2016-12-19T00:00:00Z

San Jose Rocks is a tactical community street art project. This is a “catch and release” program for manufactured river rocks. I will purchase 100 river rocks and prepare them to be painted. *THEN* I'm going to find an all-ages location and set up a "San Jose Rocks" Party and invite the community to paint a rock with whatever they want. Bikes, silly faces, tacos, literally whatever the people want. For those less artistically inclined, we'll be purchasing tiny stencils for immediate satisfaction. Before the end of the event, the rocks will be redistributed and participants will be instructed to leave them in public spaces around the city. Painted on the back of every rock will include the instagram handle @SanJoseRocks. This way, people can take pictures and locate some of these fun "Easter Eggs". This community project in tactical urbanism allows everyone to feel like a street artist with harmless cheeky mischief and city pride.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactief) – Teen FemiList

2016-12-19T00:00:00Z

Teen FemiList is a listserv for rad feminist teenage girls and gender non-conforming teenagers to mentor each other, create projects, and figure out how to survive high school while simultaneously smashing the patriarchy. Prospective members will apply via a page on my blog, and when accepted (I will read and approve/deny the applications), they will donate $10 to an organization with which I have partnered (if they are unable to pay, they will apply separately for a scholarship). People on the list will be able to post whatever they want and any member will be able to respond via an email chain. There is also a board comprised of successful adult women. The board will meet monthly via Skype to discuss the recent topics discussed on the list. They will also offer mentorship and give advice to members of the listserv when prompted but won’t directly post (the listserv is supposed to be for peer-to-peer mentorship by teenagers). Once a month, there will be a one-hour Q&A session with one member of the board.

Newmarket – Stay In School

2016-12-19T00:00:00Z

The Canadian Federation of University Women Aurora/Newmarket Club is working with the York Region Children's Aid Society to encourage young wards to stay in highschool: attend regularly, try hard, achieve academic success. The club is a not-for-profit women's organization devoted to furthering and empowering education for women and girls. On average in Ontario, only 46% of wards complete highschool. This is NOT good enough! Part of our organization's missions is to encourage education - higher education. We have worked out a joint program whereby wards in grades 9 and 10 who attend classes regularly, put forth good effort and / or attain academic success are recognized, treated and rewarded with a gift card, diploma, flowers, a party, speeches ..We want these young ladies to feel good about themselves and learn to value and appreciate how education is the key to their success as independednt adults. We'd lile to expand our program to involve perhaps another service club so that young male wards could be recognized as well. As well, our local club provides a yearly award of $1000 to a YRl ward who is transitioning out of "care" to assit with her higher educatiob expenses. These young people won't go on to higher education if they don't persevere and STAY IN SCHOOL!

Chicago, IL – All-Latino re-imagining of WAITING FOR GODOT

2016-12-18T00:00:00Z

In February 2017, Tympanic Theatre Company will present WAITING FOR GODOT by Samuel Beckett. Our production, directed by Aaron Mays, will feature an all-Latino cast - exploring the similarities between the titular, oft-mentioned but never-seen “Godot” and the Latinx immigrant experience in the pursuit of the “American Dream”. WAITING FOR GODOT, which first premiered in 1953, marked Beckett’s association with the Theatre of the Absurd movement. More than sixty years later, the play’s central existential crises are still incredibly resonant. As a company that bills itself as “the best kind of weird”, this play could not be a more perfect or timely fit for us. The story is notably open to a variety of philosophical, political and ethical interpretations, and the themes that emerge throughout all of these interpretations are that of choice, consciousness and suffering. The humanity and universality of these ideas led us to our decision to focus the play through the lens of the Latinx immigrant experience - to remove the barriers of “traditional” casting and amplify the voices of a marginalized community through this classic piece of dramatic literature. We aim to activate a deeper conversation about the oppression and the racial and socioeconomic inequities faced this particular diaspora. By thrusting the characters and the setting of the play into our current political moment - just south of the US-Mexico border in the very year that our President-elect is threatening to “build a wall” - we strive to honor both the playwright’s original intent and our own commitment to diversifying the stories on Chicago’s stage. The events of the past year, and particularly in the past few weeks, have unleashed a new torrent of racist, misogynist, homophobic and xenophobic atrocities across the country. We recognize our responsibility as artists to act against this injustice - using our art to create safe spaces and engage in actionable, community-based solutions.

Cass Clay – MPX Kids Club: GRANTED

2016-12-15T00:00:00Z

Our goal is to empower kids through mixed martial arts, motivation and to provide tools to enhance their overall well-being. The MPX kids club will help children cope with their emotions, reduce stress, increase physical activity and provide a positive and safe environment. The MPX kids club will run throughout the year, providing kickboxing classes, motivational speaking events, along with a newsletter geared towards children's health. Our youth currently face a variety obstacles which affect not only their physical health, but mental health. Through the MPX kids club, children will learn mixed martial arts, the importance of self-discipline, self-worth and empowerment. Funds will be used to help provide funds/scholarships for children whose families lack the financial means to enroll their children into physical activities, along with t-shirts for the program.

