Awesome Foundation - Projects

Washington, DC – Day of Archaeology Festival

2015-04-27T00:00:00Z

International Day of Archaeology was organized by a group of archaeologists with the intent of raising public awareness of the relevance and importance of archaeology to the modern world. The goals of the International Day of Archaeology project coincide with those of Archaeology in the Community (AITC). It a response to this global day of archaeology awareness, AITC established the first all science (archaeology) festival. ln 2011, hosted the first annual Day of Archaeology Festival. This became a way of gathering archaeology organizations from District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia together in one location—to inform our public about local archaeology resources. This year we will host our fourth festival. We have 15 archaeology organizations confirmed. The festival is free to all the participates, the attendees, and the entertainers. We host this event as a way to give the field of archaeology exposer in a fun way and spread archaeology awareness to students of all ages.

Toronto – Jour Vert

2015-04-27T00:00:00Z

The Goal: To turn Rexdale into a garden! The Rexdale Community Garden Network would like to host a one-day event called Jour Vert. A play on the event Nuit Blanche - this day will focus on the planting of Green Installations across Rexdale. Local schools, private businesses, service agencies, libraries and the local police station will convert their unused green spaces into flower and vegetable beds. Volunteer teams will visit the various locations across Rexdale and engage passersby in an impromptu gardening session.

Toronto – Walkable Planets

2015-04-27T00:00:00Z

I want to create scale solar systems in the city, one neighbourhood at a time. Last summer I started the project in the downtown west end. I put up a series of metal street signs that looked like parking signs, but they were really planetary wayfinding signs, set at relative distance from one another at a scale of one-to-five billion. That put the Sun at Bloor Street and Neptune at Queen, with the other planets in between. The project got lots of attention, including from the city's transportation department, which kindly asked me to take down my signs. This summer I want to put the signs up in another couple neighbourhoods -- this time in schoolyards, parks and on private property (with permission), where city transportation officials won't feel compelled to ask me to take them down. The aim of the project is to get folks outside, walking along a linear route, learning about the scale of the solar system and planets. I am also keen to connect with local teachers to get kids and their families to use the series as a learning opportunity. Most importantly, I want to provide yet another fun, random reason why living the city is awesome.

Miami, FL – ECI Community Garden

2015-04-25T00:00:00Z

Volunteer-organized a community garden at the Everglades Correctional Institutions focused on a small assortment of vegetables, medicinal/culinary herbs, and also native wildflowers. The work in this prison is meant to give a select group of volunteers the chance to develop their own garden, largely autonomously. Through this program the men can become agents of change in their new communities.

Bend, OR (Inativo) – We Are Remembering - Not Just A Number

2015-04-22T00:00:00Z

Since 2008, a group of Bend area residents have come together on Memorial Day to volunteer to conduct a continuous reading of the name, age, and hometown of every soldier (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard) killed in Afghanistan since 2001 and in Iraq since 2003. That first year the reading lasted almost nine hours and included, as a reader, Vicki Bellamy of Madras, OR. Vicki is the elder sister of Christopher W. Dickison, 26 of Seattle, WA. Chris died in Iraq, July 5, 2005. In 2014, the reading took its' volunteers a little more than 14 hours. By chance it fell upon Patty Smith, of LaPine, to read the name of her grandson John C. Johnson, of Phoenix, AZ. Corey, as his family and friends called him, died in Afghanistan on May 27, 2011. He was 28. Present that morning walking through the field of names, were the parents of Justin J. Wilkens, 26 of Bend, OR. Almost 14 years after the invasion of Afghanistan, this may be the only Memorial Service of its' kind in our Nation. This annual memorial is made possible only by the selfless efforts of many members of our "awesome" and diverse community. Teachers, artists, musicians, activists, city council members, retired Military members, business owners, athletes, children thru senior citizens, the well off and the not so well off, librarians, gay, straight, the religious and the non-religious, left, right or neutral. Each leaves behind their "label" to become just a voice to help remember those lost.

Newmarket – It Takes a Village - Youth Art in the Yard

2015-04-21T00:00:00Z

I would like to have an art in the yard for young school age artists in order for them to display and be proud of their accomplishments. To encourage them to further their exploration of art in their lives. It would be in the yard of the Ici Arte! Gallery at the corner of Main St. and Davis Dr. so would be very visible. We would set up and decorate the outside previous to and have an area where tea would be served. All of the young artists would be there to talk about their art and to get into the feeling of displaying and being proud of their creations. Having the townspeople come and see what they have as well as showing interest in young artists would be, I think, very encouraging to them. I think young artists need to be encouraged. Whether it be as a career or as a hobby, art has always been a large part of the human experience.

Gloucester, MA – Ma $ pa's Pickles

2015-04-21T00:00:00Z

Boulder, CO (Inativo) – Brainsong: Music for Autism (awesome-ism)

2015-04-21T00:00:00Z

The first awesome, joyous, summer outdoor interactive music and dance concert for kids with Autism and any disability -- and their families and friends... As a mom with a child with autism, I cannot bring my daughter to any of the many children symphonies or ballet events, just like all my friends in the disability community of Boulder. Our kids cannot sit still, be quiet and polite. They need to move and make noise. We are shunned as "bad parents" but our kids feel music; they learn from music and enjoy it if not more, just as much as all kids. They deserve to experience the arts at a high level. This concert by Awesome Boulder will allow our kiddos and the community the freedom to be center stage (rather than shunned by society). The musicians will love it! The dancers will love it! Boulder will love it! Please help us to launch the very first Inclusive Event in Boulder!

Pittsburgh, PA – Pittonkatonk Collaborative Workshop/Performance

2015-04-20T00:00:00Z

The Pittonkatonk educational component would be a 3 day, 3 part interactive between the Hill Districts University Prep Junior and Senior High Marching Bands and Pittonkatonk festival headlining band What Cheer? Brigade from Providence, Rhode Island. The workshop will begin with an overview and introduction to What Cheer? Brigade highlighting their role and identifying what it means to be a community band. We will talk about WC?B’s involvement with Building 16 (an artist space in Providence) and how they used their music to send a social message. Social Justice plays a large role in What Cheer Brigade’s ethos and we want to identify that and highlight how students can use music to send a message for change. We will outline the structure of the band, review individual responsibilities in and outside of the band, discuss their democratic approach to performances, their history of collaborations and a basic history of traditional balkan and carnival music. Students will be asked to identify these elements and show examples in both WC?B’s music and in popular music. We will also review the history and show video examples of Providence’s DIY music spaces and artists. Being a mobile acoustic band is an important part and helps to define at what capacity the band can perform. We will discuss the strengths and limitations of being an acoustic mobile band and review WC?B’s method of touring both in the states and in Europe. A 2010 WC?B European tour documentary will be shown to highlight the ups and downs of performance and touring including busking all the way to their award winning performance at a Brass Festival in Spain. Part 2 would be rehearsals and collaboration. We have asked both WC?B and UPrep to choose a song that they would like to perform and to teach each other. They would break down into "sectionals" and work together re-composing the songs in smaller groups. Part 3 would be a collaborative performance at Pittonkatonk on May 2nd at Pittonkatonk.

