tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:/nl/projects?page=41 2022-04-06T14:31:50Z tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/186559 2022-04-05T00:00:00Z 2022-04-06T14:31:50Z Geluk voor de deur -de knikkerpot- Positie innemen, scherpe blik Strategie bepalen, mikken op doel of juist niet Ga ik voor grote bonk of voor blauwe oog Toeschouwers uit de buurt, jong en oud Winnen of verliezen, mazzel door de scheve stoeptegel Winst terug in de bak of boodschappentas Geluk is altijd dichtbij Geluk kunnen we overal vinden, daarvoor hoef je niet ver te reizen of een groot huis te bezitten. Geluk zit in ervaringen en niet in bezit. Geluk vindt je juist heel dichtbij, in je eigen buurt. Het is dat knikkerpotje voor de deur waar je samen met de buurtkinderen, maar ook met papa en mama of opa/oma samen kan spelen. Het is die fantastische speeltuin op de hoek waar kinderen kunnen spelen, ontdekken, kunnen leren terwijl ouders gezellig bij kletsen. Het zijn die ervaringen in de buurt waar geluk te vinden is. En soms is het voldoende om op een andere manier te kijken naar gewone plaatsen in de buurt, verrassende details en onbekende achterkanten. Door bewustwording van geluksplekken, focussen we ons op sterktes, sleutels en voorwaarden voor een gelukkiger leven. Elke plek kan een ‘Geluksplek’ zijn. Deze geluksplekken worden aangedragen door bewoners (jong en oud) van de buurt/wijk zelf. De buurt en de buurtbewoners worden ambassadeurs van hun eigen. De plek zou vooral ook andere mensen moeten kunnen inspireren, bv door een “doe-tip” op de geluksplek. Bijvoorbeeld: op een specifieke plaats van stilte, moedigen we mensen aan om 5-10 minuten te zwijgen en het effect daarvan te voelen. Op een bepaalde bank in het park, moedigen we mensen aan om iemand aan te spreken over wat hen gelukkig maakt. Op een speelpleintje, stimuleren we je om even mee te voetballen en een doel proberen te maken. Een standbeeld of kunstwerk kan de aanzet om te reflecteren over onze eigen dankbaarheid en moed. We willen een aantal geluksplekken (aangedragen door kinderen en ouderen uit de wijk) met elkaar verbinden waardoor je een geluksroute kan bewandelen in de wijk rivierenwijk. Manja Geluksroute Rivierenwijk Netherlands Utrecht https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/utrecht tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/186825 2022-04-05T00:00:00Z 2022-04-06T00:46:42Z Promote the Goat (PTG) is a very special basketball program located in the Western suburbs of Sydney, providing coaching lessons and games to underprivileged kids aged 14-19. We are not only teaching them how to be part of a team and how to play an amazing game, we are also teaching them valuable life lessons, which helps to build their self-confidence and self-esteem in a fun way. When I created PTG, I noticed there was no real cultural representation of athletes at a higher level in basketball, so I decided to promote celebrating cultural diversity in Australian basketball, as well as the health benefits of the sport. Mental, social, emotional, physical and spiritual. I have been playing basketball for over 2 decades, travelling and playing interstate and internationally. My day job is at the Australia's biggest basketball store, but my biggest passion is Promote the Goat and helping the kids build their confidence, self-belief and life skills through basketball. I’m also using the sport to promote hooping for mental health and would really like to use my passion and experience to help women’s basketball as a whole and to have more females, coaching and playing! We would like to enter our team into a local competition which runs for 12 weeks. It would be an amazing experience for the kids and help to not only hone their basketball skills, but also give them a real sense of working as a team and, hopefully success. By allowing us to improve the lives of the kids in our program, you will be making them even more awesome than they already are. If Sydney's kids are more awesome, then Sydney too is more #awesome. Josie Taoi Promote the Goat Uplift https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063804541151 Australia Sydney https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/sydney tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/182354 2022-04-04T00:00:00Z 2022-04-04T21:31:04Z Outlast Arts and Education is a volunteer-driven initiative that provides annual film and media arts camps to Native American youth on Pine Ridge Reservation in rural South Dakota. Each summer, a group of film and media professionals, artists, and teachers travel from various locations across the US to teach technical and creative competencies that promote digital literacy, art, leadership, community, and advocacy. These skills not only allow students to reclaim their narratives from harmful and inaccurate stereotypes but help propel them forward in a diverse and digital world. Students have made short films and documentaries, music videos, podcasts, and self-portraits. Students work together to brainstorm, design, produce and edit all of their projects over the course of one week. These self-directed projects represent their experiences and world views and allow them to see themselves in media. Going into our 6th year, three Outlast students have gone on to study film and media at the Institute of American Indian Arts and we are currently preparing to help three more with their film school applications. Our program serves youths from age 8-19, and in the six years since our founding, we have had 50 individual participants, with numerous students returning to our program until aging out. Outlast Arts and Education Media Camp is always free to students, with meals, transportation, and equipment provided. We partner with local organizations and individuals on the reservation to build community and strengthen the quality of our program. Our funding primarily comes from crowd-funding, such as GoFundMe or Indigogo, or through small, community events, such as Make Noise Nights, film screenings, and small concerts. In addition, we have been fortunate to receive in-kind donations from businesses including U.S. Foods, Nalgene, Field Notes, Adobe, The Crayon Collective, and AbelCine. Outlast Arts and Education is led entirely by People of Color and/or Women. LaTerrian Officer-McIntosh Outlast Arts and Education Media Arts Camp https://www.outlastartsedu.com/ Worldwide Awesome Without Borders (Inactief) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/awesomewithoutborders tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/175717 2022-04-01T00:00:00Z 2022-04-01T18:49:05Z Archetypes in Art and Media – Phase 3 My research explores the intersection of art and psychology. I am embarking on a multi-phase study of the influence of Jungian archetypes in art and media throughout history and artistic movements. The studies will encompass both art in the classic sense and mainstream commercial media (e.g., advertising, product packaging). Phase 3 includes the creation of a series of books on the presence of archetypes in various art forms. Donna L. Roberts, PhD Archetypes in Art and Media – Phase 3 Italy Aviano (Inactief) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/aviano tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/186880 2022-04-01T00:00:00Z 2022-04-06T14:48:42Z Birdie on the Mountain is the hopeful first in a new series of annual music festivals, bringing together hundreds of members of the Centre County community in support of fundraising efforts for multiple nonprofit organizations. The event was conceived as a way to honor lost friends, and to finally be able to gather together to celebrate their lives and legacies as we were unable to safely do during two years of social distancing. We're bringing dozens of local bands and musicians to the amphitheater at Tussey Mountain, as well as a variety of local food truck businesses, to create a new tradition to kick off the summer season for State College. Scott McKenzie Birdie on the Mountain Charity Music Festival https://www.facebook.com/events/715422733146558 United States State College, PA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/statecollege tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/187393 2022-04-01T00:00:00Z 2022-07-07T12:50:31Z Tsav is currently part of the Zangezur Biosphere Complex, that combines Arevik National Park, Shikahogh State Reserve and a number of nature sanctuaries under one protected area unit, making it one of the region's largest protected areas. Lately, Zangezur Biosphere Complex workers have made several visits to the local schools bringing birdfeeders as well as wooden bird houses to install at the schools in an attempt to raise awareness among the youth of the importance of local ornithology and its protection. Following this dynamic, the project aims to invite wooden sculptors to create 4 sculpture of 1,50 meters high of the most iconic birds of the area like the Dryocopus martius, the Tetraogallus caspius or the Dendrocopos syriacus. The art sculptures will be installed in different places along the village with informational panels. Altogether, it will beautify the streets of the village, increase the sense of belonging of the locals as well as increase the knowledge of the local ornithology without age discrimination (for youth and elderly alike). The idea comes following a rise into the artistic current of LandArt in Syunik province. Paloma Rubio BirdArt Armenia Nature Armenia (Inactief) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/naturearmenia tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/358431 2022-04-01T00:00:00Z 2025-07-16T23:47:19Z The MFT/ESP strike was especially harmful and hurtful to educators of color whom spoke up around their concerns that both the district and union keep their words about retaining educators of color and Indigenous educators, and were met with dishonesty, resistance, disparaging comments, and dismissal. We want to create a healing space for them to process their pain and develop restorative methods to finish the year strong, keeping our students at the center of our work. This will be done through the theories of SEED facilitation (Seeking Educational Equity + Diversity, and Resmaa Menakem’s somatic abolitionist healing training. - Ujima Collective United States North Minneapolis, MN https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/northminneapolis tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/183314 2022-03-31T00:00:00Z 2022-03-31T14:42:23Z During the pandemic, many religious centers launched food pantries, but these spaces are often uncomfortable or unsafe for LGBTQ individuals in need of food. **Love Wins Food Pantry is an LGBTQ-led food pantry, creating safe spaces for LGBTQ and gender non-conforming people to access food during the COVID-19 pandemic.