Minas Gerais (Inactief) – Garagens Periféricas

2016-12-14T00:00:00Z

Em 2015, Cícero Silva, viabilizou apresentação de espetáculos de Artes Cênicas em garagens residenciais fora do centro de Belo Horizonte. Trabalhando há dez anos com apresentações, na formação de novos artistas que se interessam pela palhaçaria e com vários projetos com características que apontam para uma economia criativa, mais solidária e que visa a uma distribuição e renda mais igualitária, dedicou-se em 2015, ao projeto chamado de ‘Garagens Periféricas’. Após sua estreia em 25 de julho, têm recebido ligações de várias regiões da cidade oferecendo suas garagens para novas apresentações, o que muito os alegra, ao confirmar a adesão da população local e a vontade de tantos em se tornar promotores da arte e da cultura no entorno de suas residências. Foram 04 apresentações com acesso gratuito em diferentes locais. 03 apresentações na Regional Oeste (Salgado Filho, Nova Cintra e Jardim América) e 01 apresentação na Regional Nordeste (São Cristóvão). A cada apresentação precedeu um cortejo de divulgação por ruas do bairro com artistas convidados e dos grupos participantes. Momento de um contato mais próxima com os moradores pouco habituados com personagens perambulando seu território. Estiveram com eles a Cia Faminta de Teatro, Associação Pano de Roda (Terceira Margem), Circo Aloma, Cia Borandá de Palhaços. Alcançamos um público em torno de 5.000 participantes, direta e indiretamente. Participaram mais de 20 artistas. Contaram, ainda, com a adesão de novos apoiadores no decorrer da execução do projeto: Grupo Trampulim, Casa do Beco, Serralheria Horizontes, Vereador Vilmo Gomes, Centro Cultural Salgado Filho, Centro Cultural e Esportivo Betânia. Agradecem sinceramente a todos que, de alguma maneira, acreditaram nessa proposta e têm a certeza de que seguirão levando arte e alegria para pessoas que se encontram em lugares onde não há casas de espetáculos. Certos de seu sucesso, buscam parceiros para levar essa proposta para outras cidades e estados.

Ottawa – #AwesomeTenners

2016-12-14T00:00:00Z

December’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to Michelle Thompson, who plans to give the $1,000 away to 100 lucky strangers, encouraging each to do something awesome with the money. Michelle plans to hand out the $10 bills around the city over the next ten days, along with a short letter encouraging the recipient to “make this awesome tenner count.” The letter will offer up some ideas, including:

Hide it in your favourite book at the library
Give it to someone you see doing a good deed
Pick up stamps and send some joy-filled handwritten letters
Buy a bouquet of flowers and randomly give them away
Do whatever you think would be awesome!

The letter will also encourage recipients to tweet about their experience of spreading awesome using the hashtags #AwesomeTenners and #10DaysOfAwesome. "Two years ago,” explains Michelle, “Awesome Ottawa pulled off its first Awesome Tenners campaign, and I immediately fell in love with the idea. By encouraging the recipients to do something awesome with their tenner, I hope we can create a ripple effect of kindness and creativity throughout our communities. If nothing else, I hope to bring a smile to at least 100 faces around town.” Michelle is an elementary school supply teacher, a Girl Guide leader, and an Awesome Ottawa trustee.

Twin Cities, MN (Inactief) – Light Up Lake Street Lantern Making Workshops

2016-12-13T00:00:00Z

In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater (HOBT) seeks funding for a new community outreach project, Light Up Lake Street (LULS). LULS is a new program that was developed as an effort by HOBT to address crime and safety concerns and to use the power of art to effect lasting change in our community. Early efforts with this work have been well received by our community. Over the past year the section of East Lake Street in Minneapolis where HOBT is located has witnessed a surge in crime. An increase in violence and commercial sex and drug trafficking negatively affects our staff, volunteers, patrons, and community members. Light Up Lake Street was developed as a response. HOBT has partnered with the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Police Department to fix broken streetlights, clean up problem properties and add temporary cameras to the area. HOBT partnered with Southside Community Health Clinic to offer free health and STD screenings and Mobile Loaves and Fishes Minneapolis and Sisters of Camelot to provide free meals. The most recent LULS event was hosted on September 14 and served 120 people. Southside Health Clinic signed eight people up for MNSure and administered eight STD/HIV screenings and sixteen blood pressure tests. Mobile Loaves and Fishes and the Sisters of Camelot served all 80 meals they had prepared, gave away all forty pairs of socks and every toothbrush and tube of toothpaste they had. HOBT has a history of addressing community concerns. HOBT, in collaboration with the community, produces the Annual May Day Parade and Festival in Powderhorn Park, a free event that is attended by over 50,000 people. May Day is conceived and created through a series of community meetings where the community gathers to discuss the issues they are facing and use the conversation to create a unified theme for May Day. The puppets and floats created are then built at free community workshops by HOBT staff, artists, and volunteers.

