Awesome Foundation - Projects

Awesome Without Borders (Inativo) – Story Pirates for Schools

2019-03-18T00:00:00Z

Miami, FL – Minis On The Go

2019-03-18T00:00:00Z

Whispering Manes recently began a field trip program with Sofia’s Hope, a nonprofit that organizes field trips for children with cancer. The children come in small groups with their parents to enjoy a fun day at the farm where the children ride horses, finger paint the miniature horses, and do fun arts and crafts and scavenger hunt games. We are now working to extend this program to include children in the palliative care program at Holtz Children’s Hospital. The PediPals Palliative Care program works with chronically and critically ill children and their families to improve their quality of life by providing memory-building experiences for them. Many of the children in this program are too unstable to leave the hospital and come to the farm, so Whispering Manes would like to bring the miniature horses to the children in our Minis On The Go program. This is a unique opportunity for Whispering Manes to share the joy and fun of miniature horses with critically ill children. The physicians involved in PediPals want to bring the miniature horses into a courtyard at the hospital where children who are well enough to leave their rooms can come and interact with the minis. Activities may include grooming, feeding, or painting the minis. For those children who are physically unable to leave their rooms, we are working with hospital administration to be able to bring at least two of the four miniatures into the hospital and directly into the rooms. There isn’t much that can change these children’s circumstances, but Whispering Manes believes that our miniatures have the ability to bring a smile to someone’s face and probably even some laughter. Minis On The Go is a one-day field trip where we will transport four miniature horses to the hospital. Ideally, we will be able to schedule these visits no less than quarterly, but hopefully as often as monthly depending upon funding.

Newburgh, NY – Making Piece

2019-03-17T00:00:00Z

Members of Girls to Ladies are planning a collaboratively produced anti-violence project called Making Piece. This will be the installation of a cooperatively created quilt of verbal and visual art, that will be 'toured' in multiple venues followed by a community discussion and performance component and the production of a book that will contain reproductions of some of the works submitted. This book will be made available to the Newburgh Free Library as well as the middle and high school libraries. The quilt will contain 'patches' made on weather resistant paper that may be displayed outside or in.

Cass Clay – Grandma's Giving Garden

2019-03-15T00:00:00Z

The idea for this project developed during the harvest season of 2017, when I noticed there was a significant amount of vegetables left for waste in the local community garden. Being an old farm girl I couldn't let these vegetables go to waste so I filled my trailer full and headed to the Grand Forks Mission to donate the vegetables. While talking to some of the staff I became aware of the extreme need for food donations for these types of local agencies. So in the summer of 2018 I set out to do what I could to support the children and families in need of fresh produce in my community. Last summer with the help of several Volunteers, All Season's Community Garden and my own resources I planted my garden all total in size it was over 4,000 sq ft. I had little resources but so much ambition and support from my community that the Garden was able to produce 3,727 lbs of organic vegetables to the local Salvation Army cupboard. This year my goal is to donate 6,000 lbs of vegetables to the greater Grand Forks food cupboards. With the help from organizations such as The Awesome Foundation and my local community my goal of providing 6,000 lbs of fresh produce to children and families in need is more obtainable.

Rockport, MA – RES Waste Reduction and Compost Project

2019-03-15T00:00:00Z

We have seen the need to reduce waste created in our school cafeteria and classrooms. Our team of 16 fifth graders has consulted with Eric Magers of Seaside Sustainability about beginning this project with a week long trash audit. We will be presenting the results of this audit and more about our project to the rest of the elementary school staff and student body. We will then continue by raising awareness of waste through classroom presentations and whole school assemblies. We will work with our school's facilities manager to install our waste system in the cafeteria and monitor our progress.

Rochester, NY (Inativo) – Second Sunday Stories & Stuff

2019-03-14T00:00:00Z

Every second Sunday of the month since I cut the ribbon at The Avenue Blackbox Theatre on June 7, 2018 at 780 Joseph Avenue we have celebrated literacy. community and childlike curiosity in one of Rochester's arts deserts. I believe deeply in literacy and the power of storytelling to build community and common ground. BUT, I believe it should be FUN -- first and foremost. So I started off with STORY PARADE, interactive storytime that included an African drumming workshop, stories from a master storyteller, content-themed art project, healthy snack and book giveaway, sidewalk chalk art and the highlight -- a parade in costume down Joseph Avenue led by our Master Drummer and chanting POSITIVITY to reinforce the power of the SPOKEN WORD. Alas, the Rochester snow pushed us back inside to regroup and I got together with a 7 year old author friend of mine to come up with a new idea. We decided to return in January with a STORY CARNIVAL! We will transform the theater into a literary TENT TOWN, show up in our favorite costumes or snuggy pajamas to read or be read to, eat healthy snack, listen to a story from our featured master storyteller, do our content-themed art project, play carnival games and get prizes! Our community engagement piece in lieu of the snowed-out parade will be huge, colorful window drawing installations about our story outlined by our resident visual artists and colored in by all participants for our neighbors passing by!

Boston, MA – Pipetting Zoo

2019-03-14T00:00:00Z

I want to create an interactive installment for the Cambridge Science festival called the pipetting zoo where participants will be able to interact with copapods, daphnia, nematodes, zooplankton, hydra, diatoms, tardigrades and other little swimming critters in the style of a petting zoo!!

Buffalo, NY (Inativo) – A Different View to Buffalo

2019-03-13T00:00:00Z

Since I moved to Buffalo two years ago I spend a lot of time exploring the city. On my walks on the West side of the city I often enjoy the feeling of being present on the street and I want to extend that moment and sustain that feeling. In these moments I just want to sit down to enjoy the view, the air, the sounds, explore the buildings with my eyes, watch traffic - have a feel of the physical environment and the life in it. And I always notice that there is nowhere to sit down. That’s an awkward realization, because it feels like the streets force me to keep moving, telling me to get off, when I want to stay there. That is not cool. That’s why I would use the grant to put a bench on the street in the Five Points area of the West side of Buffalo. I chose the Five Points, because it is frequently visited by customers of local businesses and I think it would get attention from residents of the neighborhood and visitors from other parts of the city alike. The bench would let people look around in their city from a different time and space perspective - the perspective of the city itself. The experience would be more than the usual transient one, when we drive on those streets or when we rush from A to B; it would be a few minutes of slow immersion, a long gaze; we would notice new things and we could understand better where we live.

Annapolis, NS (Inativo) – Mills Mountain Bakery

2019-03-13T00:00:00Z

Brittany Buckland and Tammy Thompson were both preparing gluten free meals and baked goods for their celiac family members. Being celiac for many years, had brought many challenges to caring for their families while providing uncontaminated food. They saw the side effects of their family members after they had unknowingly had gluten contaminated food and that was unpleasant for them They both had the ability to bake/cook and had a bit of business sense so they decided to do market research at summer markets. During this very informative time, they discovered, THEY WERE NOT ALONE in their quest for uncontaminated gluten free products. Mills Mountain GF Foods was born!!! and they are thrilled to share their safe food with everyone to enjoy. With the Awesome win, they will use the funds for their new location (4704 Hwy 1), providing them with a freezer display unit. They have a dedicated gluten free facility providing uncompromised products for the health and well being of celiacs and gluten intolerant folks of the Valley.

San Francisco, CA – We’re not going Anywhere

2019-03-12T00:00:00Z

We’re not going Anywhere” Public services for the public. 8 Vans parked alongside Lake Merritt, in Oakland with all their wheels removed and resting on cinder-blocks. Each van with its own unique public service experience and an open sliding door letting people in from the sidewalk with an alluring carpet. Each van will be decorated and the services will be things like, “have a delicious meal” “very gentle things” “advice from a local” “teatime” “learn to dj” “miniature-skill sharing” and so on. Each van will have someone inside giving the service and someone outside introducing the experience. The Vans will stay parked for several hours, then the wheels will go back on and they’ll drive away.

Ann Arbor, MI – Women of Banglatown Youth Arts

2019-03-11T00:00:00Z

Women of Banglatown has a unique origin story. The founder, Ali Lapetina, was working on a photography project in Hamtramck, Michigan when she noticed these young girls playing in an alleyway. She befriended them and found out they were a part of the Bangladeshi community located in Hamtramck. As she continued her friendship with these girls and their families, she noticed a lack of space for the Bangladeshi girls and young women. Boys zip through the neighborhoods on their bikes and find commune with each other but there was no equivalent for these girls. Women of Banglatown was created to provide that space. Now we provide weekly art and wellness classes as well as just a space for girls to make friends, create, and find unity with each other. Each week we bring in local artists to teach a lesson. Women of Banglatown has taught screen printing, photography, sun prints, henna, pressed flowers, weaving, natural dyes, paper making, and more. Alongside our arts programming we focus on wellness by providing zumba lessons, yoga on the roof, and self care days. Overarchingly, we want our all women community space to be a place where girls can relax and have fun, whether it’s movie nights or homework help. Our mission at Women of Banglatown is to empower girls and women through diverse programming while creating a comfortable space for community conversation.

Birmingham, AL (Inativo) – I See Me, Inc.

2019-03-06T00:00:00Z

Did you know that two thirds of children of color that are not reading on grade level by the fourth grade will fall victim to the criminal justice system. Reading is the common thread that runs through every subject area and career field. To create a child that is college or career ready we must begin with the basics. The mission of “I See Me, Inc.” is to dismantle the “School-to-Prison Pipeline” by increasing the literacy rates in children of color by engaging them in literature that reflects their culture and mirrors their image. We plan to break the cycle through our events, programs and books that mirror children of color’s culture, experience and image. I See Me, Inc. Currently has 5 programs to meet our mission: *Real Men Read brings men from throughout the community into schools to read to male students in a one-day event. It promotes a positive educational image to students and allows them to engage with successful male role models through books and reading *Just Us Girls uses literature to stimulate and engage important conversations among young women of color. The literature and activities are connected in a way that allow these young women to view themselves as empowered, confident and valued. *The I See Me Book Drive promotes the vital connection between the proverbial “village” and its students through the donation of books featuring characters reflecting the culture of students of color. Knowing how to read makes people safer, healthier and more self-sufficient. *1st Library ensures every child in need has books in their home by helping them create their first home library. Using books donated to the “I See Me Book Drive”, the program builds early readers into lifelong learners—and encourages other family members to read as well. *Through partnership with local licensed barbers, “I See Me, Inc.” offer students a chance to EARN free haircuts by simply reading. “Crown Me”, is an effort to motivate as well as attach a masculine sense of reading.

Adelaide – King of the Hill All Style Battle and Workshop

2019-03-06T00:00:00Z

King of the Hill is a dance battle which brings some of Adelaide's leading street dancers into the area of Mount Barker to inspire our young people. With limited resources and infrastructure for young people in the Adelaide hills and issues of youth mental health on the rise, this event aims to bring positive role models into the community to inspire our young people and show them what can be achieved through determination, discipline, positive mind-set and community support. The selected role models spend time talking with our young people about their own lives and how they train. They also talk about the values that can be learnt amongst the street dance culture which promotes respect, humility and team work. This event sees a number of local young people from the area attending and competing against their idols. This culture of competition is quite unique. It is not about knocking the other person out. It is all about representing who you are by displaying how creative you can be with your own freestyle movements. Competitors cheer each other on as opposed to jeering. Older dancers stand behind and support the younger ones as they want to see this culture continue. Many of the younger dancers leave with heads held high due to the time and respect they get from the older dancers. The older dancers also gain a sense of appreciation and respect when they see how excited and honoured the younger dancers are when they get to socialise and dance with them. It is an incredible moment for creating connections, new friendships and inspiration.

Antigonish, NS (Inativo) – Fidget blankets for seniors with Alzheimers or Dem

2019-03-05T00:00:00Z

I have been spending some time over the past year with a friend who lives in the RK MACDONALD nursing home. He suffered a traumatic brain injury at the age of 17 and His parents have had lots of friends spend time with him almost everyday . Currently I take him out for an excursion three times a week. So at least 3 times a week I walk through the RK and visit briefly with the folks there. Some are still communicating orally some are a little more limited and some are suffering with Alzheimers or dementia. I was commissioned last year to make a sensory blanket or fidget blanket for a lady to give to her father at the RK and I’ve been interested in them since. Now because of my frequent visits I can see a real need for them. My plan is to use the generous funding to purchase supplies and hire a helper to make 10-15 fidget blankets which I will donate to the RK Nursing home to be used by the residents.

Austin, TX – SAGE Studio Spring Art Show

2019-03-04T00:00:00Z

Started in January 2017 as an art studio for emerging artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities, SAGE Studio works to connect contemporary artists with disabilities to Austin’s broader arts community. SAGE moved into its current space, a refurbished shipping container in East Austin, in May 2018, and began functioning as a dual studio and gallery space that provides Austin-based adults with disabilities the materials, space, and support to produce, exhibit, and sell their artwork. SAGE works with artists in two capacities. Our studio artists create their art in our East Austin studio, with the guidance of practicing artist facilitators. The goal for participating artists is to strengthen their artistic voice, build a cohesive portfolio of work for exhibition, and pursue a career as a professional artist. All materials are provided to studio artists by SAGE, and studio artists are eligible to have their work displayed in the gallery. SAGE also represents artists in the gallery who create their work outside the studio. These artists can live locally, or may live and work elsewhere in Texas. SAGE currently works with four studio artists and three gallery artists. Both studio and gallery artists are paid a 50% commission on all original work sold in gallery. SAGE Studio’s artists range in age, ethnicity, and diagnosis, and work in a variety of mediums, including drawing, painting, weaving, and paper modeling. SAGE Studio puts on quarterly art shows, and participates in other relevant programming, such as Big Medium's East Austin Studio Tour in November. At the core of SAGE Studio’s mission is the message of inclusion: “to increase the visibility of artists with disabilities within Austin’s vibrant arts community, enabling them to become meaningful contributors to the social, economic, and creative life of the community.” In 2018, SAGE was recognized by the Austin Chronicle as Austin's "Best Outsider Art Advocate" in their annual Best of Austin issue. The Awesome Foundation's microgrant will fund the SAGE Studio spring art show on March 23, 2019.

