Awesome Foundation - Projects

Chicago, IL – Back of the Yards - Bread truck mobile art exhibit

2017-08-09T00:00:00Z

For over four years, I've been documenting the last remaining member of a tiny street ministry that works with gangs and advocates for the poor in Chicago. Jim Fogarty, known affectionately as "Brother Jim," wears a hand-sewn habit made out of scraps of denim, now tattered after over 30 years of use. That's how long he's been traversing the streets by foot, carrying only rosary beads to pass out - that, and offering prayers, and maybe a little hope. His path across the city is broad, and the Back of the Yards neighborhood on the city's South Side is my primary vantage point. By now, the residents largely all know who he is, and often come running when they see him coming down the street, or call out from their windows, asking him to pray for them. There were times he stood between warring gangs shooting at each other, bullets whizzing by, risking his life. In an effort to neither whitewash nor sensationalize, I've taken care to attend to all those moments that, while difficult or simply mundane and easy to ignore, are also sublimely beautiful. To give back to the neighborhood, I facilitated a workshop at a Saturday program for youth in the Back of the Yards neighborhood (where I have conducted my documentary project) at the Port Ministries - a staple of the community that offers youth programming, a free clinic and a bread truck that drives through the area passing out sandwiches and snacks. I printed out images from my project and asked the kids (grades K-12) to respond to them by writing (or drawing) on them. I was impressed and touched by what they saw in my photos, the things they noticed and the commentary they offered. Next I will scan those new pieces (my image + their response), print them on panels and apply directly onto the side of the bread truck. I want to make sure I bring the work directly to the people in Back of the Yards. The bread truck will serve as a mobile art exhibit!

Baltimore, MD – “Miami is Nice”

2017-08-07T00:00:00Z

“Miami is Nice” is a Baltimore - based exhibition, queer performance series, and gay wedding celebration, inspired by the fearless irreverence of the popular television show The Golden Girls. “Miami is Nice” will take guests to an idealized version of the warm and leisurely energy of South Florida in the 1980s, a decade primarily known within the queer community for the devastating aftermath of the AIDS crisis and the triumphant acts of perseverance which mobilized a generation to fight for recognition. Utilizing The Golden Girls as a symbol of strength, subversion, and profound acceptance, “Miami is Nice” continues that fight by offering a joyful and nostalgic escape from the struggles of daily life to an actualized paradise: a world in which love wins. My name is Zachary Z. Handler and my arts partner is Nicholas Horan. We are the two lead organizers whose wedding has been designed to take place within the gallery space as a component of the exhibition itself, presenting a tongue-in-cheek response to the growing anti-LGBTQIA+ movement in America today. “Miami is Nice” presents a world more aligned with compassion and tolerance, while paying homage to those four remarkable female characters who played such a prominent role in our upbringings.

Adelaide – Free 2 Wee

2017-08-04T00:00:00Z

The aim of 'Free2Wee' is to increase the visibility of gender-neutral bathrooms in Adelaide. A gender-neutral toilet is a toilet that can be used by anyone without fear of being questioned or experiencing violence based on their gender or sexuality. Many people are forced to avoid places that don't have gender neutral toilets, preventing their full participation in public life. Currently, finding appropriate bathrooms in venues and businesses is a difficult process, and one that can be a source of anxiety for gender-diverse community members. Our project is simple: to develop and print stickers that indicate there is a gender-neutral bathrooms within premises around Adelaide. The sticker, which we have already designed (see attached), would be placed at the entrance of shops and venues with the permission of owners, making it visible to patrons, and alleviating stress for those who would ordinarily have to ask. In addition to this, we will develop online & print resources about bathroom accessibility to share with venues. For those who may be unaware of the importance of gender-neutral bathrooms, we will use these resources to begin a conversation and provide information. For those venues that do not have gender-neutral bathrooms, we may also be able to discuss ways in which the introduction of one might be possible. Using our online and print resources, we will collaborate with community members and support them to roll-out the stickers and have conversations with venues.

Singapore – Halloween Date

2017-08-04T00:00:00Z

I considered calling this project "Little Dreamers", telling you that it was going to be a celebrity read-athon to combat infant illiteracy, and that if somehow this project fell apart, plan B was to buy costumes for my play. I couldn't decide whether you would consider this (i) brilliant and hysterical humor or (ii) unfunny disrespect. You'd be surprised how often this question arises in my life :) I would ask you to consider my project with a macro lens. Does comedy/laughter/art help the world? Assuming you believe it does (if done properly), that's what I want to pitch to you. The project is a Halloween-themed, dark comedy targeted at adults. If you are an adult who wants to find something thematic to do for Halloween, you can come to this play. Hopefully, you will spend an hour forgetting your troubles. The characters and stories are broad. Nothing too deep or with any socially-redeeming agenda. I do get frustrated with understanding women, so some of the script delves into that. To balance that out, the play finishes with the male protagonist (who embodies my darker thoughts) going to hell. I am willing to add a disclaimer in the play's programme that, if you fund the play, the only idea you support is me going to hell :) Why is this awesome? It's awesome if you believe laughter is a good force in the world. Hopefully, the actors and audience will have fun with this play, and it will help the local arts scene grow. Because I have no experience putting on a play, I hope that my doing so will encourage others to action some of their dreams. If it did encourage other people, that would also be pretty awesome. You have to give me that! If other people wrote plays, there would be no room to put on any of my work.... which equals world you want to live in! Final pitch... you know I'm going to submit next month if I don't get the award this month. Do you really want to read another application from me? I didn't think so :)