Twin Cities, MN (Inactief) – The Snowblower Ballet

2016-12-13T00:00:00Z

The Snowblower Ballet is a project that would involve dancers, wielding snowblowers and shovels, clearing a snow-covered surface in a dance set to music. In addition to performing a dance, they’ll create a pattern, an image in the snow, captured by a drone flying above, transforming the familiar but dreary toil of snow removal into unexpected joyful art. We want to stage a large scale Busby Berkeley version of the project on Harriet Island in St. Paul in January 2018, as well as a smaller scale pas de deux between two snowblowers on White Bear Lake in February 2017 as part of the Art Shanty Project. The Harriet Island version will be funded with a Knight Foundation grant, but only if we get matching funds. Art Shanty will pay us $200 for the White Bear Lake performance, but that's not enough to hire dancers and a choreographer. That's where we hope an Awesome grant will come in. We hope that a grant from Awesome will make the Art Shanty dance possible, which we can then turn into a video to generate excitement to raise money to make the expanded Harriet Island version a reality. Won't you help us turn snow shoveling into art and bring joy to Minnesotans in the depth of winter.

Twin Cities, MN (Inactief) – We love Worms!

2016-12-13T00:00:00Z

Our urban students are just beginning to learn the benefits of organic composting and farming in the left over spaces in our city block school. Even the smallest plot of land can be renewed and brought back to soil health by conditioning the soil with clean compost and organic recycling. We would like to start a vermiculture bin in our classroom. This bin will start out with only about 200 little red wigglers who will eat half their weight in leftovers from our school lunches. We are excited to create healthy, nutrient rich compost to add tour small plots of land, such as our Peace Garden and our butterfly garden. A worm bin is a wonderful way to learn how to care for our world.

LA South Bay, CA (Inactief) – Bras Ouverts - Open Arms

2016-12-12T00:00:00Z

At Bras Ouverts – Open Arms (BOOA), our goal is to establish a sustainably financed school that provides free education in Ouidah, Benin. BOOA serves a community of Nigerian refugees who fled environmental destruction in Ogoniland, as well as impoverished Beninese children. These groups cannot enroll in local schools due to linguistic and economic barriers; the Nigerians speak English rather than the local French, and some Beninese families cannot afford school fees and supplies. Therefore, BOOA provides critical access to education for 40 students, and we plan to expand to accommodate more. BOOA is currently organizing Los Angeles area support for the school, and with the LA South Bay’s assistance, we will build a library – computer lab on school grounds. This will grant students and the wider community regular access to reading materials and computer lessons. Presently, BOOA operates out of a small schoolhouse that contains wall-to-wall desks and benches. By adding another building, we will be able to store books, school supplies and computers, which will greatly enhance the quality of education that the students receive. Furthermore, we will open the library – computer lab in the evenings so that parents and other locals can also take advantage of the school’s resources. As a part of our sustainability plan, we envision teaching adult computer lessons to generate income for BOOA teachers’ salaries and other fixed costs. Regarding implementation, our volunteers have prior experience supervising construction through involvement in other local nonprofit activities. Indeed, our partnership with a Beninese non-governmental organization called IMPACT provides us with ready guidance and advice on expansion. In conjunction with our Awesome application, we are also seeking donated computers and books from our volunteers’ networks. Thus, an Awesome grant will significantly impact the educational opportunities for BOOA students, and the local community.

Ann Arbor, MI – Ypsi High Superhero Program

2016-12-12T00:00:00Z

The Ypsi High Superhero Program is a high school youth initiative located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, that utilizes superheroes to improve character through creative storytelling and fictional character development. Superheroes are colorful representations of our dreams, hopes, and life experiences. The journeys they endure are often inherently reflective of our own lives. Rather it's overcoming their fears to defeat a formidable enemy, or accepting the responsibility that comes with great power; superheroes, at their core, are human. This program uses these principles and converts them into life lessons for youth. These lessons will help build character and improve confidence while providing students with a platform to creatively tell their own superhero stories, where they are the heroes.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactief) – Legal Name and Gender Marker Change Clinic

2016-12-12T00:00:00Z

After the election, Gender Justice League, a trans activist organization located in Seattle, WA, asked the trans and gender-diverse community what they felt they needed immediately to help them stay safe during what promises to be a degressive presidential administration. Overwhelmingly we heard that having up-to-date identification documentation (DL, birth certificate, passport, social security, legal name change, green-card, etc) was high on their list. We then immediately began the process of organizing a clinic that would provide the access to legal and medical professionals that are necessary to this process. And because the community as a whole lacks financial wealth, we knew that we needed to also come up with funds that would pay for all the necessary state and federal filing fees. Here in King County, WA to change the name and gender marker on every piece of identification information costs almost $500. Having up to date and accurate identification documentation helps to protect trans and gender-diverse folx from housing, employment, and travel discrimination, and more than 80% of the trans and gender-diverse population lack it. When one's previous gender marker and name does not match the identity of the individual, it creates opportunity to discriminate against them, as well as reminding them of an identity they never truly felt comfortable in. We want to do what we can for our community. We want to provide access for every individual to have the reassurance that their true and authentic identity is recognized by the State, that their ability to travel, and to find employment and housing isn't impeded by not being able to afford to update their gender markers and name on all documentation.