Awesome Without Borders (Inativo) – WELL-GROOMED

2019-03-04T00:00:00Z

WELL GROOMED is a short documentary revealing the art and industry around the colorful world of creative dog grooming. It follows two female American dog groomers as they transform poodles into fantastical creations during intense competitions, together forming an industry around their new craft. A niche within the American grooming circuit, creative dog groomers direct their talent to transforming poodles into vibrate creations. Unknown to the outside world, these competitions draw thousands and spawn copycat grooming organizations around the world. Each design takes 30 hours of dye work to expertly blend hues into dog fur. Groomers then endure 3 hours in front of judges, styling their pets into exotic and abstract creations, which can range from Scooby Doo to “Halloween”. The prize for competing? Fame. Seen as both awe-inspiring and troubling from groomers at large, these women have become objects of envy and derision as they push this art further than ever before. Outside competitions, neighbors view their work with skepticism. Creative groomers must fight to prove that their art is safe for the dog – and that it enjoys the hours on the grooming table as they pull, push and coif its hair. One groomer in particular is a standout in the industry, and has enjoyed more wins in competition than anyone else. Angela Kumpe from Little Rock, AR, is a force in the grooming industry, and has recently begun educating the outside world on the “good” in creative grooming while continuing to win the top prizes. However, one of her best friends and protégés, Adriane Pope, has high hopes of taking this year’s prize away from her. Adriane seems poised to become a powerhouse in the creative styling ring. WELL GROOMED reveals the world’s top creative grooming competitors as they vie for the year’s best design – and follows two friends who work together to push this growing art form to new heights.

State College, PA – Healthy Living Cookbook

2019-03-04T00:00:00Z

The YMCA has come up with a great way to bring healthy food and information to families in Centre and Clearfield Counties with the Healthy Living Mobile Kitchen. I would like to develop an easy to read cookbook that can be given to participants in the bus program. Colorful pictures and recipes that use the produce the bus is offering so that families have more cooking ideas when they head to their kitchen.

Fleurieu – The Green Pantry

2019-03-03T00:00:00Z

The Green Pantry was a simple idea of wanting to build community by sharing food and pantry items out to people that needed a bit of encouragement. It is located at a property just out of Victor. Fully stocked with meals, pantry, personal and household items, these hampers get distributed out on a needs basis. Know someone who could use some help? Get in contact with The Green Pantry. I have lived in Victor Harbor for the past five years with my husband and four children. I am passionate about our community, getting involved, good food, and coffee. I think our community has so much to offer and I love making a difference in peoples lives just by offering a little kindness. A massive bonus is that my kids get to see that supporting each other is so important, and now they love delivering bread and bakery items to people as much as I do.

Moscow (Inativo) – "Мы рисуем детство"

2019-03-02T00:00:00Z

В малых городах России, таких как г. Мантурово Костромской области, стоит острая проблема по организации работы с детьми-инвалидами. Родители вынуждены обращаться за помощью к специалистам областного центра. Большинству это недоступно по финансовым причинам. Вследствие чего, у детей с инвалидностью ограничен круг общения: 4-6 часов в неделю при посещении образовательного учреждения, а также общение в кругу родных. ГАУ КО «Мантуровский комплексный центр социального обслуживания населения» - единственное учреждение г. Мантурово, которое предоставляет услуги по социальной реабилитации детей-инвалидов. Специалисты Центра проводят занятия по социально-бытовой, социально-средовой, социально-психологической и социокультурной реабилитации. Однако, нам бы хотелось расширить наши возможности и показать родителям новые формы и методы работы с детьми. Наш проект «Мы рисуем детство!» направлен на создание условий для социальной реабилитации и интеграции детей-инвалидов средствами художественного рисования. Мы планируем проводить занятия с детьми по обучению их навыкам рисования, используя нетрадиционные техники и материалы: рисование цветным песком, на стекле, штампы, монотипия, рисунок по соли и др. Изобразительная деятельность для детей-инвалидов носит эмоциональный и творческий характер. В процессе рисования ребенок испытывает разнообразные чувства: радуется красивому изображению, которое он создал сам, огорчается, если что-то не получается. Но самое главное: создавая изображение, ребенок приобретает различные знания; уточняются и углубляются его представления об окружающем; в процессе работы он начинает осмысливать качества предметов, овладевать изобразительными навыками и умениями, учится осознанно их использовать. Результатом данного проекта мы видим: 1. Вовлечение в активную деятельность 30 семей с детьми-инвалидами из 61 семьи, состоящей на учете; 2. Проведение выставок работ на общегородских мероприятиях «Широкая масленица - 2019», День защиты детей и других.

Liverpool (Inativo) – My City: Creative Writing & Storytelling - Persian

2019-03-02T00:00:00Z

This creative writing and storytelling workshop for ages 15+ planned to take place at the Central Youth Club in Liverpool in May to coincide with WoW Festival aims to bring together the Iranian diaspora with the wider communities of Liverpool through storytelling. -extending on the social events to celebrate national and cultural occasions and the English classes for adults to help the new immigrants handle day to day conversations we offer. Using The Book of Tehran - a new collection of short stories translated into English by some of the best contemporary writers from Iran as inspiration for the day the group will explore how they might apply these themes to their own place of writing. What is the Iranian community’s experience of life in Liverpool? What can we learn from the style of writing, language and interpretations across cultures? How does this evoke a sense of place, what do we learn about Tehran, how does this compare to our experience of these cities? The leader would then introduce exercises for the group to try, leading into creative time in which to write something exploring their relationship to Iran, the UK or both. There would then be time for the group to share their stories and feedback. Proposed workshop leaders are local artist and creative writing expert Vahid Davar and The Book of Tehran contributor Orkideh Behrouzan.