** In front of Jackson Heights gay bar Friend's Tavern, we distribute food every other week to anyone who needs it. By partnering with LGBTQ organizations CITGNY and SAGE, we also provide food to trans and gender non-binary immigrants in Jackson Heights every other week, and to LGBTQ elders in the Bronx, Harlem, and Brooklyn every month. In 2021, we led a total of 71 volunteer-led food distributions. We distributed over 10,000 bags of food, one per person. At least 2,400 bags of food went to trans and gender non-conforming individuals. 95% of our recipients are people of color and 45% are elders. **The food pantry distributes food weekly. To join their volunteer mailing list and get involved, please email lovewinsfoodpantry@gmail.com. And be sure to follow along on their Instagram at [@lovewinsfoodpantry](https://instagram.com/lovewinsfoodpantry/).** Jay Dalal Trans and Queer Immigrant-Led Food Pantry https://www.lovewinsnyc.org/ United States New York City, NY https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/nyc tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/185392 2022-03-31T00:00:00Z 2022-04-01T00:28:15Z I am nearing completion of a mobile game based on one of Gloucester’s most popular annual traditions during St. Peter’s Fiesta. Players will have the opportunity to play individually or against multiple players in attempting to walk the Greasy Pole and capture the flag! The game is complete with scenes of Pavillion Beach, Stacey Boulevard, the Fort and other Gloucester historic sites. To give the most authentic experience, you can create yourself in game from the ground up, and apply costumes for walking the pole. One of the goals of the game is to raise awareness of the St. Peter’s Fiesta, Gloucester, and our historic culture and heritage. Isaac Aiello The Greasy Pole Mobile Game United States Gloucester, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/gloucester tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/185885 2022-03-31T00:00:00Z 2022-04-02T11:41:21Z We have a square behind our homes which was fairly abandoned. At the beginning of the first lockdown I rallied all the kids and we began planting vegetables. We called it oursunshine garden. The idea is, everyone chips in and helps the vegetables grow and everyone get to take some yummy veg home. In the last year we have coaxed more people out of their homes and they have joined in but we have no budget and so far I have paid for everyone's items. We have one planter that we currently have brocolli in and the rest has always been done in grow back but they unfortunately don't last. We want to make this area an inclusive space for everyone from the elderly to babies. Learn about nutrition, vegetables and creating some budding gardeners. I keep chickens and I give out the eggs for free to those on the square. It's an amazing community square now but it needs funding and I can't do it alone. I've been asking for planters from the council since 2016. I got and it broke within 3 months. Some local builders have offered to build us some for free if I can supply the materials. They have also said they will build us some benches so that people can sit and be mindful. Jasmin Makinson The sunshine garden United Kingdom Liverpool (Inactief) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/liverpool tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/185926 2022-03-31T00:00:00Z 2022-04-01T20:37:49Z The Power in Pride Celebration is a yearly grassroots movement created in 2021 to celebrate Disability Pride Month through collaborative conversations that amplify a multitude of disabled experiences. Last year, the celebration featured over 60 pridefully disabled speakers from 3 continents in 9 Clubhouse conversations. This year, each event will be a collaboration with other advocates on the Planning Committee to give them opportunity, experience and a platform. The goal is to empower disabled pride & excellence while building a bridge for better allyship towards the disabled through conversation. Topics include Ask a Disabled Adult, The Power in Pride, Disclosing at Work, Accessible Activism, Multimarginalization and the Intersectionality of Disability, Trauma Healing from the Ableist Society Peer Support and more. The celebration seeks to amplify as many speakers as possible in accessible audio only spaces. What sets it apart from other events is that it is entirely disabled run, making sure the conversations are controlled by disabled voices. **What our grantee is saying:** "Winning this award means the world to me because it ensures there will be compensation that values the disabled people taking part in The Power in Pride Celebration for Disability Pride Month." Marie Dagenais-Lewis The Power in Pride Celebration Worldwide Disability https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/disability tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/186906 2022-03-31T00:00:00Z 2022-06-01T15:49:13Z My project, entitled The Tune is in the Tree, is connected to the Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst, Massachusetts, and in particular, the oak on its grounds. In the course of what has turned into a three-year investigation into Emily Dickinson, I have become increasingly interested in this tree, possibly the last living being to have had direct contact with the poet. The sound produced by trees was often a subject of Dickinson's poetry --trees as instruments, played by the winds, producing "fleshless chants" that "call the least of us to undepicted realms." For Dickinson, the "tune is in the tree." The Homestead Oak is the last of that orchestra, and the sound from that instrument is important to save. I would love the opportunity to capture its voice before it is too late. I have been given permission by Amherst College and the Museum to make a 24 hour recording within the crown of this tree. I hope to create, through sculptural and photographic assemblage, controlled by a DMX theatrical lighting network, the experience of being between the branches at the crown of that tree, surrounded by its sound and changing light. The soundscape will be comprised of these recordings, along with historic field recordings from the Pelham Valley and subterranean bio-acoustical recordings of the tree's root system. The installation's visual components will be images of the oak's crown, taken from a cherry picker, printed on bio-degradable voile floor-to-ceiling panels. Theatrical lights controlled by DMX will bathe the panels in changeable light. As a culture we have lost our ability to listen deeply. Gordon Hempton, an acoustical ecologist and technical advisor to my project, has called silence one of our most important and endangered resources. He has documented the steadily vanishing natural soundscapes. This installation will address this deficit and highlight what we have lost Nancy Krakaur The Tune is in the Tree http://nancykrakaur.com/ United States Boston, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/boston tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/180361 2022-03-30T00:00:00Z 2022-03-31T10:22:01Z My Awesome Georgetown idea is to bring ten 1.5 hour music events to Georgetown fostering our community’s natural love for music. What Do The Events Look Like?!? Two 1.5 hr music events at the Georgetown Senior Center These interactive events would bring fun, recognizable music tailored specifically for our senior’s enjoyment. I’ve had initial discussions with Colleen Fiorello (Director of Georgetown Senior Center) about this idea. Two 1.5 hr ‘Music Exploration” events for Georgetown Youth These two sessions would include original and popular songs on guitar and create an open dialog for the teens to share their experiences on how music speaks to them. Two 1.5 hr Guitar/Ukulele Song Circles at the Library A Song Circle is a music event for guitar/ukulele players of all levels and styles who meet, sit in a circle and share songs. Song Circles are where many find an opportunity to perform publicly for the first time. I have had initial discussions with Sarah Cognata (Director of Georgetown Peabody Library) about this idea. Two 1.5 hr Community Concert events at the Georgetown Library ( Indoor/Outdoor) While not everyone enjoys singing behind a microphone, many times when an audience hears a familiar song, they spontaneously sing along. These two sessions would be focused on bringing fun and recognizable songs for our community to enjoy and sing along with if