Yerevan – Սառցամագլցման բուրգեր

2016-12-09T00:00:00Z

Ջերմուկ քաղաքում մի խումբ խենթեր, այդ թվում և ես, 2012թ,-ից որոշեցինք նպաստել ձմեռային տուրիզմի զարգացմանը և ինչպես Չինաստանում, Ռուսաստանում, Կանադայում և այլուր, սեփական միջոցներով կազմակերպեցինք «Ձնեմարդուկ՝ ձնե արվեստների փառատոն»-ը: 2015թ․ փառատոնն այնքան մեծ արձագանք ստացավ ու այցելուներ ունեցավ, որ հաջորդող տարիներին մեզ անհարժեշտ միջոցներն այլևս բավարար չէին էլ ավելի մեծ ու հաջող 2016-ին այն կազամակերպելու համար, չգտնվեցին նաև համապատասխան ներդրումներ: Բայց ջաններս եռ է գալիս, ամբողջ ընթացաքում տեղներս հանգիստ չենք նստել ու որոշել ենք 2017-ի փետրվարի 17-19 կազմակերպել փառատոնն էլ ավելի մեծ շուքով, առավել ևս, որ համայնքապետարանը գործուն աջակցություն է ցույց տալու: Քանի որ իմ նպատակը ոչ թե փառատոն կազմակերպելն է, այլ ձմեռային տուրիզմը զարգացնելը, կուզենայի Ձեր օժանդակությամբ կառուցել Հայաստանում առաջին արհեստական, քաղաքային սառցե բուրգերը, որոնց վրա կկազմակերպվեն սիրողական սառցամագլցումներ: Բուրգերը կլինեն տարբեր բարձրության՝ ըստ բարդությունների: Հայաստանում չկա որևէ փորձ սառցամագլցման արհեստական պատ կամ բուրգ սարքելու համար և մեր փորձը կլինի առաջինը, որի հաջող կիրառումն ու իրագործումը հնարավորություն կտա նաև հետագայում՝ 2018թ․ փառատոնը կազմակերպելուց առաջ այն օգտագործել ինքնաֆինանսավորման համար, հատկապես Ամանորի ակտիվ զբոսաշրջային սեզոնի հետ կապված: Արդեն իսկ ունեմ պայմանավորվածություն քաղաքապետարանի հետ Ջերմուկ քաղաքի հանրային այգիներից ցանկացածում այս հունվարին կառուցել և տեղադրել ՀՀ-ում սառցամագլցման առաջին արհեստական բուրգը:

Orlando, FL – Artborne Magazine

2016-12-08T00:00:00Z

Artborne Magazine is an independently published, print and online publication dedicated to the development and advancement of Orlando’s art scene. The monthly magazine features local artists and organizations, and ranges from Q&A’s, essays, reviews, and artists spotlights on the fine arts, music, performance, fashion, and literary worlds. “Orlando is coming into it’s own, and this magazine is just another example of this city’s role as a leading creative hub” says Jonathan Yubi, Founder and Publisher of Artborne Magazine. Yubi arrived to Orlando in the fall of 2013, and immediately became involved in the arts. “ My first experience was with the Young Artist Group, an educational program sponsored by the Downtown Arts District. I learned then, that this city is committed to developing our creative community, and I hope our Magazine can be a key component in our continued growth.” Artborne Magazine has garnished the attention of local media outlets, such as the Orlando Weekly "No growing pains here: Artborne sprang onto the scene fully formed, its design and aesthetic perfectly professional and its insider knowledge of Orlando's art world deep and tasteful. It's the local art magazine we didn't know we needed, but are so glad to welcome." Artborne Magazine launched inconspicuously via Instagram on April 14, 2016, and with a month before the inaugural issue hits shelves and countertops all over Orlando, Artborne has managed to amass a team of artists, writers, and creatives alike. Matt Duke, local artist, blogger, and radio host, joins the team as a partner and Creative Director, along side Mary McGinn; a notable Orlando writer, poet, and publicist, as Artborne’s contributing editor and writer. Jason Fronczek, a University of Central Florida graduate joins the team as Senior Photographer and Graphic Designer.

Orlando, FL – "SKIP's Big Ideas" Reality Television Show

2016-12-08T00:00:00Z

Orlando-based pop artist SKIP (of Franchise Industries & The B-Side Artists) stars in new reality television series called, “SKIP’s Big Ideas.” The show is currently in production with local online network Studio17TV, and follows the creation and construction of SKIP’s large, interactive art installations, demonstrating the creative process from initial concept to dramatic, public reveal. Over the last few years, SKIP’s larger-than-life art installations have received a considerable amount of media attention, both locally and abroad. His works have been published in Huffington Post, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Shape Magazine, FoxNews, as well as online culture blogs Refinery29 and Bustle. A true roller coaster of circumstances and opportunities have proven that for SKIP, “going big” is as vital to his style of artwork as the bright colors he uses, and the satirical humor that underpins everything he stamps as Franchise Industries. One of these opportunities was the chance to document the process of fabricating a brand new line of Franchise installations in the approach and format of a reality-style television show, with the intention of later shopping the series to cable networks and larger distributors. “SKIP’s Big Ideas” will be filming the show over the next three months and will begin airing season one this Fall (official release date to be determined). We encourage individuals interested in following the production and making of the show to follow us online / social media, and to attend the reveal of the installations in person at Maker Faire Orlando (October 22 & 23) and Art in Odd Places (November 11-13), where they could become extras on the show!