Lusaka (Inativo) – Kantemba Caria

2015-04-20T00:00:00Z

Kantemba is the name for each little corner stall selling talk time, tomatoes, popcorn, portions of roller meal, pawpaws, pineapples, onions, oranges, mangoes, masukus, freeze-its or cool drinks out of cooler boxes, fried fritters, eggs, cabbages, bananas and avocadoes - to list what I've seen. This project is boldly launched as Kantemba Caria and has as it's aims: Encouraging buyers to have respect for their environment, by first buying a 'Caria or carrier bag, and thereafter re-using the same bag in which to take their goods home. Teaching the makers of the bags design - i.e. simple but functional and attractive. Please note, that the emphasis will be on individual cloth bags made out of strong cotton chitenge so that they can be washed. The project has the scope to hold mini contests in the area to see which stand can design the best Caria - thus engaging women and youth in the community and encouraging interaction amongst the vendors. It is also hoped that talking about one's Caria becomes a play on words - intentionally Zamglish so that we begin to talk about 'career' and reduce unemployment amongst the youth by giving them something useful to do. Stage one Identify a committed starting group to the project. Introduce the how to make a simple Caria to this nucleus of people who can spread the idea in the vernacular to other Kantembas. Insist on excellence in the making of individual Carias. Stress that mass-produced designs will not gain 'points' in the competition. Here it is hoped that youth will express their individuality and protect it. Organise the first contest - for example in the Kabulonga/Ibex area, the designs could be taken to the Dutch Reformed Market and the public could judge which is the most attractive and practical Caria. Different Kantembas could have insignia on their Carias so that people know where to order/buy them. This is open to the smaller Kantembas only.

Sydney – Care to Converse

2015-04-17T00:00:00Z

Solemn stares, seldom smiles, this is what I see most days as I commute around Sydney city. My project involves creating a visual representation worn by those who are happy and willing to have a casual conversation. This will take shape in a badge or band which says “Care to Converse?”. The idea would be for everyday commuters to start having casual conversations with the awkwardness taken out. By wearing of a band/badge people will feel free to approach those that are up for the chat. We live in close accessible communities and yet we do not know the people who travel in the same space as us. I see this project as a way to continue the conversation, something similar to RU Ok day, but thought about every day. There is a phenomenon I call “Familiar Strangers” these are the people you see quite frequently on the commute or in your area, and they are familiar to you but you've never spoken. Who knows what you might find out, or what connections you might make from giving casual conversations a chance? Research has shown that there are benefits in conversing with strangers, including increased happiness. The Care to Converse project is a way to create support for friendliness and connection in the community. And if you don’t feel like it, you can always take off the band or badge or even pass it on to someone who does. Wearing the band/badge will make a big difference! Simply by seeing someone else who "Cares to Converse" you already have a sense of connection even without conversation. Like a visual community kinship. Furthermore it could bust discrimination as simply by wearing the band/badge you will have an instant talking point to start a conversation with someone you ordinarily wouldn't! The idea itself is a simple one, the concept easy to understand. All I need is people to participate, a motivated crew to help head the project to success and the bands/badges to spread the conversational love (which is where your awesomeness comes in)!

Oahu, HI – Kalaheo Athletic Trainers

2015-04-17T00:00:00Z

I am an athletic trainer at Kalaheo High School. My main responsibility is keeping student athletes safe during sporting events. We have a small budget and not enough resources to help the athletes to our greatest potential. The athletic training room is located in a separate building than the gym, and a small walk from the football/soccer field, making it difficult for some athletes with injuries to get to us. In emergencies, it is difficult to transport the athletes and carry some of the heavier athletes, off of the field and get them treated. For instance during an injury such as heat exhaustion, a slower response rate increases the risk of the athlete. When they are disoriented and sluggish, it becomes even more difficult to get the unresponsive athlete off of the field and the treatment they need. We're looking to better help our Kalaheo Sports community and treat our students faster and more effectively. We educate the athletes on proper hydration and nutrition, as well as educating them about their bodies. We assist students looking to enter a health-care field in college by letting those interested volunteer in the athletic training room, giving them hands on experience from cleaning wounds, to taping ankles, to learning budgeting and inventory. Working 6 days a week and on some nights (football games) until 1am, we are committed to our athletes as they are our primary concern. Our project is looking to aide the athletic trainers, as well as the athletes during practices and games and help keep safety our priority.

Antigonish, NS (Inativo) – No Need to Blow the Budget

2015-04-16T00:00:00Z

I would like to see education classes/workshops showing familes that a small income does not have to mean that nutrition has to be lacking in the meals they serve themselves or their family. I believe a lot of families need advice when it comes to shopping on a budget...what to buy for the best value, both monetary and health wise. Low income does not have to be Kraft dinner and cornflakes. There are so many ways to put healthy meals on the table and stay within a very limited buget. Take for example, what a single person could learn if they were guided through the grocery aisles and shown where the bargains were and how to prepare meals from everyday staples that are found there. They could learn that the most important meal of the day could be prepared for less than $2 !!...how to make a batch of soup that would give dozens of hearty lunches for mere pennies a serving, learn about batch-cooking and take away recipes and ideas that could save them dollars on the food budget.

Tallahassee, FL (Inativo) – HOPE Freedom School

2015-04-16T00:00:00Z

HOPE Freedom School will be a summer enrichment program serving 50, K-12, underprivileged, students from the Gadsden and south side Leon County areas. There is absolutely no cost for the students and transportation is provided. It will occur over 6 weeks of the summer from 8:30-3:30 PM each day. Each morning the students will be taught from an integrated reading curriculum that is aligned to common core standards, and uses culturally relevant materials. In the afternoon the students will participate in enrichment activities including instruction in; art, music, PE, dance, health and nutrition, etc. Students also are provided with two healthy meals per day, and weekly parent nights are held to empower community members. Fridays will be reserved for "Field Trip Fridays" where the students will get to visit local Tallahassee museums, parks, attraction, historical sites, etc. The National Freedom School program was founded by the Children's Defense Fund and it's history dates back to the Civil Rights Movement. The HOPE Freedom School staff members were hired locally from Tallahassee, and will be trained by the Children's Defense Fund to assure quality instruction and preparation. Culturally relevant materials will also be purchased through them, as many of these books are not available in mainstream stores and companies.

Kingston – Kingston Stilters!

2015-04-16T00:00:00Z

It is an average Friday in June. You are hurrying along King St. on your lunch break trying to fit in a few errands. You turn onto Princess St., and look up to see flashes of yellow and green; an exceptionally tall magical creature is peeking out of the Chez Piggy alleyway. A second character appears, popping out from around the corner and a third ducks into a shop entrance across the street. You realize that these tall creatures are playing hide and seek. A crowd gathers on the sidewalk, amused and charmed by the troupe’s antics. Imagine a band of stilt performers who pop up in public places, entertaining and delighting children and adults alike, bringing unexpected joy, magic, excitement and spectacle to all who survey. This is what Kingston’s new stilt theatre troupe will deliver to residents over the coming year. During 2014, our two founders have been stilting here and there at Kingston community events. We have been enthralled by the public’s appreciation for the art form. Witnessing the power of stilt walking to captivate the public has prompted us to form a stilting troupe. We are currently planning three performances over the next six months: one at the Skeleton Park Music Festival and two pop-up productions in public places in late summer and early fall.

Detroit, MI – ComiqueCon

2015-04-16T00:00:00Z

Women make up 47 percent of comic book readers, but still make up only 29 percent of DC characters and 24 percent of Marvel characters. Futhermore, women rank consistently in the minority as creators at major comic publishers. Female comic creators deserve better, and comic readers need to be introduced to these creators. ComiqueCon celebrates the work of female comic creators, introduces readers to amazing female artists and highlights the need to continue increasing representation of women in comics. Conceived as a one-day convention, ComiqueCon will feature panels, workshops, vendors, and entertainment from the top creators in the comics industry. ComiqueCon has partnered with Green Brain Comics and the Arab American National Museum to host this convention. These two local, well-established organizations are providing our venue and our connection to professional comic creators. So far, we have six panelists signed on. These include Mairghread Scott, one of the creators behind Transformers, and Leila Abdelrazaq, author of Baddawi, which recounts her father’s experience in a Palestinian refugee camp. The growing popularity of women characters and the steady increase in female comic creators reflects both a diversified audience while simultaneously broadening the appeal of this unique approach to story-telling. The convention will hold something for everyone, including families. Workshops will give attendees a chance to create their own comic book or make their own superhero mask. The panels will be held throughout the day, presenting topics ranging from the changing role of gender in comic protagonists to how to break into the comic industry. Local businesses and organizations will also have ample representation as vendors. Join us in making our inaugural convention a success. With your help, we will host an engaging event that will introduce to some and further develop for others a broader discussion about the changing face of women in comics.

Antigonish, NS (Inativo) – Antigonish Community Video

2015-04-16T00:00:00Z

I would like to produce a couple of Aerial videos of Antigonish County. The Scope of this video will encompass all of Antigonish County from Aulds cove to Arisaig, highlighting areas such as beaches, wharfs, hiking trails, the Keppoch, the town of Antigonish, St. Andrews, St.F.X. University and other places people can recommend I feature via a Facebook site. By the end of the summer 2015 I will have enough footage to produce the first video and over the Fall and Winter months I will continue to gather footage so that I can make a Winter video first and then a Full year video showcasing the Beauty of Antigonish in every season. i will then make this video available for use on Antigonish Town and County Websites and Social Media with Shared Rights. The videos will be between 2-3 minutes long and I plan on using music from local artists in the background. Other companies in Nova Scotia Would charge $3000 - $5000 to produce just one video so there is a lot of value in producing something like this for the Town and County.

Adelaide – Adelaide//Yogyakarta

2015-04-15T00:00:00Z

In an attempt to create a bond between local Australian artists and contemporary Indonesian artists, I would love the opportunity to curate an exhibition at The Mill featuring artists from Adelaide//Yogyakarta. Both laid-back and outrageously inspiring cities have such an untapped source of young creatives whose work deserves to be boosted and experienced in an atypical space. This exhibition would solidify a bond between these two cities, whilst adding to the thus-far minimally documented contemporary art scene in both areas. I strongly believe that this project is awesome for these reasons: Australia needs to form further, more personal bonds with South East Asia, particularly our nearest neighbour, Indonesia. As a recent student of the Indonesian language (and honours hopeful), it proved nearly impossible to find any legitimate literature on local contemporary artists in both Adelaide and Yogyakarta, which is unbelievable considering the sheer number of creatives in each city. Each artist contacted up until this point is excited to be involved in such a project and it would be wonderful to extend that excitement to likeminded folk.

New York City, NY – 4th Annual Sandwich Club Summit

2015-04-14T00:00:00Z

The official mission statement of the Sandwich Club is “to foster an enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and forward-thinking sandwich culture by encouraging the discovery and consumption of delicious sandwiches and sandwich components, both in the United States and abroad.” On September 12, 2015, sandwich-lovers will convene in Wassaic, NY for the 4th Sandwich Club Summit to discuss the fields of sandwich making and sandwich studies. Presenters will cover diverse topics including epistemology, art history, and the potential hazards of excessive mayonnaise application. The event includes panels, discussions, interactive workshops, a sandwich-themed art exhibition and grilled cheese sandwiches. The Sandwich Club Summit creates a window through which to poke fun at the alienating language of business, politics, contemporary art and social science while also indulging in a shared pleasure. AwesomeNYC is excited to support the work of the Sandwich Club and the work that they do to further the sandwich arts. Registration for the Summit will open in July 2015, and more details can be found on the Sandwich Club website. (All photos above by Danny Ghitis)

Chicago, IL – Making Hermosa hermosa!

2015-04-14T00:00:00Z

We are a new neighborhood group, called the Hermosa Neighborhood Association, which is located in the Hermosa community area. Our goal is to help make our working class community a brighter and safer place for all. Hermosa means "beautiful" in Spanish and our slogan for our group is "Making our Hermosa hermosa." Many neighbors have complained of a lack of vision in our community, and we're trying to combat that apathy through direct action and engagement. Our group is relatively new, only 4 months old, but we already have 25 members and we continue to grow. We've conducted several neighborhood cleanups, mostly around our neighborhood CPS school, Nixon Elementary. We want to go further this summer by conducting ongoing block cleanups and school ground cleanups. While this is meant to be the job of Streets and Sanitation and janitors at the school, neither institution is aiding us, so with your help we want to take matters into their own hands. We would like to purchase mostly native perennial flowers, grasses and shrubs and beautify some area roundabouts, as well as plant wildflower seeds to help beautify the metra track embankment near our homes. This would help brighten up these locations as well as attract insects and birds to the area. We would also purchased clean & green tools, such as trash pinchers, large trash bags, rakes and shovels to help aid in our cleanups. We regularly help neighbors clean the following blocks and locations: 2100 N. Keystone 2300 N. Keystone 2300 N. Karlov 2100 N. Kedvale 2300 N. Keeler 2200 N. Keeler 2300 N. Tripp 2200 N. Tripp 4300 W. Belden 2300 N. Kilpatrick Nixon Elementary Furthermore, we'd use some of the proceeds to produce "don't litter" signs which we have already designed.

Melbourne (Inativo) – The Man Cave

2015-04-13T00:00:00Z

With around 1/5 Australian males suffering from depression before they are 18 and suicide being the leading cause of death for men under the age of 25, The Man Cave is designed to leverage the power of masculinity in Australian culture and use this as an engagement tool to provide a structured transition for boys into adulthood. Through a series of expertly designed workshops which will deconstruct masculinity, understand the importance of emotional intelligence and provide a practical set of skills such as mindfulness, meditation and self awareness to guide this transition into adulthood. The Pilot was ran with 150 boys at Frankston High School in October 2014, the school said it was the best workshops they've had and have booked us in for next year. Never in my life did I think I'd see 150 year 9 boys meditating and calling it 'cool' afterwards! We have our next workshops locked in at Tamworth High School (country NSW), a flagship White Ribbon School, on March 12-13 with 150 boys over two days. Following that we have a workshops locked in Gunnedah (country NSW) and are also engaged in a number of discussions with Melbourne based schools. Dr Arne Rubenstein, a world leader in Rites of Passage for boys into manhood, sits as the mentor of The Man Cave and oversees program development.

LA South Bay, CA (Inativo) – The Body Family

2015-04-13T00:00:00Z

The Body Family is my poetry collection-in-progress which explores my family’s escape from Idi Amin’s Ugandan genocide and the aftermath of healing in America. In it, I reclaim my womanhood, culture, and spirituality from a legacy of violence. In preparing to write The Body Family, I earned an MFA in Creative Writing from New York University. I also taught writing at NYU, honing my skills as a critical analyst and writer of literature. I wrote some of the poems for the collection during that time. In 2011, I returned to Los Angeles to spend time with my parents, who were both ill, and with my grandmother, visiting from Uganda. My grandmother was 96; I knew that that might be the last time I saw her. So, from 2011-2013, I spoke with them concerning their experience in Idi Amin’s Ugandan genocide and journaled more drafts of poems. I then applied to Junot Diaz’s Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation (VONA) to workshop these poems. I was accepted and spent a weeklong residency in June 2013 working on these poems. The experience at VONA was revelatory. I have also been fortunate to have poems from this work-in-progress featured in the North American Review, Kalyani Magazine, Ruminate Magazine, Potluck Magazine, Fjords Literary Journal, Joint Literary Magazine, Salamander Journal and Literary Mama. Essays exploring these ideas have also been published in The Daily Beast, Salon, Gawker, Ms. Magazine online, The Feminist Wire and The Root, among others. Now, I just need a few months of work time to edit the manuscript and send it out for publication.

Melbourne (Inativo) – Long Johns Condoms

2015-04-13T00:00:00Z

On a scale of 1-10, how awkward and embarrassing is the condom purchasing experience? No need to answer (it was kinda rhetorical) because we already know that it's like, at least a 7 or 8 for most guys and gals. But it shouldn't be! You're doing the right thing by being responsible and practicing safe sex, so why have the huge corporate condom manufacturers made it so awkward with their tacky packaging, ugly colours and crappy marketing campaigns? WHAT IF there was a new brand that aims to smash down that wall of awkwardness by actually being a cool company with cool packaging and a cool donation scheme? That's where Long Johns comes in... Specifically aimed at young (but clearly responsible) men and women, Long Johns aims to be on the ball with current trends and open up the communication around safe sex and contraception use by injecting some style and humour into the mix. Instead of ugly and wasteful single-use packaging, Long Johns will come in old school small square tins that can be reused (preferably) or recycled. Long Johns will come in 4 varieties - Tom, Dick, Harry and Slim Jims. Long Johns will feature in cool publications like The Smith Journal. Long Johns will be stocked in locations where you would never previously consider condoms to be sold - we're talking cool fashion retailers, barbers, quirky retailers and even bars! Long Johns will be involved in Indigenous health initiatives. Long Johns will also donate a portion from each sale to Indigenous and Third World sexual health and family planning programs. After a whole bunch of research it was discovered that these remote communities already have access to free condoms, which is great, but what they REALLY need also is education about sex, sexual health and family planning. There are existing providers and programs that are amazing at educating these topics but they are in dire need of funds to help continue and expand their work. That's pretty much Long Johns in a nutshell!

Melbourne (Inativo) – Second Star - Mermaid Bar

2015-04-13T00:00:00Z

Team Second Star aim to establish the first cafe/bar in Melbourne to feature an aquarium with live mermaid performers! Second Star will be a themed business, taking inspiration from the works of J.M. Barrie to create a space that speaks to the inner child of every customer. By day, Second Star will be a relaxed eatery, welcoming to both families and the lunch crowd. We will offer a range of vegan and gluten-free baked goods made in-house by our two Cupcake Geniuses, along with a range of specialty teas and a hearty lunch menu developed with locally grown produce in mind. By night, Second Star grows up, but our hearts never do! Our customers can enjoy locally sourced beer, wine or cider, or try out our magical cocktails and glittering Fairy Shots. Our kitchen will serve a wide variety of food from a tapas/izakaya-style menu, and our friendly mermaids will be around to say hi and give the visitors a wink (if they play nice!).

Melbourne (Inativo) – The Welcome Dinner Project Victoria

2015-04-13T00:00:00Z

The Welcome Dinner Project brings together people who are new to Australia with people who are established in their community over dinner in a local home. The aim of these pot-luck-style dinners is to create a platform for meaningful connection, sparking friendships between people of diverse cultures who are living in close proximity to one another but have not had an opportunity to connect in a supported environment. The project is also encouraging further local collaborative endeavours. It increases social cohesion by involving the broader community in building a welcoming Australian society, one which embraces and celebrates diversity. There is no cost to attend a dinner. Everyone brings a dish and a local resident generously opens their home to host the dinner. The dinner is organised and facilitated by 2 trained facilitators. In the future, we would like to be able to provide intepreters and transport for members of community who have low English language skills or no access to transport. Any newly arrived member of the community can attend - be they migrants, international students, asylum seekers or even an Australian interstate migrant. The project has recently launched in Melbourne by a small team of passionate volunteers and so far we have been 'testing the waters' and have run 3 dinners in local homes in the St Kilda and Brunswick. We now have huge demand! Over 250 newly arrived people have signed up to attend a dinner and they come from all over Melbourne. The concept is so simple and easy to participate in and our feedback so far from the dinners so far has been: 'I felt like a visitor before, and now I feel like a local' 'I am not sure what I felt about Melbourne before but now I feel really good about living here' 'It brings me hope' 'I feel renewed!' The potential to strengthen community through this project is huge and we are very excited.

Awesome Without Borders (Inativo) – STARR Initiative

2015-04-13T00:00:00Z

Hollaback! Bahamas is part of a global movement (now in 92 cities worldwide) to end sexual harassment in public spaces. We launched in April 2014, and are currently unfunded and use personal income sources to fund the work which includes guest lectures at College of the Bahamas, production of print material, and social media campaigns. We would like to launch a Safer Spaces campaign. This type of program exists in other locations including Washington State (Collective Action for Safer Spaces). Hollaback! Bahamas' safer spaces campaign will be branded as the STARR Initiative. STARR: Safe space (with) Trustworthy management and staff (who) Act as an intermediary between community and Hollaback! Bahamas (to) Respond to complaints of inappropriate interaction (and) Report to Hollaback! Bahamas in a timely fashion The purpose of this project is three-fold: 1. Train management staff of local organizations (e.g bars, schools, malls) to safely and effectively intervene when patrons experience harassment or any form of violence - especially gender-based - on their premises. 2. Increase the number (and physical frequency) of places where people experiencing harassment or other threats can get help and access resources. 3. Create a source of funding for the continued work of Hollaback! Bahamas. This program will increase community participation and cooperation, increase Hollaback! Bahamas visibility by creating extensions of the organization through the initiative, and provide the community with easy access to relevant resources and support. Organizations will receive on-site/online/video training for management and staff in order to become a STARR space (where patrons/customers can be safe and supported, and passersby can seek assistance). Perks include PR through HB!B and associates' social media and traditional media, and visible door decals and pledge posters identifying them as a HB!B-approved space. Members pay nominal annual fee to cover costs.

Ottawa – Ottawa Community Beekeepers

2015-04-12T00:00:00Z

April’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to Graeme Peterson, to support community beekeeping, as well as demonstration and education, by the Ottawa Community Beekeepers. “Ottawa Community Beekeepers,” explains Graeme, “is a community group whose purpose is to promote and facilitate beekeeping in and around Ottawa. If someone is interested in beekeeping in any way — whether just curious, or actively wanting to learn and keep bees — we will meet them at their level and do what we can to make their experience with bees and beekeeping as positive as possible.” “There are people in Ottawa,” Graeme continues, “who just want to get up close (fully protected!) and see what it's all about. There are others who want to try beekeeping to see if it’s for them before making an investment. Others are new to beekeeping but know they want to keep bees, and don’t have the space. Some are experienced beekeepers who no longer have hives but still want to keep their fingers in the pot, as it were. We want to provide the space, the equipment, the teaching, and the bees to meet all of their needs.” Ottawa Community Beekeepers currently has one communal yard in Munster, and is pursuing partnerships with land owners in and around the Ottawa area to set up additional yards. The award from Awesome Ottawa will support the group’s second yard — a partnership with Veggie Trail Farms, near Bayshore Shopping Centre. “It is a wonderful location,” says Graeme. “It meets all the zoning and bylaw requirements, it is on a bus route, and the owners are excellent people.” The award will also support the purchase of a glass-sided observation hive, some teaching and demonstration materials, and a banner or table drape with the group’s logo for education and community outreach initiatives in schools, at farmers markets, and elsewhere. Graeme is a software engineer living in Munster and working in Kanata. A father of three, he is one of the founders of the Ottawa Community Beekeepers, and has been keeping bees on and off for more than 20 years.

Oklahoma City, OK (Inativo) – All Kidz Activities and Community Events

2015-04-09T00:00:00Z

All Kidz is a not for profit organization that promotes and sponsors enrichment activities for children in foster care. We believe that all kids should be able to live happy, healthy lives, and we aim to encourage this vision by filling the gaps for foster children in Oklahoma City. Foster parents receive a small stipend to provide all of the basic needs for children in their care, but it is one of the lowest rates in the nation. This leaves little left over for those "extra" activities that are so important to a child's development. All Kidz sponsors enrichment activities like music lessons, sports, and art classes which contribute to development of self-esteem and social skills.

San Antonio, TX – Queen's Castle

2015-04-08T00:00:00Z

Dorothy. Alice. Scarecrow. The Mad Hatter. These are all names which generate images of yellow brick roads, evil witches, white rabbits and enraged queens. But these worlds have never met… until now. Queens Castle is a serial stage production brought to life from the imagination of its writer and director, Scott McDowell. In its second season, the production follows Dorothy and Alice, twins separated at birth, as they attempt to develop a government for the combined world of WonderOz, deal with the aftermath of a slain evil Queen of Hearts and a Wicked Witch suffering from amnesia in an asylum. But all is not as it seems. The Looking Glass Reflection has tricked Alice and pulled her through the glass, taking her place in WonderOz and reveling in the havoc and chaos she leaves in her wake and an opponent to Scarecrow’s running for Prime Minister may just be too good to be true.

Kitchener-Waterloo – Outdoor Classroom & School Yard Greening

2015-04-07T00:00:00Z

We are seeking match-funding for a partner project with the Toyota Everygreen Foundation to design and install an outdoor classroom and nature-based playground for students & community. Our Outdoor Classroom initiative will optimize the outdoor learning curriculum already in place. The school board has approved the project, and installation will take place in later summer 2015. ALL students from JK to Gr.6 will have access to the space, along with the community at-large. Along with the outdoor classroom itself, part of the initiative includes teacher training and loose-part teaching tools. Our outdoor classroom initiative will bring outdoor learning alive at Centennial Public School. We plan to create a natural area for art, exploration, and nature study. Using natural elements we will create outdoor classroom gathering areas, pathways, art panels, gardening beds (stock tanks), and seating areas. This project impacts several different facets in our community. The primary focus is for educational purposes of ALL students at CPS - the curriculum already includes many outdoor learning activities, and the FDK (full day kindergarten) program specifically has instigated 1-2 hours of outdoor learning each and every day. This outdoor classroom will enhance and support this curriculum, and the Evergreen foundation will be offering workshops and training for CPS teachers to further evolve their outdoor classes. Naturally, this facet is extended beyond students and school time, to neighbourhood children off of school hours. We hope that families will come together to enjoy the new space as community and neighbours. The increased shade canopy resulting from additional trees will augment their enjoyment of the area and therefore extend time spent benefiting from the natural space of our new and improved outdoor classroom.

New Orleans, LA (Inativo) – Adinkra NOLA

2015-04-07T00:00:00Z

Adinkra NOLA is an amazing un-schooling homeschool in the 9th Ward of New Orleans serving children ages 4 and up. Our mission is to develop life-long learners who value community, education, and culture. Adinkra NOLA attracts students and families from across the Greater New Orleans area interested in a more exciting and relevant educational format. Adinkra NOLA engages with the community regularly by traveling to various sites for workshops, field trips, and community service projects. Our upcoming endeavors include a series of computer programming courses in partnership with Ashe Cultural Arts Center as a part of our STEM curriculum, as well as participation in the Kid's Club program at the Geurilla Garden in the Lower Ninth Ward. Both of these workshops occur on Fridays.

San Francisco, CA – War Gastronomy - Recipes of Relocation

2015-04-07T00:00:00Z

War Gastronomy is a dual-industrial tricycle system that unfolds into a pop-up food cart and cultural archive of personal stories of relocation, dislocation and overcoming struggle. We see our project as micro-commissions where we give you a chance to express your personal or family histories. Then we share your stories and your food. Together, Chris Treggiari and Justin Hoover trade food for personal stories of relocation (cultural, geographic, emotional, psychological, etc) as told to us by participants. You write down a recipe and a short story of your own relocation and we will cook your recipe and tell your story. As you are hanging out eating, we tell you the personal story of the food you're eating, which was given to us by a former participant. We offer 150 small meals to our story-writing participants over 3 hours. For our newest manifestation of our project we will be working with local organization Peralta Hacienda and local Ohlone Nation cultural leaders to set up large tables in urban public spaces. These communal tables will be covered with a table cloth and we will serve their personal recipes of relocation. The tables are located in public and we will be allowing and encouraging anyone to sit at table, eat food and join in the conversation for free. However, the only requirement is that if you sit down you must write your own story of relocation directly onto the table cloth. The writing will be later turned into embroidery and displayed in art galleries and other cultural venues. The stories will also enter our archive of hundreds of recipes of relocation. This project will help break down the silos between the diverse people in our city. The tables will be set up in spaces such as on Market St. where young tech industry gurus are side by side with homeless, graffiti artists are next to lawyers but fail to communicate. This project brings all these people to the table. We need more chances to share and tell our personal stories of struggle and achievement. We need to meet each other, people outside our normal circles, and in ways that are harboring generosity and compassion, breaking down barriers between people even if just for a few minutes while you share a small meal, and awesome is learning the deep histories of a family that you'll probably never see again.

Kitchener-Waterloo – 12 Angry Filmmaker

2015-04-07T00:00:00Z

The 12 project has began making 12 short films to be screened at GRFF 2014.

Atlanta, GA (Inativo) – S.E.T. Hurt Park Greenspace Garden

2015-04-06T00:00:00Z

Hurt Park was originally built as part of the revitalization of the downtown area in the late 1930s; it was one of the first parks built after the Civil War Reunification era. Since its glory days, Hurt Park has fallen into disrepair and has become infamous for its homeless population and eroding hillsides. After Georgia State bought a portion of the park, the Sustainable Energy Tribe has made attempts to create an inviting garden for student and public enjoyment. This year, we are expanding our garden to include the entire hillside. From this endeavor, we hope to accomplish three main objectives: 1) to control erosion along the Gilmer Street side of the park through terracing; 2) provide a greenspace with edible vegetable and herbs as well as native plants which attract beneficial insects; and 3) provide a safer path across the park hillside. Our plan includes five 10' x 6' terraced beds to be placed along the deteriorating hillside across from Sparks Hall. The gardens will be built, planted, and maintained by members of the S.E.T. and fellow GSU students. However, the garden will also function to educate students on the potential of urban farming and erosion remediation, provide attractants and food for birds, squirrels, bats, and butterflies, and provide a safer cut-through path across the park.

San Francisco, CA – Swing Low Sweet Bicycles

2015-04-03T00:00:00Z

Unlocking the potential of empty bike racks by adding a little swing to them. A couple years back I noticed that all the bike racks being installed around town had a little hole drilled through them, right at the top most point. I started wondering what those holes were for, and then started wondering if I could use them in some creative way. Since these racks were so consistently placed (always the same distance apart, same height, and that 1/4" hole right on the top) I started working on an artist desk that could be moved from rack to rack, but then decided to focus on something I could bang out a little cheaper and just leave installed. On January 1st, 2014, I secretly installed a small swing in front of The Church on Valencia. The swing was designed to sit between any two bike racks and provide a space for pedestrians to relax for a bit. I picked this location because it's racks were usually empty and it happened to be the same location as another set of swings installed illegal a few years before. It stayed up for a little over a month, and I was thrilled every time I'd walk by and see someone using it. I stopped by on a few more popular nights and noticed that the swings designed didn't prevent folks from locking their bikes over it if the rest of the racks were used up. I love seeing bike racks installed over the city, but feel that all too often city planners tend to think about solving a single problem, rather than thinking creatively about function and community. My dream is to see public exercise areas, benches, tables, and water fountains creatively integrated into the urban landscape. Adding a swing anywhere is going to bring a smile to people's faces. Fact. I was happy to see how the swing encouraged simple conversations between strangers too. At very least with an exchange of a little eye contact and a smile, but sometimes leading to deeper interaction. Most importantly, I think it will help people envision simple ways to interact and improve with everyday objects.

San Francisco, CA – Limbus Lab

2015-04-03T00:00:00Z

Decentralize technology development from Silicon Valley! I'm going back home to the family farm in rural Minnesota this summer. I want to teach Arduino workshops in these rural communities. I'm in the process of setting up inexpensive or free Arduino workshops 4-H and other organizations. This is one aspect of my project, Limbus Lab, that focuses on education that leads to individual empowerment without sending people into crippling levels of debt. The money would be used for ten Arduino kits to use in these workshops. Emerging technology is hugely applicable in rural farming communities. Technology should be used as a tool. It is a difficult tool learn but I have watched how it can be used to empower individuals to feel more self reliant. That is the goal in teaching this technology, so people feel that they have more control over their lives. Within the U.S., I cannot think of a better group of people to have more impact on society as self reliant, empowered individuals than farmers. Agriculture is fundamental to our society and we cannot let technology control the farmers. We need to have the farmers control their technology. How do we start? Reach the young farming kids and make this unintuitive and intimidating tool accessible through workshops that focus on playful exploration. Failing is expected and ultimately encouraged. There are no bad ideas. Allow them to be self directed in their exploration but provide enough support to keep them from giving up prematurely. I have been doing this at CCA, now it is time to leave the bubble of San Francisco and push it out into new areas and endeavors. My hope is to bootstrap these workshops enough to make them free or very inexpensive but not have sponsorship from companies or organizations that will dictate what I do. The more individuals from varying backgrounds we have exploring potential uses, the greater the chance we will actually create something meaningful. Most 24 year old developers making six figures are too far removed from the reality of the world to actually be able to create something that isn't just designed for themselves. The goal is to empower individuals to be more self reliant. We can take control over our own lives and not let it be defined for us.

Baltimore, MD – Baltimore #popscope

2015-04-02T00:00:00Z

Look again at that dot. That's here, that's home, that's us. - Carl Sagan When was the last time you looked at the stars, the craters of the moon, or the rings of Saturn? Baltimore #popscope aims to reconnect Baltimoreans to the night sky—and to each other—by hosting free, “pop up” astronomy nights in public spaces. The project is powered by the Baltimore Global Shapers hub, one of several multi-stakeholder communities at the World Economic Forum. Building on the successes of similar projects in Ottawa and Philadelphia, #popscope (derived from “pop-up telescope”) envisions the spontaneous set up of telescopes for public use across Baltimore City on at least five occasions in Spring 2015. In doing so, we hope to: (1) encourage social interactions that challenge norms and erode spatial boundaries; (2) promote science by providing exciting views of the night sky; and (3) contribute to public discourse over how public spaces are used and allocated. To make our gatherings as successful as possible, we will work with community leaders to bring telescopes to neighborhoods in an inclusive, safe, culturally sensitive, and socially aware manner. Toward the same goal, we will host these astronomy nights in a variety of strategic locations, including McElderry Park, Hampden, the Inner-Harbor, Stricker Street, and Patterson High School. Given our spontaneity, we will use social media to announce the location and date of each event. A virtual community will complement in-person gatherings, and extend our reach of this project by linking participants to other similar movements in different cities. Users will be able to learn about upcoming astronomical events, post questions, and share astronomy related articles or photos. The night sky has inspired and brought people together from the days of Stonehenge to the age of the Hubble Space Telescope. We believe it can also inspire and bring people together in The Charm City. Our motto? Keep looking up, Baltimore!

San Antonio, TX – Random Acts of Kindness/Pay it Forward

2015-04-02T00:00:00Z

CAPiSA group is fundraising to do Random Acts of Kindness throughout the San Antonio Community. Started in July 2014 and have had success with small events to "pay if forward" , just because. We pay for peoples meals in restaurants, deliver flowers to restaurant managers, take homemade cakes to firehouses/firemen, given a $25 Walmart gc to someone random who joined our facebook page, had a Christmas Toy drive for the Children's Hospital of San Antonio (over 200 new toys), Left $1 in envelopes with the words "finders keepers" on bus stops, given many gift baskets we created at our fundraising events through drawings. We would like to give bigger gifts to people more often!

Plano, TX (Inativo) – Learning Commons: An Uncommon Learning Experience

2015-04-02T00:00:00Z

If you can imagine it, you can create it in the Learning Commons! Exposing students to hands-on, highly engaging STEAM activities will immerse them in exploring, discovering and learning and will help ensure their success in the future. Getting to make and create will transform our students from consumers into makers and give everyone the opportunity to see the world around them differently, to explore and imagine new possibilities for a future they help create. Our school is identified as a bilingual campus with a diverse student population, more than 60% of whom are considered at-risk. Many of our students and their families tend to have a high rate of mobility, causing them to exhibit gaps in either background knowledge and/or academic achievement. Generally speaking, our students struggle with content knowledge and are further hindered by a lack of experience in problem-solving and critical thinking. During his 2012 State of the Union address, President Obama called attention to the dwindling pool of future U.S. innovators and emphasized the importance of young Americans entering careers in Science, Technology, Engineering,Rrts or Math (STEAM). Industry groups are also calling on schools to graduate more engineers while fostering educators with innovation-based skills to help the future workforce qualify for the Science, Technology, and Math fields that are projected to grow in the coming years. Education must shift from instruction to discovery...to probing and exploration." This quote from Marshall McLuhan explains the way our Learning Commons works. Our students learn best through independent discovery and creating things themselves. Giving students opportunities to make and create will transform them from consumers into makers and will foster their sense of creativity and wonder. By providing these experiences to our students, we can prepare them to be the engineers, inventors, and scientists of the 21st Century. We are closing the achievement gap between economically disadvantaged students and their peers by providing them with the same opportunities. The Learning Commons will immerse students in those STEAM skills.

Stockholm (Inativo) – Apelns Grafs Studio

2015-04-02T00:00:00Z

There is a need for safe spaces for the queer and trans community in Stockholm. The good people at Apelns Graf has identified this and decided to do something about it. This something has taken the shape of a music studio in Värtahamnen. A studio they’re building with their own bare hands. We say good luck and stay awesome! We’re also hoping for an invite to show our skills in playing the triangle...

Austin, TX – Freehand Arts Project: Bringing the creative arts to those behind bars

2015-04-02T00:00:00Z

The Freehand Arts Project is a group of volunteers committed to bringing the creative arts to people incarcerated in Texas jails and prisons. The project employs highly qualified volunteers from local schools and universities to teach weekly creative arts classes to some 2,000 inmates at the Travis County Correctional Facility. The program strives to address the deep wounds found in the incarceration system by providing a safe avenue for self-reflection, the opportunity to develop emotional awareness, and a supportive community. Says Founder Kelsey Shipman: "Will writing poetry keep people out of prison? I don't know. Maybe one day. Will reading short stories about overcoming addiction keep the needle out of their hand? It is impossible say. The path to well-being is laid one brick at a time. Does seeing your name in print pay the bills? Unlikely. But, it does suggest an alternative to the status quo."

Plano, TX (Inativo) – Ordinary Days Plano

2015-04-02T00:00:00Z

Ordinary Days is a musical about 4 different people simply trying to make it by in an ordinary day living in New York! It really gets interesting when their lives start to go downhill but they regain spirits through their hilarious and bubbly friend. This is nothing more than a fun, romantic comedy musical. It is directed by students at Plano East Senior High and will be put on this summer at the Cox Building. THE REASON WE ARE PUTTING ON THE SHOW: recently, a man named Jason Manthe died of Alzheimer's Disease at the age of 31 with three kids, another on the way, and an unemployed wife. Since this is a completely donation driven production, all the ticket sales and food sales would be piled together; half of this would go straight to the Manthe family to help them financially, the other half would be donated towards Alzheimer's Research in honor of Jason Manthe.

Plano, TX (Inativo) – Reaching and Inspiring Student Engineers

2015-04-02T00:00:00Z

Reaching and Inspiring Student Engineers (RISE) is a student organization at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) that reaches out to local elementary schools with free science demonstrations aimed at motivating young students to pursue STEM careers. For the past two years, we have built up a great deal of experience and expertise, which has prepared us to broaden the scope of our outreach. By the end of this year, our UTD student volunteers will have donated 400 hours of their time and presented to more than 4,000 young students. We have built a volunteer base, established relationships with a network of Plano educators, and developed packages of demonstrations that we can present on teachers’ request. We envision building on the success we have seen so far to expand our program into a resource used by all Plano teachers and students. We have developed a teacher-centered approach that creates a hassle-free way for schools to provide students with exciting, educational science demonstrations. We develop packages of demonstrations beforehand and visit schools to engage students with both classic science experiments and cutting-edge technologies that have emerged from UTD labs. Since we take on the responsibility of creating curriculum, our model requires minimal time investment from teachers. Through this preliminary initiative, we have gained experience and prepared ourselves to expand into a larger role in the fabric of science education in Plano. With the support of the Awesome Foundation, we will develop a library of demonstrations covering a wide spectrum of science topics for all levels of primary and secondary education. We aim to enhance the existing Plano science curriculum while creating opportunities for students to learn outside the classroom. By concentrating experience, knowledge, and materials among our volunteers, we can be a reliable resource for K-12 educators throughout Plano for years to come.

Portland, OR – The Incredibly Short Film Festival

2015-04-01T00:00:00Z

What would you do if you saw a little pig driving an ice cream truck down Foster Boulevard? Or a psychedelic Sasquatch skating through your favorite burger place? It would be incredible- even more incredible if these scenes were paired with music, food, and neighborhood pride. This is what the Incredibly Short Film Festival (ISFF) does. For one night, projectors are set up through a neighborhood in unexpected places. They’re showing GIF animations from artists around the world or around the block. Originally started in Sydney, Australia, the festival has also appeared in Croatia. This summer we want to bring it to Foster Boulevard. The ISFF re-imagines what the .GIF file format is capable of. Most people have seen silly looping clips floating around the internet. But what happens when you bring them offline? The GIF becomes a showcase for emerging animators. It adds fun and color to city streets. Maybe it just makes someone laugh pretty hard. We’re confident these are worthy goals for an Awesome Portland project. This event will be free and 100% volunteer run. We've already reached out to local animators who are stoked about this totally unique venue for showcasing their work. We’re working with the business community to find sites and host mini-parties. The event is going to reach a lot of people; both those who make it a destination and those who are just passing by. Even though it will be a one-night event, there is a lot that will stick around. The community that comes together to pull something like the ISFF off creates new collaborations. The stoke and good vibes from unexpected art in public space can not be discounted. Finally, the attention on a street that hasn't been known for art will last beyond the event. In the end, we hope to surprise people, take the internet offline, create wild video graffiti (with permission from owners!), and bring an incredible idea from abroad back to our hometown.

Awesome Without Borders (Inativo) – Sex Education for Social Justice

2015-04-01T00:00:00Z

While Mexico City youth get some exposure to sex education in schools, the most impactful sex education happens in everyday experiences with movies, TV, porn, religion, family, friends. Unfortunately, this informal education frequently reinforces heteronormative and patriarchal notions of gender, sexuality, and relationships. These notions, in turn, sexually and socially disenfranchize women, people who are gender non-conforming, and anyone identifying outside of the heterosexual norm (these cultural dynamics are of course not unique to Mexico). It is Colectiva Justicia Sexual’s mission to offer alternatives to mainstream sex education. In our project, Educación Sexual para la Justicia Social (Sex Education for Social Justice), we hope to take our sex education to informal spaces around the city, starting with the metro station, La Raza. Through a series of public lectures and workshops, we will offer sex education about gender, sexuality, and relationships that promotes gender equity, the embracing of diverse sexual identifications, consent, communication, and safe sex. Because La Raza is a transfer station for two commuter lines that traverse the entire city and extend between two major universities, it experiences extremely high foot traffic of diverse populations and is an excellent site for the presentation series. Colectiva Justicia Sexual is already in communication with the La Raza station administration, and they are on board with our project. The administration will promote the Sex Education for Social Justice presentations on station message boards and lend the collective its presentation space, which comes with seating and audio equipment. The collective will create a series of presentations that engages commuter audiences in topics rarely articulated in public spaces. To speak about sex education in a public metro station will be a radical and effective retaking of the informal public sphere for sexual and social justice.

Awesome Without Borders (Inativo) – Subsistence Research Center of Southern Illinois

2015-04-01T00:00:00Z

A few months ago, a group of friends and I were granted the opportunity to turn the old Big Muddy Independent Media Center in Carbondale, Illinois, into a radical info-shop. The Big Muddy IMC was exactly what the name states, an independent media center, that was last used during Occupy Carbondale. Now we have re-opened the space and turned it into a radical info-shop. What's an info shop? Well, it's a space where people involved in radical movements and countercultures can trade information, meet and network with other people or other groups, from their own town, other cities, or even other countries. It's also a space where various groups can hold meetings or events like, music, poetry, or seminars. Some infoshops house "free schools," meaning various educational workshops––that are offered to the public, for free. Inoshops have been around since the 1930s, they began in Europe during the Spanish Revolution, and eventually inspired North Americans to begin housing their own infoshops during the 1980s. The aftermath of the Cold War in 1991 popped off a growing movement of radical infoshops in America, as anarchists felt the need to create spaces where people could gather and organize around various issues. Our info-shop, which we may call "No-Coast" or "Fly-Over," has had a slow start. We are in dire need of new flooring, ceiling tiles, and money for utilities. There is a large network of earth activists, anti-police activists, and LGBQT activists in Carbondale––that have been using the space for meetings and workshops. Recently, I proposed by community soil bank and edible landscaping idea to the city of Carbondale. Both of these projects would be an extension of the info-shop, which is also known as the subsistence research center by locals. We are trying to create subsistence and community, essentially freeing Carbondale from the mass economic system. We also hope to eradicate the damage done by corporate acts of environmental racism.

Paris (Inativo) – Artothèque Fanatikart

2015-03-31T00:00:00Z

L’Artothèque permet de louer et d’acquérir des œuvres d’art contemporaines réalisées par de jeunes artistes : photos, installations, vidéos, sculptures, tableaux, dessins,... Le but est de permettre à tous d'appréhender l’art dans un contexte ludique et convivial, de s’ouvrir aux pratiques artistiques, d'accorcher de l'art chez soi, et de découvrir des lieux d’expositions conventionnels ou non. Chaque année l’Artothèque présente sa collection dans des lieux partenaires (galeries, médiathèques et associations) et organise des visites et des rencontres avec les artistes. Pour fêter la première année d'existence de son Artothèque, Fanatikart organise une exposition au mois de juin dans le 19ème arrondissement afin de regrouper toutes les œuvres de l'artothèque, et diffuser son existence auprès des parisiens. Des visites guidées seront organisées pour les jeunes du quartier, afin de leur faire découvrir l'art contemporain dans un moment de rencontre avec les artistes. The Artothèque offers to everyone the possibility to rent and acquire contemporary artworks from young artists : photos, videos, sculptures, drawings, paintings… The goal is to give people the chance to discover art in a fun and friendly setting, to open up to the practice of art, to hang up art in their homes, and to discover (un)conventional exhibition venues. Each year the Artothèque partners up with galeries and organization to present its collection and organizes meeting with artists. To celebrate the Artothèque’s first anniversary, Fanatikart will organize an exhibition in June 2015, in the 19th district of Paris, to bring together all the artworks and communicate towards Parisians. Guided tours will be offered to the youth of the neighborhood, to help them discover contemporary art and meet the artists.

Miami, FL – Warm Fuzzies

2015-03-29T00:00:00Z

There is a large Autism Walk in Miami in April, which more 20,000 people will be attending. My project is to make soft yarn octopi for the autistic children to play with during the walk. Having something to focus on that is their own to keep could be great for them for such an event.

Moscow (Inativo) – Бочча-спорт равных возможностей!

2015-03-29T00:00:00Z

Бочча -спорт, дающий возможности заниматься спортом детям с ДЦП и выраженными двигательными и интеллектуальными отклонениями. Мы планируем приобрести комплекты для игры в бочча и внедрить новый вид спорта для детей-инвалидов на базе центра адаптивной физкультуры в г.Иваново. Учитывая, что бочча – вид спорта, где можно играть командами – приобретение данного спортивного оборудования позволит вовлечь учебно-тренировочный процесс большее количество детей-инвалидов , в том числе с тяжёлыми формами ДЦП. Даст возможность для детей с ОВЗ участвовать в соревнованиях. Раздвинет границы их возможностей, разовьёт в детях дух соревновательности и ещё больше раздвинет границы социальной адаптации. Ожидаемые результаты- повышение качества жизни инвалида,на основе достигнутого в процессе тренировок комплекса изменений:физического,психологического и социального его состояния.Укрепление здоровья,преодоление физического недуга,приобщение к здоровому образу жизни, формирование потребности в физической и двигательной активности.Коррекция координационных и двигательных способностей инвалидов,которая достигается в процессе отработки согласованности движения с направлением и скоростью движения шара,а также в процессе развития специальных физических способностей,главным образом силы и быстроты сокращения мышц,от которых зависит овладение моментом воздействия руками на шар(при подаче). Нормализация психоэмоциального состояния ,улучшение общего самочувствия,оптимистический настрой,развитие воли,настойчивости в достижении цели,формирование новых жизненных интересов и потребностей,создание условий для интеллектуального развития инвалидов с ограниченными умственными способностями.Нормализация функционирования в социальной среде ,включение участников тренировок в коллективное взаимодействие группы по интересам. Соревнования проводятся на различных уровнях.

Miami, FL – Hand Built Boat

2015-03-28T00:00:00Z

"Hand Built Boat" is a short documentary film about a 70-year-old man who teaches high school kids to hand make boats at the oldest house in Miami. It's a story about one man's willingness to mentor youth, teach through the introspective patience and discipline that is fostered through craftsmanship, and the positive influence one person can have by sharing their gifts with others. Documenting this story is important because our community is all too often portrayed as vice-ridden, backwards, and hedonistic. However, the story of Miami being a place that fosters community and develops youth, at a historic landmark no less (which is also a state park), is also a Miami story as well. Telling this story is an opportunity for both Miami natives and visitors can be inspired to identify with Miami as a place where great community engagement is possible.

New York City, NY – Cricket Coop

2015-03-24T00:00:00Z

Cricket Coop is a multidisciplinary artistic and community-oriented gastronomical project by artist Rodrigo Guzmán de San Martin (RSM) that aims to aestheticize and normalize the use of insects for human consumption. While insects are high in protein and micronutrients and thrive on minimal feed, people generally view them as disgusting, a food of last resort. Through creating an attractive and affordable domestic method to raise crickets, Cricket Coop aims to ‘rebrand’ insects as a desirable ingredient in their own right. Cricket Coop consists of the primary product – an open-source ‘coop’ to rear crickets that utilizes their chirping as an aesthetic element — with accompanying community dinners, collaborative artistic coop design exhibitions, a teaching curriculum for middle school students, and a cookbook. The project is being developed in collaboration with Art In FLUX, a local arts organization lead by Leanne Stella that creates opportunities for artists that live and work in Harlem, NY. Through Art In FLUX Rodrigo intend to create community events, collaborations with local schools, restaurateurs and other key leaders in the Harlem community, as well as organizing exhibitions to promote the use of crickets as a legitimate source of protein and a viable option to ensure food security. This project appealed to the AwesomeNYC trustees for both initiating a dialog about sustainability and food security as well as the questions it raises about the role of living creatures in our lives, as pets and as food. In speaking with Rodrigo, we learned about his desire to delve into questions of the home and domesticity as well as community and food and we're looking forward to seeing how all of these elements come together in this project.

London, ON (Inativo) – The World's Longest Human Circuit

2015-03-24T00:00:00Z

Did you know that there is only 1 world record holder in London? Well after we're done, they'll be more than 1200. Our goal is to create a world record attempt that our community can share and celebrate - creating the world's longest human circuit. In 2013 1113 people at Coulson Tough Primary School in Woodlands Texas broke the world record for creating the world's longest human circuit. For London to break the record set in Texas, we would need 1200 people to come together, hold hands, have a small current pass through them, and light up a light. Every single person who helps us break this record will receive an official certificate from the Guinness Book of World Records recognizing their contribution to achieving something no other place on Earth has achieved. At the MakerBus we believe that London is an awesome place, filled with awesome people and with the help of Awesome London we can help highlight that awesomeness on the global stage of the Guinness Book of World Records. The Head Science Officer on the MakerBus has designed a safe device that is capable of passing less than one volt of current through up to 2000 people. This device will expose people to less electricity than you would be exposed to holding a watch battery in your hand, meaning this world record attempt is completely safe - even for people with pacemakers. The exposure of an Awesome London win will allow us to begin promoting our world record attempt. To beat the Texas record we need to get the word out to as many people as possible. They may do things big in Texas, but we do things AWESOME in London!