Awesome Foundation - Projecten

Oakland, CA (Inactief) – Planting Justice: Grow Food, Grow Jobs, Grow Commu

2018-11-08T00:00:00Z

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

Liverpool (Inactief) – Kick Ass Community Christmas dinner

2018-11-05T00:00:00Z

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

Ann Arbor, MI – Lenses Collective

2018-11-05T00:00:00Z

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

Liverpool (Inactief) – Christmas for Bereaved Children

2018-11-05T00:00:00Z

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

Awesome Without Borders (Inactief) – Ballotpedia's Election Day 2018 Coverage

2018-11-05T00:00:00Z

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

Antigonish, NS (Inactief) – A Pink Envelope October

2018-11-02T00:00:00Z

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

State College, PA – Aquaponics at State High

2018-11-01T00:00:00Z

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

North Minneapolis, MN – BLAQ Love

2018-11-01T00:00:00Z

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

Newcastle – Bearfoot Theatre

2018-11-01T00:00:00Z

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

Disability – The Brain Injury Climbing Club

2018-10-31T00:00:00Z

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

Oahu, HI – streetARThawaii (Mud Hen Family)

2018-10-31T00:00:00Z

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

Leiden – Gorgeltjespad #5

2018-10-31T00:00:00Z

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

Oahu, HI – Public Art in Kailua

2018-10-31T00:00:00Z

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

Washington, DC – Night of 1,000 Fridas

2018-10-30T00:00:00Z

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

Alaska (Inactief) – Supporting Literary Events In Seward, Alaska

2018-10-30T00:00:00Z

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

Minas Gerais (Inactief) – Reconectando a vida com o Universo

2018-10-30T00:00:00Z

A Astronomia sempre despertou a curiosidade das pessoas. O céu estrelado em um local de pouca iluminação é deslumbrante, a Lua cheia iluminando a noite consegue chamar a atenção até do mais desatento indivíduo. No passado, conhecer aspectos da Astronomia significava, por vezes, em civilizações mais remotas, ter ferramentas que possibilitassem a sobrevivência dos indivíduos: o ciclo das estações, a necessidade de se orientar em seus percursos de um lugar a outro e de estabelecer uma cronologia para os acontecimentos foram motivos suficientes para o homem tentar equacionar o Universo. Embora a Astronomia permeie toda a história da civilização e muitos dos conceitos básicos desse conhecimento estejam no cotidiano das pessoas, nota-se que uma parcela significativa da população está à margem desse conhecimento ou conhece apenas versões errôneas ou baseadas em mitos. A pós-modernidade com seus aparatos tecnológicos hipnotizam os indivíduos com sua fácil comunicação e entretenimento. O prazer de uma caminhada para refletir sobre a vida e o observar a natureza perderam completamente os seus valores. O projeto tem o objetivo de divulgar a Astronomia em Uberaba e região. Em aspectos gerais permitem produzir ações que insere o cidadão comum no conhecimento de conceitos básicos sobre Astronomia, melhorando a cultura astronômica da população e estimulando o espírito crítico. Com o projeto estamos usando o primoroso céu de Peirópolis (bairro rural de Uberaba que possui um sítio paleontológico) para a visualização de diversos tipos de estruturas no céu, desde os planetas do Sistema Solar, até nebulosas e sistemas estelares binários. Ao observar o céu vislumbramos uma espécie de “fóssil” das estrelas, já que a radiação eletromagnética pode ter percorrido anos, e até milhares de anos até encontrar um observador na Terra. ================================ Sou professor do curso de licenciatura em Física na Univiversidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), em Uberaba - MG. Tenho trabalhado na divulgação científica aqui na cidade discutindo aspectos das ciências no geral, com ênfase em Astronomia e Paleontologia. O meu maior interesse é poder fazer as pessoas olharem mais para o céu e dedicarem parte de suas vidas para contemplá-lo, podendo trazer meditação sobre a nossa efêmera existência e o nosso papel neste pequeno planeta azul.

Orlando, FL – Art Tour

2018-10-30T00:00:00Z

This AWESOME project will engage audiences at the 2019 Orlando Fringe Festival by presenting unique, intimate, one-of-a-kind, and site-specific tours of the Visual Fringe. The Visual Fringe is an unsung extension of the Fringe Festival Performing Arts Offerings, and Art Tour will shine a much deserved light on the talents of Central Florida's Visual Artists. Each Art Tour will be hosted by a professional comedic actor portraying a highly engaging docent. The experience will offer an entertaining walkabout in the contagious Fringe Festival setting while providing increased exposure and honoring the Visual Fringe. Due to the location of the Visual Fringe, spread throughout the main hub of the Orlando Fringe Festival, both direct Patrons of the Art Tour as well as Patrons and the General Public congregating in the hub area will experience facets of this light-heated presentation.

Tallahassee, FL (Inactief) – Leon County Children's Business Fair

2018-10-30T00:00:00Z

Observe the opportunity for children ages 5-17 to launch their very own business from simply doing things they love. Whether it be creating handmade crafts or delicious cookies come see how kids develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace. We will be hosting many amazing kid-entrepreneurs at our 1st annual event located at Unique Wonders Junkanoo Cafe 1330 Lake Bradford Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32304 on Saturday, September 29th, 2018 from 1pm – 5pm.

Ann Arbor, MI – Common Cycle Co-Op Launch

2018-10-29T00:00:00Z

Common Cycle is greatly expanding our program offerings and number of users served by establishing a physical co-op space. While we have seven years of experience successfully serving the community through our weekly mobile repair stand during the summer months, as well as year-round classes, community events, and women/trans/femme nights, we found ourselves constrained in our ability to meet user demand. After two years of a focused search for a suitable space, we identified a promising location at 416 W. Huron St., near downtown Ann Arbor. Furthermore, this specific location abuts a shelter for people experiencing homelessness, and lies across the street from the YMCA. Both those buildings see consistent bike traffic, and have visitors who may benefit from our services.

Washington, DC – This Could Go Boom!

2018-10-29T00:00:00Z

Your soundtrack for destroying the patriarchy. This Could Go Boom! is a brand new record label that curates, creates, manufactures, promotes, and distributes the musical work of gender marginalized people. We believe that these musical voices are vital and must be documented, celebrated, and shared. We believe that it is important to collaborate with diverse members of the music community including producers, engineers, publicity experts, videographers, stylists, journalists etc. We are incorporated in Washington D.C. and have obtained 501 c 3 non-profit status. We believe in the robust and diverse Washington D.C. music community and want to always be mission driven rather than profit motivated. Founded by female identifying musicians, This Could Go Boom! envisions a world where music informed by and created from gender diverse perspectives is normalized rather than tokenized, fetishized, or marginalized. We envision equal representation on the airwaves, online, at music festivals, and in positions of power and influence throughout the music landscape. Conceptualized in a year when the #metoo movement brought real life experiences to the forefront, This Could Go Boom! seeks to challenge the norm in popular music and in the cultural landscape by championing intersectional gender diverse voices, narratives, and experiences through recorded music. This Could Go Boom! will release full-length albums, compilations, 7 inches, and EPs digitally and on vinyl. We will provide our artists with national marketing and press campaigns, will help plan and facilitate tours, will solicit placement on streaming playlists on behalf of artists, and will gain distribution for all of our releases. We will also provide training and experiential opportunities. The success of each project along with grant writing, events, record label membership and individual donations will fund the next project.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactief) – Living Costumes

2018-10-29T00:00:00Z

Over the last 7 years I have been creating and developing a series of part-sculpture part-performance based work called living costumes and grass men. Using a technique I have developed I create wearable living art that takes 2 months to grow and then once constructed forms a full seamless costume that continues to live. I'm fascinated by this relationship between making something that can live but also be worn, manipulated and used in a performance the plays with this relationship we have with nature. These performance have taken part across the UK usually at art festivals or other social events. I have always been humbled by the feedback and public interaction the works receives. It becomes more than just a performance, people become apart of a surreal experience where they get to hug nature and it hugs them back. From kids barely able to walk to 90 year old women chasing it down to give it a stroke, the work seems to bring out a unusual but joyful experience that seems to become one of the most important elements of the work This summer I receive a commission and funding to take and develop the work at Bernhiem Research forest and aboratorium in the USA. There I experiemented in a new climate and worked and performed with new people and the response was the same.

Birmingham, AL (Inactief) – A Friend of Mind’s Youth Retreat

2018-10-26T00:00:00Z

This project will take place in a span of 2 days. On day one, 30 kids will be introduced to mindfulness and yoga at a local community center. The kids will spend an hour practicing mindfulness and yoga. Afterwards, each child will spend at least 30 minutes journaling and speaking to staff about their experiences. Snacks will be provided on day one. On day two, those who participated in day one will take a field trip to the McWane Center. The kids will explore four floors of hands-on science exhibits and visit the only IMAX theater in Birmingham. Day two will serve as an educational workshop and piece of gratitude to participating youth. There will be 5 chaperones to accompany the kids on day two. A Chick-Fil-A boxed lunch will be provided to the kids and chaperones. Oak Tree Ministries and Tom Brown Village has agreed to transport the youth to and from the McWane center for a small donation, if A Friend of Mind is awarded this grant and sponsors the items specified.

Aviano (Inactief) – Found Object Art

2018-10-26T00:00:00Z

We’re making art from found objects and leaving them in the Aviano area for others to enjoy.

Gloucester, MA – Keep Science Education Wild and Curious

2018-10-26T00:00:00Z

We are applying for this Awesome Gloucester grant to keep Kestrel running in the coming year. We have had an excellent year for programming; our highest number of students ever, with the most in depth contacts with them, and most diverse ages and programs in our history. However, it has been a very rough year for us fiscally. Due to a shortage in grants, business donations we had expected, and income from camp, we had to shut down our free nature center, and are struggling to make sure we can keep jobs for our naturalists and Program Director. Our school program model is to take the kids through a science adventure that frames them as the scientists; exploring a place to collect unique information using a storytelling lens. For example, third graders this year all were matched with an animal, and then they assessed their local woodlands for capacity to support that animal. The students had to find "tree cavities" for chickadees, berries and mouse holes for foxes, and more. Gloucester High School assessed their campus for coyote presence, as they learned how a trophic pyramid works and why top predators are so much less numerous than prey animals. 7th graders worked with rare turtles all year, monitoring their growth so they could be re released into the wild when they were ready. Third graders, 7th graders, and high schoolers alike created presentations to share back that framed the information they collected as engaging stories. Our camp programs draw campers into a story; they are explorers shipwrecked on an island and must establish survival villages, or they are beavers who must find food and build dams to thrive in their place. These programs are all only possible if we can provide sustainable work to our staff. Your microgrant will go towards our end of summer fundraiser to keep Kestrel thriving.

Rochester, NY (Inactief) – 540WMain Coourtyard Teaching & Nutrition Garden

2018-10-25T00:00:00Z

Hello Awesome, 540WMain Communiversity located in Rochester NY has a mission to provide a safe and nurturing environment to support the health and wellness needs of the community. They provide tools to educate low income neighborhoods about the benefits of clean and healthy eating to enrich their lives and create a culture of wellness. The neighborhoods surrounding the center are primarily occupied by low income families, and the working poor. Our project for awesome funding is completing the install of the Courtyard Teaching and Nutrition Garden.

Glasgow – PEEK Project -Possibilities for Each and Every Kid

2018-10-25T00:00:00Z

On Friday nights we have the Friday Night Project which runs between 6-8pm which provides a safe place for all young people in the local communities to come together and play. The project has been engaging with 50+ young people in an individual session and have been bringing 13+ communities together. This shows that the young people enjoy PEEK and consistently come back to engage. We have identified through consultation that food has been a major part to what the young people would like to further develop their session. Food poverty is has a large impact on a number of communities and we would like to help in any way that we can. The project would run on a Friday night between 6-8pm for 10 weeks and there would be 3 different sessions running on the one evening allowing a wide variety of activities to engage all young people. One of the activities is football down at the pitches where the young people can play football or engage in other sporting activities such as tennis and basketball or general play. Second activity is where the young people can choose what they want to do each week for example go for walk, make some s’mores and fire play. The third activity we would like to do is cooking where the young people would help cook and prepare a hot meal for the other young people attending the session. This would provide a free hot meal for the young people as well as engaging in a number of fun active activities.

Miami, FL – Zaytouna: a social enterprise by Syrian refugees

2018-10-25T00:00:00Z

Zaytouna was founded on a single gesture of gratitude. It is a conscious driven enterprise whose mission is to help women from Syria resettle in South Florida by creating permanent gainful employment for them by producing delicious packaged foods from the Middle East. We simply believe that food can bridge the cultural divides that separate us. My name is Christa and I am a from Aleppo, Syria. I came to the USA in 2012 because of the war. I moved to Miami in 2015 and wanted to take part of helping the refugees when I heard that South Florida had received a wave a year ago. I met with the women, and knowing how hard it is to make a life in Miami and support a family, I wanted to find a way that allowed them to support their families and thats how Zaytouna was born. Zaytouna allows the women to use their skills (cooking) and allows the community to be able to experience a beautiful and delicious side of Syria through it's dishes and cuisine. Zaytouna is for and by the Syrian Women Refugees in Miami. I am myself a refugee and everyone that works under Zaytouna is a Syrian refugee. We are an all women company and we want to make it happen here in the USA!

Newburgh, NY – Weave & Writes

2018-10-22T00:00:00Z

For Weave & Writes, the public will be invited to attend weaving workshops in Michelle Batho's studio in Newburgh. Up to six people will be able to sign up online for courses ranging from introductory weaving of basic samples to runners, placemats, rugs, and zero waste fashion yardage. Before attending specialized weekends, participants will need to attend a beginners’ class that covers yarn calculation, warp winding, dressing the loom, plain weaves and twills. (Adult workshops will hopefully jump start youth workshops in the future.) Workshops will open and close with a group writing exercise as a way to activate new relationships in the group. Looking at the ways in which we describe our practices and curiosities will recenter our focus on how we process information towards a certain end. We will notice in what ways our approach and thinking have changed by the close of the weekend weaving together. Workshop participants are encouraged to grab hold of new ways of thinking that might change their approach and future path. We seem to have the habit of prioritizing the essentials of life as a way to survive. In schools we learn basic writing, mathematics, science, sometimes if we are lucky there are theater classes or we attend after school sports and music lessons. And yet there are so many different ways of processing information and problem solving that are absent in this essentials only approach. I believe weaving is a process that stretches our use of math, science, and material study to revitalize our approach to problem solving and creativity in other areas of our lives and community.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactief) – HERbeat, a documentary on Women in Taiko

2018-10-22T00:00:00Z

Powerful broad shoulders. Wielding large wooden mallets against massive drums, taiko performers are known across the world for their thunderous performances. The image of a taiko drummer is often a man. In fact, traditionally in Japan, only men or boys were allowed to play taiko. Yet, over the last 40 years, those powerful broad shoulders are those of women, we have flocked to this art and now make up 60-70% of taiko players in North America. Taiko is thought to be reminiscent of a mother’s heartbeat as felt in the womb, and babies are often lulled to sleep by its thunderous vibrations. Women who are drawn to this beautiful and powerful art, become masters at playing it, and yet still are not included in the top levels of the art-form. HERbeat follows women in the United States, Canada, and Japan, the top women in taiko, as they prepare to perform together for the first time as part of the Women in Taiko Project, spearheaded by TaikoArts Midwest. Following the globe’s top women taiko performers as they prepare for a groundbreaking performance at the Ordway Center for the Arts in St. Paul, Minnesota in Spring 2020, HERbeat is a cinema verite style documentary that will explore the lives of these women who are forging their own paths in taiko, family, and life. Envisioned as a character-driven documentary, we will explore the lives of these women, utilizing this singular event drawing them together to look at themes of culture and what it is to be a woman today, while acting as a “gateway” to the beautiful world of taiko drumming. (Think Spellbound (award-winning documentary about spelling bees) for taiko drumming.) Beyond being a compelling documentary that sheds light on the stories of women, HERbeat will also serve as a gateway to introduce taiko to countless new audiences and potentially the taiko performers of the future. It will also document the beginning of a movement from within the taiko community to be more inclusive of women.

Kingston – Operation Warm Feet, Warm Feet Smiles

2018-10-22T00:00:00Z

Each year we help low-income families gain access to snow boots for children and youth under 18yrs. Last year we distributed 540 pairs of new boots to community children and youth for a cost of 2$ a pair thus providing a service with dignity. This year we expect similar numbers, each year we have at least 50% new families accessing this opportunity. Generous Kingstonians help support community children accessing snow suits- unfortunately their little feet are left out in the cold. Please help us give our children Warm Feet Smiles, oh and help pay for the 600 pairs of boots I have already ordered-

Sarnia (Inactief) – Kindergarten Outside Classroom

2018-10-19T00:00:00Z

Recently the outdoor climber equipment at my school was deemed unsafe for use any longer. A large safety fence went up around the structure, limiting the space available for mu kindergarten students to move and play during recess and our outdoor exploring time. I have watched my students outdoor time suffer due to this problem for the last two months of school. While I made sure to provide a variety of tools and equipment for my students to use during outdoor times (bikes, sand tools, water activities, books, Lego, wagons) I noticed that they had a real desire to climb. That often resulted on the unsafe area of wooden benches and the fence that encloses the space for the atude ts to stay in. My goal is to be able to add maybe 2-3 outdoor elements in the space that my students could make use of in a variety of wondrous ways. I want my students to do what kids do best, play and have fun and to get more enjoyment out of their outdoor space.

Baltimore, MD – Unmonument to Liberation and Black Joy

2018-10-18T00:00:00Z

Sensing there could be safety concerns if Baltimore citizens took to the streets to remove the city's four confederate monuments one their own, Mayor Catherine Pugh ordered the sculptures to be removed from their bases overnight. The four monuments removed where those of Lee-Jackson, Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument, and the Confederate Women's Monument. For decades these larger-than-life statues acted as silent reminders of white supremacy's thumbprint on American culture. Quietly affirming inequity and injustice as Baltimore's citizen's passed these prominent sculptures while commuting to work, school, and everyday life, their absence now calls for an Un-Monument to challenge the unspoken. The Un-Monument will depict 12' statue of a dirt bike rider perched in a “12 o’clock” position. Together with We The Builders, residents of Baltimore and beyond will participate in creating a collaborative community sculpture project to challenge the notion that we should honor the legacy of those whose work has perpetuated the injustices that divides our country. The Un-monument is constructed by 3D scanning a live model on a dirt bike and creating a digital image that is then divided into thousands of sections that are labeled and catalogued on the We the Builders website/platform. Parts can then be claimed and downloaded allowing files to be crowd-sourced for 3D printing by participants. Parts are shipped to a central location where they will be assembled to erect the Un-monument. There will be a series of organized public print and share events in collaboration with B-360 Baltimore where people without access to 3D printers can come claim and print a part.

Rockport, MA – Rockport Single-Use Plastics Ban

2018-10-18T00:00:00Z

As a coastal community, Rockport’s economic vitality is dependent on maintaining the beauty and health of our land and marine spaces. Plastic pollution is a growing problem that affects the health of our ocean and the animals that live there. Today, there are an estimated 46,000-1,000,000 plastic fragments floating within every square mile of our world’s oceans. Seaside Sustainability, Inc. (“Seaside”) is interested in minimizing our impact on the ocean by reducing the amount of plastic waste produced in Rockport. We are planning to propose the introduction and adoption of six ordinances in Rockport that will ban single use plastic bags, balloons, disposable water bottles, plastic straws and stirrers, plastic cutlery, and polystyrene (Styrofoam) food ware containers. To facilitate community engagement, we hope to involve the Rockport Public Schools and their student lead Green Teams at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. In the past, our organization, in collaboration with the Gloucester Clean City Commission, successfully pioneered a ban on polystyrene and plastic bags in Gloucester. Our Gloucester initiative was funded largely by the Commission, and since no equivalent official town committee exists in Rockport, we are spearheading this initiative. Seaside will follow the successful model we utilized in the passing of the plastic bans in Gloucester. We will create partnerships with local businesses and organizations and teach them about more sustainable retail and dining practices. We’ll distribute resources discussing sustainable and affordable alternative products. To garner additional support, we’ll canvas the town with petitions, events, and launch a thorough personal relations campaign. This will include social media, posters and flyers, as well as letters to all business owners that may be affected. Seeking an audience with the board of selectmen, we will discuss the proposed ban and identify how we can make it work best for the municipality.

Chicago, IL – Black Dog Metal Arts

2018-10-17T00:00:00Z

We are a woman owned Art Foundry in Illinois. The local art scene is booming in Central Illinois with many artistic mediums including painting and glass, but there are few sculpture opportunities available to the public. Black Dog Metal Arts seeks to provide metal casting opportunities to the public. We will teach classes, hold workshops, and host community iron pours. Participants will have the chance to learn bronze and aluminum casting processes in our hands on classes. At this time, our goal is to build a cupola furnace to begin hosting iron pours for the community and students at Bradley University and Illinois Central College. The building of the furnace will be a community effort. We are inviting anyone who wants to learn how to build a furnace to join in, even if they have no experience! After the furnace is built, we will hold an iron pour that is free and open to the public. People will be able to help with the pour or can choose to watch the exciting spectacle from afar. We will provide scratch blocks for a small fee to cover the cost of materials. Scratch blocks are small resin bonded sand molds that people can scratch an image into. We pour iron into the cavity of the scratch block for the viewers to admire, and then they are left with their own hand made cast iron plaque to take home! With this furnace, we hope to take a giant step towards bringing the community together, provide a new appreciation for iron casting and sculpture via education and participation, and giving unique opportunities to the area.

Adelaide – Purposeful Produce

2018-10-17T00:00:00Z

My AWESOME project will create a positive social impact in South Australia by using one problem of food waste, to solve the other of hunger! Let me explain. Every year, up to 40 per cent of fruit & vegetables produced by Australia farmers are thrown out. This is because groceries and large supermarket retailers immediately discriminate against produce that is deemed cosmetically imperfect. It is important to understand that with current technology and fluctuations in weather conditions, it is very difficult for farmers to produce fruit and vegetables that look the exact same. For example, if an apple is not perfect in size (i.e. too big or small), has a slightly different colour, or a minor blemish, then its retailers do not accept this produce. The severity of this issue is disgusting to believe that it goes on in today's society when there are as many as 3.6 million Australians suffering from food insecurity each year, not knowing where their next meal will come from. This is something I cannot continue to accept. This is my WHY for launching a business. At Purposeful Produce, we rescue surplus and 'cosmetically imperfect' produce that would have otherwise been thrown out. We then package this up in our different boxing options; fruit only, veggie only, mixed and office boxes. These weekly subscription boxes sold 20 to 40% below market value will be delivered directly to customers and businesses in South Australia. The awesome part is that not only are we helping individuals... - SAVE MONEY - SAVE TIME - EAT HEALTHY ...but we are also - SUPPORTING LOCAL FARMERS - MINIMISING FOOD WASTE - FEEDING THOSE WHO ARE HUNGRY This is because for every box that Purposeful Produce sells, we will donate a proportionate amount of produce to those who are homeless or in need of a meal! Together, we are going to fix 2 of the biggest issues in Australia by simply accepting produce that is perfect in taste, but imperfect in appearance. Thank you for your consideration.

Artsakh (Inactief) – ՆորՇեն_Lib

2018-10-17T00:00:00Z

Նստած դաս եմ անում և մտածում եմ, թե ինչքան հետաքրքիր և արդյունավետ է, որ դպրոցում օգնում եմ դասընկերներիս և կրտսեր ընկերներիս: «Սովորելու լավագույն մեթոդը սովորեցնելն է»,- սա գաղտնիք է, որ հասկացանք ընկեր Արայի շնորհիվ: Իսկ ինչքա՜ն արդյունավետ կլիներ, եթե դասերից հետո էլ կարողանայինք աշակերտներով միասին աշխատել, մեր օրը միասին կազմակերպել: Ցավոք տանը դա անել հարմար չէ, գյուղի առօրյան և ծնողների հոգսերը թույլ չեն տալիս, միջավայրն էլ համապատասխան չէ: Դպրոցում էլ չունենք հարմար լսարան, դրանք փոքր են և հագեցած: Հմմմ, բայց մեր նորակառույց ակումբի շենքում ունենք գրադարան, որը դրա համար շատ հարմար է: Վերջերս այնտեղ եղա. սովետական խունացած և խոնավացած գրքերի հսկա հավաքածու, որոնք վաղուց ոչ մեկին հետաքրքիր չեն: Թարմություն է պետք: Awesome! Հասկացա՛: ԻՆՏԵԼԵԿՏՈՒԱԼ ԺԱՄԱՆՑԻ ԿԵՆՏՐՈՆ ԱՇԱԿԵՐՏՆԵՐԻ ՀԱՄԱՐ. Աշակերտներով կմաքրենք գրադարանը: Մաշված գրքերը կհանձնենք մակուլատուրա, գումարով կվերանորոգենք կահույքի մի մասը: Իսկ հետո՞ ինչ անել, մմմմ...: Հիշեցի՜: Դասընկերներս պատմում էին, որ երբ եկել էին Երևան «ՆորՇենԼաբ_2»-ի եզրափակչին, ընկեր Արան նրանց տարել էր մի հիանալի աշխատանքային միջավայր, որի անունն է Loft: Ուսումնասիրել եմ իրենց կայքը, նման մի բան է մեզ պետք: Տիրուհին, Անին և ես լավ ենք նկարում, կգնենք ներկեր և պատերը մեր ձեռքով կգունազարդենք: Կգնենք պուֆիկներ՝ ժամանցի կենտրոնում ընթերցարանությունը հարմարավետ դարձնելու համար: Գրքերի ցուցապահոցը (ստենդ) կվերանորոգենք, կներկենք, և կշարենք բոլորովին նոր գրքեր: Դա թարմության շունչ կհաղորդի և կխթանի ընթերցանությունը: Հիշում եմ ինչքա՜ն հետաքրքիր էին բոլորը նայում դպրոցին նվիրած բոլորովին նոր և գունազարդ «Աշխարհի հրաշալիքները» գրքին: Ա՜յ թե ձեռքից ձեռք կխլեն նման գրքերը: Սիրում եմ նոր գրքերի հոտը, անկախ քեզնից ուզում ես կարդալ: Դե մեկ էլ մեզ հարկ կլինեն շա՜տ սեղանի և քարտային խաղեր՝ «Այլ կերպ», «Սասնա ծռեր», շախմատ և այլն: Հա՜, լավ կլինի պլաստմասսե աղբաման և ամանեղեններ ունենանք, որ ժամանցի ժամանակ կարողանանք մեզ թեթև սնունդ կազմակերպել: Ախր մենք քաղցրավենիք շա՜տ ենք սիրում: Հավես բան կստացվի և մեր ձեռքով էլ ամենը կանենք :)

San Jose, CA – Embrace ESSJ (East Side San Jose)

2018-10-17T00:00:00Z

We plan to host a photo walk led by a professional photographer(s) along different neighborhoods/routes in East Side San Jose to capture the beauty which is rarely showcased in the media.

Sydney – Groove Rising

2018-10-16T00:00:00Z

Groove Rising is our awesome project! Groove Rising was designed with and for migrant and new refugee girls, aged 15 to 25 years old, living in Greater Western Sydney. An ongoing beginners dance class series for them to join together with other young women and express themselves in a safe, creative and joyous environment. Secondary benefits are many, including but not limited to: a place to practice English, foster self-confidence, learn a new skill, a positive experience within their new community and to boost happy hormones. Since May 2018, in collaboration with Cumberland Council, we have been able to deliver classes weekly from Granville, and now Guildford Youth Centre. The response has been wonderful! More girls are finding out about the class through word-of-mouth, as well as our relationship building with relevant community organisations (i.e. SSI, Western Sydney MRC, Navitas English School). Several young women are acting as ambassadors of the class, empowered to spread the word about the benefits and build the inclusive and vibrant atmosphere. A highlight from class is the opportunity to 'freestyle' at the end where girls share what they've learnt as well as their traditional dances, such as Persian, Afghan, Ghanian, Indian and Syrian dance. It is actually the BEST! "I feel free when I come to class. Like I can do anything when I'm in that room full of hope & music" ~ Afghan refugee, 15 years The girls have asked for extra creative time as an extension to their dance experience. Our community projects manager is an Arts Therapist and so we plan to roll out creativity workshops where the girls can illustrate, collage and write of their class experiences to encourage others to attend (we don't take photos as headscarves are often off) and to share their voices. This extra time is for deepening connection, reflection and integration. They have also requested an end of year event where friends and family can attend to dance and celebrate together.

Cass Clay – Bright Sky Apartments Haircuts

2018-10-16T00:00:00Z

Bright Sky Apartments is a permanent supportive housing that has 43 units that houses families and individuals. It is a Churches United for the Homeless property. One of the biggest needs that I am asked for is haircuts. There is little resources in the community for haircuts for low income people. Many that the people that live at Bright Sky are living off $99 a month for personal needs money. The average price of a haircut is 12-15 and that is just too much for people to spend when they have more pressing needs like socks, diapers and formula.

New York City, NY – Four Wise Cattle

2018-10-16T00:00:00Z

_The Four Wise Cattle are four living, breathing, inflatable creatures destined to roam the streets and parks of New York City. The Cattle were finalists in the 2017 Folly/Function competition to design a shading structure for Socrates Sculpture Park. Despite lack of funding, we designed and fabricated slightly smaller versions of the cattle to fulfill our curiosity. 74 yards of ripstop nylon were cut, dyed, and sewn in our small Brooklyn apartments. Each cattle is inflated with a constant stream of air from a blower fan – standing from seven to fourteen feet tall._ _An ongoing project, the creatures visited rooftops, apartments, and backyard parties. We learned that no matter how they squeeze or situate themselves, the cattle are always met with curiosity and enthusiasm – their scale is welcomed, not feared. Our ambition is to continue the inflated adventure and bring the cattle to parks and public spaces to engage with the people of New York (and beyond)!_ _Though they are ready to wander, the cattle are limited by the hardware that allows them to inflate whenever or wherever. We have one household blower and an antique blower. Both are capable of inflating a cattle, but one, not quite finger friendly. With the Awesome Grant, we will buy the additional three fans as well as a portable power source to finally liberate the cattle from a wall outlet. In addition to the fans and battery, we will purchase additional fabric and dye to make new cattle as an addition to the Cattle family. With the help of the Awesome Grant, we can finally release the four wise cattle to wander and bring curiosity and spontaneous joy to the people of New York._ You can follow the cattle adventures on the artists' instagrams at https://instagram.com/karynaroo/ and https://instagram.com/mzlotsky/

Awesome Without Borders (Inactief) – survivor girl ukulele band project

2018-10-15T00:00:00Z

survivor girl ukulele band project: bringing restoration and hope to survivors of human trafficking through the healing power of music and love. the problem of human trafficking in india and bangladesh is the result of so many injustices in society that it can be overwhelming. what can one person possibly do? what i can do is bring a bunch of ukuleles to india and live and work inside a shelter home for rescued girls — girls who have been rescued from human trafficking and other vulnerable situations — and i can teach those girls how to play the ukulele. these girls have suffered unimaginable trauma, and they have very little education, e.g. many cannot read or write. it is common for these girls to believe that they are worthless and that they are stupid and that they can’t learn. so i meet them eye to eye, put a ukulele in their hands, and help them learn how to do something they never dreamed they could do. and in learning how to play ukulele, they also learn how to learn, they learn that they have a voice, and they learn confidence and empowerment through music. the girls have not only performed in kolkata more than a dozen times, we recently released our very own cd: "survivor girl ukulele band -- volume one." it's a huge accomplishment for the girls on the cd and an inspiration to new girls. my students have to work very hard to learn and achieve a minimum level of competence on the ukulele, but when they leave the shelter home, they go with their very own ukulele, a tuner, and a book of songs. instead of going home with nothing, they go home with music and a skill to share. no matter who they are or where they’ve been or where they will go, they now have the power of music to change their lives.

Pittsburgh, PA – Veteran Holiday Celebration

2018-10-15T00:00:00Z

Every year, we work with VA and other veteran support groups to identify veterans in need with children who otherwise would not be able to provide Chrismas due to financial struggle. The veterans and their families attend a party at our operations center. The children get their pictures taken with Santa, do holiday crafts and games while their parents "shop" for Christmas gifts. While the children are being enteratained we wrap and stash the gifts. The parents and children are then reunited to enjoy a holiday meal and caroling. In addition to the donated gifts the veterans can choose, OTA ensures that each child receive gifts they asked Santa for on their Christmas list. We serve between 80 and 100 veteran families each year. It is a wonderful experience and provides our veterans with a way to enjoy the holiday season with their families. Removing the cost burden with purchasing gifts for their children removes stress. Many of our veterans suffer from post traumatic stress, physical injuries received in combat, and face daunting challenges towards recovery. Removing this stress turns what could otherwise be a very difficult time, into a time of happiness with their families.

Amsterdam (Inactief) – Rembevorderende zebrapaden

2018-10-14T00:00:00Z

Door Bert Wouters 18 maart 2018 Door 3D zebrapaden op de wdw-straat te schilderen, komen er veilige oversteekplaatsen met afremmend effect op de drukke weg. Dit is met groot succes al gedaan in IJsland. Het probleem van trillingen in huizen aan dd Witte de Withstraat door drempels is hiermee opgelost. Het probleem van onveiligheid met oversteken wordt drastisch verminderd. Bewoners en bezoekers van de wdwstraat kunnen veiliger over straat. Tevens is het fijn voor de Amsterdammer te weten dat hun gemeente om hun geeft en veiligheid voorop stelt. Ik ben beeldend kunstenaar en reeds 10 jaar gevestigd aan de wdwstraat 144hs. Mijn voorstel is om 4 tot 5 van deze zebrapaden te schilderen, tegen een budget voor materiaal- en arbeidskosten, zo ongeveer €1000,- per zebrapad. Kosten kunnen gereduceerd worden (lang houdbare wegenverf) als een samenwerking met openbare werken wordt gecreëerd. Bert Wouters, 0621593975 Verstuurd vanaf mijn iPhone

Ottawa – Pumpkin Alley

2018-10-14T00:00:00Z

October’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to Ott Mahmud to support Pumpkin Alley, in Old Ottawa South. “Pumpkin Alley started about seven years ago as a way to bring the Old Ottawa South community together in the lead-up to Halloween,” explains Ott. “Neighbours get together in weather sunny and rainy, warm and chilly, to carve pumpkins together. On Halloween night,” she continues, “the pumpkins populate Woodbine alley between Roslyn and the new Percy Taverner Park, at the end of Carlyle. Little people, big people, artists, and newbies, our carvers sometimes create one stand-alone jack-o-lantern, or sometimes themed groups of them.” “Each year we create more masterpieces,” says Ott. “We started with 100, then 200. Last year we had 500! Can you imagine 500 pumpkins all glowing down the alley, making magic for the hundreds of trick or treaters that flock to our neighborhood? We don't really advertise – people just ‘discover’ it.” Volunteers are welcome to come out to help in the days before Halloween. Pumpkins will be gutted Saturday and Sunday, October 27 and 28, at noon, and carved Monday and Tuesday, October 29 and 30, at 3 PM. Lighting of the pumpkins will be at 3 PM on October 31. For more information, visit the Old Ottawa South Pumpkin Alley Facebook page. Ott helps run the before and after school program at a local school, and was previously the operator of Long Bay Arts Camp.

Amsterdam (Inactief) – Smallest Tipbook in the world.

2018-10-14T00:00:00Z

Amsterdam is a great city for tourists. There are many things to do. But when it comes to reality, most people come to Amsterdam for one need. Weed. Therefore, I can up with ‘The smallest tip book in the world’, a real tip book you could use to prepare your joint. But thats not all. Each page is provided with a tip to explore Amsterdam. Insight: When tourist come to Amsterdam, all they do for the weekend is hanging in a coffeeshop. Message: There is so much more than just the coffeeshop. Idea: The Amsterdam smallest tip book.

Los Angeles, CA – Comfy Carepacks

2018-10-11T00:00:00Z

Comfy Carepacks was created to provide homeless individuals with pets a thoughtful "carepack" that will hopefully provide a little assistance in taking care of their pet. Each carepack consist of dog food, dog bowl, waste bags, blanket and/or pillow and a chew toy and other necessities, as needed. This carepacks are given, free of charge, to individuals in need. We are hoping to partner with local churches, shelters and other non profits who provide services to pets and individuals experiencing homelessness.

Annapolis, NS (Inactief) – St George St Virtual Time Machine.

2018-10-10T00:00:00Z

Imagine if you could walk down St George St and read an info panel on every building that would contain an historical photo, the original owners historical information, and a timeline of uses. I will create 360 degree images with interactive interpretive information for 5 key locations along St George St between the Court House and The O'Dell Museum. The "Virtual Time Machine" can easily be accessible directly on local web sites such as Map Annapolis or the Town of Annapolis Royal. Directly embedded or via links. Brochures will be published to direct the public to the online experience that they can access via smart phone or tablet on site, or any computer with internet access. (The project website is an example of a "test run" if you click on the info icon on the light house you can see a draft example of an info panel.)

Awesome Without Borders (Inactief) – #iVoted

2018-10-08T00:00:00Z

#iVoted was founded by entrepreneur Emily White and Pat Sansone of Wilco. We have been activating concert venues around the country to let fans in on the U.S. national Election Day of November 6th, who shot a photo of themselves outside of their local polling place. The goal is to galvanize voter turnout, and we're up to over 50 venues in 25 states, with colleagues in Canada and France reaching out wanting to do the same for their elections. Confirmed artists performing on November 6th include Judd Apatow, Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Superchunk, Mike Doughty of Soul Coughling, Drive By-Truckers, with more joining the movement every day..

Milano (Inactief) – ANOTHER SCRATCH IN THE WALL

2018-10-07T00:00:00Z

"The real voyage of discovery is not in seeking new places, but in seeing with new eyes" (M. Proust) How many times have you walked down the same streets, over and over again, without even stopping to discover the tales the walls of your city can tell? Another Scratch In The Wall Street Art Tours are here for it! Guided by journalist and Urban Art blogger Clara Amodeo, you will get to know not only the history of this cultural movement, but you will also learn to understand and appreciate the "art" behind a "scratch" in the wall. Two hours full immersion walking tours focused on a specific area or on a certain topic developed in original ways by different artists, to understand that beauty is truly everywhere... if you learn to recognize it. But this is not the end of the story. In fact, Another Scratch In The Wall is also a blog that from 2014 has been telling lovers and neophytes stories and news on the magical world of Graffiti and Street Art, in Italy and around the world: interviews, reviews, travel stories and much more enrich the pages of what, over the years, has become a real point of reference for this particular form of art. The intention of Scratch is therefore to evolve into an editorial team that, thanks to the contribution of different contributors, can present itself to the general public as a real webzine, equipped with social channels for regular publications and share. The webzine will also function as an information channel for Street Art Tours: here people will choose the theme they prefer and book it through the calendar.

Singapore – I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice cream!

2018-10-07T00:00:00Z

On a hot, humid 35C Sunday afternoon as people try to escape from the heat in a mall or panting in this concrete jungle, what better to melt away the heat and bring a smile to their faces than ice cream? I want to make 1000 people's day by giving them a free traditional Singapore icecream sandwich.

Moscow (Inactief) – В каждой избушке свои игрушки

2018-10-06T00:00:00Z

Лен являлся традиционным материалом Костромской области, к сожалению, в настоящее время многие традиции утеряны. Проект "В каждой избушке свои игрушки" представляет собой проведение творческих встреч и мастер-классов для детей и взрослых. Целями проекта являются: знакомство, в первую очередь, молодого поколения с традиционными текстильными материалами, обучение навыкам ручного труда, а также укрепление семейных связей посредством совместного творчества. Опыт работы с детьми и подростками показал, что многие из них не умеют пользоваться иголкой, даже завязывать узелки, не владеют простейшими операциями работы с тканью. В рамках проекта разработаны пять мастер-классов различной сложности по изготовлению игрушек и брошей из льняного лоскута, возраст участников от 4-5 лет и без ограничения, особенно приветствуется участие семьями. Места проведения мастер-классов - образовательные учреждения, реабилитационные центры, детские дома, а также творческие площадки на городских мероприятиях, не менее одной встречи в неделю. Важно на подобных занятиях использовать новые качественные натуральные ткани, которые не только безопасны для детей, но и полезны для здоровья. Именно таким материалом и является лен. Еще одно мероприятие проекта - творческая встреча "Кто в куклы не играл - тот счастья не видал", на котором дети и взрослые рассказывают о своих любимых детских игрушках. Особенно интересными и ценными являются рассказы, когда игрушка передается из поколения в поколение и вместе с семьей проходит через сложные периоды. Например, на одной встрече была показана игрушка, которая была в семье в блокадном Ленинграде, а сейчас находится в Костроме. Подобные встречи способствуют сплочению семей и сохранению семейных традиций.

Moscow (Inactief) – РАСсвет.

2018-10-06T00:00:00Z

РАСсвет - это центр помощи детям и взрослым с диагнозом аутизм. По официальной статистике каждый 49 ребенок имеет диагноз аутизм (2 года назад каждый 69). Вырастая, дети с аутизмом становятся абсолютно беспомощными: находятся на попечении родителей и полностью зависимы от них, подвергаются сексуальному и физическому насилию, травле в школе, не умеют общаться с окружающими людьми, проявляют нежелательные поведения - агрессию по отношению к себе и окружающим, повторяющиеся движения. После смерти родителей, став взрослыми, люди с аутизмом попадают в психиатрические больницы. Центр РАСсвет работает с детьми и взрослыми с диагнозом аутизм по методу АВА-терапии. АВА-терапия - это единственный научно - доказанный метод коррекции аутизма. Аутизм невозможно вылечить, но его можно скорректировать. Каждого клиента центра тестируют по специальным опросникам, выявляют "пробелы", составляют индивидуальную программу. По программе работает специально обученный человек - терапист, его работу курирует куратор - человек, окончивший или обучающийся АВА-терапии. Работу куратора проверяет супервизор - специалист с международным сертификатом по АВА-терапии. Это сложная система. но благодаря ей наши клиенты учатся говорить, ходить в магазин, пользоваться туалетом (к нам приходят взрослые люди, не умеющие этого делать самостоятельно), играть, одеваться и раздеваться. Это облегчает жизнь не только наших клиентов, но и их родителей. Специалисты центра работают не только с ребенком, но и с его родителями. Обучают родителей методам и приемам, по работе с ребенком. Видя результат педагогов, родители начинают применять знания, а это помогает закрепить полученный в центре результат. В России АВА-терапия начала развиваться 5 лет назад, мало центров и специалистов, оказывающих качественные услуги. В нашем городе 2 центра, работающих по методу АВА-терапии. 25 человек ждут, когда с ними начнут работать в центре РАСсвет, в другой идти не хотят (сейчас в центре занимается 28 людей с аутизмом).