Oakland, CA (Inativo) – Social Justice Sewing Academy

2017-08-03T00:00:00Z

I want to provide free critical arts educational programming to Next Step Learning Center in Oakland, CA. Next Step Learning center is a place where transitional aged youth (TAY) 18-22 can come to earn a high school diploma or GED. Being pushed out of the traditional school system, I want to provide SJSA programming to use participatory art as a vehicle for personal transformation, community cohesion, and social change. While the first half of the programming will be focused on activities, workshops and assignments in social justice education, the second half is centered on creating activist art with textiles –forms of art that strive to make a social difference. SJSA allows participants to create art as a way of narrating, shaping, and making meaning of their experiences in the world and this art is an effort to draw attention to, mobilizes action toward, or attempts to intervene in, systems of inequality of injustice. SJSA allows young people to create textile art that question, challenge and strive to indirectly influence existing conditions of inequality and injustices by engaging communities in social transformation. I will provide in-depth sewing instruction and tap into students' creativity by introducing sewing techniques, color theory, and artistic expression. We will end the program with a culminating final project of creating a ‘social justice art quilt’ and hosting an art show featuring all the textile and fiber projects they have design and sewn. Ultimately, I believe the participants will learn that sewing can be more than just a hobby; it can be a revolutionary practice of resistance.

Annapolis, NS (Inativo) – National Artist in Residency competition

2017-08-02T00:00:00Z

The project is to host a national competition, with the prize of a one month residency at Lucky Rabbit & Co. Artists' House in Annapolis Royal. The competition will be advertised through national and provincial arts organizations as well as on social media. A jury of three will make the selection. To honor the guest artist and introduce them to the community, I will host a "meet and greet", require them to open their studio to the public on Saturdays in keeping with Artists' House hours, and will offer an exhibition in my gallery to those who are interested. An extroverted artist with tangible product to sell will thrive in this location in the summer, while a more introverted artist will benefit from the peaceful and respectful atmosphere of winter work time. Offering the first residency as a prize will create a buzz, and act as a magnet to attract other artists to this "art destination". This project will capitalize on the existing strength of Annapolis Royal as a cultural hub. Annapolis Royal has the opportunity to host a world class artist, who will then go on to promote the town in the best possible way. Could Annapolis Royal boast that it once hosted the next Emily Carr or Margaret Atwood? An open competition will garner interest from a vast array of artists from across the country. Artists help one another, and network in unusual ways. By bringing artists "from away" into the Artists' House community, a rich cultural exchange will take place. Local artists will benefit by making contacts with artists from outside of this community and province, and the greater community will be enhanced by the dialogue and creativity that is sparked.

Atlanta, GA (Inativo) – Technologists of Color

2017-08-01T00:00:00Z

Technologists of Color (ToC) is a organization committed to building the African American tech community in Atlanta. Our primary goal is to connect tech professionals so that they can share knowledge, resources and opportunities. We also strive to inform and educate the community to help increase African American participation in technology. The organization was created in May of 2012 and has steadily grown to become a valued voice in the African-American technology community. ToC is fiscally sponsored by Successful Paths, Inc a 501c3 corporation. Here's a sampling of our programs and events: * Code Your World - This is a series of technology workshops given in public and private settings. We have provided and/or hosted multiple programming workshops on Arduino, 3D Modeling, Mobile App Development and WebRTC technology. * ToC Happy Hour - ToC hosts regular Happy Hour events during which members fellowship and network. The Technologists of Color Happy Hour provides a great opportunity to meet technology professionals in a casual setting. It will also helps tech professionals get plugged in to what's happening in and around Atlanta's technology scene. * App Showcase - ToC hosts an event where members of the community were given an opportunity to share or "pitch" their app, website or service to the audience and receive constructive feedback. * Hour of Code - We used Code.org’s "Hour of Code" program to introduce over 180 students to programming at the Lindley Sixth Grade Academy during Georgia’s "Day of Code". * Biologue STEM Fair and Black Girls Code - As a group, ToC also provided volunteer support to the Biologue STEM Fair and helped to organize the Black Girls Code "Build a Web Page in a Day" events in Atlanta * Academy of Scholars - ToC provided volunteers to assist with the Academy of Scholars pilot Saturday coding classes.

San Antonio, TX – Cinema on Tap

2017-08-01T00:00:00Z

Cinema on Tap is a free film series in San Antonio, TX exclusively featuring independent films and local shorts paired with craft beer. Every feature film we show is a unique, bold and passionately made independent film and is always preceded by a short film shot in San Antonio or made by a San Antonio filmmaker. We have had every event at a craft beer taproom or a local distillery, where we promote equally passionately made beer and small batch spirits. Previously, we have had homes at Big Hops and Edwards Ridge Distillery where there was a projector and screen available for us. We are now looking to turn our series into a true pop-up, where we have the ability to travel to different craft beer locations around San Antonio, regardless of set up, and put on amazing events. To do this, and to keep this series free, as every event has been thus far, we are looking for funding for equipment and licensing costs. In the future, we hope to expand beyond just craft beer and be able to have events in random, unannounced locations or in established venues like parks, art galleries, or anything else we brew up. We also plan to share our equipment. We will partner not only with local filmmakers, but with San Antonio-based student filmmaking programs to provide them our equipment for their own events. We also want to spread the word through fundraising for these programs at some of our events.

Awesome Without Borders (Inativo) – Punch Out the Patriarchy

2017-07-31T00:00:00Z

I started She Fights Foundation to offer free boxing classes to young girls aged 14-19 who come from low income backgrounds in NYC. The goal of our program is to foster empowerment in our girls through boxing. We have partnered with Church Street Boxing Gym, who has allowed us use of their space free of charge. We also have some amazing coaches who donate their time to our girls once a week. We have been officially up and running as She Fights since November of 2016, and currently have 15 students. We are working on expanding to other gyms, with the hope of providing the same opportunity to more students. We are also working on partnering with gyms that offer more than just boxing, so our girls have the opportunity to try out other combat sports like Muay Thai and Brazilian Ju Jitsu. In this short time we have seen a change in our students, not just in their skills as boxers, but in their overall confidence. They have said that boxing allows them a healthy outlet for their frustration, and has taught them how to be more patient with themselves. We noticed that when the girls start out boxing, many of them seem afraid of doing something wrong, of looking foolish, or of making a mistake. With time they have learned that it's ok to make a mistake, and that She Fights is a judgement-free space where they don't have to fear doing something wrong.