Gloucester, MA – Positivity Messages O'Maley

2016-12-08T00:00:00Z

In O'Maley School, we will post positivity messages to all the O'Maley Community! We will invest in positive message posters to permanently hang for all of us and future classes to see. We will also buy poster supplies to have kids' artwork be displayed around the school with positive messages. We will also buy a supply of post it notes to keep in containers outside of classrooms to write positive messages on and give it to anyone having a bad day. Lastly, we will buy a supply of greeting cards to write out a nice message to give to anyone who needs it.

Gloucester, MA – Soccer O'Maley Style

2016-12-08T00:00:00Z

Santa Fe, NM (Inactief) – Playschool of the Arts for Kids

2016-12-07T00:00:00Z

We are the Playschool of the Arts for Kids, a non-profit preschool serving children ages 18 months to 4 years in the Siler Arts District in Santa Fe. We proudly serve families regardless of their ability to pay tuition; therefore over 70% of our student body is on tuition assistance from the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department. Our mission to accept children of all economic backgrounds keeps our community diverse and inclusive. It also, however, means that we operate on a shoestring budget. Still, we make the most of what we have. Our classrooms contain a learning circle, book center, block area, dramatic play center, animal and garden area, and, of course, an art area. Art supplies, books, doll houses, trains, trucks, cars, and road building materials, dress-up wardrobes, and more are always accessible to our children. Children play daily in our large outdoor playground. Multi-purpose mats are outstanding venues for music and dance. Our curriculum consists of music, song, dance, art, drama, science, math, emotions, and kindness. Topics include the alphabet, seasons, habitats, community service, conservation, and more. Movement is a critical component of our kids’ curriculum, not just on the playground, but coursing throughout their entire day. All of our classrooms are designed and set up for movement, which has been proven to improve kids’ cognitive development. We would buy two colorful rugs with the Awesome grant. We are located in a warehouse-style location. The enormous open space allows for our children to really move. We have concrete and hard floors and they can get quite cold in the winter, which can be problematic as many of our kids often go shoeless at school for mat activities.

Paris (Inactief) – 48h en scène!

2016-12-07T00:00:00Z

48h en scène! est à la croisée du festival de théâtre et de la résidence artistique. Nous accueillons 6 jeunes compagnies et leur donnons 48 heures pour créer un spectacle de 15 minutes à partir d'un même thème. A l'issue de ces 48 heures, les 6 représentations ont lieu devant un public et un jury. Le thème imposé pour la première édition était « la contrainte ». L'exposition de 6 regards différents sur un même thème exerce le regard critique. La compagnie ayant le plus séduit le jury s'est vu offrir deux jours de représentations 48h en scène! is both a theater festival and an artist residency. We welcome 6 young theater companies and give them 48 hours to create a 15 minutes-long show, all based on a common theme. After those 48 hours, the 6 shows are performed in front of a public and a jury. For the first edition the theme was « constraint ». By showing 6 interpretations of one theme we develop critical perspective. The wining company was given the opportunity to perform for two days in a Parisian theater.

Rotterdam – RotterdamBooth

2016-12-07T00:00:00Z

RotterdamPhotoBooth on tour. So-called 'Photoautomats' are well-spread throughout Berlin. People can shoot Awesome pics with their best friends for only 2 euros, all day every day. In The Netherlands, the concept is regularly part of weddings, festivals and other events. Let's make this a definite, perminant part of Rotterdam with RotterdamPhotoBooth on tour. The photo booth will be put in a different part of town every month.

Baltimore, MD – Mural/Landscaping artistic collaboration in Bmore

2016-12-06T00:00:00Z

Public murals and landscaping are similar in their purpose: beautification of spaces yet are rarely created as an organic collaboration between the landscaper and muralist. Nether's art gives blighted communities vibrance and voice. His familiarity with the city, and commitment to know the people of the innumerable different neighborhoods he paints in, ensures that his art is not only beautiful but also relatable to its stakeholders. Elise’s landscaping abilities complement Nether's imagery by providing a space in which neighbors reflect and escape. Her designs are not just based on uniform aesthetics, they are purposeful as well. She uses mostly native plants, her works redirects stormwater waste and improves soil drainage. The first opportunity to collaborate arose this spring when they conceptualized, planned, and executed a collaborative mural / landscaping piece at 25th and Greenmount on the side of a local substance-abuse rehabilitation center. The character in the mural stands in water, half submerged, trying to save the a lotus flower, which reflects her beauty and strength. The obscured face recognizes the recovering addict’s inner battle in Baltimore with shame, anonymity, and pride for overcoming addiction due to public stigma. Following the mural, together they merged by consciously designing a space focused on healing and togetherness. The basic concept in the design continued the visual composition of the natural flow of the water through landscaping features, a path, and native plants to Baltimore. We seek funding to continue our efforts by bringing a large-scale collaboration to life on the 1000 Block of North Carey Street in Sandtown. We already have community/property owner approval and are in the process of getting permission for the landscaping plot. We need funding to bring this organic style of collaboration to life in Baltimore, while safeguarding a plot of community land in Sandtown.