desired. One 1.5 hr Community Workshop called “The Art of Guitar Building and Flute Making” I will present my personal collection of hand-built guitars and Native American style flutes for display and provide an introductory overview on the techniques, tooling and building process necessary for guitar building and flute making. One 2-hour Georgetown Public Open Mic (location TBD, possibly Perley School) This Open Mic – the crescendo to all foregoing events - would be a non-judgmental environment for Georgetown residents to share music talent, poetry, storytelling or comedy for the public to enjoy. Joe LeBlanc Reaching Out In Song Georgetown United States Georgetown, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/georgetown tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/184629 2022-03-30T00:00:00Z 2022-04-04T19:30:33Z _What is a Doula? A Doula's purpose is to assist women in having a safe, memorable, and empowering birthing experience._ Mother’s PEARLS is a division of Team Pearls, based in Suffolk County, New York. We are healthcare professionals dedicated to providing preventative education awareness to expectant and new moms and their partners. Mother’s PEARLS provides childbirth education, breastfeeding education, infant care training, and infant/child CPR. Mother’s PEARLS has developed a proprietary, one of its kind Doula training program. This 6-week training program will provide the knowledge and training necessary to become a Certified Doula. Research has determined that Certified Doulas are needed to assist in combating maternal and infant mortality rates right here in New York. Team Pearls has overcome the challenges in making this course meet and exceed the state's requirements for certification and has developed a program that helps Doulas work at a hospital or start their own business. In addition, hospital partnerships during training means that Doulas are made available to patients who might not otherwise have the opportunity to work with a Doula during childbirth. The AwesomeNYC grant will be used to secure a location and training equipment for the program. With a suitable location, they will be able to provide this Doula course and many other courses to the community at a low cost or no cost at all. And if you are interested in working with a Doula, email info@teampearls.org and a Certified Doula would be happy to answer your questions and set a time to meet with you. Ebony N White-Kilpatrick Mother's Pearls Doula Training Program https://www.teampearls.org/form__map United States New York City, NY https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/nyc tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/185922 2022-03-30T00:00:00Z 2022-04-04T14:14:51Z We are Slaghammers! A feminist welding collective, prioritising women, trans and non-binary people in Glasgow since 2016. The name comes from the first tool we had- a slaghammer is used for knocking off the excess material (slag) in arc welding and when we had our first meeting to begin the project it was our only tool! We then were leant welders and other tools and self funded to start collecting more equipment. We began a collective learning project to self teach and skill share and develop our metal work skills to be able to take on commission for donations to the project and offer open workshops. Some members have gone on to college courses in Metal fabrication after beginning in Slaghammers. Originally we were welding in the back of a community space in the corridor but this was not the best space for accessible workshops. Last autumn, we finally took on a new premises to set up a metal workshop in the old Barclay Curle shipyard in Glasgow. Our dream has always been to open an accessible and community orientated space that allows people to access new skills and experiences, and we are now so close to making this dream a reality. When we took on the old power house building, it was a state! So these past few months, we've spent designing and building 3 metre tall windows and doors, to make a beautiful, watertight space. So far, we've done all this work ourselves, but we've finally run out of cash. We are in need of some financial help with the bigger things that ensure the space is super safe and ready to use. we dont have a website currently but you can find us on instagram- @slaghammers Slaghammers Ltd (application typed up by Ella and Winnie) Slaghammers Open Welding workshops https://glasgowautonomous.weebly.com/regular-events.html United Kingdom Glasgow https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/glasgow tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/185736 2022-03-29T00:00:00Z 2022-03-31T00:10:05Z Pixellated the game carries a story of a cyborg who is interested in learning more about her mechanical and organic origin. Due to her unique existence, she actually belongs in two very contrasting worlds, A soft organic 2d world and cold mechanical 3d world. With the theme of connecting and finding middle ground, players move the story through a top down rpg with an array of string based interactive experiences. The cyborg’s division is not only a mental challenge for her, it's also reflected in the physical environment, which we believe is a more captivating storytelling tool than using plain text. The issue we want to focus on is the lack of positive Middle Eastern environmental representation within games generally. A lot of our environments we plan to create within this project will be inspired by a modern and diverse version of the Middle East focusing on the Mesopotamian region, taking inspiration from the ancient Mesopotamia to the modern version. We want to create what we believe the region would look like if it was not so impacted by war. A lot of games default to western inspired cities/towns when designing their populated environments, we want to try something different. The environments won’t necessarily impact the story in any way, however it would be refreshing for players to enjoy art and design they have not experienced often. Zahraa Al Zubaydi Pixellated the Game https://twitter.com/Pxlltd Australia Melbourne (Inactief) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/melbourne tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/184036 2022-03-28T00:00:00Z 2022-03-28T21:01:59Z The East Nashville Wellness Center is a psychiatric clinic with a focus on substance use disorders as well as general mental health complaints. Our services include medication management and psychotherapy, medication-assisted treatment of opioid use disorder, case management, and holistic health including yoga. The target population includes patients with various mental health problems including substance use disorders, with a focus on opioid use disorder and medication-assisted treatment. We will target patients who otherwise might have limited access to care including Medicaid/TennCare patients, the uninsured, and those with high-deductible insurance plans. Jenny Karr East Nashville Wellness Center http://eastnashvillewellnesscenter.org/ Worldwide Awesome Without Borders (Inactief) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/awesomewithoutborders tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/186460 2022-03-28T00:00:00Z 2022-03-29T17:25:19Z Our awesome project is a mobile Music Therapy program targeted towards a community based approach to self-expression and healing through visual and performing arts. This music program allows freedom of speech and expression of thoughts, trauma, dreams, and aspirations often not expressed in at risk populations. Music art as therapy builds self-esteem, interconnectivity of community, and teaches appropriate ways to express vulnerability, emotional pain, resilience, and triumph. Music expression is noted to have a calming, therapeutic effect, which has been known to help children and adults with trauma and to assist in violence prevention through processing of anger and stress before situations become volatile. Master lyricist, musician, and oral storyteller, Mr. Charles Barnes, Jr. is co-creator of an innovative music therapy program which teaches inner city communities to express anger, sadness, dreams, powerlessness, and aspirations through rhythm and poetry. He currently creates and executes custom music programs for four different neighborhoods within Ward 8 and the Anacostia corridor. All programs of free of charge to the community. Dr. Patrise Holden, founder of The Language Key, serves as an educational consultant, designing and implementing imaginative impactful academic and communications programs. The Mobile Music program deals with subjects such as grief, conflict resolution, trauma, fatherlessness, and subjects that if left unaddressed may lead to violence, anxiety, negative behavior, or compounded trauma. The Mobile Music project specifically takes music programs geared towards self expression and connectivity directly into communities. Through simple beats, writing prompts, song writing, games, creation of a safe space, free expression, and validation of emotions, the mobile music project helps facilitate healing conversations that reduce anxiety, stress, mental trauma, and build self esteem and belief in future possibilities. Patrise Holden, PhD The Mobile Music Project https://youtu.be/uO-fNywKf-o United States Washington, DC https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/dc tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/185437 2022-03-24T00:00:00Z 2022-03-24T22:09:32Z The Children Educational-Development Center ABC situated in Dilijan, Armenia. It is a unique center THE ONLY ONE in Dilijan! ABC opened its gates to children from age 3 up to 13 in July 2019. The goal is to prepare children for the 1st grade of school, giving them foundations in language skills, grammar, and math and to develop their logic and fine motor skills. Other parts of our goal is to help children from school to do their homework when parents are at work and to teach ages 5-13 main subjects and engage in extracurricular activities. ABC is situated in a poor area of the town within walking distance from the local school and kindergarten, which helps children attend without using transportation as transport the biggest problem in town. The nearest Educational center is in the city center, and children from our area can’t travel there on their own or with parents because of the lack of buses. It was opened by Lilit Zargarian in summer of 2019. Lilit has several years of teaching experience in Armenia and Russia. BUT ABC doesn't have a gym/dance studio. We have only once and it is in the center of the town, all the kids from our area can't go there as there is no transportation. We dream about making one of the rooms of the center a sport room. It will bring a great change to the development of children in this part of the town. We already have a gymnastic and dance teachers who are ready to start, but we need to make the room. Most importantly, the price for all the programs is very low, which makes it affordable for all kinds of families. And ABC is going to keep it that way! Also the profit goes to the fixing and building additional space for more kids. Our team helps children from financially-challenged families to find sponsors; therefore, many kids from such families attend the center (and the number is growing!) This project would change lives of so many kids in our area! We are ready to make the sport room in 1-2 weeks because we can't wait! Almast Yesayan Gym/dance studio at the ABC Educational Center fro https://www.facebook.com/ABC-%D5%84%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%B6-%D4%B6%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%A3%D5%A1%D6%81%D5%B4%D5%A1%D5%B6-%D4%B5%D5%8E-%D4%BA%D5%A1%D5%B4%D5%A1%D5%B6%D6%81%D5%AB-%D4%BF%D5%A5%D5%B6%D5%BF%D6%80%D5%B8%D5%B6-314954292774615 Armenia Yerevan https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/yerevan tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/170367 2022-03-22T00:00:00Z 2022-03-22T18:49:22Z We give classes in crafts and quilting to newcomers to the Aviano area. It helps them integrate into the community, forming lifelong friendships. Antonella Rossi Aviano Crafts & Quilts Italy Aviano (Inactief) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/aviano tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/183469 2022-03-22T00:00:00Z 2022-03-23T00:27:19Z As I'm sure you know, teachers around the country are having one of the hardest years they've ever had in their careers. They are working extremely hard through impossible, pandemic situations to still provide quality education to their beloved students but they are struggling mentally. I have been teaching at Rockport High School for 13 years and I have never seen as much teacher burnout as I have this year. We are looking for ways to make the staff feel loved, appreciated, and provide a morale boost. The Teacher's Room (where they often lesson plan, have meetings, and eat lunch) is a very ugly room, made even worse last year when the teachers graciously voted to give that room up to use as a Covid quarantine room. All of the art was taken off the walls, comfortable furniture removed, etc. The room really needs a makeover. There are a few staff members who are ready to take the project on in order to try to bring some much need support to the hard working teachers, but we lack funds. We would be paying for the project out of pocket. Stephanie Walker High School Teacher Room Refresh United States Rockport, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/rockport tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/184266 2022-03-22T00:00:00Z 2022-03-23T01:38:13Z March’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to Sinda Garziz to support street art shedding light on the barriers experienced by those in Ottawa with precarious immigration status. Through a photography exhibit, a graffiti mural, live performance, and an art installation, Sinda’s project will highlight and challenge vulnerabilities that result in fear of accessing city services. Following a roundtable discussion with people with lived experience of precarious status, community organizers, service providers, and artists, the works will be developed in collaboration between these groups. “The exhibit,” explains Sinda, “will take place in different locations downtown Ottawa. It will be inaugurated by a guided tour led by organizers and storytellers who have been formally undocumented. They will share with us a bit of their story as we walk through the art exhibit.” “Canada is the only country in the West,” notes Sinda, “that practices indefinite immigration detention, where undocumented immigrants and their children can be held indefinitely in high security jails with difficult access to legal representation and no access to legal aid.” Sinda is a migrant justice organizer, a health promoter for LGBTQIA+ newcomers, and a master’s student at St. Paul University. Sinda Garziz Documenting the Undocumented http://documentingtheundocumented.com Canada Ottawa https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/ottawa tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/186113 2022-03-22T00:00:00Z 2022-03-23T03:54:19Z I’ve gotten to know Illia Yakovenko, a Ukrainian artist, as a roommate over the last 3 years. I’ve been enthralled learning about the Ukrainian experience and the post soviet theater through Illia’s art practice. Since Russia declared war on Ukraine those close to Illia have been truly feeling called to support Ukraine any way we can. Ukraine's national flower, the sunflower, has become a worldwide symbol of solidarity and peace amid Russian invasion. The towering blooms have emerged as a sign of resistance. Our proposal is to seed as many sunflowers as possible to be included in a monument/symbol of solidarity. A мазанка (mazanka), meaning a small village house built of wood, clay, and reeds, serves as the architectural inspiration for this monument. Referencing its structural form and an Indigenous method of making that points towards an ancient claim to the lands of Ukraine. This structure will be covered and surrounded by as many sunflowers as it can sustain. The monument will be a place where people can gather, as well as take sunflowers with them to be planted at their homes. The dream is to seed a summer where the entire city is covered in sunflower blooms as signs of solidarity with Ukraine. The Installation would be public and function as a site and context in which Illia can utilize to support their graduate work, the founding of the Center for Art and Human Cooperation (a project they began a year prior to the war). The site would also function as a platform supporting their graduate lecture and work, bringing attention to the war on Ukraine among other cultural forms of solidarity and mourning. As an artist and activist with american citizenship I feel it is my moral and ethical imperative to support Ukraine condemning the unjust and deplorable actions of the Russian government. It is with this original and personal art installation that I might offer my skills and support to Illia in the most challenging moment of their life and professional career Master Artist Michael Bernard Stevenson Jr. мазанка (mazanka) https://www.instagram.com/cahc.art/ United States Portland, OR https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/portland tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/183738 2022-03-21T00:00:00Z 2022-12-19T22:14:25Z This project answers the question: how do you combine a race, a hip hop dance class, a beer fest, and an arts festival and then make it all happen in a 1 mile sprint. The answer: the RACE TO Series. Yinz Run Club (YRC) will be doing this on Saturday, March 19th and then over and over and over across Pittsburgh. The RACE TO Series will be the culmination of the community engagement activities and the relationships built with local businesses by Yinz Run Club across Pittsburgh. This Series of 1-Mile Sprints will be put on every 6 months and the focus will be to celebrate a mutual love of running, moving, being active, and to celebrate the local businesses, creatives, and artists in the neighborhoods that we are travelers in. Running is often a very transient activity. In and out, no stopping, and probably very little conversation with the community members you move past. Interestingly, you do learn the streets, the stores, the business, the organizations that you move through because you amongst them, on the street. Yinz Run Club’s goal with the RACE TO series is to create the space to allow runners to engage with the community more thoughtfully and to celebrate those places that have fed, sheltered, and indulged a misfit group of runners each week. On an organizing note, the RACE TO Series will be a 1-mile run with multiple engagement points along the route where runners will stop, complete a short activity sponsored by a local business, leader, or organization. After the race, runners will be encourage to spend time in community with musical performances from local artists, personal introductions to local businesses, and doing so in an intentionally crafted light, fun, and silly environment. Dan Lampmann Yinz Run Club Presents: "RACE TO" Series https://www.instagram.com/yinzrunclub/ United States Pittsburgh, PA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/pittsburgh tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/182805 2022-03-18T00:00:00Z 2022-08-29T12:52:47Z We helped an individual who is doing it tough at the moment. She is a victim of domestic violence and was in an abusive relationship for over 7 years. She is now free of the relationship and rebuilding her confidence to start a new life. Her abusive ex-partner smashed her car which has been unusable for a number of years. Our grant helped her get the car up and running so she can then afford private rental. We helped her to regain more independence and start her new life with her daughter. A very well deserving recipient. Carly Stephens Reinventing Belinda Australia Geelong (Inactief) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/geelong tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/183709 2022-03-17T00:00:00Z 2022-04-07T17:50:52Z Never has there been a greater need for young people to connect and understand the key issues impacting their communities and lives. Since 2013, I accompanied my students from William H. Turner Technical Arts High School to Washington DC to attend the Close Up Foundation High School program. Since 1971, nearly one million students, teachers, and parents have participated in Close Up Foundation’s Washington, DC-based programs. The issue-centric, nonpartisan curriculum is designed to provide participants with a stronger understanding of government institutions, history and current issues, and their roles as citizens. Close Up Foundation aims to address that mission by engaging youth from various communities and backgrounds in a face-to-face experience that allows them to discover their voices and to actively take part in our democracy. Close Up’s Washington DC Program has had a lasting impact in the lives of the Turner Tech students who participated in the program. For example, after attending the Close Up program, one of our 2017 participants later became an aide at Congresswoman Frederica Wilson's office. William Turner Tech High School first participated in Close Up’s program in 2007, and have taken a small cohort of students each year. By participating in Close Up’s program, my students learned to engage in civil discourse, use facts to support opinions, find their unique voice, and seek collaboration and compromise to tackle the issues that impact their lives and communities. We typically take groups of around 8-14 students, since so many of our students come from low-income families. Financial barriers should not exempt a student from participating in this life changing experience. Therefore, I am requesting funds from your organization to lessen the students’ financial burden to attend the program. The requested funds will offset the cost for students from our extremely under-served community to actively participate in the program. Celia Layzell Close Up HS Program for Turner Tech HS Students https://www.closeup.org/ United States Miami, FL https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/miami tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/185119 2022-03-17T00:00:00Z 2022-03-25T14:33:37Z At Dress for Success Kingston, we provide support, guidance, and mentorship to women in need in the Kingston and area community. We are part of a global movement for change and empowerment of women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and the development tools to help women thrive in work and life. Our number one focus is to assist women in choosing and styling themselves for interviews and employment at no cost. Our goal is to help all women feel confident to succeed and achieve their dreams of financial independence. When clients come to our boutique for a personal one-to-one suiting appointment, they have time to discuss clothing to fit their body type. Clients also have ample time to try on clothing and match outfits to find 2 or 3 perfect outfits for what they need. Upon leaving after their appointment, clients have had trouble remembering, reproducing, or interchanging each piece to create the outfits they developed with our suiting stylists. Once they are home, we would like to provide them with photos of each outfit they are taking home to remember how to put the clothing together so that that confidence continues after the appointment. Having the polaroid camera would allow clients to feel more comfortable that their photos will not be shared or saved. They would also have the ability to take the pictures home at the end of their appointment for their own personal reference for matching and styling their outfits. Finally, not all women have access to a working cell phone with a camera, and this would remove the barrier of technology some face. Hanna Kitchingman Styles Snap with Dress for Success Kingston https://kingston.dressforsuccess.org/ Canada Kingston https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/kingston-on tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/183890 2022-03-16T00:00:00Z 2022-03-16T22:52:26Z We provide free haircuts in 170 locations around Australia each month. Our haircuts are FREE :). We partner with trade qualified hairdressers and barbers around Australia who donate 3 hours of their time to restore dignity one haircut at a time. We have just received funding through Women NSW to purchase a van which we will be kitting out as a mobile salon to use in Lake Mac and Newcastle. Christine Mastello Community Hair Project http://www,communityhairproject.org Australia Lake Mac https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/lakemac tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/185349 2022-03-16T00:00:00Z 2022-03-18T13:48:18Z In Chicago, Friday summer nights are statistically known for being some of the deadliest nights throughout the year. Normally, youth are out of school and oftentimes resort to the streets--this is a result of not enough safe spaces in the community for them. I seek to address this issue by creating safe spaces where youth can simply exist and experience Black and brown joy. On Friday summer nights, local community leaders and organizations will collaborate to host interactive community events at local parks, schools, and vacant lots to promote peace. At these community gatherings, they will provide families and children with different outlets to destress and release trauma. This project will allow BIPOC youth to heal by recognizing the beauty that exists within their own joy and communities. Also, it'll serve as a new and innovative framework for violence prevention efforts in urban communities. As a survivor of gun violence, my biggest goal is to save lives in Black & brown communities because I am tired of having to bury my friends. Diego Garcia Community Cook-Outs 2022 United States Chicago, IL https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/chicago tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/185892 2022-03-16T00:00:00Z 2022-08-02T19:32:02Z The Buruku people of Benue State have a fishing, farming, swimming and boating culture which all relate to the Buruku River. A large percent of all the riverine activities relate to boats which have become a very important element in their society. The most important and respected people in Buruku are those who own boats and ferries. They have become a symbol of importance and the “only” means of transportation across the river hence the river is yet to have a bridge. The boats convey both people and vehicles across the river which spans about 400 Meters wide. I plan to use the Awesome Award to organize a mural festival where I will paint murals on fishing and ferry boats at River Buruku in Benue State. I will use intercultural themes to help beautify the boats. The “Murals On Water Festival” will be hosted at the Buruku River Bank. Some of the planned activities are: 1. Open discussion about their choices of themes. 2. Painting murals with the locals. 3. Teaching the participants how to paint murals. 4. Documenting the murals in form of photography and video. 5. Boating and fishing competition. 6. BBQ with roasted fish caught during the fishing festival. 7. Tiv cultural music played in the background during the festival. Ver Ikeseh Murals On Water Worldwide On the Water https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/onthewater tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/174892 2022-03-15T00:00:00Z 2022-04-03T14:31:54Z I am a staffing specialist at Preference Employment Solutions. I am relatively new to the job and the industry, but one of the things that impressed me about this company are the attitudes of every associate towards giving back. That feeling isn't just towards the community in general, but also in making sure that our field staff (job seekers) have what they need in order to accept a job. Our industrial team places maaaany people in positions that are for unskilled and skilled laborers. We have noticed that we get many candidates, including new Americans, who come in looking for positions that they can start almost immediately. The staff decided to have "Casual for a Cause" Fridays, wherein each person pays $2 each Friday to be able wear jeans and more casual attire. The money goes towards helping our our field employees when needed. Some examples of where the money goes include pay advances for employees to buy food or pay rent, gift cards for employees who have had a baby or lost a family member, etc. There is a need for field staff in unskilled labor positions to have the needed attire so they started a "closet" that contains some steel-toed shoes, hard hats, and other items that our candidates need in order to start a