Libraries (Inativo) – le projet TchadEducationPlus

2017-07-31T00:00:00Z

Chad has the highest ratio of students per textbook, according to UNESCO and the National Report on the Development of Education in Chad. Apart from the programs designed by the NCC, the National Curriculum Center, created in 2003, there are very few textbooks for teachers and pupils in secondary education. On the basis of these findings, the TchadEducationPlus project aims to collect and digitize materials for general secondary education and distribute the materials free of charge in order to reduce the educational divide for approximately 800,000 teachers and students throughout the country of Chad. This project is made possible through the Collège Saint François Xavier N'Djamena in partnership with Label 109. What our grantee has to say: “My name is Bouayom Anderson Djimadoum. I'm Chadian. I'm a geography teacher and have a master’s degree in urban sustainable planning. In addition to teaching, I’m also a hip hop artist, writer, and founder of Label 109 – a non-profit dedicated to education and sustainable curriculum development. As it is difficult to find support for projects in Chad, this Awesome Foundation Grant will allow me pilot this project and identify sustainable funding.” What our trustees have to say: “This submission starts with a small pilot program but has the potential to take off for several courses. I'm impressed by the efficient simplicity of the idea, and hope that it can become fully realized into a fully-functioning educational app which students all across Chad can use to further their academic studies. It's an efficient way to address problems with the materials at hand.” “Innovative utilization of existing technology to expand resource access to extremely underserved community. Expands concepts of what a library can be and provide and helps support increased resource access to people who would otherwise have a difficult time obtaining access.”

Alaska (Inativo) – Cedar Bark net making instruction

2017-07-31T00:00:00Z

I would like to host a cedar bark net making course on Prince of Wales Island. I will invite net-maker Paul LaPier to instruct students in the construction of willow dip net frames with red cedar bark rope net. The class will be open for students from across the island. I hope to have the course happen by September 2017. With willow and cedar bark,students will create a functional fishing net.

Disability – The Accessible Stall Podcast

2017-07-31T00:00:00Z

The Accessible Stall is a podcast dedicated to open, honest conversation about disability issues. My cohost, Kyle Khachadurian, and I are breaking ground in the podcasting space, as we are currently one of very few shows regularly addressing disability. We have a strong, dedicated listenership and engaged fans on social media. As of the time of this application submission, we have released 34 episodes and our total number of listens stands at 16,461 – far surpassing the 26 episodes and 10,438 listens we had as of our first time applying for this grant. Our podcast places us in a unique position, allowing us to reach beyond the echo chambers in which the disability community tends to exist, educating and connecting with people who do not have familiarity with disability experiences. This is absolutely crucial, especially in the world in which we currently live, where disability is far too often overlooked and misunderstood. Thus far, we’ve covered topics ranging from fun (such as accessibility and Pokemon Go) to serious (such as disability and sexual assault). We also discuss current events from the disability perspective. To add depth to our conversations and amplify diverse voices, we sometimes invite guests to join our discussions. Looking ahead, Kyle and I aim to continue expanding our listenership and growing our reach beyond the disability community. As podcasting continues to grow as a key form of media, Kyle and I are ready and excited to continue blazing a trail with The Accessible Stall. What our grantee is saying: "We're so ecstatic that The Accessible Stall Podcast was chosen to receive the Awesome Disability grant, because it gives us support to sustain our work and continue bringing real talk about disability issues to a mainstream media platform."

Austin, TX – Into the Wilds: A Portrait Project

2017-07-31T00:00:00Z

Jeanette Nevarez began photographing Austin-area drag queens in August 2016. “I am fascinated in the transformations that cross dressers undertake,” she says. For Nevarez and her subjects, each portrait is part of a bigger artistic collaboration embracing freedom of expression and the disruption of socially-constructed gender roles. Nevarez says her ultimate goal is to complete 10 portraits and show them in a solo exhibition. The Austin Awesome Foundation is happy to help make this goal a reality.

North Minneapolis, MN – UNLIMITED NEXT LEVEL DRUM AND DANCE

2017-07-31T00:00:00Z

OUR PROGRAM IS A COMMUNITY BASED PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR OVER 12 YEARS NOW. IT WAS FOUNDED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MR. STEPHAN GRAHAM WHO SINCE HAS PASSED AWAY IN JUNE OF 2012 . WE ARE NOW UNDER THE ACTING DIRECTOR DEONDREA COLE. WE RAISE ALL THE MONEY FOR THIS OUR SELVES AND WE DO FUNDRAISERS. OUR MOTTO IS '"MAKING UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES IN MOVING YOUTH TO THE NEXT LEVEL IN THEIR LIVES AND COMMUNITIES". THINGS ET SO HARD FOR US AT TIMES CAUSE OUR YOUTH CANNOT AFFORD THING SOMETIMES. SO WE FUND RAISE TO HELP THEM OUT .

Asheville, NC (Inativo) – Story Art Project

2017-07-30T00:00:00Z

As of Monday June 5 the Class has started: Story Art is a class I have brought to the Charles George VA Hospital in Asheville. I am working thru voluntary services. I am facilitating the class with Rebekah Wiggins, resident VA Art Therapist. The class is designed for veterans in rehab at the Community Living Center at the hospital. Participants will be telling a story, something significant in their life's experience with an image or sculpture. Think about what would make a dynamic cover for your biography or memoir? Rebekah and I guide the participants thru the process from concept to final art. Rebekah is qualified to work with emotional issues that my arise. The participants are encouraged to help each other with advice and story telling. I have structured the class for all levels of artist ability as well as assisting those with handicaps or limitations. At the end of 6 weeks we will discuss as a group the possibility of displaying the finished art within the hospital and in addition Rebekah is in discussion with a local Asheville art gallery the possibility of community interaction. Our first class had 9 participants and I am very excited to what it progress positively. My goal is to offer this class on an ongoing basis and expand it the t Hospice within the VA to assist veterans with a way to leave a legacy.