Asheville, NC (Inactief) – The Fish Tank

2016-12-06T00:00:00Z

I own my own graphic design business, and when I first got started people thought I was alone. That was not the case; being only a 2 month old business, I needed help. That help was my mom. Her experience being a business coach surely helped me get started and stay afloat. People should not be alone when they first start a business, and thats where the Fish Tank comes in. The Fish Tank is a teen business workshop and grant program. Over the course of 8-10 hours, students will learn the basics of writing a business plan and pitching it to business professionals. At the end of the project, five teens will be chosen to receive $100 each to help get their businesses started. My potential partners for this project are Mountain Biz Works, Green Opportunities, and the Housing Authority. Shovunda Harper has stated we could use the Eddington Center to house the project. (Housing Authority)

Washington, DC – Children of Promise

2016-12-06T00:00:00Z

This project is to give some children in our community who's parents are incarcerated this holiday season. For the pass 6years my organization along with help from my church have held a "Children of Promise" event for children who's parents are incarcerated or who just need a little help for the holiday. We have helped as many as 80 to 100 families in the past years as well as other outreach programs, such as showcases for our veterans, nursing homes women's transitional homes and scholarships for our youth. Because of budget cuts and funding our Children of Promise event could use so help. We have a big celebration for those children to get past that sad time . We have brunch or lunch with Santa ,gingerbread house making , a Christmas performance, gift cards, filled stocking and lots more. We know that because of funds we can not have this event on a large level but maybe on a smaller level which would still help between 125 to 150 families (including children and the care givers who have stepped in to help those children during this holiday season. Over the years I have looked into those children's faces and heard them say this was the best Christmas ever. I fill what make this project so awesome is that it is all about what each and every parents wants from their own kid, and that is to show extra love and joy all years but especially during the holiday season

Awesome Without Borders (Inactief) – Carcel - Clothing from the inside

2016-12-05T00:00:00Z

CARCEL is a social start-up that aims to employ women in prison around the world through the production of sustainable and exclusive Scandinavian clothing. Each item that we sell on our online community platform/shop creates employment and fair wages for a woman in prison, challenges stigma and prejudice about female incarceration and expands the sustainable Slow Fashion market. CARCEL is run by three women’s empowerment-through-business-aficionados. We believe in sustainable and ethical business solutions to address pressing issues. Why women in prison? In the past 15 years, there has been an alarming increase in female prisoners in the world, which in some developing countries has been up to 100%. The majority of women in prison are mothers under the age of 30 and they are incarcerated due to poverty-related crimes such as theft and drug trafficking. Coming from poor communities, an imprisoned woman does not only struggle with the emotional aspect of being distanced from her family, she is also excluded from the financial market and made unable to provide for them. From our experience of visiting five women’s prisons in Peru, many women are already highly skilled in knitting and sewing and work several hours a day. However, they lack access and knowledge of the market and therefore their products are not in demand. CARCEL provides women in prison with knowledge and access to the market by building on their existing capacities to produce Scandinavian fashion with locally sourced, organic materials, which we sell on our online shop. Our aim is to alleviate poverty for incarcerated women and their children who are extremely marginalized and vulnerable so they can become economically empowered and set up their own business once they are released and avoid criminal activity. Our vision is global, we start in Peru.

Singapore – Empower Seniors by Reviving Nostalgic Foods

2016-12-05T00:00:00Z

At True Origins, we tap into the seniors' wealth of knowledge and empower them to revive nostalgic foods and pass down their stories, values and wisdom to future generations. The seniors (e.g., those who lived through the WWII, those living alone in rental flats) are key resources to our intangible cultural assets and documenting their stories in an engaging manner is crucial to spreading awareness about Singapore's beginnings, culture and identity. This project aims to start a social movement towards reliving our kampung days - times when people regardless of race, language, religion or generation are strongly bonded together by reviving nostalgic foods that are long lost or on the verge of disappearing!

Stockholm (Inactief) – The Good Talents Botkyrka

2016-12-04T00:00:00Z

The Good Talents identifies and highlights young talents in the suburbs of Stockholm that otherwise don't receive exposure. These talents all have business or project ideas that solve local challenges and are given training in sustainable development, social entrepreneurship and leadership. To celebrate these talented young people The Awesome Foundation will sponsor one with 5000kr to achieve awesomeness. To find out more, check out our social media which will tell you all about it.

Boston, MA – Invisible Fractures

2016-12-03T00:00:00Z

I've always wanted to use my photography to help people, so I was thrilled when I came up with a framework that helps to enact positive social change while empowering rather than exploiting participants. In this framework, I photograph people impacted by an issue in a way that is meaningful to them (and me), and use print sales, gallery openings, etc. to help raise money and awareness to combat the issue. For my first test of this framework, I am photographing people who have been severely emotionally abused in visual representations of the way the abuse made the participants feel. I am also recording the participants describing the abuse, how it has impacted them, and how they managed to escape (if indeed they have). I have partnered with the largest provider of domestic violence support services in Boston to use money raised through the gallery opening on 2/3/17 to provide real assistance to victims of emotional abuse, as well as to provide informational material at the gallery opening to help current victims to become aware of the resources available to them. This project has already had a profound impact on the lives of participants and people who have simply heard about the series, and I'm extremely excited by the potential to help many more people when the project officially goes live!

Boston, MA – Outdoor Classroom Initiative Game Area

2016-12-02T00:00:00Z

The Outdoor Classroom The Mary Hurd Academy is a small public alternative school that serves 33 high need students in grades 6 through 12. Students who attend the school face a variety of challenges that make traditional schooling very difficult for them to be successful in. Hurd Academy staff members strive to teach essential skills such as problem-solving and collaboration while working with students to learn content necessary for our 21st-century world. The Vision: Our project is to develop an Outdoor Classroom, a non-traditional, fun, effective context for learning. This project will provide students a wide variety of experiential learning opportunities designed to help students learn the skills that they need to be successful at school and work. The area will include a multi-tiered balance beam with many problem solving and trust game possibilities, a “flea hop,” and a landscaped multi-use initiative area with materials for games including “Island Hopping” and “Charlotte’s Web”. ” We will also construct a briefing / debriefing area consisting of eight small benches permanently mounted in a in a circle for students to sit and talk before or after participating in our adventure based, life skill lessons. Sustainability The Awesome Funds invested in our project would have longstanding impact on our community. Students will construct the site from planning to building. We will use materials with long life expectancy and we expect the area to be serving our students for at least twenty years. The neighboring North Berwick Elementary School and local Scouts will have access to the area, impacting hundreds more students annually. Additionally, funding our request would serve as the foundation for a bigger project that will consist of a high-level ropes challenge course with several different obstacles. Our outdoor classroom will be our foothold from which to show positive results and from which we will make an even more “Awesome” learning area.

Sarnia (Inactief) – Steph's Self-Care Packages

2016-12-02T00:00:00Z

Many people donate to cancer patients and sick kids, but many people tend to forget about the psychiatric wards in hospitals. Steph's self-care packages are packages distributed to both the Sarnia and London child & adolescent psychiatric wards as well as eating disorder patients in Sarnia. Self-care is a very important skill to have while recovering from any illness, especially if you do not feel worthy of time and space. Each package contains a homemade, no sew pillow with a positive word, a journal and pen, Kleenex, because everyone cries and a fun item (craft, mini stuffed animal or fuzzy socks).

Sydney – TechFugees Australia #Hack4Refugees

2016-12-01T00:00:00Z

TechFugees Australia is the Tech Community's response to the current global refugee crisis. We bring together Hackers, Hipsters, Hustlers and Humanitarians over a weekend to design tech solutions to the problems that people face when settling into Australia. It is completely non-political. It is all about creating community harmony. The secret sauce in our Hackathon is that we partner with NGOs and "co-design" with refugees and new settlers themselves. They present their challenges to Hackers around common themes and then work together to develop creative tech solutions. The majority of participants are not tech people and we mentor across the weekend to teach Lean Startup principles. We've been stunned by the generosity of our tech community in providing their time to do this. We have run two Hackathons in Sydney and Melbourne. In September we are planning to run a Hackathon for Young People in Parramatta. Some of the hacks developed in Sydney included an app that help refugees find the closest Doctor who speaks their language; "Refugee Intern" which connects people to companies and indivduals in their profession; and a "Settlement" portal connecting refugess to all the services they need when they arrive. Hackathons are the entry-level drug to the startup world and the alchemy of the weekend is all about connecting people and creating relationships that survive the weekend. We'll be especially thrilled if this happens with this Hackathon focused on Young People. Story about first Hackathon http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/hackathon-to-develop-ideas-to-help-refugees-20151128-glac8a.html Disclosure: Nicole Williamson is an Awesome Foundation Sydney Ambassador

Miami, FL – Science Cafecito #HappinessIsAwesome

2016-12-01T00:00:00Z

Storytelling is an ancient art form. Whether at home reading a book or with friends over a cafecito, we enjoy being told engaging stories, not only because of the what, but, sometimes most importantly, the how. Recently, podcasts have successfully tapped into our shared love for storifying information given podcasts’ accessibility and dynamism. The podcast Science Cafecito is born to tell intertwined stories of science, from a South Florida perspective, that entertain and challenge the minds of critical thinkers. The first season will consist of eight episodes and focuses on water and its many tributaries, that will take our listeners into a fantastic voyage from the depths of the ocean to the edge of the universe. Following seasons will cover other overarching themes. Hosted by an astrophysicist and a marine biologist, each episode will include recurring sections and special guests to helps us illustrate the relevant role South Florida plays not only on current science, but also technology, innovation, and art through a scientific lens. The podcast’s anchors are both foreign born Hispanics who have lived in Miami for much of their adult careers, and are currently members of the new Frost Science museum team. They are well connected with many compelling local scientists, are trained science communicators, and are able to make science relevant to Miami’s multicultural audience.