Minas Gerais (Inativo) – Sarau Litero Musical

2019-03-01T00:00:00Z

PROJETO DANÇADO Totalizando, até o momento, 10 apresentações, todas sem fins lucrativos, em quadra aberta da Escola Estadual Gerson Gomes de Almeida, em Ipaba, objetiva, envolvendo alunos, seu entorno e a comunidade, trazer mais cultura à cidade. Este é o projeto Awesome de Março! Composto por cerca de 400 (!) alunos de 07 a 14 anos é liderado pela professora Sônia Cristina, o sarau faz agora 14 anos e se mantém pela ajuda dos pais, professores, direção da escola e comunidade. Ela quer dar continuidade ao projeto pela emoção de ser portadora de cultura em sua comunidade e pela arte da dança, em si, por que tem muito amor! O coral traz em torno de si um público estimado de 2000 pessoas. QUE SEJA AWESOME

Gloucester, MA – McPherson Walkway Gardens

2019-03-01T00:00:00Z

Libraries (Inativo) – The Library for Food Sovereignty

2019-03-01T00:00:00Z

The Library for Food Sovereignty (LFS) is a knowledge commons for inspiring, exchanging, and safeguarding farmer innovations, famer-led research, and farmer stories from around the world. What our grantee has to say: "This project explores the application of information and communication technologies within the indigenous farming community, I will specifically use this funding to help develop participatory innovation development and farmer-led documentation practices. What our trustees have to say: “A unique approach to building a knowledge commons that not only facilitates the sharing of information but also its protection from commercial interests.” “This project aims for a delicate balance between culturally-sensitive open access and the preservation of intellectual property rights for individual farmers.” “An inspiring project with a big impact.”

North Minneapolis, MN – Save the Youth, Save the Future

2019-03-01T00:00:00Z

The Brother’s Foundation’s (TBF) was formed by young men, connected to the streets, from rival Northside gang factions. On a mission, to prevent/interrupt and divert Northside middle school boys (including their sons) from participating in street and/or gang violence. As fathers of young males reaching middle school age, we are reminded of what caused us to put down the balls and pick up the guns.” Peer pressure, the longing to belong to a group, to be seen; caused us to make some bad choices. We want to get ahead of that curve and interrupt any alienation with society that occurs as they enter their teens. Hence, the name Save the Youth, Save the Future. As former gang members ourselves, we do not want the next generation to follow in our footsteps. We want to interrupt the cycle of violence that manifests as Northside young males enter puberty. In small groups, TBF will offer these youth the opportunity to build relationships with adults they can trust, be able to voice their needs and concerns We will provide opportunities that we did not have as youth. We will offer a safe place where they can express themselves, discuss their challenges and speak for themselves. TBF will provide support in the form of resources and encouragement.

Melbourne (Inativo) – Children of Cherbourg

2019-02-28T00:00:00Z

We plan to freight 1200 books we have collected from Melbourne Libraries and private donors across Melbourne to Cherbourg Aboriginal Learning Centre, so that parents and children can borrow books to read with each other at home as well as the Cherbourg Primary School students having full access

Raleigh, NC (Inativo) – Let's Hop NC

2019-02-28T00:00:00Z

Let's Hop NC is a North Carolina based project that brings art to the streets, literally! With this project, I plan to transform sidewalks into exciting playgrounds with unique hopscotch boards. After securing the proper permissions, these hand-painted boards can be painted anywhere in the city attracting and connecting people of all different backgrounds and generations. Each board will be unique and completely different from the next.

Disability – DREAM

2019-02-28T00:00:00Z

DREAM is a national online organization that connects and supports students to become leaders and agents of change on their campuses through programs such as DREAM Chapters and Affiliates, Mentor Monday webinars, and Disabled & Proud student conferences. DREAM members strongly advocate for disability culture, community, and pride as well as the interests of college students with disabilities and strive to develop into an online disability cultural center for students who want to connect with other students and the disability community. DREAM is led by an advisory board of outstanding college students from across the U.S. and a part-time coordinator and has over 40 chapters and affiliates. Our sponsoring organization--the National Center for College Students with Disabilities (NCCSD)—is stretching a 3-year U.S. Department of Education grant to cover 5 years and has no funds to develop new DREAM programs. Except for the conference, which is offered at low or no cost, all our programs are open to students for free. Our last Disabled & Proud conference was held online in October 2018 for nearly 500 students and featured over 50 presenters, mentors, exhibitors, and sponsors (https://www.disabledandproud.org). Based on feedback emerging from conference activities, the DREAM Board would like to provide students with more support to build and sustain their organizations as well as more events promoting disability culture and pride. Keri Gray with the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) has proposed a fantastic pair of workshops on how to sustain student organizations and their leaders over time. In addition, we’d like to have a disability film screening and student-led Twitter chat as an online social activity. Finally, we'd like to further support our 2019 Mentor Monday guest mentors who are authors, like Naomi Ortiz and Keah Brown, by buying copies of their work for promotional giveaways to students (guest mentors receive a small honorarium from NCCSD). What our grantee is saying: "We at DREAM are so grateful to receive this grant from Awesome Disability! The grant will kickstart new programs to develop college student leadership and disability pride, bringing together Deaf and disabled students from across the U.S. to network and support each other."

San Antonio, TX – World's 1st Wall-Mounted Solar Mural Installation

2019-02-28T00:00:00Z

The World's 1st Wall-Mounted Solar Mural Installation will be mounted on the west-facing exterior wall of JT Brackenridge Elementary School at the historic crossroads of San Antonio's Westside: Guadalupe and South Brazos Streets. The Land Art Generator--a piece of public art producing renewable energy--will consist of 18 solar panels coated with image-embedded photovoltaic film. The Esperanza Center has long been collecting and exhibiting historic photos as fotobanners along the streets of San Antonio’s Westside as part of a project called En Aquellos Tiempos: Fotohistorias del Westside, a unique outdoor street museum highlighting the area’s rich historical and cultural heritage. One section along the Guadalupe Street fence of JT Brackenridge Elementary School which you arrive at as you enter the Westside over the Guadalupe Bridge, is devoted to fifty sepia and black-and-white shots from 1906 to 1960 of children from this barrio. This stretch is impressive during the day but dark at night: Esperanza has long wanted to nocturnally illuminate this important “art”-ery. The World's 1st Wall-Mounted Solar Mural Installation will provide the electricity to do just that. Last spring, Land Art Generator Initiative--global leaders in the crusade to make renewable energy beautiful--conducted community engagement workshops with over 75 fifth grade science students who learned about renewable energy and helped determine content/composition for the Solar Mural project. Then LAGI worked with a group of Westside community elders addressing the same challenge. Consensus between the two generationally-diverse groups led to selection of two images for an awesome Solar Mural artwork: a sepia-toned 1906 class picture of JT Brackenridge Elementary School students at the school’s nearby original site juxtaposed against a current color shot of the 75+ fifth-graders who helped with the project. 18 60-cell solar modules--9 modules per photo, each in a 3x3 composition!

Aviano (Inativo) – Great Gelato Giveaway

2019-02-28T00:00:00Z

We love gelato and think that ice-cream is a great way to help people bond. As spring approaches with warmer weather, the gelato shops in the Aviano area are getting busier. We plan to donate some funds to a number of these places to give away ice cream to groups of people at their discretion. What an awesome way to celebrate spring.

New York City, NY – Project X Bronx Poetry & Arts Festival

2019-02-27T00:00:00Z

We love to support people who are passionate about building and supporting their communities, so we are so excited to support Project X as they launch a new Poetry & Arts festival this summer. In organizer Noel Quiñones's own words: _Over the past three years Project X has organized nearly 40 slams, workshops, & community programming in the Bronx. Through this, we experienced the power poetry has on uplifting & connecting communities of color, income, disability, & sexual orientation. Throughout our season, we watch people slowly come out of their shells while making friends & gaining professional development & experience. We want to celebrate the artists that worked hard throughout the year. We want them to celebrate themselves & their resilience, & most importantly we want the rest of the Bronx to see the beautiful work growing in their backyard. Therefore our awesome project is to create and host the first ever Bronx Poetry & Arts Festival to be held in the South Bronx in August 2019._ _We create a space for Bronx poets & artists to grow through friendships & opportunities. The Bronx has NYC’s highest poverty rate, leaving many artists without the leisure to work solely on their art. This combined with consistent violence on immigrants, women, & LGBTQ individuals, leads many to feel beaten down & forgotten. Project X wants to empower them to feel worthy & supported. The Bronx birthed us & art carried us through. We will remain a resource for Bronx poets & artists & commit to holding ourselves accountable. We will not be forgotten._ The festival will be held on August 10, 2019 at the iD Studio Theater in the Bronx. We hope to see you there!

Kingston – Gnome for a home

2019-02-27T00:00:00Z

"Gnome for a home" is 10 years old Lylia dream to help homeless in Kingston. During the holidays, Lylia designed and painted 200 greeting cards (representing gnomes) that she sold ($5 each) to help the homeless in Kingston. On December 21st, she was able to donate $ 1000 to the non-profit organization Martha's Table. "Gnome for a home" cards has sold so fast and Lylia was so proud that she decided to paint another 200 Valentine's themed cards (representing) gnomes and taking 100% proceeds again to Martha's Table to help homeless. Lylia's dream is to see "Gnome for a home" club in schools in Kingston and why not other Canada cities... may be around the world? "Gnome for a home cards" have been seen in Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec, Paris and Tunis !!! Many other kids can join and personalize her cards and use their own network to sell even more cards! Lylia is already thinking about Mother's Day and Father's Day themed "Gnome for a home" cards.

Awesome Without Borders (Inativo) – Fat Girls Hiking

2019-02-25T00:00:00Z

Fat Girls Hiking is fat activism, body liberation & outdoor community. We want to take the shame & stigma out of the word FAT & empower it. Our motto, Trails Not Scales focuses on Self Care in the outdoors. We promote weight-neutrality & Health At Every Size. We want all people to feel comfortable outdoors & be able to access the outdoors in a way that meets their needs & to be able to claim their space on the trail. We believe that folks of all ages, sizes, shapes, races, religions, classes, abilities, genders and sexual identities should be represented & celebrated in the outdoors. Our community is for everyone! We encourage & support folks who want to get out & hike, to do so!

Washington, DC – The Wash & Learn Initiative

2019-02-25T00:00:00Z

Many families living in poverty spend 90 minutes and $5 each week at their neighborhood laundromat. Waiting for laundry provides an opportune time for families to complete administrative/educational tasks, such as tax prep or book readings with kids. This project will create a pop-up library at one laundromat in Washington, DC, and engage local organizations/volunteers to facilitate educational workshops in the laundromat. Imagine this: You walk into your neighborhood laundromat, drop your kids off with the children’s librarian reading books to kids in a quiet corner. This gives you time -- the first time ever at the laundromat -- where you can fold your clothes calmly without running around after your kids (who usually entertain themselves here by jumping into the laundry carts). While your clothes are in the washer, you are invited by a certified CPA to ask her any questions you might have about your taxes due in April. While your clothes are in the dryer, you sign onto one of the provided computers to check your e-mail, and with occasional help and encouragement from one of the volunteers on site, you write your first digital resume and submit your first job application online. I have scoped out the laundromats in the city, and have received oral commitments from laundromat owners in wards 8 and 4 to utilize the waiting rooms in their stores for a pop-up event. I intend to take this one-off event as an opportunity to build momentum behind more frequent and more sustained events inside laundromat waiting rooms across our city. I want to transform all laundromat waiting rooms into public access computer labs with facilitated learning opportunities because I believe in a prospective future unhindered by structural inequalities.

Alaska (Inativo) – Visit and Play at the Fairbanks Children's Museum

2019-02-25T00:00:00Z

Fairbanks Children's Museum is a small nonprofit organization that serves 40,000+ people per year. It is our mission to inspire and connect families through discovery and the power of play. That sets us apart from other children's museums that have mission statements that are child-driven. We are family-driven. We strive to extend our reach to everyone in Fairbanks. Recently we began working with the Fairbanks Corrections Center, improving their contact visitation space, because every family deserves to have meaningful connection. We offer significantly reduced admission to anyone with an EBT card or foster parent card, and regularly offer reduced or free admission for special events to extend our reach to special sub-groups like military families, and often to the entire community at large. In December, we started a new program called Visit and Play where the museum is open extended hours twice a month, exclusively for children in the foster care system to have visits with the biological parents, at all levels of supervision. We have some parents who have just earned unsupervised visits but need a place outside of their home, we have supervisors from state and nonprofit organizations, and we have foster parents that serve as supervisors. We offer the parents a safe, non-judgmental place where they can connect with their children in a way that traditional supervised visitation scenarios do not allow, where, maybe, for an hour, they can forget about all of the other factors impacting their contact with their child. Parents struggling to get custody of their children face plenty of uphill battles, and one of them simply does not need to be facing the judgment of those who have not a clue what has brought them to this point.

Oahu, HI – Mural - Mele on the Lawn

2019-02-22T00:00:00Z

After all these years Kalaheo High School is finally getting a functional field for our sporting events! Our Principal wants to celebrate this with a field dedication event called "Mele on the Lawn" that involves the entire community of Kailua. There will be music, Hawaiian cultural activities, and food vendors; along with an announcement of the new field's name. The proposed date of the event is slated to take place on April 4, 2019. Everyone in the community is invited and welcome to participate in this event, and the art department is creating a mural with the field's name that we hope the community can help us with! We hope to create a design that will allow everyone to add a few brushstrokes to!

Orlando, FL – Night Shift: An Experiment

2019-02-21T00:00:00Z

Night Shift: An Experiment, is an immersive, pop-up event, that will showcase a diverse range of media—including sound performances, installation art, avant-garde film, and experimental textile — all created by local Florida artists working outside of the traditional institutional system. The lineup: *Carl Knickerbocker: Avant-garde Film *Bethany Mikell: Experimental Textiles *Bahareh Khoshooee: Installation *Chris LeBrane: Sound Art *Brittany Metz: Immersive Video Experience The evening will include a chance to meet and greet all artists and experience their art first hand, while also seeing some of them "at work", creating experimental art live in the museum. Additionally, there will be music by local DJs and guests will have access to the Museum’s two new exhibitions: Nick Cave: Feat. and Purvis Young and His Angels. An additional experience may include an awesome experimental projection mapping on the landmark sculpture by Dale Chihuly, by local new media creatives Ascend Studios. This is where we need your awesome grant!!

Newmarket – Feed Your Mind (Nutrition Program)

2019-02-21T00:00:00Z

Our Breakfast program at Sir William Mulock Secondary School is a far reaching initiative providing access to a healthy meal daily to students in need while concurrently developing employment skills to at risk students in specialized programming. Our breakfast program provides three basic food groups to over 100 students every day in our school. We have created an environment where any student can come to our Main Office, Learning Commons (Library) or our Breakfast room and receive grab-n-go healthy snacks to fuel their brains and bodies. We feel that accessibility to healthy food is vital for all students. Therefore, it is very important that students do not feel stigmatized for accessing these resources. Therefore, our program provided equal access for all students who might not have access to healthy food. We, also, want to encourage healthy eating options for all of our students. In addition to feeding hungry teens, our program provides learning opportunities and job experience to many specialized programs in our school. The students in our Autism program are given employment ready skills through our program by baking muffins, doing laundry, delivering snacks, and bagging cereal for our program. The students in our Multiple Exceptionalities class deliver snacks to many locations in our school daily. Our Community class learns food preparation skills by preparing fresh veggie snack bags for our program on a weekly basis. Our Alternative Education classes prepare snacks, bake muffins, and prepare hot foods for the Breakfast program.

Yerevan – Modern Urban Art

2019-02-21T00:00:00Z

Արտասահմանում փողոցային արվեստի օրինակներ շատ կան՝ օրինակ մեր հարևան երկրում գտնվող FABRIKA-ն, Մոսկվայում գտնվող FLACON և այլն։ Սակայն մեր երկրում այս արվեստը զարգացաց չէ՝ կարծես անգամ գոյություն չունի։ Modern Urban Art նախագիծն իրենից ներկայացնում է ժամանակակից փողոցային արվեստ, որի նպատակն է քաղաքային միջավայրում ուշադրության դարձնել այն վայրերն ու պատերը, որոնք մարդկանց կողմից լքված են և անուշադրության մատված։ Քանի որ Հայաստանում արվեստի այս տեսակը գրեթե բացակայում է, նախագիծի իրականացումը կօգնի զարգացնել այն մեր երկրում՝ կյանքի կոչելով լքված հին պատերը։ Նախագծի հիմքը դպրոցի և մարդկանց անցուղու բաժանարար բետոնային պատ է՝ 100 մ երկարությամբ և 1.8 մ բարձրությամբ: Հիմնական շեշտը դրված է լուսավորության և գեղագիտական լուծման վրա: Որպեսզի պատը ստանա իր գեղագիտական նշանակությունը, այն ներկվելու է ողջ երկայնքով՝ օգտագոծելով 4 հիմնական գույներ՝ կարմիր, կապույտ, դեղին և կանաչ: Տվյալ տարածքի հիմնական խնդիրը լուսավորությունն է և մարդիկ ամեն օր առընչվում են այդ խնդրի հետ: Այդ իսկ պատճառով այն կլուսավորվի գիշերը՝ ստանալով էլ ավելի գրավիչ տեսք։ Նախագիծը կիրականացվի ԹՈՒՄՈ ստեղծարար տեխնոլոգիաների փողոցային արվեստով հետաքրքրված կամավորների հետ միասին։

Ottawa – Electro-Stitches: Free E-Textile Workshops

2019-02-21T00:00:00Z

February’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to Lee Jones to support a series of free e-textile workshops in Ottawa. “E-textiles and having electronics in your clothes might sound like science fiction,” explains Lee, “but are actually a fun and easy way to learn all about electricity and building sensors. E-textiles combine learning craft techniques such as sewing, weaving, knitting, and crocheting with the added excitement of making a circuit work. Learning to sew with e-textiles also allows individuals to upcycle old clothes into items that are personally meaningful.” “Typically,” continues Lee, “when individuals get started with electronics they need to purchase $100-$300 worth of kit. With e-textiles, instead of buying individual sensors and components, you can make your own out of a few conductive and resistive materials, and the rest you can recycle from old clothes or get at the dollar store. There are also added learning opportunities because you get to customize your sensors to your own needs, and learn about how they work along the way.” In Lee’s introductory workshops individuals will learn all about soft circuits and get the chance to make their own. The workshops will cover the basics of sewing with conductive thread, how to build circuits, and sewing tools and techniques for putting everything together. Participants will also build off their new-found knowledge of soft circuits and start their own interactive projects, learning how to make soft sensors that can detect touch, stretch, and movement. No prior knowledge of electronics or sewing will be required. For more information, and to sign up for a workshop, visit electrostitches.com. Lee is a PhD student at Carleton University, researching ambient wearables at the Creative Interactions Lab. She also teaches the Bodycentric Technologies class at OCAD University in Toronto. She fell in love with e-textiles while doing research on wearables, and enjoys how they allow individuals to combine craft techniques and electronics.

Baltimore, MD – The Board Room Chess Baltimore

2019-02-20T00:00:00Z

The Board Room Chess is a community initiative committed to creating safe spaces for Baltimore City Youth to gather and learn values, respect and develop self esteem, all while learning the game of chess. The Board Room meets twice each month. Each session includes basic chess instruction and segments on the importance of making good decisions, planning ahead or strategizing, setting goals, family values and the importance of authority, whether family, municipal or education. All participants receive a t-shirt, free lessons and a chess journal. Lunch is served each session. Baltimore is the home of many young people with aspirations and talent outside of the normal stereotypes. Not all of our children would prefer to dribble a basketball or pass a football, however, there are not too many other options for those who would like to be challenged intellectually. At the Board Room individuals will be challenged as they learn the game and those who are familiar with the game will have the opportunity to mentor their peers. We hope to extend our program to a summer program to serve 35-50 youth. As our youth learn the game of chess they will move to different levels. Each level is a bit more challenging as is life. Our coaches prepare each child to understand the game and the importance of being confident in making the right decision. As they perfect their game they will have the opportunity to receive ten lessons, taught by Chess Master William Morrison. Each participant will also be entered in the Annual Knights Pawn Tournament to compete with others their age and older. Parents are encouraged to support their children. For parents we will offer mini workshops on financial literacy, which places an emphasis on saving and living within your means. Healthy eating and food friendly education for diabetes and high blood pressure will be offered as well as first time home buyers which will include education about grants, the buying process and credit education.

Chicago, IL – Energy Audits Evanston

2019-02-20T00:00:00Z

Our project connects Northwestern engineering students with low-income Evanstonians to provide free energy audits in Evanston’s Fifth Ward. We estimate that we can reduce utility costs by up to 30%, resulting in up to $350 a year in savings per family audited. Evanston faces a crisis of affordability. Between 2004 and 2013, Evanston lost 40% of its affordable housing, according to a 2019 report by Apartment List. For many in Evanston’s Fifth Ward - traditionally low-income and African-American - managing a rising cost of living while property taxes skyrocket has become almost impossible. Compounding the problem for Fifth Ward homeowners is the high cost of utilities. The housing stock in the Fifth is some of the oldest in the city, with most houses built nearly a hundred years ago. These old houses leak heat. While the median price for utilities in Evanston is approximately $95, one Fifth Ward resident told us that they paid as much as $300 per month in utilities -- yet their house was still too cold. Providing free energy audits will help ease the cost for these already burdened homeowners. Thanks to our partner organizations in Evanston, Connections for the Homeless, and Open Communities, we are connecting engineering students with Fifth Ward families who want to participate in our program. Jim Cavallo, a professional with decades of experience, will train the engineering students to perform a room-by-room examination of the house, find leaks, and install simple fixes. Our partners at Citizens’ Greener Evanston (CGE) have agreed to provide critical heavy equipment, such as an infrared camera and a blower door. We have a strong relationship with Robin Rue Simmons, the Fifth Ward Alderwoman, who has put us in touch with a number of families already. Our first audit training for engineers will take place in late January and we will begin site visits in mid-February. If successful, we will expand next year to the Second and the Eighth Ward.

Ann Arbor, MI – Jade + Woe

2019-02-19T00:00:00Z

Jade + Woe, a Detroit based, non-profit art collective dedicated to conceptualizing and creating solutions in visual + experiential communication. We are not one physical space; we are a catalyst for collaboration that brings artists together through in real life experiences and interactions. The fundamentals of our multidisciplinary platform focus on collaborative and autonomous projects, in which, continuous development and encouragement of artists to step outside of their status quo is encouraged. With a goal for total inclusion, artists are invited to further their experience, promote their work, and connect with like-minded individuals. Our first project connects visual artists with musicians within the Detroit area and focuses on minority groups within these creative fields in efforts to take physical action toward creating what we common know as a ‘safe space’ but rarely experience. It will be an art exhibition held in February at Hard Gallery in Detroit with proceeds from the sold art going to the Ruth Ellis Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping LGBTQ+ youth.

Brumadinho (Inativo) – Expedições Paraopeba Vivo

2019-02-19T00:00:00Z

Expedição de Diagnóstico, Articulação e Cuidados Esta será a 1a expedição que o coletivo tem intenção de realizar 1a: diagnóstico, articulação e cuidados 2a: impulsionar cocriação e planejamento de projetos locais em rede 3a: implementar projetos, capacitando atingidos nas tecnologias de regeneração escolhidas por eles. Ao final de cada expedição faremos um encontro público de compartilhamento do processo e chamadas para a sociedade civil apoiar missões que emergirem do território. Tarefas a serem realizadas: -Escuta ativa e afetiva do território e leitura do cenário -Mapeamento de atores, lideranças, talentos, recursos, demandas, parceiros locais e comunidades tradicionais atingidas -Oferta de cuidado terapêutico (chás,barro, pomadas, massagem) -Estimular a criação de rede de saúde individual, coletiva e da natureza: articulando necessidades locais + terapeutas da rede + ferramentas do Fundo Aliança Brumadinho -Alimentar a equipe do Fundo com informações locais -Apoiar grupos e movimentos já atuantes na localidade -Fortalecer espaços com potencial regenerativo (ex: centros culturais, espaços comunitários) -Criar bases para uma Aliança Regenerativa, que estabeleça parcerias entre Rio Doce, Paraopeba e outros territórios ameaçados -Fazer oficinas e rodas de conversa Quem somos Aliança Rio Doce é um coletivo e rede com objetivo de apoiar a regeneração integral do Rio Doce, promovendo a aliança de pessoas, organizações, talentos e recursos, fortalecendo iniciativas locais através da cocriação e realização de ações, protótipos e projetos colaborativos. Estamos em rede com diversos grupos e organizações da sociedade civil atuando localmente. Para saber mais: www.aliancariodoce.org e www.regenerariodoce.org Nossos valores em: http://wikiriodoce.org/Aliança_Rio_Doce TOTAL: R$2460

Awesome Without Borders (Inativo) – Exposure Therapy

2019-02-18T00:00:00Z

Obscenity, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. The beholder, however, does not exist within a vacuum. Societal norms, social pressure, and misinformation all direct our eyes and tell us what we should see. I believe the oppression of women takes many forms, one of which is the notion that our bodies alone are pornographic. A nipple alone is not pornography, it’s not even gendered. We need to fight this absurdity once and for all — beauty and obscenity are in the eye of the beholder. My body is not the problem, your eyes are. To aid in our fight, I offer Exposure Therapy: nipple stickers to get our point across. Stickers will be placed around the world, on any and all surfaces, to ask questions such as: Is a car with a nipple sexy? Could a sidewalk with a nipple be pornographic? Is my laptop now inappropriate? Would a telephone pole be obscene? Is a tree with a nipple dangerous? With my own efforts I have already gotten nipple stickers in the eager hands of all genders, and placed in California, New York, Norway, Spain, and beyond. I believe this project will help dilute our misunderstanding of the nipple, and further the empowerment of women's bodies. We all have them, only women are shamed for it. People only think about hypocrisy when exposed to it. [The nipple stickers are waterproof and do not damage surfaces (they can be removed if desired)]

Singapore – Party Game: Will you make it to Planet B?

2019-02-18T00:00:00Z

We have designed a human-scale game, sort of scavenger hunt, to raise awareness on sustainability and inequality issues and educate people on these issues. Here is the story we have imagined : We are in 2060. We exhausted the resources of Planet Earth. Millions of people have been killed because of the rise of the sea level, climatic catastrophes and water wars. Fortunately, space explorers have found another planet where we could migrate to.m (Planet B). However, that planet is already populated. The autochtones living there are afraid that we, Earthlings, destroy their beautiful planet as we did with ours. Therefore, they want us to go through an immigration process before they grant us a special visa. 8 delegations from Earth, representing each one of the most powerful nations will have to go through 4 checking points. YOU have been chosen to be part of one of these delegations and contribute to saving humanity. " The game will work like this:: we will have 8 teams of 5 people, and they will have to find the checking points around Chinatown with clues. At each checkpoint they will have a challenge to complete. Each checkpoint on a specific theme: health, art, gastronomy and sustainability/social impact. This last check-point will be a quizz game where they will have to rank activities according to their carbon footprint, and answer some questions on sustainability and social impact. Winners will get a symbolic reward, and everyone will get a free drink in a bar at the end of the game.

Pittsburgh, PA – Roadkill Gallery

2019-02-18T00:00:00Z

Roadkill Gallery is a space focused on accessibility; four walls on wheels housed in a 20' box-truck built to promote collaboration, performance, and arts education throughout the greater Pittsburgh area. This experimental space offers a versatile platform for local artists to exhibit their work and a unique way for the public to engage with it. The gallery’s mobility allows artists to reach new audiences as well as bringing art to a broader range of demographics across Pittsburgh. Communities thrive on art, and art thrives through communities. The idea of a mobile gallery came about while working on .5 Gallery, a creative space in Etna built from the ground up with my childhood friend, James Olson. We wanted to open a creative space in our neighborhood, and in doing so spread our passion for the arts throughout our community. While successful, I came to realize how isolated each Pittsburgh neighborhood can be. This, coupled with a general lack of affordable and convenient transportation options, severely limits how and when people access the arts. Moreover, in cases where people don't lack the means of getting from a to b, they often lack the motivation. My goal is to use Roadkill Gallery to help address these issues. This space will go around to surrounding neighborhoods to bring art to their communities. The main challenges surrounding Roadkill are similar to other Pittsburgh galleries- getting those interested in art who were not previously. With Roadkill Gallery’s accessibility, are also able to provide a further opportunity to partner with other local businesses such as cafes, breweries, libraries etc to develop a wider network of support. Connecting with High Schools and being part of their art program also is a way to influence and interact with a younger generation of aspiring artists. In doing so, we are able to work together and build our community.

Cass Clay – Liz's Closet

2019-02-18T00:00:00Z

"Giving Hearts Day" is this Valentine's Day. It's a day in which the community comes together to raise money for area charities. It's the largest 24-hour giving event in North Dakota and Northwest Minnesota. Each year, thousands of people rally around hundreds of nonprofits in our area. "Liz's Closet" is one of the participating charities. It provides a location at Fargo's three middle schools where students can quietly and confidently acquire items like nonperishable food, hygiene supplies, school supplies, and other basic needs. Over 500 students were helped last school year. The Awesome Foundation of Cass/Clay is participating in Giving Hearts Day by choosing Liz's Closet for this month's $1,000 gift. Liz's Closet is made possible via the Fargo Public Schools Development Foundation, which participates in Giving Hearts Day. To support Liz's Closet and the Fargo Public Schools Development Foundation, or any of the hundreds of participating charities, visit impactgiveback.org on February 14th.

Poughkeepsie, NY – VFW Backpacks for Homeless

2019-02-17T00:00:00Z

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 170 in Poughkeepsie, NY is providing drawtsring bags packed with essentials for our local homeless population. We are partnered with Hudson River Housing to distribute the bags. Our goal is to provide at least 500 bags each year. The bags are filled with everything from socks to portable food and toiletries.

Artsakh (Inativo) – Swing, Swing Together!

2019-02-17T00:00:00Z

The awesomeness of the project “Swing, Swing Together” is that in Hin Shen, where we are surrounded with amazing nature, we want to create a garden of swings for kids and the whole community to swing in the mountains together as the great craze of 2019. As it says in the famous song: We can swing together, 'cause we feel we're doing it right We can swing together; we can swing all through the night So, there will be a swing garden in the mountains, comprising of swing-sets, each of which will be designed for three people. All the three-seated sets will be connected together through a bright orange line, symbolising the energy drawing interconnection within, between and beyond the whole (see the picture)'. 'Swinging with two other people has greater potential than swinging alone'(see the picture). In this regard, there was an experiment, revealing that simply moving in sync improves pro social behaviour - empowering the process of getting along, acting empathetically and cooperatively with one another. The garden of swings will accumulate the whole community energy into a collaborative action through inviting not only kids but also their families and other community members to join and combat social apathy through play, swinging and having fun together. The main outcomes of the project would be as follows: 1. the community will create a child-friendly space which will encourage the local authorities to take action to transform it into a bigger playground later on 2. the process of the building up itself will empower community volunteering and engage the whole community-families of the villagers to participate in creating something for the benefit of others, as well as gathering everyone in the village to be connected through one action 3. the project can connect two neighbouring villages as the children/community members from Mets Shen can also join in to swing and, thus, create an environment of friendship between two communities

South Bend, IN – Sip Strums - Community Music Lessons

2019-02-15T00:00:00Z

My idea is to host group ukulele and guitar lessons at a local establishment. We have an agreement to host these lessons at Chicory Cafe on Tuesdays. These lessons would be in the style of those "wine and canvas" events. I would like for this idea to achieve two things: Combat creative atrophy in the lives of adults and promote a recurring community event that people can look forward to and count on. Students would come together bi-weekly with the common goal of learning music as a group. As students become more skilled at their instrument there will be opportunities for recitals and even graduation celebrations after having reached certain milestones.

South Bend, IN – South Bend Zine Club

2019-02-15T00:00:00Z

Zine club is a recurring, open-to-all gathering where people make mini zines as a fun way to connect with other creatives in South Bend as well as to stimulate one's own creativity. We will meet in a public place, and the first person to arrive gets to choose a theme for the zines made that day as a prompt for those who may need some inspiration. I would provide collage materials, paper, markers, scissors, glue, and tape, and I'd teach everyone how to make a mini zine using a single sheet of plain 8.5x11" paper. I'll collect everyone's zines at the end and make enough photocopies of each one to distribute to everyone who attends the next gathering. The zinesters will quickly grow their personal collection of locally made, limited edition zines while having fun and making friends.

South Bend, IN – The Reimagine Competition

2019-02-15T00:00:00Z

The Reimagine Competition is a contest for high school and college students to enlist their imagination and ideas in reimagining the reuse and repurposing of industrial buildings in South Bend. The contest is inspired by the transformation of the buildings now housing LangLabs and Vested Interest in the Sample Street industrial corridor. There are many industrial buildings sitting vacant in South Bend, whose owners do not know what to do with the properties. These buildings are large in their square footage and located in underserved areas of town. The buildings (known as Class B or C properties) are hard to sell, often sitting on the market for 2 years, all the while costing their owners money. Realtors, only motivated by transactions and commissions, often give up on these buildings when they don’t sell, and aren’t incentivized to think of creative ways to monetize or use these spaces. This competition will help to spark this creativity. It is also inspired by the Smart Growth America initiative, in which a technical assistance grant was awarded to the City of South Bend to research ways to spur the resurgence of manufacturing as a contributor to urban economic growth. The Smart Growth America team will be in South Bend April 23-26, and this competition would be part of that week of events. The competition organizers, led by Invanti Fellow and entrepreneur Celena Green, would select 3 industrial buildings in the South Bend area, that have been vacant for over a year but are compliant with all local laws and ordinances. Students (individually or in teams) from South Bend local high schools and colleges would be introduced to these 3 area industrial buildings, given a virtual or in person tour and some background history, and then challenged to reimagine the use of that space. A panel of judges would vote on the most promising ideas. There will be 3 winners, who wiill receive small prizes and media visibility for their ideas, and internship opportunities.