Ottawa – Community Cup

2017-07-30T00:00:00Z

July’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to Chris Sheppard and Shawn MacDonell to support a Stanley-Cup-type trophy — a Community Cup — given to someone new each week, chosen by the previous week’s winner. “The idea,” explains Shawn, “is to celebrate everyday people in Ottawa. The trophy will be awarded ambush-style, with the event documented and shared online, along with the story of the winner as told by the person who did the choosing.” “The short amount of time between winners is meant to encourage people not to think too hard about it,” Shawn continues. “The Community Cup could go to someone who always packs your groceries super well, or to the folks who clean the streets of the city. The message is that everyone can be a champion.” Chris is a part-time skateboarder and full-time dad, and Shawn is the founder of a creative agency. You’ll be able to follow the Community Cup on Twitter.

Gloucester, MA – 2nd Annual Pay-It-Forward Pink Envelope Initiative

2017-07-29T00:00:00Z

In partnership with one another, Awesome Gloucester and Awesome Rockport will distribute 121 pink envelopes containing undisclosed amounts of cash across our neighboring communities. Together, our chapters will give away a total of $2000 in free cash over the course of a single weekend. The dates of distribution are July 29 and July 30. In addition to the cash, we will also insert a brief note in each envelope requesting that recipients (a) do something awesome with the money and (b) share a story about what they did via email or through social media.

Rockport, MA – 2nd Annual Pay-It-Forward Pink Envelope Initiative

2017-07-29T00:00:00Z

Boston, MA – Migrant Sounds, Cultural Fusions

2017-07-28T00:00:00Z

We are three musical projects, with cultural ties around the world, looking to join forces in Boston. The date is set - Sunday, September 24. The lineup is locked in - Awaaz Do, Interminable, and ¡Aparato!. The events - one panel discussion during the day, in cooperation with local feminist nonprofit Girls Rock Campaign Boston (http://girlsrockboston.org/), and a concert at night. Both onstage and off, we would showcase our vision for collaboration, exploration, and creativity. By bringing these three projects together, we would feature voices from women, men, nonbinary, indigenous, black, white, South Asian, Muslim, Sikh, Mexican, queer, straight, and migrant people. Each project presents a unique vision of cultural fusion: Awaaz Do is a postcolonial rock project based in Boston, whose lead singer is on the board of Girls Rock Boston. Interminable is a diasporic space fusion project from Philadelphia, bringing together the afromestizo rhythms of son jarocho from Veracruz, Mexico, with that of jazz, rock, and electronic music. ¡Aparato! is a chicanxfuturist son jarocho/punk band from LA, dressed like space-charros and ready to rock. All bands sing in both their native languages and in English. Only one thing stands in our way - funding. We want to be able to offer all events as sliding scale, without having to compromise on receiving our fair due as musicians. This concert will be part of a larger Northeast tour, and as independent, unsigned musicians, it is important for us to acquire sufficient funds along the way to not end up losing money in the long run. We are reaching out to universities and other cultural organizations, but still are in need of secure funding for our awesome Boston activities. This grant would help do just that.

Yerevan – Make Amasia Great Again

2017-07-27T00:00:00Z

The project is AWESOME because there isn’t a single neighborhood in Armenia buildings of which are painted in unique and bright colors. Name of the project. The name of the project was chosen during the discussion of SKYE youth club and is “Make Amasia Great Again" In different coutries all over the world people paint their neighborhoods and houses in different colors in order to make their lives more colorful. They find aesthetic solutions and positive emotions which interest tourists too, making them visit the places, take pictures and later tell their friends. There are such colorful neighborhoods in Argentina, Brazil and other countries. The aim of the project. The aim of the project is to paint wooden houses in neighborhood called “Haravslavakan” in Amasia thus making it a modern neighborhood which would create opportunities for Amasia to become a local touristic attraction.The inhabitants of the neighborhood will have beautiful appartments and the life will be filled with colors. In the scope of the project 50 houses will have appartments painted in two different colors and the houses will be protected from corosion for the coming 5 years. Local tourism will develop in the community and the appartments will provide B&B services for tourists. In the scope of the project 50 houses will have appartments painted in two different colors and the houses will be protected from corosion for the coming 5 years. Local tourism will develop in the community and the appartments will provide B&B services for tourists. All the above mentioned was discussed with the community in particular with the owners of the houses of the neighborhood. World Vision Amasia Area Program will support the project by giving 1000 usd. The project will be covered by local public TV and news web sites.

Newcastle – More Than a Mumma - Connecting Mummas

2017-07-27T00:00:00Z

The first ever More Than a Mumma workshop was only supposed to be a one time event. In mid 2016, Anastasia was a heavily pregnant mum, eagerly searching for a sense of community and connection. She came up with the idea to organise an event where mums could gather to learn about self worth and self love. Anastasia found the best female-focused wellbeing practitioner she could find, Lucy Ellis, and invited her to speak. Anastasia was thrilled when thirty-five women showed up to the event. The realisation that Anastasia was not the only mum yearning for connection was exciting and inspiring. She discovered that this was a huge gap in many mother’s lives and she was determined to reach out and connect them together as often as she could. More Than a Mumma was born and is already connecting over 100 fantastic females with each other, face to face, while hearing inspiring content that will lead them in the right direction.The workshops allow mothers with babies, toddlers, teenagers and adults to all come together, not only because they are mothers, but also to discover that they are so much MORE than that! Motherhood is such a privilege, but it can also be incredibly difficult and isolating. Everyday brings new and unpredictable challenges that can cause rifts in relationships with family, friends, and partners. Anastasia is determined to make CONNECTION the primary motivation behind every single decision she makes with the direction of More Than A Mumma and she has created this buzzing new concept due to a large volume of conversations she has had online and face to face with mothers from all backgrounds. Anastasia has heard many mums say that they feel as though they have lost their identities since becoming mothers and the predominant complaint is that they just don’t have time for themselves. This has moved Anastasia into action. Her goal is to make sure that women are creating valuable and lasting friendships with each other and within themselves.

Twin Cities, MN (Inativo) – Gym equipment for the Crisis Nursery

2017-07-26T00:00:00Z

Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery request a grant to purchase equipment for our indoor gym, where staff and volunteers lead children in age-appropriate play while they are in residence during a family crisis. With the help of The Awesome Foundation, we will equip this large room for activities that teach children how to take turns, share, collaborate, follow directions, and lead. We will create a space that encourages children to use imaginative play to build social relationships explore their environment. Parents voluntarily bring their children to the Nursery when the challenges of poverty, single-parenting, transience, and isolation reach crisis levels. The Nursery provides a secure environment and the attention of nurturing adults to calm children’s fears while they are separated from their parents. Throughout the three days of placement, care providers in a ratio of one to four children follow the Nursery Way protocol to repair the impact of stress on the child’s mind and body. As children bathe and brush their teeth, pick out their clothes, play on one of the playgrounds or in an indoor activity room, enjoy meals and snacks, and get ready for bed, they learn to expect help from adults in expressing their needs and feelings, recognizing limits, empathizing with others, and exploring their environment. Play is an important part of the Nursery Way protocol. As a body of current research tell us, children develop cognitive skills, physical abilities, vocabulary, and social capabilities while participating in games, making art, and role-playing. At the same time, they reduce stress and build self-esteem (http://families.naeyc.org/learning-and-development/child-development/10-things-every-parent-should-know-about-play). With a contribution to equip the Crisis Nursery gym, The Awesome Foundation will provide the many benefits of play to children whose lives are often overshadowed by family instability and parental anxiety.

Melbourne (Inativo) – The Strong Sunflower book

2017-07-26T00:00:00Z

Treatment of people seeking asylum in Australia is as cruel as a dinosaur is big. Writing Through Fences, facilitated by Janet Galbraith, is a group of writers currently or recently detained by Australia’s immigration system. The group’s next publication will be a book entitled ‘The Strong Sunflower’ featuring a poem by Mohammad Ali Maleki who is detained on Manus Island. This application is requesting funds for the printing of this book. Rose Turtle Ertler (who works with WTF) and Mohammad have been writing to each other daily for the last 18months. Mohammad, an Iranian man, a tailor and a set/prop builder for films, started writing poetry a year ago. He takes a lot of medication, is depressed and anxious, sleeps little, eats one meal a day, and like all other men on Manus, has inadequate medical treatment. When asked why he writes, Mohammad answers: Because I am writing my feeling. I am writing everything that is happening here for me. I write my feeling on the paper and see my pain. Some time I see my pain this is good for me. But some time very hard to see my pain. Some of Mohammad’s poems have been published online by various writers and publishers in Australia. This makes him happy and enables his voice to reach beyond the fences of detention. Mohammad’s book will be printed on A5 paper with a spine stitched together (referencing his tailoring skills.) Mohammad will create artwork for the cover and 8 artists will make illustrations for the book. 4 refugee artists: - Eaten Fish cartoonist detained on Manus (Freedom of Expression Voltaire Award Liberty Victoria, CRNI Human Rights Award) - Mahmoud Salameh (Palestinian - Syd) Miriem Salameh (Syrian - Melb) Iqbal Asadi (Iranian - Melb) 4 non-refugee artists: Firstdog Onthemoon The Guardian cartoonist/regular collaborator with Eaten Fish (Melb) Mandy Ord graphic comic artist (Melb) Michael Camilleri artist (Melb) Rachael Guy botanical artist (Castlemaine) The book will be launched and distributed by WTF

Tallahassee, FL (Inativo) – Senior Volunteer Programs Summer Literacy Camp

2017-07-25T00:00:00Z

Elder Care Services' Senior Volunteer Program provides seniors 55 years of age or older the opportunity to fill numerous community needs, while keeping themselves active and engaged. The Foster Grandparent Program provides love and guidance to children with special or exceptional needs at schools, pediatric units and day care centers. During the summer months, we strive to keep our Foster Grandparents vital and our student supported. This year, we have a unique opportunity to partner with Smith-Williams to provide low income children with a free storytelling program. Storytelling is an interactive and exciting way to build on pre-literacy and verbal skills. Storytelling activities will include opportunities to increase student reading; provide them with exposure to Florida and African folktales, fairy tales and literary stories; hone skills related to traditional storytelling (public speaking, emotional nuance); create programs with other campers (teamwork, communication, conflict resolution); and improve creative writing and performance skills. This camp will run 3 times a week during the entire month of June, but may be replicated at other community centers in the future.

Awesome Without Borders (Inativo) – SF Bay Bad Date List

2017-07-24T00:00:00Z

As a criminalized and stigmatized population, sex workers suffer significant amounts of violence. In an effort to reduce instances of violence the St James Infirmary launched a Bad Date List.("BDL"). The BDL is a community-based violence intervention tool utilized by sex workers to share information regarding “bad dates.” A Bad Date may be any person who threatens, behaves violently towards, robs, extorts, or engages in any behavior that violates the agreed upon terms and boundaries of the exchange. The BDL facilitates sex workers' ability to warn other workers of those who cause harm with anonymous reporting, mass distribution of reports, and a network of support and community. In an effort to make the BDL as accessible as possible, sex workers are able to make anonymous reports of violence by phone, email, in person, and online in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Tagalog. The St James Infirmary currently pursues outreach of the BDL in person through the other programs offered by the clinic (needle exchange, HIV/STI testing, Speakers Bureau etc), online through social media, and by working in coalition with other sex worker, rape crisis, health clinics, and social service providers in the SF Bay Area.

New York City, NY – The Free Black Women's Library

2017-07-24T00:00:00Z

The Free Black Women's Library is an interactive mobile library that features a collection of over 700 books written by Black women. The library pop ups monthly in public spaces throughout the NYC area and creates space for the community to take part and enjoy visual art, performance, readings, writing workshops and critical conversations that explore varying connections between race, gender and culture. All races, genders and ages are welcome to trade books with the library. Some people bring one book to trade, some people bring three, some people bring ten of their books to swap with the library for new books. Some people show up with no books but come just to hang out in the space, talk about books, art and to make new friends. The library has appeared in playgrounds, parks, museums, art galleries, barber shops, vintage clothing stores, community gardens, bars, cultural centers, street fairs, music festivals and anywhere else that is easily accessible and free. This is a grassroots project that is self funded and co-created in community that helps to promote literacy, diversity and inclusion, at its core its mission is to center voices in literature that are not normally heard. AwesomeNYC is proud to be able to support the library's transportation costs around the city. Subscribe to their Facebook page to find out when the library is coming to a public space near you!

Newmarket – Slap Shot Hockey Program for Children

2017-07-24T00:00:00Z

All children need to feel that they belong within their peer group, their school and their community.Recreational sport and development of life skills such as good sportsmanship and living with character often provide this aspect of community integration for many children. Low income/newcomer children and their families struggle to integrate socially and culturally in Newmarket Slap Shot is a free seven week in school hockey program developed to reduce social isolation in low income/newcomer children ages 8-12 (Grade 4-6) in York Region. Slap Shot provides a safe, inclusive, age-appropriate introduction to the game of hockey and Canadian culture to children whose ability to participate in recreational sport is limited due to financial and cultural barriers. Delivered by an experienced program coach, professional hockey trainers and supported by peer mentors, participants learn the basic skills of the game along with important skills in leadership, character, socialization, teamwork, nutrition, health and the benefit of living an active lifestyle using the game of Floorball. When the in school sessions are completed, participants travel to a local arena, where they play a game of hockey on ice dressed in full hockey gear with their coaches and volunteer York Regional Police hockey players. Participants receive a jersey, hockey stick and puck to keep so they may continue to play hockey with their peers. The program ends with a celebration pizza and recognition lunch where participants receive a team medallion, photo, watch a video of the on ice day and discuss their experience in the program. Since 2012, we have delivered this program to over 1,400 children in York Region with 88% of our participants reporting reduced social isolation in school and in the community as a result of participating in the Slap Shot Program. In September 2017 we will be delivering this program for the first time to 50 low income/newcomer children at Maple Leaf PS and Phoebe Gilman P.S.

Awesome Without Borders (Inativo) – Dirty Girls

2017-07-21T00:00:00Z

Dirty Girls operates in Greece using the paid services of three huge commercial laundries located in Lesvos, Athens and Thessaloniki. We wash, (to hospital standards), blankets, sleeping bags and other materials so that they can be reused, rather than the present practices of International Non Government Organisations (INGOs) – the cavalier trashing of all materials and replacement with new ones. The clean materials go back to the refugees for reuse. As well as giving the blankets to people in Greece, we have sent 10,000 blankets to Serbia. So far we have saved over 500 tons of material from landfill. We have saved UNHCR, who distribute the new blankets, over a million euros because they haven't had to pay for replacement blankets when we wash them. In the process we have created employment for local Greek people. At the peak of refugee arrivals on Lesvos we also washed the drenched clothes of people arriving by sea. At that time we had 4x300kilo washing machines working 24/7. Now that people are trapped in Greece, rather than moving along in a few days, we supply washing powder so that people can keep and wash their own clothes.

Kingston – Project Dream Again

2017-07-21T00:00:00Z

Sleep apnea is a common disorder which involves having one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep. Breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes, and may cause high blood pressure and heart attacks which can lead to death. CPAP treatment entails wearing a mask over the nose and/or mouth that is connected to a small machine that pumps air to keep airways open during sleep. The problem with current sleep apnea masks is improper fit, leakage and discomfort. With an estimated 10,000 people in Kingston using CPAP to treat their sleep apnea and millions across North America, making CPAP treatment more tolerable will have a huge impact on each of these individuals’ lives. Our project is to develop an improved design for sleep apnea masks. Using 3D printed technology, the user's face is scanned in order to design a customized cushion for their CPAP mask. This added component is then attached to the mask’s surface to improve comfort and wearability. Since we last pitched, we have been working with Dr. Helen Driver from the KGH sleep lab and are working with local Kingston vendors including VitalAire, MediGas, ProResp and Shoppers Home Health Care. We have interviewed over 15 patients in Kingston with sleep apnea with the goal of implementing their feedback, and we are continuing to search for further resources and contacts. Of the patients interviewed, we have secured 5 volunteers to test trial our product. We are on our third round of prototyping and have trialled two types of silicone. We are looking to further iterate on our masks and are seeking for more patients willing to test our design. To accomplish this, we hope to connect with experts in the Kingston area that would be willing to support our project. Currently, we have set up a meeting with Launch Lab, a local Kingston accelerator, to assist us in moving forward and we also hope to partner with the Queen’s Department of Medicine to organize clinical studies.

Bend, OR (Inativo) – Cooking up Food Heroes with Aprons and Chef's Hats

2017-07-20T00:00:00Z

The OSU Extension Nutrition Education Program / SNAP-Ed provides nutrition education and related physical activity education to youth, families and adults with researched based curriculum, interactive physical activity games, and nutrition enhanced cooking lessons. These activities are based on the current USDA Dietary Guidelines. The funding comes from the USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Nutrition Education Program (SNAP-Ed). Our youth class participants in Bend include high percentages of youth qualifying for free and reduced meals. One of our most successful and life-changing efforts is an after-school cooking class, Kids in the Kitchen. Through the seven lesson series, we are able to offer free cooking classes to fourth and fifth grade students at qualifying schools in Bend. Bend Boys and Girls Club youth also benefit from engaging garden enhanced nutrition education lessons at the Environmental Center's Kansas Avenue Learning Garden. We also work with English Language Learners during summer garden enrichment programming at other sites. Students have gained life long skills to prepare nutritious meals for themselves and their families. We know that providing our students with skills and education impacts their food choices and willingness to try new foods, as well as empowers them to cook at home. The spices, cooking tools, and reinforcements students receive during our lessons stretch further than one cooking experience. They allow students to prepare healthy foods for themselves beyond our time together.

Orlando, FL – "Act Like A Hero" opportunity for Paramore kids

2017-07-20T00:00:00Z

Singapore – The Blind Cooking Project

2017-07-19T00:00:00Z

The Blind Cooking Project is exactly what it sounds like – a means through which people with vision impairment can be taught important skills in the kitchen. Right now, the project will be limited to teaching 8 selected vision impaired individuals 8 introductory dishes, with plans to expand into more recipes in the future (late 2017 / 2018). The most heart-warming possible outcome of this project would be a scenario in which our Blind Chefs would be so confident in the kitchen, they will be capable of sharing cooking techniques with other fellow vision impaired individuals, or even with regular sighted people. Sighted or not, cooking is an integral element of independent living, and this project aims to provide a safe, structured environment to kick things off and get some of the most willing members of the Singaporean vision impaired community started.

Gloucester, MA – Yoga in 12 Step Recovery

2017-07-18T00:00:00Z

Hello! My name is Megan Ghirardi and my Awesome Project is Yoga in 12 Step Recovery. Our communities have been deeply impacted by addiction. Many treatment and recovery centers are now offering yoga as an adjunct to traditional therapies to help individuals create sustainable recovery and avoid relapse. Several National Insistute of Health studies have supported yoga postures and yogic breathing as therapeutic modalities. However, those leaving treatment centers, or simply recovering on their own in the community are often unable to practice yoga with the the support of a group because of cost. It's my belief that yoga classes to benefit this group of individuals should be offered in a supportive and inclusive environment at yoga studios that are set up with all the comfort, props and amenities that support an enjoyable practice. No one should miss out on learning how to create a more positive life for themselves because of financial limitations.

San Jose, CA – Backpacks for a Future

2017-07-18T00:00:00Z

In the Bay Area alone, around 800,000 people live in poverty. Students born to low-income families consistently struggle to attend school every day. After attending a middle school in a low-income area in Santa Clara, I noticed how many students would regularly show up to school with torn backpacks and lacked school supplies. To end this cycle, I hope to provide 100 foster children and low income children with backpacks for the coming school year.. Each backpack will have a pencil pouch with 3 pencils, 3 pens, 1 eraser and 2 glue sticks, as well as 2 storybooks, and a box of crayons. By providing these children with school supplies and a new backpack, I hope to give them the materials and confidence to succeed in this coming school year. To distribute these backpacks, I hope to work with organizations such as Stand up for Kids - Silicon Valley, GiveLight Foundation, as well as Title I schools in the area, to make sure that these kids get the materials that they need. I have already assembled a team of 6 friends to help make the backpacks, and held a book drive to collect over 200 books for the backpacks. These backpacks will be mainly for students in grades K-3. I hope that, using the materials in the backpack, that the children are able to create a strong educational foundation that will help them later on in life.

Pittsburgh, PA – Trash Bubbles: A Poetic Exploration of Trash

2017-07-17T00:00:00Z

Since 2012, I have been creating Trash Bubbles from discarded consumer packaging. It began while thinking of a way to create mail-able 3-D trash poetry collage pieces for members of a group to which I belong at IUOMA. They had to be readily available, cheap, sturdy enough to survive the postal system, with a clear area in which to create and about the size of a postcard. One day, while opening some medical tape I'd bought as an art supply, I realized that the package was perfect for the job. My first series of three Trash Bubbles were all created from that same packaging. Most Trash Bubbles contain a message. Some messages reveal themselves in creation, others are well-planned and executed affirmations. They have been quirky, kitschy micro-stories. They have been poetic. They have been down-right silly. Each Trash Bubble is completely unique unto itself. Creating a Trash Bubble is an entirely intuitive process for me. It begins with choosing a package and then combing through the bits I've intuitively accumulated, displayed and stored in clear jars, looking for those things that wish to be included. When I try to force it, they never work. It is only when I let the bits speak to me that they take on a life of their own and tell their story. A color, or a shape will present and attract other items that complement it and support the message. At first, these were just just something I could send to mail art cohorts. About a year or so in, I submitted a series of Trash Bubbles, created in a red, white and black color palette, to GreenCraft magazine at the insistence of a friend who believed in them and me. Much to my surprise, they accepted them and printed my article. Later, I created a Trash Bubble mobile which was exhibited locally as part of a green art show for Earth Day. The mobile was later disassembled and the Bubbles were mailed out. Trash Bubbles: A Poetic Exploration is intended as a gallery exhibit with workshops, culminating in a mass mailing.

Moscow (Inativo) – Организация художественно-технического коворкинга

2017-07-15T00:00:00Z

Технико-художественный коворкинг-центр на базе библиотеки и производственных и художественных мастерских Государственного автономного профессионального образовательного учреждения Самарской области «Колледж технического и художественного образования г.Тольятти» (далее Колледж) необходим для самореализации ремесленников и прикладников города Тольятти, в том числе людей с ограниченными возможностями, а также устранения противоречий между содержанием образовательных программ и потребностями ремесленников, прикладников, а так же воплощение идеи о создании сувенирной продукции Тольятти. Цель: Организация технико-художественного коворкинг-центра, который будет грамотно оборудован и доступен для реализации творческих проектов, создадутся условия для работы и занятий как техническим, так и художественным творчеством. В Колледже есть определенные ресурсы: производственные и художественные мастерские, большая площадь библиотеки с библиотечным фондом, который наполнен учебно-методическими пособиями, квалифицированные профессиональные кадры (педагоги), образовательные программы. Технико-художественный коворкинг создается по зонам: художественная на 15 мест на площадях библиотеки колледжа; техническая на 25 мест на площадях мастерских и выставочная и образовательные зоны на площадях библиотеки.

Cass Clay – Dirt Makes Kids Grow Too!

2017-07-15T00:00:00Z

"Dirt Makes Kids Grow Too!" is a project I started last year where I helped to place gardens in local daycare facilities. Gardening and kids go together in so many ways. It is a natural curiosity for children to want to know more about how things work, and have an ability to try new things. Gardening is a way for children to experience first hand the life cycle of plants and it is also a great way to supplement the food that daycares can offer to their children. Gardening has been proven to be able to provide a therapeutic benefit to children that suffer from depression, low self-esteem, and even ADHD. The Square Foot Gardening method that I use is a simple and easy way to introduce children and even the providers to gardening and I have options to meet the needs of people of any type of mobility issue. I have personally worked with people with mobility issues, developmental disabilities, elderly, dementia patients, children, and even the blind. It seems that the only thing stopping people from getting started in gardening is the fear of too much work and frustration. I have a system and a curriculum that helps eliminate these worries and the system is small enough to make most anyone successful in their first attempt, and it is scaleable to meet the desires of the facilities that put them to use. Each garden is three foot square and can accommodate 9 different plants, ranging from vegetables to flowers. I also have available elevated gardens to help meet the need of those with physical disabilities. The money will be used to market to the local daycares, purchase materials to build the actual gardens, assemble the materials for the soil-less mix, supply starter plants and seeds for a variety of different plants, and deliver and set up the gardens in the locations chosen as participants. This contribution would bring gardening to as many as 7 daycare facilities in the Moorhead community.

Moscow (Inativo) – "Волшебный мир"

2017-07-15T00:00:00Z

Занятия по арт-терапии с детьми (подростки) в сельской местности. Уникальность проекта в том, что проект поможет снизить степень социальной недостаточности детей (подростков), достичь более высокого уровня их общего развития, а в последствии в образовании, а также более успешно интеграции в обществе. Арт- терапия поможет ответить на многие вопросы подрастающего поколения о самих себе. Понять "Я-концепцию", уникальности собственной личности, повысить уровень самооценки. А если имеются недостаточный уровень развития, то проект позволить начать необходимую коррекцию. Раскрепощение "зажатой деревенской личности ребенка" путем реализации следующих направлениях: изотерапия, драматизация, вокалотерапия, музыкотерапия, эстетотерапия, цветотерапия, сказкотерапия, песочная терапия. Занятия будут проводиться на базе Центра реабилитации и коррекции несовершеннолетних. Возможно проведение комбинированных занятий в местном ДК. Занятия будет проводиться мною, 2 раза в неделю. Возможно проведение индивидуальных занятий по согласованности с родителями.

Moscow (Inativo) – Мини-гольф своими руками для детей с ОВЗ.

2017-07-15T00:00:00Z

В городе Тольятти ежегодно проводятся различные соревнования по мини-гольфу. Мы тоже решили поучаствовать, но у нас не было никакого оборудования для мини-гольфа. Я изучил все материалы в интернете про оборудование для мини-гольфа и сделал своими руками, мой коллега и школьники помогали мне. Мы тренировались, затем участвовали в городских соревнованиях. Имеем результаты: 7 класс- 2 место в "Президентских соревнованиях по виду мини-гольф; команда школы детей с ограниченными возможностями здоровья - 3 место, личное - 2 место место в городских соревнованиях. Новая игра увлекла школьников, особенно детей с ограниченными возможностями здоровья, ведь они в силу своих "особенностей" не могут участвовать во многих спортивных соревнованиях. В чём привлекательность мини-гольфа? 1. Игра является общедоступной для детей любого возраста. 2.Занятия мини-гольфом не имеют медицинских противопоказаний, к ним допускаются учащиеся с подготовительной и специальной группами здоровья. 3. Занятия по мини-гольфу доступны для учащихся с ограниченными возможностями здоровья; занятия позволяют укреплять здоровье и физическое развитие детей с ОВЗ, формируют навыки здорового образа жизни. 4.Организовать занятия по мини-гольфу можно в любое время учебного процесса (как на перемене, в качестве физкультминутки, так и во внеурочной деятельности). 5.Мини-гольф – захватывающая и интересная игра, поскольку её действие происходит на ограниченном пространстве, непосредственно на глазах игроков и зрителей. 6.Наряду с азартом присущим каждой игре, мини-гольф развивает в человеке честность, интеллект и физические навыки. Главное- если наш ПОТРЯСАЮЩИЙ проект Мини-гольф своими руками будет реализован с вашей помощью - дети с ограниченными возможностями здоровья и все школьники школьники получат ПОТРЯСАЮЩУЮ возможность играть в ПОТРЯСАЮЩУЮ игру мини-гольф, реализовать свои способности и возможности, участвовать и побеждать в школьных, городских, может быть,и в областных соревнованиях.

Twin Cities, MN (Inativo) – Youth Longboard Building

2017-07-14T00:00:00Z

We are launching a new project building longboards with Twin Cities youth. Woodworking is an excellent medium for developing technical, social, and emotional skills, but boats as a craft pose some philosophical quandaries. By building boats, youth create something beautiful and useful, but often their only experience using them comes through us. Moreover, a boat is a luxury item that many people don’t have the privilege of using in their lives. By building longboards, each youth will have something beautiful and useful to take home with them. