tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:/pt/projects 2026-09-01T23:58:58Z tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/672648 2026-09-30T00:00:00Z 2026-09-01T23:58:58Z I WANT THIS SO BAD is an experimental, cinematic reimagining of a televised modeling competition. Taking place in Cranston, WANT THIS SO BAD aims to examine suburbia, queer coming-of-age, girlhood, and 2000s societal norms. The project builds off works first created in 2006, when a 9 and 11-year old sister team created works that were eventually deleted from YouTube due to a music copyright infringement claim. Combining recently re-found footage, a newly adapted screenplay finishes out the course of the competition and its aftermath of the contestants’ makeshift queer utopia. New footage will be shot over the next six months with a small local crew. Alex Pizzuti I WANT THIS SO BAD United States Rhode Island https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/rhodeisland tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/690803 2026-09-26T00:00:00Z 2026-09-26T15:09:07Z Traffic Vision is developing software that uses computer vision to make roads safer by analyzing traffic footage and detecting dangerous situations. One part of the project aims to preserve dashcam footage that is usually overwritten and use it to build the first near-miss map of Samarkand. A near-miss is measured by the time gap between a pedestrian leaving a road space and a vehicle entering it, helping identify dangerous crossings before serious crashes occur. The project will collect one month of footage from ten dashcams installed in taxis that regularly pass through high-risk junctions. Students will label the footage, and the resulting data will be used to train and improve the detection system. The outcome will include a public map of the ten most dangerous crossings in Samarkand, together with an anonymized annotated dataset available for others to use. The team is also developing software capable of automatically detecting road incidents and sending information to emergency response services, including the type of incident, date and time, and the coordinates where it occurred. The project’s goal is to bridge the gap between a working technical prototype and real-world deployment, creating tools that could help prevent accidents and enable faster emergency response. Javohir Hasanov Traffic Vision Uzbekistan Tashkent https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/tashkent tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/680263 2026-09-24T00:00:00Z 2026-09-25T21:38:37Z Բջնին պարզապես գյուղ չէ․ այն վայր է, որտեղ պատմությունը բառացիորեն մեր աչքի առաջ է։ Բջնիի բերդը դարեր շարունակ եղել է տարածաշրջանի կարևոր պատմական կենտրոններից մեկը, սակայն այսօր այցելուները հիմնականում պարզապես դիտում են այն՝ առանց իրականում «ապրելու» այդ պատմությունը։ «Ժամանակի ճոճանակը» փոքր, բայց յուրահատուկ հանրային արվեստային և կրթական ինստալացիա է, որը կտեղադրվի Բջնիի բերդի հարակից տարածքում։ Մենք ցանկանում ենք ստեղծել փայտից և տեղական/մատչելի նյութերից պատրաստված գեղեցիկ, ժամանակակից ճոճանակ, որը միաժամանակ կլինի հանգստանալու, լուսանկարվելու և պատմություն բացահայտելու վայր։ Ճոճանակին մոտ կլինի ականջակալների համար նախատեսված փոքր կայան։ Այցելուն նստում է ճոճանակին, վերցնում ականջակալները և սկսում է լսել Բջնիի պատմությունը՝ ոչ թե որպես սովորական էքսկուրսիա, այլ որպես ձայնային ճանապարհորդություն ժամանակի միջով։ Մի քանի րոպեի ընթացքում նա կարող է լսել հին Բջնիի առօրյայի ձայները, բերդի կյանքը, զինվորների քայլերը, զենքերի բախումը, շուկայի ու գյուղի ձայները, պատմություններ բերդի և այնտեղ ապրած մարդկանց մասին։ Պատմությունը կստեղծվի ձայնային էֆեկտների, պատմողի և իրական պատմական փաստերի համադրությամբ։ Իսկ պատմության վերջում ձայները կլռեն, և այցելուն կլսի մեկ պարզ ուղերձ՝ «Դարերի ընթացքում մարդիկ կռվել են այս հողի համար։ Այսօր մենք այստեղ ենք՝ այն պահպանելու, ճանաչելու և խաղաղ ապրելու համար»։ Այսպիսով ճոճանակը դառնում է ոչ միայն զբոսաշրջային հետաքրքիր կետ, այլև խաղաղության խորհրդանիշ․ այն կապում է Բջնիի անցյալը, ներկան և ապագան։ Նախագծի առանձնահատկությունն այն է, որ մեծ ենթակառուցվածք կամ մեծ բյուջե չի պահանջվում։ Փոքրիկ բյուջեով հնարավոր է ստեղծել առաջին ինստալացիան՝ տեղական վարպետների և երիտասարդների ներգրավմամբ, իսկ հետագայում նույն գաղափարը կարելի է կիրառել Հայաստանի այլ պատմական վայրերում՝ յուրաքանչյուր վայրի սեփական ձայնային պատմությամբ։ Նստիր։ Ճոճվիր։ Փակիր աչքերդ։ Եվ մի քանի րոպեով վերադարձիր Բջնիի անցյալ։ Տատյանա Դարբինյան Ժամանակի ճոճանակ Armenia Yerevan https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/yerevan tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/635019 2026-09-24T00:00:00Z 2026-09-25T21:05:57Z The basement floor has been replaced but we have hit a speed bump. The new floor doesnt match the bathroom floor so that will need to be replaced.. CHRIS MACDONALD Finish the floor United States Gloucester, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/gloucester tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/685300 2026-09-24T00:00:00Z 2026-09-25T00:57:22Z Hi! I started a Facebook page 9 days before Halloween last year to share my love of Halloween and my giant display we set up every year and to feature all Halloween haunts and related events ect. In just a short 9 days I gained almost 700 followers! Wow! I then did giveaways, contests, awarded certificates/trophys, set up a photo station, added a street list and map to all the decorated houses for all to enjoy! My thought was simple, everyone loves a street map to view Christmas lights with a hot chocolate, so why not a Halloween one with an apple cider? I never expected to bring so many together in our community in such a few short days! I met so many amazing Halloween enthusiasts like myself and made new forever friends! I paid for everything out of pocket wish added up pretty fast. Gloucester Ghouls will be my main focus the whole month of Sept leading up to Halloween where I have new ideas and plans. I had a silly vision, I made it a reality in just 9 days, just imagine what I can do in the second year with more time. There was no better feeling then the countless cars driving by all the displays, kids excited, all the homeowners welcoming the community to their haunts, parents holding my street map and saying whoever started Gloucester Ghouls is awesome (not knowing I was indeed the Gloucester Ghoul), the random shoutouts on social media platforms, and how I was able to bring a little Halloween spirit to all in Gloucester! I was also awarded “Most Spirited” buy an anonymous group last Halloween for all my time and work. I am super excited to start working on my project for the 2026 season and can’t wait to keep watching it grow year by year. Lindsay Moran Gloucester Ghouls United States Gloucester, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/gloucester tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/680594 2026-09-22T00:00:00Z 2026-09-29T15:00:30Z Event Title: Stories in Action Logistics: October 24th at Center on Halsted In 2025, the Marshall Project reported that ICE arrests surged 515% in Illinois. For LGBTQ+ migrants, anxiety about immigration status is often compounded by fear of persecution in their countries of origin. Yet many Chicagoans remain unaware of detention conditions and the experiences of those detained. At Stories In Action, 150 volunteers, supporters, donors, and community members will experience art as a tool for healing and advocacy while learning about detention, Migrant Support Collective’s work, and ways to get involved. The event will feature member artwork, educational exhibits, interactive activities, and resources from movement partners. Eleven migrants in ICE detention have already joined the art program. We have received dozens of works to exhibit and anticipate hundreds more as members fill entire sketchbooks with their art. A local guest artist will create a large-scale work inspired by experiences of marginalization and immigration enforcement or detention. Created with our team in advance, the piece will anchor the exhibition and spark conversation about the realities of detention. Following the reception, there will be a panel centering three speakers with relevant lived experiences who will share their art work and personal journeys impacted by U.S. immigration policy. Migrant Support Collective (MSC) is partnering with Center on Halsted, Chicago Women’s Health Center, and Organized Communities Against Deportations (OCAD). Our leadership team is majority LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and from immigrant backgrounds, making migrant liberation close to our hearts. Migrant Support Collective is deeply grateful to the Awesome Foundation for considering our proposal. A partnership with you will help bring our community together to learn, connect, and take action in solidarity with people most impacted by immigration detention. Beck Sroczynski Stories in Action Event https://givebutter.com/stories-in-action United States Chicago, IL https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/chicago tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/686601 2026-09-22T00:00:00Z 2026-09-29T22:30:30Z On Thursday, October 29, 2026, Washington, DC, and the African American Music Association (AAMA) will honor The Jewels, DC’s legendary female singing group of the 1960s, with the unveiling of a commemorative street sign, “The Jewels Way.” The sign will be unveiled in front of Theodore Roosevelt High School, located on 13th Street NW between Upshur and Allison Streets NW. The Jewels attended Roosevelt High School and graduated in 1962. Immediately following the unveiling, a tribute celebration will be held in the Roosevelt High School auditorium. The program will celebrate The Jewels’ legacy and feature a performance by The Jewels, marking their first performance in five years, remarks from DC Ward 4 Councilmember Janese Lewis George, DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, former DC Mayor Sharon Pratt, and other speakers and a musical tribute by Roosevelt High School students honoring The Jewels as distinguished alumnae, Funding Need AAMA completed a year-long process to secure the commemorative street sign, ensuring that The Jewels take their rightful place in DC history. However, the unveiling and tribute celebration are being planned with limited funding. We hope the Awesome Foundation will support AAMA in presenting this historic day of celebration on October 29. About The Jewels The Jewels formed in 1959 while attending Roosevelt High School. The original members were Sandra Bears, Grace Ruffin, Carrie Mingo, and Margie Clarke. While still in high school, The Jewels recorded several local hits and made their first stage appearance at the Howard Theatre. In 1964, the group achieved its first national hit with “Opportunity,” which remained on the Billboard charts for seven weeks. During a performance at the Apollo Theater in New York, James Brown saw The Jewels perform and invited them to join the James Brown Revue. They toured with Brown for one year as his first female background singers. Darwana Black A Tribute to The Jewels: The Divas of DC Doo-Wop http://aamadc.org United States Washington, DC https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/dc tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/653508 2026-09-22T00:00:00Z 2026-09-24T17:36:08Z Get Ready to Hear the Soothing Sounds of the Chinese Zither! HAMILTON, MA, September 22, 2026 – The Hamilton Wenham Awesome Foundation has awarded its monthly $1,000 microgrant to Celestial 21, a youth Chinese zither ensemble dedicated to sharing the beauty of traditional Chinese music and culture with local families. Led by young musicians Lois Tolstopyatenko, Maximus Tolstopyatenko, Emma Shi, and Julia Shi, Celestial 21 was created to introduce North Shore audiences to the captivating sounds of the guzheng, a 2,500-year-old Chinese instrument often referred to as the Chinese zither. Through live performances, interactive demonstrations, and hands-on opportunities for children to try the instrument, the group aims to foster creativity, curiosity, emotional well-being, and a lifelong appreciation for music and cultural diversity. The Chinese zither (guzheng) is one of China's oldest and most beloved string instruments. Featuring 21 to 26 strings stretched across a resonating wooden body, the instrument produces rich, expressive tones that have enchanted audiences for centuries. “Our goal is to bring comfort, joy, and inspiration through music while sharing a treasured part of Chinese culture with our community,” said Xiaoxuan (Anna) Chen, whose daughter Emma performs with the ensemble. “Both of our families came from China, and we are passionate about preserving and sharing traditional Chinese arts and music. We hope these performances will help children and families discover something new and beautiful.” The Shi family has lived in South Hamilton since 2020, with their children attending Buker Elementary School. They have been active supporters of local Chinese New Year and cultural celebrations hosted by the Hamilton-Wenham Library. “Celestial 21 perfectly embodies the spirit of the Awesome Foundation,” said Merry Kaulbach, trustee of the Hamilton Wenham Awesome Foundation. “Their project sparks curiosity, builds community connections, and celebrates cultural traditions through music. We were especially inspired by their commitment to engaging young audiences and enriching our community, particularly given the strong Mandarin language program in our schools.” The grant will help fund educational performances, outreach programs, and opportunities for local children and families to experience the zither firsthand. By making these cultural arts experiences accessible, Celestial 21 hopes to strengthen community connections and broaden appreciation for one of the world's oldest musical traditions. The Hamilton Wenham Awesome Foundation awards a no-strings-attached $1,000 microgrant each month to projects that inspire creativity, spread joy, and make a positive impact in the community. Community members with ideas that would benefit Hamilton and Wenham are encouraged to apply through the foundation's website. For more information about Celestial 21 and upcoming performances, visit www.Celestial21.com. Xiaoxuan Chen Chinese Zither (music) Ensemble Enrichment Program http://www.celestial21.com United States Hamilton-Wenham, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/hamilton-wenham tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/680798 2026-09-22T00:00:00Z 2026-09-22T22:33:00Z My son struggled to read. I did a lot of work with him at home, and I feared the whole process would discourage him from enjoying reading, but then I introduced him to comic books and graphic novels. When he was six, I also taught him how to create his own stories at home. Today, he is an avid reader and is ahead in reading ability, vocabulary, and language skills. He is also a published author. We are in a literacy crisis here in Philadelphia, and as an educator and mother, I'm dedicated to doing what I can in my community to fill the literacy gaps. Research shows that comic books strengthen literacy rates and engage young, reluctant readers. My background as a professor who studies comics (I did my dissertation on The Boondocks), entrepreneur, and mother led me to this question: What if comics could help other kids with literacy? A few years ago, I piloted the workshop series at Mighty Writers. This summer, I put that idea into action at Eastwick Rec Center in Southwest Philadelphia. I led four free comic book literacy workshops for local children. We read comics together, explored how words and images tell stories, learned basic storytelling, and created original comics. We worked one-on-one with children on writing and spelling, and they practiced reading by sharing their stories with peers. Now I want to continue this work during the school year through free after-school programming at Eastwick Rec Center. With support from Awesome Philadelphia, I will offer another series of Create Your Own Comic Book Literacy Workshops, primarily for children ages 6–10. Children will practice reading, writing, vocabulary, comprehension, storytelling, and self-expression while creating their own comics. Each child will receive blank comic book templates and supplies to use during the workshops, so they can take their stories home and read to their families. The idea is simple: sometimes the best way to get a child excited about reading is to let them become the author. Sheena Howard Create Your Own Comic Book Literacy Workshops https://www.flickr.com/photos/readby4th/albums/72177720335083983/ United States Philadelphia, PA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/philadelphia tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/694278 2026-09-21T00:00:00Z 2026-09-22T21:00:55Z Reunite Migrant Families and Centro Cristiano Renacer have collaborated together with Dutchess Outreach to open a bi-weekly food pantry at the church to provide fresh, healthy and culturally appropriate food to food insecure individuals and families. Our pantry is open to all, but we cater specifically to vulnerable immigrants who are food insecure. We are located in the city of Poughkeepsie and primarily serve city residents. We provide farm fresh produce, herbs such as cilantro, maseca flour, rice, beans, oil, milk and eggs. People “shop” for the items they want; so there is no waste. We deliver to those unable or afraid to come in person. We are open from 4-6 pm to accommodate people not able to get to daytime pantries. Spanish speaking members of the church work together with RMF to welcome folks to the pantry. This is an all volunteer run operation. Our first distribution served 120 families and the second and third one served about 150 families each time averaging about 4 people per family group. We keep accurate records of number of families served as well as the number of people in each family. We shop frugally and continue to look for free avenues for healthy foods as well. Muriel Horowitz and Valerie Carlisle Renacer Food Pantry- a collaboration United States Poughkeepsie, NY https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/poughkeepsie tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/684308 2026-09-20T00:00:00Z 2026-09-26T22:43:25Z There are five widows on my street alone. I meet them at pickleball, at the grocery store, in passing. One told me her husband had just died, and she showed up to play pickleball anyway because she needed somewhere to go. Everyone needs somewhere to go and neighborly support. I am a 65 year old woman and painter living in Santa Cruz. I work in traditional Vietnamese lacquer, a rare, labor-intensive technique I studied in Hanoi, and for years I have started each painting by making a sketch, usually of women all over the world. In Pakistan, Nigeria, Kenya, Jordan. Women carrying water on their heads, laughing. Women who asked me afterward: am I really that pretty? The answer is always yes. During a crisis in Pakistan, I opened my studio to foreign aid workers, mostly women who were overwhelmed and far from home. They came for coffee, talked about what they were navigating, and posed for me while I sketched. I put music on and they told me they were able to relax. We both left filled up. I want to recreate this by introducing this project to women in Santa Cruz. I will invite the women on my street, and women like them across Santa Cruz, into my studio one at a time for tea. We'll talk, listen to music, and I'll sketch them. They'll leave with a drawing of themselves seen clearly, maybe for the first time in a while. Just tea, conversation, and a portrait they can keep. I'd also make a booklet/catalog of all the sketches and maybe some stories from the conversations I had. Maylene Rasmussen The Women on My Street https://www.maylenerasmussen.com/the-women-on-my-street United States Santa Cruz, CA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/santacruz tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/673136 2026-09-20T00:00:00Z 2026-09-26T22:45:25Z Hello SCAF Team, I applied when I was in an earlier planning stage, so this project will sound familiar--although I am aiming to include more information to answer your questions! I’m launching a festive Holiday Book Fair from 11am-6pm on November 28 in Soquel as part of my mission to make the Monterey Bay Area more bookish! It'll be like BookTok meets the Scholastic Book Fair meets a local community holiday market. My goal is to host 25+ local/regional authors, booksellers, and bookish artists with a wide variety of genres. With the deadline for the initial application review at the end of this month, I have nearly 20 applications in already, so we're well on our way! Author applications will be evaluated based on submission by the review deadline, local connections, professional covers, and variety of genres. Crafter and bookseller apps will be evaluated based on variety and timeliness of application. I'm aiming to have at least 100 visitors per hour and to rally the community to Shop Small this holiday season--the conventional wisdom being that once people get out to shop they keep going. I think this is something very needed in the Soquel area since highway construction is slated to close their offramp for the next couple of months. As part of the celebration, we will have story times, author panels, a book-related craft, and–of course–hot cocoa! Attendees will enter the main entrance with pillars decorated like candy canes and be able to meet local authors face to face. A creative story about a mischievous shelf elf will give kids a fun treasure hunt to go on. A nook with couches and a coffee table will provide space for readers to relax and partners to rest. A breakout room will host the presentations, and readers and authors can geek out over books in the main hall. Readers can snap selfies with authors, and everyone can chat about their favorite books. Oh, and my big-picture goal is to make this an annual event! Christina Davis Holiday Book Fair https://inkpotquill.square.site/holiday-book-fair United States Santa Cruz, CA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/santacruz tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/670467 2026-09-20T00:00:00Z 2026-09-21T19:28:13Z Love, Peace & Unity (LPU) is a monthly Open Mic/Food Drive dedicated to bringing the Detroit community together through artistry, creativity, and giving back. Our mission is to provide a safe and welcoming space where Detroit artists and creatives can authentically showcase their talents while building meaningful connections within their community. Each month, LPU brings together artists, creatives, and community members for an evening centered around self-expression, connection, and service. Every open mic highlights a featured local artist, provides complimentary food or snacks for guests, and creates an opportunity for attendees to contribute to our ongoing food drive. Instead of charging a traditional admission fee, we ask guests to bring canned goods or make a monetary donation. This allows us to keep the event accessible while encouraging everyone who attends to take part in giving back to the community. Through our monthly Open Mic/Food Drive, Love, Peace & Unity uses artistry as a bridge between creativity and service—giving Detroit artists a consistent platform to be seen and heard while bringing people together to make a positive impact in their community. Kamia Daniel Ivory Love Peace Unity https://www.instagram.com/lpu.detroit?igsh=d2YxY2ZjNTN0anFz&utm_source=qr United States Detroit, MI https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/detroit tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/660942 2026-09-17T00:00:00Z 2026-09-20T23:32:29Z I discovered 3d printing dolls after I realized that there isn’t many dolls like me. I strive to create a more representative cast of dolls with the hope of making affordable models to sell. My dolls are Ball Jointed which is a type of doll design popular in Asia. I love how people’s eyes light up when they see what I can create! With the money I could do so much more. Maya Halton 3d Printed Custom Inclusive Dolls Canada Kingston https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/kingston-on tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/646371 2026-09-16T00:00:00Z 2026-09-18T05:18:48Z The New Artists’ Collective is a growing network dedicated to connection and growth across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter Region. I bring artists together through exhibition programs, artist-led talks, professional debelopment workshops, and regular community gatherings to create environments where meaningful creative careers can thrive. Now the traditional gallery model is changing and financially not viable for most artists, I am building bridges between local creatives and professional spaces through curated installations. Alanya van de Wiel New Artists' Collective https://www.newartistscollective.com/ Australia Lake Mac https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/lakemac tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/685333 2026-09-15T00:00:00Z 2026-09-16T21:35:43Z YourPlace Community Foundation is launching Safe at Home: 10 Older Adults, 10 Solutions, a small, hands-on pilot designed to help 10 older adults in the Cass-Clay community overcome practical barriers that make it harder to remain safe and independent at home. We will work individually with older adults and family caregivers to identify an immediate unmet need, locate an appropriate community resource, and help make the connection. Needs may include food access, transportation, household safety, social isolation, caregiver resources, or difficulty navigating available community services. The idea is simple: instead of giving someone a long list of resources and hoping they can figure out what to do next, we want to help close the gap between “I need help” and “I found the right help.” For each participant, we will document the barrier identified, resources or referrals provided, and whether the individual successfully connected with support. What we learn from these first 10 participants will also help us strengthen future aging-in-place and caregiver-support efforts in our community. A $1,000 Awesome Foundation grant would allow us to turn this focused idea into direct local action and demonstrate how personalized resource navigation can help older neighbors remain safer, more connected, and more independent at home. Marian Jordan Safe at Home: 10 Older Adults, 10 Solutions https://yourplacefoundation.org/ United States Cass Clay https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/cassclay tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/668042 2026-09-15T00:00:00Z 2026-09-29T12:35:05Z NHS students in collaboration with the Newburyport non profit Small Solutions Big Ideas, will be hosting a three hour fun-filled family field day event on October 24th (12 to 3pm), that brings our community together. Our field day which is open to everyone in the community will feature musicians, poets, interactive art tables, mini children's races and other fun events. This will be accompanied by an assortment of food from sponsors and student volunteers. Our field day is inspired by student interest to support student athletes in Kenya through Small Solutions Big Ideas, in order to fundraise money for cross country youth athletes in the Bukokholo region, where many of them run barefoot. The entry to the event is completely free to all people within the Newburyport community, but we certainly will appreciate donations. In addition, there will be fundraising opportunities scattered throughout, such as the sales of food, Kenyan jewelry, and student artworks. Here is a deeper view into some of the activities we have planned: for the youngsters, Halloween dress up inspired races, egg on the spoon race, face painting by the high school Cheer Leaders, middle school basketball and hacky sack competitions, as well as bracelet making with the National Art Honors Society. For families and adults that attend there will be an assortment of food and entertainment, such as student poetry readings, student musicians, and a Kenyan band. We plan to raise $2,000 to donate to Small Solutions Big Ideas through donation bins, sale items, and food. This would enable us to provide the students in the Bukokholo region with access to shoes, uniforms, a running coach, transportation to meets, and other athletic equipment that the school needs. Keeping the event free allows all members regardless of their socioeconomic situation to attend and enjoy all that we will offer for our local community. Our expectations of attendees is around 500 people, made up of students and community members. Anna Pervier Kids For Kenya Field Day United States Newburyport, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/newburyport tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/680660 2026-09-15T00:00:00Z 2026-09-29T12:34:11Z The Port Gingerbread Festival enhances the December holiday season by offering a contest and exhibition of gingerbread houses (and other imaginative structures!) This year the event will take place over three days, December 11-13, at the Central Congregational Church in downtown Newburyport. Anyone may participate. Our promotional efforts focus on the North Shore, but contest entries and visitors last year came from as far as the South Shore, the western suburbs of Boston, and southern NH. Our mission is to have fun, strengthen community ties and foster community health through this traditional and accessible folk art. We emphasize volunteer spirit, inclusivity, and opportunity for creativity and inter-generational connection. In 2023 (our first year) we engaged 150+ people of all ages as makers, volunteers, and financial supporters, and we attracted 1,022 visitors to the exhibition. By our third year in 2025, the Festival had grown to be an exhibition of 45 gingerbread creations and attracted more than 1,300 visitors. Total charitable donations: $19,403 since 2023. There is no charge for contest entry, and admission to the exhibition is free as well, thanks to grants and sponsorships from local businesses and individuals. Donations are encouraged. Net proceeds benefit the non-profit Nourishing the North Shore, which serves people in all North Shore communities by providing access for all to the fresh produce of local farms, in collaboration with food pantries and meal programs. The Festival provides a showcase for the astonishing artistry that emerges. It is run entirely by volunteers and is an independent non-profit corporation with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. An operations team of 14 people manages the event, with oversight provided by a board of directors. We collaborate with other local non-profit organizations to cross-promote, and we offer seasonal workshops to share tips and techniques that we've learned over the years. Mary Dissette 4th Annual Port Gingerbread Festival http://www.portgingerbreadfestival.org United States Newburyport, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/newburyport tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/678880 2026-09-15T00:00:00Z 2026-09-29T12:30:45Z At Among Friends, a shared meal is about more than food, it's camaraderie. Since 1983, our all-volunteer program has served guests restaurant-style at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Newburyport: real plates, real silverware, never cafeteria-style, because genuine conversation and connection matter as much as calories. We're the region's only program offering three prepared meals a week, plus delivery for guests who can't join us in person, about 21,800 meals a year for seniors, people experiencing homelessness, people in recovery, and other neighbors facing food insecurity. We've always prioritized real nutrition over the processed, carbohydrate-heavy food common in many meal programs. Our new Director, Kate Gilmore, a trained chef and USDA-certified organic farm inspector, is deepening that commitment with a farm-to-table push, building on our partnership with Nourishing the North Shore to bring more fresh, local produce to guests alongside our Greater Boston Food Bank donations. Our awesome project is part of that vision. The result: meals that nourish body and spirit together. Guests, many of them seniors on fixed incomes, get real, wholesome food, shared at a table built for connection, while local farms gain a new community partner. Kate Gilmore Among Friends Meal Program https://www.amongfriendsmealprogram.org/ United States Newburyport, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/newburyport tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/675844 2026-09-14T00:00:00Z 2026-09-15T17:04:26Z Passionate House of Change is planning a community event through our Radiant Mom Project designed specifically to support mothers and families in Cleveland. The goal is to create a welcoming space where mothers can receive practical necessities while also connecting with resources that can help strengthen their families beyond the day of the event. Mothers will be able to visit resource tables, hear from guest speakers, connect with local organizations and learn about services related to financial literacy, transportation, family support, mental wellness, parenting, and other community resources. We also plan to distribute essential-care bags containing hygiene, household, and family necessities. We know that many mothers are balancing the cost of raising children, household expenses, transportation, work, and unexpected financial challenges. Sometimes something as simple as purchasing diapers, deodorant, body wash, toothpaste, or cleaning products means taking money away from another household expense. This project is designed to provide immediate relief while connecting mothers with resources that can have a longer-lasting impact. We want mothers to leave with more than a bag of products. We want them to leave knowing that there are organizations, resources, and people in Cleveland ready to support them. Mojarai Johnson Dignity & Family Essentials Distribution United States Cleveland, OH https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/cleveland tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/661095 2026-09-14T00:00:00Z 2026-09-15T17:04:04Z Hello Trustees! Today, I would like to introduce you to my student-led organization, Youth Health Initiative (YHI). Our goal is to improve the wellbeing, which includes physical, mental, and environmental health, of Cuyahoga County residents through education and outreach. Every month or two, we choose a different topic to focus on. In June, for example, we focused our efforts on mental health awareness. Volunteers helped create educational posts focusing on mental health awareness, which gathered over 9,000 views on Instagram. Additionally, we hosted a volunteer event in partnership with NAMI of Greater Cleveland, where our volunteers made over 50 bracelets that were donated to patients staying at UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital in Cleveland. Our organization is dedicated to providing our community, as well as those in need, with quality materials, education on health topics, and hands-on volunteer opportunities. Our organization started in October 2025, and since then, we have addressed 4 different topics relating to wellbeing, led 4 large-scale volunteer events, and amassed 36 active volunteers (schools reached include Hawken, Saint Joseph Academy, University School, Solon, Mayfield, Twinsburg, etc). To sum up our impact, our volunteers have assembled over 150 reusable menstrual kits, which were distributed to women in need through the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. In addition, we hosted an hour-long community yoga session in partnership with ZenWorks Yoga and educated community members on the connection between physical and mental health. Finally, our volunteers have also picked up over 30 pounds of trash and plastic at Edgewater Park, improving environmental conditions for hundreds of visitors. Our goal for the year is to host 4 additional community health initiatives, expand to over 50 active volunteers, establish 5 new community partnerships, and provide health education and resources to at least 500 Cuyahoga County residents. Sophia Zhang Youth Health Initiative https://youthhealthinitiative.org/ United States Cleveland, OH https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/cleveland tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/665484 2026-09-14T00:00:00Z 2026-09-15T17:03:47Z Brushstrokes & Peace is a free 4-week outdoor art program taught directly by me for East Cleveland youth. Held every Saturday for 2 hours at the local park behind the East Cleveland Public Library, this program gives local kids a creative, safe space to process emotions, learn artistic techniques, and express a powerful message against gun violence. ​Over the course of 4 weeks, I will lead hands-on art instruction where youth explore acrylic canvas painting, custom wearable art (tote bags and peace hoodies), and mixed-media poster design. Each 2-hour session combines step-by-step art instruction, creative freedom, healthy snacks, and open conversation where participants can share the personal stories and meaning behind their artwork. ​Why is your project awesome? ​This project brings direct, hands-on mentorship directly to youth in East Cleveland at a accessible community hub: the park right behind the library. Rather than taking a formal or distant approach to violence prevention, I am personally teaching these sessions to empower local youth to turn their feelings into vibrant art that promotes peace. ​By using an outdoor park space on Saturday afternoons—a key weekend hours window—the program creates a visible, positive presence in the neighborhood. It gives local kids constructive skills, boosts their confidence, and provides them with tangible artistic projects they can take home or display to show their stance against gun violence in our community.The $1,000 micro-grant will cover all art instruction materials, outdoor equipment, and refreshments for up to 25 kids across the 4-week program: Jasmin Jones Brushstrokes & Peace: Saturday Outdoor Youth Art i United States Cleveland, OH https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/cleveland tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/679437 2026-09-14T00:00:00Z 2026-09-15T01:20:40Z I'm making Tideline: a free, open-air DJ set played on the bed of the River Thames at low water, where the tide decides when the music starts and when it has to stop. Almost every sound I play arrived here by water. Jamaican dancehall and sound system culture, Nigerian afrobeats, South African amapiano — and the British music they became: jungle, UK garage, grime, afroswing. They came up this river into the docks with the people who carried them. London's dancefloors are a downstream effect of the Thames. Nobody says that out loud, and nobody stands on the riverbed to hear it. So: one afternoon on a spring low water, I set up a battery-powered rig on the exposed foreshore below the river wall and play that story in order — the records that came off the boats, then the records London made out of them. No door, no bar, no guest list, no age limit, no venue. You come down the stairs off the river path. Bring your kids, bring your dog, stand in the shingle. Then the tide comes back and takes the room away. A club night ends when the promoter says so. This one ends when the water says so — and the countdown is visible the entire time, creeping up the beach behind the decks. The set is written backwards from the tide table: I know to the minute how long I have, and the last record has to land as the shingle goes under. Who benefits: whoever is on the river that afternoon. The foreshore is free and public, so this reaches the people nightlife prices out — under-18s, families, people who don't drink, people who don't have £25 for a door. Most Londoners only ever look at the Thames. Standing on it, with bass moving through it, is a different relationship. I'll film it and release it free, so the river gets the credit and DJs elsewhere can steal the idea. Every tidal city has a foreshore. The date is tide-led: an afternoon spring low water, set from the tide table once Port of London Authority consent is in place. The river picks the date, not me. That's the point. Bradley Johnston Tideline: a free DJ set on the Thames foreshore https://bdjofficial.com Worldwide On the Water https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/onthewater tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/654790 2026-09-10T00:00:00Z 2026-09-22T14:31:50Z Congratulations to AwesomeStPaul’s September 2026 grantee. We are pleased to sponsor this youth training event in St. Paul, MN. Cut, Learn & Serve: St. Paul Barber Opportunity Day is a free, public one-day event combining career exposure, practical education, mentorship. They will host the event at a St. Paul community site. In the morning, 10 St. Paul youth and young adults ages 16–24 will join a hands-on barber career lab led by experienced local barbers. Participants will learn sanitation, tool safety, client service, basic haircut theory, personal branding, and realistic steps toward barber school, apprenticeship, paid work, or business ownership. Each participant will receive a small learning kit and a written next-step plan. In the afternoon, the site will become a free community haircut and mentorship pop-up. Our goal is to provide at least 25 free services to St. Paul youth, families, elders, and neighbors while creating positive conversations about confidence, wellness, education, and employment. Aspiring barbers will observe professional service delivery and assist only in safe, appropriate non-licensed roles. Universoul Barbers and Haircuts For A Cause will contribute volunteer coordination, outreach, barber recruitment, and existing community relationships. We will also invite St. Paul youth programs and family organizations to refer participants and guests. The $1,000 grant is what makes the event possible by covering learning kits, barber stipends, sanitation supplies, space needs, hygiene items, refreshments, and printed resources. Success will mean 10 participants trained, at least 25 community members served, at least 30 residents connected to mentorship or future events, and at least 3 participants referred to barber schools, apprenticeships, or paid opportunities. This is not a business expansion or sales event. It is a free St. Paul education and social-outreach project that helps residents feel cared for while turning a familiar community skill into a visible pathway to opportunity. Davonce Cut, Learn & Serve: St. Paul Barber Opportunity Da https://haircutsforacause.com/ United States St. Paul, MN https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/stpaul tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/673137 2026-09-09T00:00:00Z 2026-09-09T23:32:22Z Water Street Glassworks (WSG) is excited to launch a new Visiting Artist Program, expanding its commitment to accessible arts education and community engagement. Through this initiative, WSG will invite nationally and regionally recognized artists to lead workshops, present public demonstrations and artist talks, and engage directly with students and the broader community. Visiting artists—recognized leaders in the field, including past contestants from Blown Away—will work alongside our under-served, teen Fired Up! students as well as adult and emerging artists, offering mentorship, technical instruction, and insight into professional artistic practice. This program creates opportunities for Fired Up! students to gain exposure to new artistic voices and career pathways, while allowing students of all ages and experience levels to deepen their technical and creative skills. Community members will also have the opportunity to experience the energy and accessibility of the fire arts firsthand through public demonstrations and events. Your sponsorship helps strengthen arts education, foster meaningful connections, and support a vibrant creative community in Benton Harbor and beyond. As part of this initiative, WSG will introduce Behind the Glass: Community Demo Nights, a monthly series of live demonstrations and informal artist talks that bring the public into the studio for an up-close look at the creative process. These evenings will feature artists working across a range of techniques, including glassblowing, flameworking, glass casting, and fusing—offering visitors the opportunity to experience the process firsthand, ask questions, and connect with the artists behind the work. Jenny Waters Behind the Glass: Community Demo Nights https://waterstreetglassworks.org/pages/visiting-artist-program United States Ann Arbor, MI https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/ann-arbor tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/691074 2026-09-08T00:00:00Z 2026-09-10T18:52:47Z Awesome Gloucester puts large-scale public art on walls around Cape Ann, working with the artists Josh Falk and Dana Woulfe, and this is for the next one. We just finished the tenth. Josh and Dana reproduced Winslow Homer's "The Fog Warning" at enormous scale on the side of Gloucester Rental Center on Maplewood Avenue. Homer sketched the Gloucester fishing fleet in charcoal in the summer of 1884, working aboard the schooners themselves, and those drawings became the painting: a fisherman alone in a dory with his halibut, the fog coming in, his schooner far off on the horizon, only his own strength to get him home. A hundred and forty-two years later he is back in Gloucester, big enough to see from down the street. What it took to get him there is the part worth telling. Pat and Taylor at Gloucester Rental Center gave us the wall, then loaned us the equipment to reach it and helped pay for the work besides, which is about three more yeses than anyone thinks to ask for. Cape Ann Savings Bank and the Gloucester Rotary Club helped fund it, and every trustee put in cash with several putting in extra. Homer painted a man doing the work on his own, and it took most of a town to put him on that wall. Ten murals now stand in Gloucester and Rockport because ten times over people said yes to the wall, yes to the money, yes to the work, and yes to the idea that something beautiful ought to be where everybody can see it. Salvatore Zerilli The Fog Warning Mural United States Gloucester, MA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/gloucester tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/665133 2026-09-08T00:00:00Z 2026-09-09T17:18:17Z I want to make paint out of Guerneville and then give it away to strangers. The Russian River watershed is full of color nobody is using. Rust-orange clay in the cut banks. Green serpentine. Charcoal from the burn scars. Pale sediment that dries the color of bone. I want to spend a season collecting it — jars, a trowel, ruined shoes — then grind it, mull it with binder, and turn West Sonoma County into a working paintbox. Then the actual project: I set up a folding table where people already are. Outside my shop on 3rd Street. The beach. The farmers market. A long roll of paper down the length of the table, jars of river-mud paint, a pile of cheap brushes, and a sign that says THIS PAINT CAME FROM THE RUSSIAN RIVER BANKS. PLEASE USE IT. No instructions. No signing your name. Nothing for sale. Just for the fun of it. Everyone paints on the same roll, over each other, until it's full. Then I hang it in my shop window and unroll a new one. This town has burned and flooded and been written off more than once. Everybody here has an opinion about the river. I like the idea of handing somebody a brush loaded with the actual ground they're standing on and seeing what they do with it. Kids will make a mess. Somebody will paint something furious. Somebody will paint a dog. I don't know if the pigment will behave. Some of it will be gorgeous and some will dry to a disappointing beige and fall off the paper. That's fine, that's the experiment. I'll keep notes on what the river was willing to give. It's dirt. It's free. It was already here. I just want to grind it up and put it in people's hands. Kiesha Jean Wells Russian River Paint Company United States San Francisco, CA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/sf tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/670504 2026-09-06T00:00:00Z 2026-09-17T14:04:28Z I’m organizing an event called a Latte Art Throwdown at Big Mouth Coffee Roasters in Newburgh. The event will showcase the skill, creativity, and craftsmanship of baristas in a fun and competitive environment, while bringing coffee professionals together to build community, encourage collaboration, and motivate one another to continue developing our skills. The competition will follow a single-elimination bracket, with baristas going head-to-head in each round until one competitor is crowned the winner. Judges will create the bracket and evaluate each round based on the quality and creativity of the latte art. I’ve already secured sponsorships and prizes from several fantastic companies, including Hudson Valley Fresh, Newburgh Brewing Company, La Marzocco, Minor Figures, and others. Their support has helped make this event possible, and I’m incredibly grateful to have these businesses involved. At this point, the primary piece still needed is funding to help bring the event to life. I’m expecting baristas and coffee professionals from across the Northeast to attend. Beyond being a competition, my goal is to create an event that strengthens the coffee community, gives local baristas an opportunity to connect with industry professionals from outside the area, and showcases Newburgh as a vibrant destination for coffee, creativity, and community. With the right support, this can become more than just a one-night competition. It can be an event that brings people together, supports local businesses, celebrates the craft of coffee, and puts Newburgh on the map in a new and exciting way. Amy Sherman Big Mouth Coffee Roasters BIG Throwdown http://N/A United States Newburgh, NY https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/newburgh tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/677347 2026-09-06T00:00:00Z 2026-09-17T14:04:13Z The Hudson Valley New York Black Nurses Association (HVNYBNA), a chapter of the National Black Nurses Association, is excited to host our 1st Annual Health Fair on October 24, 2026, in Newburgh, New York. Our goal is simple: bring health, education, prevention, and community resources directly to the people of Newburgh. As nurses, we see firsthand how preventable and manageable health conditions can become serious when individuals lack access to early screening, health education, or resources. Our health fair will bring nurses, healthcare professionals, community organizations, and residents together in one welcoming environment where people can learn about their health, participate in screenings, receive education, and connect with resources. The event will be free and open to the public Newburgh is a vibrant and diverse community, but residents continue to experience health and socioeconomic challenges that can affect access to preventive healthcare and contribute to poorer health outcomes. New York State Department of Health data demonstrate significant racial disparities throughout Orange County. For example, Black residents experience diabetes hospitalization rates of 26.7 per 10,000 residents compared with 12.8 among White residents. Asthma hospitalization rates are 12.0 per 10,000 among Black residents compared with 4.2 among White residents, and stroke hospitalization rates are 33.7 compared with 20.3 per 10,000, respectively. The disparities extend beyond individual diseases. Approximately 62.7% of deaths among Black Orange County residents occur before age 75, compared with 41.5% among White residents. Orange County has identified the Black-to-White disparity in premature mortality as an area requiring continued attention. Other important community health concerns include hypertension and cardiovascular disease, cancer prevention and screening, maternal and infant health, mental health, substance use, and access to preventive healthcare. Marie martelly HVNYBNA https://nbna.org/chapters/hudson-valley-new-york-black-nurses-association/ United States Newburgh, NY https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/newburgh tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/688421 2026-09-06T00:00:00Z 2026-09-17T14:03:50Z We’re bringing a little taste of NYC summer to Newburgh! Our faith-based icy cart serves New York City-style frozen treats that turn an ordinary day into a memory for kids and grown-ups. We want our community to have that nostalgic familiar feeling when thinking of our icees and treats. Our bigger dream is a Newburgh brick-and-mortar where frozen treats, homemade baked goods and sidewalk favorites can be enjoyed all year long. Oliver spearman Tri One http://Trionefreeze.com United States Newburgh, NY https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/newburgh tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/680792 2026-09-02T00:00:00Z 2026-09-04T03:57:09Z Our awesome project harnesses the efforts of teams of Sydney knitters and crafters, who’ve recently turned their creative talents towards handcrafting hot water bottle covers, to keep displaced people in Ukraine warm, during the depths of winter. Over the last four years, Good Neighbours Australia and an army of volunteers, from crafty kids to knitting nannies, have pledged to fill a shipping container full of hand-crafted blankets, beanies, gloves, cardigans, socks and wraps, to send to war-affected Ukrainians each year. Meeting in local libraries, community halls, churches, schools and homes around Sydney, the crafters share their patterns, skills, resources, friendship and generosity, building community spirit both here and abroad. In mid-2026, a special request was made by our Good Neighbour’s distribution team on the ground in Ukraine: Can Australians please send some hot water bottle covers to meet our deep need for warmth? Knowing that hot water bottles can keep someone warm for 6 - 7 hours, Sydney knitters and crafters enthusiastically rallied to the cause. The Knit One, Warm One project was born. As the war in Ukraine has evolved over four years, access to water, electricity, heating, healthcare, education and social protection has been stretched. That’s where Sydney-siders are stepping up, to stand with the people of Ukraine, and provide real warmth. The Knit One, Warm One project will also spread encouragement amongst some of the most vulnerable parts of the war-affected population including: internally displaced people, people with disabilities, the elderly, single parents and orphans - many who struggle to meet even the basic essentials of life, including staying warm during the bitter winter months. The project is also galvanising Sydney school students (who decorate gift bags and write cards to the Ukrainian kids) along with the craft groups who donate the raw materials, like yarn, plus their time, skills and enthusiasm to the project. Belinda Dona Knit One, Warm One https://www.goodneighbours.com.au/ukraine-appeal/ Australia Sydney https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/sydney tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/639045 2026-09-01T00:00:00Z 2026-09-01T00:23:53Z One hundred years after it first crept from the shadows, F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu remains one of the most haunting and influential films ever made. Released in 1922, this unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula transformed the vampire into a nightmare figure, giving cinema one of its most unforgettable monsters in Count Orlok. Through distorted architecture, ghostly imagery, and groundbreaking visual effects, Murnau crafted a work that still feels unsettling a century later. We are bringing this masterpiece of horror to life with an all-new original score created by 14 members of the Central Florida Composers Forum (CF2), performed live by the Fernwood String Quartet at the Enzian Theater. To achieve this, the 14 composers cooperated in "spotting" who would write music for which scenes. They submitted thematic melodies (think Jaws, where the shark, the boat, and the captain each have their own themes) and voted on which to include. They then went to work composing their own sections with the pre-agreed-upon themes at hand. This process ensures thematic unity for the audience, even as each composer scores their scene with their own distinct personal style. 14 living, local composers! The Fernwood Quartet! (This is Orlando's only string quartet dedicated to new music. You may also know them from the very famous Candlelight Concerts Series, which has grown in popularity in recent years. AND! This is CF2's first collaborative venture with The Enzian, a mainstay of Orlando's Indie Film Scene. Charlie Griffin Nosferatu Rescored: 14 Composers, 1 String Quartet http://CFCOMPOSERS.ORG United States Orlando, FL https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/orlando tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/622623 2026-09-01T00:00:00Z 2026-09-01T00:23:20Z Open Frame is a year-long community photography program that transforms the Café Gallery at City Arts into a recurring home for photography in Orlando. After my solo exhibition, Faces, I realized what many local photographers already knew: Orlando has an active photography community, but very few consistent opportunities to exhibit work, learn from one another, and engage the public. Conversations with City Arts confirmed that need, and together we began discussing how the gallery could become a recurring space dedicated to photography. The program will feature four curated exhibitions throughout the year (January, April, July, and November), highlighting Florida photographers, an international guest photographer, and two solo exhibitions by emerging or established artists. Each exhibition will be more than a gallery show. Every event will include an artist talk, portfolio reviews, and educational workshop covering topics such as preparing work for galleries, sequencing a photographic project, grants and opportunities, or portfolio development. These events will encourage photographers of all experience levels to learn from one another while making photography more accessible to the public. To create a lasting record of the program, each exhibition will also be documented in a collectible printed zine that visitors can collect throughout the year. The goal is not simply to organize four exhibitions. It is to establish an annual photography platform that strengthens Orlando's creative community by giving photographers a place to exhibit, teach, connect, and inspire future artists. Juan Sostre Open Frame http://www.sostreshots.com United States Orlando, FL https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/orlando tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/671781 2026-08-31T00:00:00Z 2026-09-15T02:14:08Z Toronto is the most expensive city in Canada but also the most generous. Every day, there are free movies in parks, free workshops at the Toronto Public Library, free gallery nights at the AGO, free markets, free skating at Harbourfront, and free music at Nathan Phillips Square. The problem? They're scattered across 20+ websites, Instagram pages, and PDF flyers. If you don't already know where to look, you think fun costs money. I built FreeTO to fix that. Enter your neighborhood—Parkdale, Scarborough, Jane & Finch—and instantly see every free event within 2 km today, plus cheap fun under $20, with TTC directions on how to get there. No ads. No login. No paywall. Just Toronto's free culture in one place. I moved to Ontario for school and learned quickly how isolating and expensive city life can be when you're new, broke, or part of a newcomer family. The library saved me. The free events saved me. But I had to hunt for them. FreeTO is my give-back. The prototype is live—blue, fast, mobile-friendly, and already mapping real venues. With your $1,000, I will connect it to the City of Toronto Open Data, TPL, and Parks APIs; add real-time TTC routing; and launch it free to all 6 boroughs. I'll flyer it in libraries and community centers where it matters most. This is exactly what Awesome Toronto funds — small, joyful, practical infrastructure that makes the whole GTA more accessible. Shubham kaushik free to do http://bucolic-bonbon-7b9de7.netlify.app Canada Toronto https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/toronto tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/668726 2026-08-31T00:00:00Z 2026-09-07T04:50:50Z Sports equipment is usually made for an “average” body. For many para-athletes, that means adapting themselves to equipment that was never designed with them in mind. CADletics works the other way around. We are a worldwide community of volunteer engineers who design and manufacture personalized sports equipment with para-athletes. An athlete tells us what is getting in the way: a grip that does not match their hand, a support that puts them in the wrong position, an attachment that is difficult to use independently, or simply a piece of equipment that does not exist for their body. One of our engineers works with them to model a solution, print it, hear what worked and what did not, and revise it. We have now equipped more than 1,290 athletes, printed over 21,400 parts, and created 168 open-source designs. Our team includes 26 volunteer engineers across 11 countries. Because the engineering work is donated, relatively small amounts of money can go a surprisingly long way. We are applying to the Awesome Disability Chapter to fund the next round of athlete-requested builds for para-athletes who would otherwise have to pay for custom equipment themselves or go without it. The grant would cover the materials, hardware, repeated prototypes, and shipping needed to take designs from an athlete's request to something they can actually use. We also make designs open-source whenever possible. A solution developed with one athlete can become a starting point for another athlete across the country, or across the world, who has been running into the same problem. To us, accessibility should not mean asking an athlete to make do with what is available. Sometimes it can mean changing the equipment instead. **What our grantee is saying:** “Receiving this grant means a great deal to me and to CADletics. It will allow us to turn more athlete-requested ideas into real equipment by covering the materials, prototyping, hardware, and shipping that make individualized designs possible. More importantly, it means more para-athletes will be able to use equipment designed around their bodies and needs rather than having to adapt themselves to what already exists. I am incredibly grateful to the Awesome Disability community for believing in that mission.” Ashwath Ram CADletics: Equipment Built Around the Athlete http://CADletics.org Worldwide Disability https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/disability tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/594463 2026-08-31T00:00:00Z 2026-09-01T01:03:06Z The Rust Belt Science Podcast is a locally produced podcast dedicated to telling the stories of the scientists, innovators, entrepreneurs, and problem-solvers who make the South Bend region and the greater Rust Belt extraordinary. With support from the South Bend Awesome Fund, we will launch a new podcast series that highlights two often-overlooked groups: 1. Local business owners who use science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and innovation in their everyday work. 2. Scientists, researchers, engineers, and educators from the Rust Belt whose work is making a difference in our communities. The project will connect residents to the science happening all around them—from breweries and bakeries using chemistry, to manufacturers applying engineering principles, to healthcare professionals, environmental scientists, and university researchers solving real-world problems. By showcasing these stories, the Rust Belt Science Podcast will make science more accessible, celebrate local talent, and strengthen pride in the South Bend region. Many people think of science as something that only happens in laboratories or universities. In reality, science powers countless local businesses and careers throughout the South Bend region. This podcast will help community members discover how science affects their daily lives while highlighting the ingenuity and expertise already present in our region. It will also provide role models for students and young professionals considering careers in STEM fields. The series will emphasize: Local innovation Entrepreneurship Workforce development Community engagement STEM education Regional pride Maggie Fink Rust Belt Science Podcast: Science in Our Backyard https://www.rustbeltscience.com/ United States South Bend, IN https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/southbend tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/635283 2026-08-31T00:00:00Z 2026-08-31T19:09:25Z For nearly 70 years, an abandoned public building at Allen & Delancey Streets has sat unused in the heart of the Lower East Side. Now, community organizer Myles Smutney is working to transform the forgotten space into a permanent Cultural Center for the neighborhood. Rather than waiting years for change, she wants to bring people together to imagine what’s possible now. With support from Awesome NYC, attendees will gather at the site for a one-day outdoor activation- featuring art, live music, workshops, and collective visioning. For one day, what was once a beacon of urban decay will become vibrant again; centered around people, celebration, and the power to shape what this public space can become. The event will be completely FREE and open to everyone! Follow [@lesculturalcenter](https://www.instagram.com/lesculturalcenter) on Instagram for live event updates, or visit either https://lesculturalcenter.org or https://TheFreeStoreProject.com for more information. Myles Smutney The People's Living Room - Cultural Commons https://lesculturalcenter.org United States New York City, NY https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/nyc tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/682549 2026-08-31T00:00:00Z 2026-09-01T00:57:21Z Ensemble CONCEPT/21, Inc. (EC/21) leads a year-round pipeline that takes emerging composers in the South Bend area from pen to page to stage. Each season begins on the second Friday of September with Composition Day, when 30-40 high school students from across the region gather at Indiana University South Bend to learn compositional fundamentals, meet EC/21's professional musicians to learn how to write idiomatically for their instruments, and hear the full ensemble perform a work by an emerging composer from the previous season. Composition Day energizes students to begin writing for EC/21's regional call for scores, due January 31. Between Composition Day and the January 31 deadline, students need sustained, individualized support to turn early ideas into finished, performance-ready scores. EC/21 provides this support through one-on-one mentorship with professional composition mentors and through free workshops open to student and community composers. Selected works then move to the stage: finalists' pieces are rehearsed alongside EC/21's professional ensemble and premiered at the season's culminating concert, April 9, 2027, at Joshi Performance Hall, IU South Bend, placing regional student composers alongside EC/21's core ensemble. This request supports the mentorship and workshop stages of that pipeline: two online workshops ($300 each) offering practical, accessible instruction in composition technique and professional development to students throughout Northern Indiana and Michiana at no cost to them, and mentorship fees for four professional composition mentors ($100 each) who work individually with student composers as they draft and refine their call-for-scores submissions. For many of these students, this is their only access to individualized composition instruction and a guaranteed professional premiere — a rare, tangible pathway from a first pencil sketch to a concert hall stage in South Bend. Jorge Muniz 2026–2027 Season: Emerging Voices, Evolving Sounds http://ensembleconcept21.com United States South Bend, IN https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/southbend tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/622809 2026-08-31T00:00:00Z 2026-09-01T01:03:42Z evel Up @ LangLab: Resurrection is an all-ages community gaming festival designed to create a welcoming place where people can connect through games, creativity, and shared experiences. Our event features retro and modern video games, tabletop games, tournaments, VR, cosplay, food, and community partners—all under one roof. Our most recent event welcomed more than 200 attendees from across the Michiana region. We saw families playing together, strangers becoming friends over board games, and people who often struggle to find social spaces feeling comfortable enough to stay for hours. Resurrection builds on that success by creating an even bigger and more inclusive experience this October. Our goal isn't simply to host another gaming event—it's to create a place where everyone feels like they belong, whether they're lifelong gamers or just looking for a fun, welcoming community experience. Derek Jackson Level-Up @ LangLab: Resurrection! United States South Bend, IN https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/southbend tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/660068 2026-08-27T00:00:00Z 2026-08-27T18:05:19Z In many Armenian schools, physics is taught mainly through formulas, while school students rarely have access to well-designed experiments. Yerevan Young Minds wants to address this gap by constructing a reusable set of seven physics experiments for the educational space at the A. Alikhanyan National Science Laboratory. The toolkit will include a cloud chamber that makes cosmic-ray tracks visible; a Chladni plate that turns sound into patterns; a Peltier mini air-conditioner; an electrical-circuits kit; a spark detector; and visual models of a linear accelerator and a cyclotron. Each experiment will be designed for repeated use, clear observation and safe operation. Our team has already demonstrated that we can turn scientific ideas into working educational models. In an earlier pilot, students used electronics and 3D-printed parts to construct an accelerator model that later won Best Project at a school science fair. This experience gave us the technical foundation to build a more complete and durable collection. During the three-month grant period, our volunteers will focus entirely on designing, constructing, integrating and testing the seven experiments. We will also prepare operating instructions, risk assessments, protective enclosures, interlocks and warning labels. High-voltage and strong-magnet equipment will be operated only by trained team members. The grant will be used exclusively to create the physical toolkit itself. Once completed, the experiments can be used in future educational programs at AANL and partner schools, with the potential to reach around 600 school students during its first year of use. The result will be a long-lasting collection that makes difficult physics concepts visible, practical and engaging. David Avetisyan Building a Reusable Physics Experiment Toolkit Armenia Yerevan https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/yerevan tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/663206 2026-08-26T00:00:00Z 2026-08-27T05:43:39Z At our Title I elementary school, our competitive dance crew trains hard but rarely has access to opportunities beyond our own walls because funding is limited. This school year we had an enrollment dip which means even less money is available for enrichment. Meanwhile, just down the road, talented middle school dancers at another Title I school are hungry for real teaching experience with little to no paid opportunities. This grant would fund a stipend program bringing four middle school dancers which would include two alumni returning to the elementary school where their own dance journey began, to teach our competitive crew their competition choreography. Working in four-week rotations, each student would earn $25/hour which is a fair starting rate for an early-career dance educator, totaling $100 per student. These middle schoolers were selected for their clear passion for dance, teaching, and choreography. On an island where dance opportunities and recognition are scarce, this stipend could be a first real step toward a dance career. Creating paid experience, a teaching credential to point to, and visibility within our local dance community with their names recognized for their work. For our elementary students, having instructors just a few years older changes everything. A teacher who was recently in their shoes is a mirror of what's possible and proof that dance can be a real career path, not just a hobby. We believe this near-peer model will deepen our dancers' commitment and show them what dedication to their craft can become. This project builds the very connections the project title promises with alumni returning to give back, two schools linked across grade levels, and a shared community stitched together through dance. Two Title I schools, four young choreographers, and a whole crew of kids watching what's possible for their future. Title 1 students need opportunities like this. This grant would have a huge ripple effect in our community. Katelyn Wyatt Higashi Building Connection and Community Through Dance United States Oahu, HI https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/oahu tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/665657 2026-08-25T00:00:00Z 2026-08-26T01:23:47Z Your Advocate wants to fight fraud with something joyful: bingo. Fraud Bingo will turn a familiar social game into a lively, practical workshop where Chicago-area seniors learn to spot red flags, protect their money, and leave with tools they can use immediately. Since its inception in 2024, Your Advocate has educated more than 800 seniors, family members, and caregivers about scam prevention techniques through 18 workshops held primarily in senior centers and churches throughout Chicago. With this funding, we can quickly combine Fraud Bingo with the full power of our workshops to educate at least 300 more participants in Chicago-area communities over the next few months, and thousands more over the next one to two years. This will be an awesome start to turning neighborhood gathering spaces into scam-prevention hubs that are both educational and joyful. The project’s fun factor has research behind it. Multiple studies suggest that social games can support cognitive health in seniors, so integrating bingo into workshops can help older participants not only learn scam-prevention strategies but also better retain them. Additionally, this project will capitalize on bingo’s popularity to attract more public workshop hosts, like libraries, and greater cross-sections of Chicago seniors and their families. This project is all about turning something scary into a fun learning experience, and data speaks to its urgency. While scams target people of all ages, recent data shows that seniors are among the most frequently victimized. Your Advocate's workshops arm seniors with vital information. The Awesome Foundation Chicago can help us to attract more hosts and participants, strengthen participants' recall of important points, and make the experiences fun social experiences! Tamara G. Bryant Empowering Chicago Seniors With Fraud Bingo! https://www.youradvocateinc.org/events United States Chicago, IL https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/chicago tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/600204 2026-08-19T00:00:00Z 2026-08-20T15:08:34Z Most clothes don't get binned because they're worn out, they do because the people holding them have no use for them anymore. Dress for Success is a women's charity in Glasgow: we dress women for interviews and work whilst helping them into employment. We're donated mountains of clothing, sorting and quality-checking each bag. All donations are lovely and wearable but sadly things we can't use due to it not being work-appropriate or it being menswear. It gets passed charity-to-charity or quietly thrown out. That feels absurd when so many people across Glasgow would need it, or just want it. This project turns that surplus into something good. I want to do an event once a month at our Bath Street space, anyone can come and take what they need, no questions, no cost. Leave a donation if you can that goes straight back to the charity; if you can't, you take what you came for and that's the whole transaction. In crisis or homeless always take for free. On a separate day each month I'll run a free mending workshop, the small skills that keep clothes alive: a button, a hem, a patch. No experience needed, anyone welcome. Plus set up a small Mending Library, needles, threads, buttons etc. people can borrow or take home with them. The £500 is a seed. As word spreads I hope clothing and materials can be gifted by other organisations and individuals interested in collaborating, so the project can sustains itself keeping good things, and good people, going. I spend my life making things from what other people overlook, ash, weeds, offcuts, the stuff headed for the bin. Awesome to me is refusing to accept that something good is rubbish just because nobody's found a use for it yet. That's true of a torn jacket and it's true of people. This is that belief turned into a monthly act: rescue the good stuff, give it away freely, teach the skill to keep it alive, and trust the city to keep it going. I'm stubborn, I work fast, and I can't walk past a bin of good clothes and do nothing. Wiktoria Zachcial Threads In Common United Kingdom Glasgow https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/glasgow tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/594234 2026-08-18T00:00:00Z 2026-08-18T23:04:51Z MendByMe is a community-driven nonprofit focused on supporting both people and the planet through circularity, compassion, and dignity. We provide free community closet events that offer gently used clothing, shoes, household linens, and essentials to individuals and families in need. Our mission is to reduce textile waste by reusing and repurposing donated goods while ensuring every person we serve feels respected, valued, and cared for. Through volunteerism and community partnerships, we aim to create meaningful local impact and a more sustainable future. Johanne Read Mendbyme http://Mendbyme.org United States Peekskill, NY https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/peekskill tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/653552 2026-08-18T00:00:00Z 2026-08-18T07:12:27Z “Second Skin” is an experimental documentary short illuminating the joy and complexity of kink through the stories of queer women active in the 1980s Bay Area leather scene. Using hand-drawn animations to bring oral history to life, the film’s artistic lens reimagines the queer archive as a sensual, subjective experience. Research for the film draws on Bay Area queer archival sources, including the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Historical Society and the Bay Area Lesbian Archives (BALA), as well as oral histories from people active in the 1980s Bay Area leather dyke scene about their stories of finding love, heartbreak, community, pleasure, and political consciousness. “Second Skin” explores themes of queer sexuality with animated sequences that are uncensored, sexy, and aim to titillate the audience at times, as well as respond to the emotional tone of the interviews. “Second Skin” both challenges the mainstream tendency towards the sanitization of queerness in order to make it more palatable as well as disseminating queer stories that were historically hidden due to conditions of censorship and criminalization. A main goal of “Second Skin” is to foster intergenerational connections between contemporary queer audiences and the generations of queer elders that came before. Learning from the success and mistakes of how people found community and pursued pleasure in the past under very difficult circumstances can inspire today's young queer kinky people. Vida Behar Second Skin https://www.vidabehar.com/ United States Santa Cruz, CA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/santacruz tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/650273 2026-08-18T00:00:00Z 2026-08-18T22:58:41Z This March, in Robert Hubbell’s newsletter, I saw an invitation to participate in a National “Quilt for Democracy” organized by quilters in CA, who were inspired by the “AIDS Quilt.” They are gathering our many voices to picture what democracy means. With an “arts community,” quilting groups, and diverse communities here in Peekskill, we are uniquely situated to contribute beautiful quilt squares to this visionary project. Each square of the quilt will reflect an individual voice — stories of hope, history, concern or aspiration—stitched together to form a larger whole. Rather than emphasizing division, the quilt invites connection, offering a way to channel personal beliefs, frustrations, and dreams into a collective statement. This summer Peekskill will send 100 quilt squares to organizers in California. In May of this year, I hosted a “kick-off” First Tuesday Salon at the BeanRunner Café. With the help of Barbara Korein, of Retake/Remake, and quilter, Jennifer Larabee, the salon was not only a place to brainstorm ideas but offered free fabric and materials with tables set up to sketch, design and create quilt squares. It was the liveliest salon in memory. Over 40 people showed up eager to participate. Our project was designed to welcome quilters and non-quilters, artists and non-artists, so one wouldn’t have to sew a stitch or have any art experience to join in. In May & June we hosted 3 workshops to introduce image-making techniques. At SUNY WCC on Division, I offered 2 workshops allowing participants to transfer digital images to fabric. Retake/Remake also hosted a fabric paint/marker workshop in June. Experienced quilters also got involved. The very first quilt squares were submitted by quilter Lise Prown. Quilters who meet weekly at the Field Library participated with each making squares. Jennifer Larrabee is now sewing and quilting the squares The 100 quilt squares will be photographed and combined to become a banner for public display in Peekskill. Carla Rae Johnson Peekskill Quilt for Democracy Project https://www.instagram.com/peekskillquiltfordemocracy United States Peekskill, NY https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/peekskill tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/584433 2026-08-18T00:00:00Z 2026-09-22T17:12:28Z The School of Social Work Community Hub Art Drop-In is a low-barrier, welcoming space where community members can engage in creative expression, connect with others, and access free art materials in a supportive environment. No artistic experience is required, and participation is open to all. The Art Drop-In is designed to be flexible and participant-led, allowing community members to create at their own pace without pressure, instruction or expectation. All materials and snacks are provided at no cost. The program emphasizes accessibility, dignity and inclusivity, ensuring that participants can engage in whatever way feels comfortable for them- whether actively creating or simply socializing in the space. The program recognizes that opportunities to simply “be” are often inaccessible for people facing structural barriers such as housing instability, poverty and social exclusion. Grounded in trauma-informed and harm-reduction principles, the Art Drop-In prioritizes dignity, choice, and autonomy. Participants are invited to engage in creative activity at their own pace, whether that means actively making art, observing, socializing or resting in the space. The School of Social Work Community Hub Art Drop-In provides individuals of all walks of life, particularly those with lived experiences of poverty and homelessness, a welcoming space to engage in creative expression and therapeutic conversation. The drop in space allows participants to connect with others and access art materials in a supportive environment. No artistic experience is required, and all art supplies are provided at no cost to participants. There is no fee to attend the drop-in. The Art Drop-In currently operates out of the Social Development Centre's Civic Hub, as well as St. Johns Kitchen. We are also looking into expanding by working alongside Tiny City Makers which operates out of Better Tent City, however we receive no funding and all supplies are donated or out of pocket. Glennis Angell Art Drop-In https://www.instagram.com/sswcommunityhub/ Canada Kitchener-Waterloo https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/kitchener-waterloo tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/611628 2026-08-17T00:00:00Z 2026-08-28T21:47:07Z No Longer Prey is a large-scale ceramic installation consisting of one hundred hand-built rabbits that transforms the gallery into an immersive psychological and physical experience. By filling the space with repeated forms, the work challenges familiar assumptions about vulnerability, power, and agency. Rabbits are often understood as symbols of prey—fragile, watchful, and perpetually at risk. In this installation, however, their meaning shifts. Through accumulation and density, individual figures merge into a collective presence that is impossible to ignore. As viewers move through the gallery, they find themselves surrounded by one hundred pairs of eyes. The familiar relationship between observer and observed begins to dissolve, creating an embodied awareness of one's place within the space. Rooted in personal experiences of grief, trauma, and recovery, No Longer Prey explores what happens when vulnerability is reclaimed rather than hidden. The installation asks how power is constructed, how it is felt, and how it changes when distributed across a collective body. What begins as an encounter with seemingly fragile forms becomes a setting of resilience, resistance, and transformation. The installation will open at Contemporary Craft in Pittsburgh in November 2026. Kara Zuzu No Longer Prey http://karazuzu.com United States Pittsburgh, PA https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/pittsburgh tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/659080 2026-08-17T00:00:00Z 2026-08-17T23:02:48Z The PK Art Mile goal is to bring art where the people are and let them discover the power of art in creating community and a festive atmosphere. It is a walkable experience of art in unusual spaces. PK Art Mile is a free event in mile long downtown Poughkeepsie and want to showcase art using 8 Uhaul trucks transformed in. pop up art galleries for the day(s). The event is planned for September 12 and 13 and it will contribute activating the Main Street corridor by bringing a variety of artistic styles and children's art activities to locals and tourists alike. It will be an event to bring people downtown to enjoy our beautiful City and see all its potential. We will encourage the audience to stop by the many eateries and curio shops that are present in the area. The eight mobile galleries will be 15' Uhaul truck will be located in the Liberty Parking lot for the September event. Paola Bari PK Art Mile http://gallery40pok.com/pkartmile United States Poughkeepsie, NY https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/poughkeepsie tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/656772 2026-08-16T00:00:00Z 2026-07-24T23:27:29Z This year, Chrislin hopes to turn her birthday celebration into an act of kindness by raising funds to provide food and essential supplies for elderly homes, orphanages, and underprivileged communities. If you would like to support this meaningful cause, donations from RM50 onwards are warmly welcomed. Together, we can bring hope, care, and smiles to those in need. 🙏 📅 If you will be attending the event, please RSVP with the number of attendees so we can prepare sumptuous meals for our volunteers. Chrislin Chrislin’s First Birthday Charity Fundraiser Malaysia Kuala Lumpur https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/kualalumpur tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/650200 2026-08-16T00:00:00Z 2026-08-17T16:19:01Z a community painted wall mural describing youth excellence in graphic design, community involement in the Rosedale Park region. Vincent McGowan Community Mural for the City of Detroit http://signageacademy.org United States Detroit, MI https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/detroit tag:www.awesomefoundation.org,2005:Project/613074 2026-08-15T00:00:00Z 2026-08-13T19:25:50Z Gals Guide is creating a women’s history classroom in Moorhead, Minnesota. Our classes are targeted to adults, but we do host the occasional Girl Scout Troupe (we have our own Girl Scout patch, too!). Our classes are more than names and dates; we unearth wisdom, wellness, and solidarity with women we don’t generally hear about in school. Gals Guide class showcases the subtle and bold ways that women overcome obstacles. How you, too, can overcome obstacles, because if women in history did it with far fewer resources and rights – imagine what you can do?!! Since 2016, Gals Guide has had classes about writing, history, crafting, pop culture, and more. Gals Guide has already taught over 1,500 students! Our classes are a gentle intellectual lane for people who want to learn and deep dive into women’s history for inner space and an interconnected community. With this new space in Moorhead, we’ll have in-person-only classes as well as classes broadcast from Moorhead to audiences around the world (we have a sister location in Ireland). Our classes are for people who crave meaning and equity for women, as well as time to pause and reflect on the bigger picture. Our goal is to educate and inspire women to apply the authenticity, bravery, and creativity of the women who have been hidden in the shadows of history for too long. Gals Guide was formed in Indiana but moved to Minnesota in 2025. After a year of searching, we found a location in Moorhead for in-person classes and to house our 5,000+ women’s history resource book collection…now we need to get it ready for classes! Leah Leach Gals Guide Women's History Classroom in Moorhead https://galsguide.org/ United States Cass Clay https://www.awesomefoundation.org/pt/chapters/cassclay