Oahu, HI – HOLOMUA NA OHANA - Weinberg Village Waimanalo

2016-12-01T00:00:00Z

Holomua Na Ohana is a non-profit organization that helps homeless families. We operate two clean and sober transitional housing programs. At Weinberg Village Waimanalo, we have 30 families in our two year program (currently there are 77 children here.) We have been open for 22 years and have helped over 500 families get on their feet and become self-sufficient and permanently housed. Our shelter is funded through a grant from the State of Hawaii's Homeless Program Office. Our clients also pay program fees like a small rent each month. We also accept donations but don't usually get money which we desperately need to continue operating. Costs for utilities have skyrocketed in recent years and we are struggling to make ends meet. One of the components of the program is that the adults attend classes on various topics from money management, budgeting, nutrition, health related topics, parenting, support groups, legal services and a variety of other topics. We have never had to pay for the classes as they are provided by other non-profit organizations who have grants to provide these services, until now. Each Head of Household is required to attend at least two case management meetings each month to create Social Service Plans which are goals to help them plan their futures and stay on track. All adults are required to work or go to school while here. We also have community activities and events for the residents. The goal is build self-esteem, secure a good job, become self-sufficient and move into permanent housing so ultimately, they never become homeless again. Our families are in extreme poverty and can benefit from parenting and life skills classes. We want to partner with PARENTS, Inc who will teach these classes but they do not have the needed grant money to do it at this time. We humbly request this funding to pay for two series of classed provided by our partner agency. The Village is an awesome place to start a new life!

Miami, FL – CodeArt Hour of Code #HappinessIsAwesome

2016-12-01T00:00:00Z

Computer Science Week is December 5-11, 2016. During this week, Code.org encourages everyone to try coding for at least one hour. CodeArt proposes to create a CodeArt Hour of Code! We will reach out to local schools and community centers and offer to lead an Hour of Code event for students at their locations. The CodeArt Hour of Code tutorial will teach students how to write code in JavaScript to generate a self-portrait. Whenever we do this lesson in our workshops, our students have a lot of fun with it and especially enjoy sharing their portraits with family and friends! (See images below.) Our goal would be to hold at least one CodeArt Hour of Code event on each day of Computer Science week. The organization CodeArt is focused primarily on inspiring girls and underrepresented minorities to learn to code, especially those from underserved communities. Therefore, we plan to reach out to the Young Women’s Preparatory Academy, Pace Center for Girls, COPE North, and the Dorothy M. Wallace COPE Center to offer to lead Hour of Code events at their locations. We would also like to hold an Hour of Code event at the Venture Café on Thursday of “Hour of Code” week. If we have the capacity, other groups we would reach out to include Miami Children’s Museum, Lowe Art Museum, and local libraries. In addition to leading the tutorial, CodeArt would provide each student with a folder that would include 1) certificate of completion, 2) fun and motivational stickers, 3) a 1-page Coding Tips Sheet that would include the main points covered in the lesson, 4) a list of online & local coding resources, and 5) a list of upcoming coding events for students wanting to continue learning more. The folder and all of the materials would be designed to be colorful and attractive. If resources allow, we would also give each host site inspirational posters and include smaller versions of those in each student folder.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactief) – Skateboarding Liberia

2016-12-01T00:00:00Z

The Foundation for Women is introducing skateboarding to Liberia, a totally new concept for this country. Our Founder/CEO Deborah Lindholm has made it her mission to bring fun back to Liberia after a brutal civil war and the recent Ebola crisis. We hope that the introduction of skateboards will not only bring fun to the people of Liberia, but also possibilities for social businesses, partnerships with US schools and businesses, and employment opportunities for the people of Liberia.

Annapolis, NS (Inactief) – Art Heals

2016-12-01T00:00:00Z

My gallery will be used as a platform to introduce the creative, art-as-therapy process and bring together our community and specifically our youth to participate in exhibits, art related workshops and talks for the month of May as Mental Health Awareness week is May 2-8. There will be 3 different, complimentary elements in this month-long event: 1-Exhibit: Clients of art therapy from our area are welcome to display their art, incorporating the theme: “Reflected Self” - a self-portrait technique that is practiced in Art Therapy where the individual has to use various media meant to facilitate healing by reflecting and processing emotions through art making. The exhibitors will be featured in a program which will highlight the artist’s story and their journey. 2-Talks: The “Reflected Self” exhibitors are invited to share their stories. These talks will be scheduled during the day/evenings for community members to attend (free). 3-Mask Making workshop: My husband, James Lightle is a patient of art therapy and trained sculptor. He will facilitate a mask making workshop with Students (at the local school) and introduce the history and significance of mask making in art therapy. “Making a mask invites the creator to explore various aspects of his or her own persona. The activity can be revealing because it takes the mask maker out of the realm of words and employs imagination and nonverbal action. Besides being a therapeutic tool, mask making can be a simple pleasure on its own” (goodtherapy.org). The expected outcome for this month-long exhibit and education event is to not only increase awareness of the impact of Mental Illness and the recognition of Healing through Art, but to also raise funds for a worthy Mental Health organization and to increase the exposure of our gallery and the Annapolis area.