job right away. We do not charge for these necessities. We put in our own money, take donations, find them at thrift stores, etc. in order to have them on hand. The goal of the Casual for a Cause closet is to also have some non-perishable food items, back to school supplies, lunch boxes, warm clothes, work gloves, etc. so that we can help our employees out in their time of need. Tyia Patnaude Casual for a Cause Closet United States Cass Clay https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/cassclay tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/184651 2022-03-15T00:00:00Z 2022-03-18T13:47:18Z My awesome project is the utilization of Dungeons and Dragons (and other tabletop role-playing games) in my classroom. Over the last four years, I have used Dungeons and Dragons to teach my students about a variety of life skills. These include social interaction skills, interpersonal skills, and critical thinking skills. My students are all special needs with a variety of disabilities, but all struggle with social interactions and applying skills learned to real life situations. With Dungeons and Dragons my students get to work together as a team and learn how to problem solve using imaginary characters and scenarios. We are then able to work on generalization of these skills in order to apply them to their real world relationships, especially conflict resolution. Since I have started this in my classes, my students have expressed their interest and love for the fantasy worlds and adventures. I have seen students who refuse to talk and participate engage their peers in new and exciting ways. I have seen students learn that it is not always “their way or the highway”, and how to share and respect other opinions. Students have shown interest in writing their character's complex backstory, when they previously refused to write at all. These fantasy games have allowed for my students to imagine themselves in new and interesting scenarios where they couldn't before. They have allowed my students to become fantastical heroes and even villains to express themselves unlike any video game they had previously experienced. I have been able to bring in some of my own supplies for the kids, but it would be amazing for them to be able to utilize a school set of books and tools without worrying about damaging someone else's personal property. There are many local businesses that sell these supplies that I would love to continue to support. Some of these businesses are within walking distance of the school. This would allow the students to be involved in the entire process. Jeremy Bower Real world skills in the surreal world. United States Chicago, IL https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/chicago tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/185027 2022-03-15T00:00:00Z 2022-03-19T12:31:48Z In April of 2021, I started a project called Resplendent Residents of the Leach Home, where I did free portraits of the seniors that call the Leach Home in Wahpeton their home. It was the best day ever for me and for the staff that took part in helping my idea come to life- and it turned out better than I ever expected! The idea is to give families a beautiful image of their loved one who is living out their golden years, and to give my models a self-confidence boost to help improve their lives a little. Some had long term illnesses, and sadly did pass after our event but their families expressed so much gratitude that they could have a special portrait that they never would have gotten otherwise. Brittany Johnson Resplendent Residents http://subtlebphoto.com United States Cass Clay https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/cassclay tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/184543 2022-03-14T00:00:00Z 2022-03-14T22:47:17Z My nonprofit, Rose Pan African Education, will be working alongside visual artist-scholar Ashon Crawley this summer 2022, to manifest Crawley's newest artistic vision, entitled "in search of our mothers' gardens." We will be working with the help 10 student-artists of color from the Americas in rural Senegal, West Africa to engage in not only life changing experiences but life changing art. Together we will generate a multi-pronged project that situates the rich stories of our African farming (fore)mothers, as sources of artistic knowledge carried through the Middle Passage into the Americas--artistic knowledges that imagine alternative ways of creating beauty in spaces bereft of life and care. We will be collecting the stories of Black women and LGBT farmers of Senegal, through documentary film and sound recordings. And we will be integrating some of this sonic affect and storytelling into what Crawley is calling a living arts installation. Meaning we will be nurturing to life, a real garden in Senegal and erecting a sonic-visual art structure within it. This art installation will be a multi-sensorial experience for visitors to the community garden where they can immerse themselves in the beauty of everyday sound and oral histories of Black farming as art/resistance, while meandering through the wonder of a garden. This art also doubles as a source of honor and nutritional nourishment for a cluster of Senegal's rural villages that are stricken by the effects of eroding shorelines, plastic laden beaches, processed foods that are rapidly replacing traditional diets, and high levels of poverty. More specifically, this garden will provide sustenance, enhance mental wellness, and encourage environmental justice in local communities and for the children of families who will be attending our school of the arts 2023. For most importantly, this art project is a garden for our nonprofit' s primary school--a symbol of the development and confidence we aim to cultivate. Nicole Richards "In Search of our Mothers' Gardens" http://www.rosepanafricaneducation.org Worldwide Awesome Without Borders (Inactief) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/awesomewithoutborders tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/185656 2022-03-13T00:00:00Z 2022-04-15T01:29:03Z Marzipan is made of almonds and sugar, and makes for a perfect raw material to mold and shape forms. (Like Play-Doh, but safe to eat!) I would like to hold a free public Marzipan sculpting workshop. Participants are welcome to bring their own approach to sculpting and coloring marzipan using food dye, carving tools, and their hands to create edible sculptures in forms of their choosing. This event will be open to all ages, and participants are welcome to eat their creations on site, or take them home. An almond allergy alternative will also be available: persipan is derived from apricot kernels. Daniel Giordano Marzipan Sculpting Workshop with Daniel Giordano https://www.danielgiordano.xyz/ United States Newburgh, NY https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/newburgh tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/184880 2022-03-10T00:00:00Z 2023-04-16T19:51:58Z AwesomeStPaul chose the Pollinators Along Pierce Butler Project because of our commitment to building community in our city. The goal of the project is to create a healthy, vibrant pollinator garden, bordering the entire length of the Mano a Mano International office/warehouse building at 925 Pierce Butler Route in St. Paul’s Frogtown neighborhood. Mano a Mano is a non-profit organization headquartered in a warehouse facility on Pierce butler Route in Frogtown, a low income, ethnically diverse neighborhood which lacks the amount of green space available in most of the city. Although most of their programs are in Bolivia, their St. Paul-based programs draw hundreds of volunteers to their facility every month, with hundreds more passing by in vehicles each day. Funding from the Awesome Foundation will combine the passion of Frogtown residents and Mano a Mano volunteers to create a native plant garden that attracts native bees, butterflies and birds. The pollinator garden will send a clear message to all who visit or pass by that the people who live, work, and volunteer in Frogtown care about the environment. A group of knowledgeable volunteers, with donated plants, created and care for a beautiful perennial garden along the south-facing front of the Mano a Mano building. This garden received the Blooming St. Paul award in 2019. Energized by the results of this effort, they will design, plant and care for a west-facing 12’ by 100’ pollinator garden. The garden will include a colorful selection of native plants on which pollinators can land and feed; natural barriers to slow water flow; stepping stones to ease access; and a compost bin for collection of organic waste. To enhance eye-appeal and connect the garden to the organization, they plan to display information about Mano a Mano’s agricultural program in Bolivia on the three-sided, wood compost bin. The garden will reduce their carbon footprint, draw more pollinators into the neighborhood, and create an inviting entryway for the hundreds of volunteers who gather in this building. Joan Velasquez Pollinators Along Pierce Butler http://manoamano.org United States St. Paul, MN https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/stpaul tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/184453 2022-03-09T00:00:00Z 2022-03-10T14:32:06Z 27th Letter Books has been working in collaboration with local Detroit educators and small publishing (Nestingbirds Publishing) to create bi-lingual weekly storytime programming. Each Saturday, 27th Letter Books and Nestingbirds Publishing host virtual and in-person storytime featuring diverse characters and an associated craft. Volunteer readers from the local Southwest Detroit community read in Spanish, giving children the opportunity to hear stories from different people from the community. During the historic rainfall over the summer of 2021, the community suffered terrible floods. Wayne County was declared a state of emergency as thousands of cars were abandoned and left floating on the highways. 27th Letter Books specifically endured thousands of dollars worth of damages to inventory and Nestingbirds Publishing lost its entire stock of books. Despite these losses, 27th Letter Books persists in growing its community through diverse storytelling. In this new year, 27th Letter Books hopes to develop its programming and take storytime to the next level. Drew Pineda Growing Community through Diverse Storytelling http://www.27thletterbooks.com United States Ann Arbor, MI https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/ann-arbor tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/184605 2022-03-09T00:00:00Z 2022-03-11T06:20:33Z Imagine creating a tiny, magical book, in collaboration with all your favorite writers, living and dead... Imagine finding a dreamy little book of secrets in your local "Little Free Library," hidden beside all the Dan Brown remainders & "Favorite Fondue Recipes"... My daughter Jericha and I are love-fiends for tiny, beautiful books. (Have you ever seen "Dime Store Alchemy" by poet Charles Simic, about Joseph Cornell's collage-boxes? If you have the book in your hands you can't help but desire it....) So we finally created one of our own. The poems are collages of sentences from favorite authors (Borges, Welty, Maldoror, de Quincey, Sappho, Orwell, Baudelaire) and the illustrations are strange, funny, detailed color collages. Thanks to some unexpected magic, the whole thing works together, language and image, to offer a single soulful vision. Now it's time to print the book and give it to friends, family.... and total strangers. In recent years, "Little Free Libraries" have popped up on front lawns everywhere, as an expression of pure generosity & gift economy. People build LFLs to meet neighbors, get kids interested in books, make the world feel like a kinder place. They're full of junk and miracles, like Joseph Cornell boxes on American suburban street corners. So our dream is to drop 146 numbered copies of "We Drank Tea & Stars" in 146 "Little Free Libraries" in the San Francisco Bay Area. (Why 146? Because we're asking for funds to print 150, and we're offering four to the Awesome Foundation as a righteous bribe,) Each book will include instructions for reaching a cozy website where those who found the books can meet each other, share their dreams & favorite books and... create some shared work of their own. Josh Senyak We Drank Tea & Stars United States San Francisco, CA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/sf tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/184688 2022-03-09T00:00:00Z 2022-03-23T08:03:37Z Hi I AM a proud Koori girl born and raised in Newcastle my hole life. I am a single mother of three and study at the Newcastle University majoring in business and art. I have recently open my own contemporary Aboriginal dance studio of the performing arts to help build and stimulate significant change in closing the gap and reconciling as this dance studio is a safe place of practice to share cultural knowledge and understanding through the views of contemporary pieces and inclusive to all students and families in showcasing through the creative and performing arts. This money would be able to help me help the needs of our future leaders of tomorrow. Renae Lamb Midnight dreaming Studio https://www.midnightdreaming.studio/ Australia Newcastle https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/newcastle tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/183332 2022-03-08T00:00:00Z 2022-03-09T01:16:26Z We would like to convert a 23-passenger bus into a space where students who receive weekly therapy for autism spectrum disorders can explore sensory experiences guided by an Applied Behavior Analysis therapist. We currently have 40 students that receive speech, OT and/or ABA therapy from one of our community partners in Cleveland. Michael Ingram Moble Sensory Bus http://www.bhdaycare.org United States Cleveland, OH https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/cleveland tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/184976 2022-03-08T00:00:00Z 2022-03-14T14:05:01Z PA Youth Vote (PYV) is a youth-centered organization promoting youth voter registration, education, and engagement in the five counties of Southeastern Pennsylvania, using peer-to-peer connections to encourage greater voter participation among public school youth from minority and/or economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Our programs empower youth as civic actors by: 1) promoting peer-to-peer voter registration events; 2) supporting opportunities for youth to develop voter education programs to help their peers make informed voting decisions that impact their lives and their neighborhoods; 3) supporting students as change makers and advocates on the issues of importance to them; 4) providing support for teachers to provide ‘voter participation’ programs in their classrooms; and 5) pressing school boards and legislators to adopt policies that promote and finance youth voter registration, education, and engagement. Our three main areas of measurable growth in 2022 will be 1) Youth leadership and organizing 2) Educator professional development and advocacy 3) Policy change at the school district and state legislative levels Through these goals we aim to change the culture and policy of youth civic engagement in the commonwealth. Over the next year, we will: 1) Expand the Youth Voter Ambassador Program to all 5 Philadelphia area counties and beyond. 2) Help form high school voter engagement clubs in at least 70 schools. 3) Plan and implement a paid summer work program for at least 30 teens to learn community organizing and forum theater, culminating in a trip to the Harrisburg Capitol to lobby policymakers and stage a forum theater performance. 4) Grow our social media reach to 5,000 followers and maintain engaging youth-created content. 5) Create 15 new radio/podcast episodes, simulcast to 5 additional radio stations, and expand our podcast audience by 200%. Angelique Hinton PA Youth Vote Civic Ambassador Program https://www.payouthvote.org/ United States Philadelphia, PA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/philadelphia tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/185128 2022-03-08T00:00:00Z 2022-03-09T01:17:27Z Project LIFT Services provides weekly life skills and emotional regulation groups within Cleveland-area schools to teens 14 and older. Each group has a theme and students receive invaluable information and tools to assist with healthy decision-making and improved wellness. In the last two months, we have served over 60 youth, providing materials to create vision boards, assisting with goal development, and providing tip cards on important topics such health relationships, mental health, suicide prevention, and more! We are currently facilitating this program in four schools, with 5 groups and will be expanding our group offerings. LaToya Logan Wellness Awareness & Outreach! http://www.projectliftservices.org United States Cleveland, OH https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/cleveland tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/185181 2022-03-08T00:00:00Z 2022-03-09T01:17:47Z During the pandemic our garden took a hit. We had just did an upgrade with new benches and a small fence to help protect children who play in our greenspace. Suddenly the garden was subject to theft and the new items were stolen and destroyed. We would like funding to rebuild and get the garden ready for another summer of community fun and lots of planting. Gordon Martin POPCE Community Garden Come Back http://www.popceclevelandoh.org United States Cleveland, OH https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/cleveland tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/185535 2022-03-08T00:00:00Z 2022-03-09T20:59:13Z I am the intern supervisor for a group of teens who have started a podcast, blog, youtube channel called The Clenagers. The teens run all aspects of producing the content and focus on topics such as mental health, college & high school i exploring Cleveland. The teens were assigned to be by Y.O.U and the goal is to continue The Clenagers projects with new students each year as our current student will be heading to college. Shana Black Clenagers https://www.clenagers.com/ United States Cleveland, OH https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/cleveland tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/183321 2022-03-07T00:00:00Z 2022-03-06T16:25:21Z I used to be someone who was so scared to use my voice, who didn’t know how to get out and advocate in my community, and didn’t have the confidence to publicly be myself. Thankfully, I started advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights and successfully traveled 40,000 miles across the state of Indiana to advocate for keeping Arts alive and funded in schools. Not only was I able to make a difference, but using my voice made a difference for me. Being an advocate changed my confidence level and helped be brave coming out as pansexual in a very conservative community. This life changing work made me realize I wanted to show others how easy it is to use their voices and advocate for something they are passionate about. Therefore, my podcast is born. We have been able to produce a few episodes but in order to really make quality content to inspire our next generation of advocates, we need equipment. Lydia Suzan Act Now Advocacy Podcast https://instagram.com/actnowadvocacypodcast?utm_medium=copy_link Worldwide Awesome Without Borders (Inactief) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/awesomewithoutborders tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/183525 2022-03-06T00:00:00Z 2022-03-15T20:42:58Z The first vegan book in Ukraine for children from 4 to 8 years old, "Hands, paws or hooves". The book tells that animals, like people, love life, freedom, their children, love to play and communicate with each other. That they also feel fear, pain, suffering, and of course, they want to live and do not want to die. The book is intended to explain to children in a language understandable to them the topics of species discrimination and the exploitation of animals in various industries. The book also explains what veganism is, why people choose to become vegan. We create this book to help vegan parents explain these important topics to their children. We also create this book in response to a problem that we have noticed — the majority of books about animals form speciesism in children’s minds and provide false information. For example, the book “Farm”, which can be found on bookshelves, tells how the animals live happily on the farm. Our book consists of 10 parts, each of which reveals a topic: Animals are our neighbors on the planet; Animals feel pain just like us; Everyone has the right to life; Animals also have a family; Plant food is delicious and nutritious; Taking care of your health is very crucial; Farms also have an impact on the environment ; Everything in the world is possible without harming others; Let's protect animals together! What is veganism; Facts about animals. There are 48 pages in total. The book contains poetry, as well as information in prose. We've already sold 86 books. Now we want to print new copies of the book. We are collecting feedback from readers and already improved the book for the second edition. Tamara Ryzhenko Book for children “Hands, paws or hooves” https://everyanimal.org/book Worldwide Vegan (Inactief) https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/vegan tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/185095 2022-03-06T00:00:00Z 2022-04-15T01:29:33Z The Hudson Valley Flamenco Festival is a week of lovingly curated, multi-sensory experience. Audience members will be enchanted by intimate flamenco evenings with traditional Southern Spanish food to a large-scale performance, lectures, films, and workshops at venues scattered around the Hudson Valley. Daily flamenco dance and music classes are offered to the public through the Vanaver Caravan’s SummerDance Intensive. An annual free public performance at The Green at Safe Harbors ensures urban pedestrian accessibility to a bilingual, cultural event presented by a diverse company of artists. The HVFF has an important role as a cultural influence in an area that lacks diversity. The mid-Hudson Valley is 80% white with growing Hispanic and Asian-American communities. The HVFF compliments these changing demographics by being a cultural oasis for the community. We do this by producing at venues in areas that don’t typically have cultural programming. When diverse HVFF artists perform we represent cultural and demographic changes occurring in the HV. We create bilingual programming and marketing to encourage new audiences from Spanish-speaking residents. The HVFF is a cultural resource that enriches the lives of locals who must travel ~60 minutes to access comparable art experiences. We diversify cultural offerings available to tourists, thereby stimulating the local economy. ANNA L GEORGES Hudson Valley Flamenco Festival http://hvflamencofestival.com United States Newburgh, NY https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/newburgh tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/179862 2022-03-02T00:00:00Z 2022-03-03T11:28:09Z We are very excited to put on a musical after a year-long hiatus. This will be the 12th musical I have been a part of at GMHS. This will be Jeff's second musical as Technical Director. Matilda the musical involves many actors in major and supporting roles. We work on the play from October until February. It is a very exciting time of year, and we are so excited to be back. Kerry Lee & Jeff Cloak Wireless Mics for GMHS Drama United States Georgetown, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/georgetown tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/184975 2022-03-01T00:00:00Z 2022-03-03T13:42:03Z A great way to brighten and involve the community is by painting parking meters. For this project, it can be done by anyone. Whether it be school students, college students, members of the community, art students, anyone can participate in this. Designs can range from patterns, to sunsets, relations to their culture, and anything the painter desires. Once the meters have been painted, it creates another set of art exhibits across downtown that can be admired by residents and visitors. It allows the expression of members of the community and the ability to share their creativity, vision, and/or culture. Amber N Rupp Coloring Centre County United States State College, PA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/statecollege tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/185397 2022-03-01T00:00:00Z 2022-03-01T23:02:32Z The New Normal - a musical cosmos for trans, nonbinary and female identifying folks. The New Normal aims to open up a traditional jazz venue to more diverse performers and audiences alike, fostering greater community connection, inclusiveness and fresh creative expression. For the first time at Lazybones Lounge, this trans-incusive International Women's Day event not only showcases women in music but also welcomes non-gender-conforming folks into the space to nurture and strengthen community connections and networks. On International Women’s Day, Sydney vocalist Ms. G (in association with Noisy Girls Productions) is taking over both levels of Lazybones Lounge to re-imagine live music sites as welcoming, nurturing, fun spaces for women and gender-non-conforming artists and audiences alike. Hosted by Jannah Beth, and featuring Blues Legend Marlene Cummins, Percussionist Chloe Kim, all grrl neo-soul/funk powerhouse Monstress, pop sensation Anieszka and special guests, PLUS a female led jazz jam where transgender and non-binary singers who want to explore their voices in an affirming environment are most welcome. We believe our idea will make the city of Sydney more #awesome by rejuvenating struggling venues and bringing a sense of fun, safety, inclusion and encouragement back to a local live music scene that has faced significant challenges over the last two years. Instead of going back to how things were before, why not make womXn-led initiatives and gender-inclusiveness, the new normal? How #awesome would that be?! Insta: @thenewnormalnight Geetha Balakrishnan The New Normal - A Trans-inclusive Women's Day Gig https://fb.me/e/1tQEVWXvx Australia Sydney https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/sydney tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/358430 2022-03-01T00:00:00Z 2025-07-16T23:39:07Z Reinvesting in Communities and Housing (RICH), provides financial and housing education, economic empowerment, wealth development, community engagement, mentorship and leadership opportunities to marginalized communities of color. We also serve, provide housing and advocate for youth, families and individuals who get denied access to housing by traditional public and private landlords and/or face barriers to access housing such as criminal and rental histories, bad credit scores, past due balances to landlords and utility companies. We assist with overcoming said barriers through programming and capacity-building, to help participants better understand and develop wealth through pathways of housing access and personal empowerment, financial literacy and education, wealth & asset management, regaining positive criminal/rental history and achieving independence and ownership. - Reinvesting in Communities and Housing United States North Minneapolis, MN https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/northminneapolis tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/180823 2022-02-28T00:00:00Z 2023-02-01T21:51:57Z Around Town Carroll County is many things. I started it because I first and foremost wanted to celebrate the community in which I live and work. I also wanted to highlight the wonderful people that make Carroll County a great place to be. Having worked outside of Carroll County for a good portion of my life, I often had to hear about what a laughing stock Carroll County was and why no one cared that it existed. Honestly, I had heard it so much outside of the County that I decided it was time to tell a different story. A story that shows how unique and special Carroll County is and why the people that call it home are worthy of recognition. Furthermore, I had seen how COVID destroyed our sense of community and I could think of no better way to start encouraging people to learn more about where they live than to tell the stories that every business owner has to share. We live in a unique and wonderful place, I just felt we needed to shout a little louder about just how great a place Carroll County is and will continue to be. Adam Stultz Around Town Carroll County http://aroundtowncc.com United States Westminster, MD https://www.awesomefoundation.org/nl/chapters/westminster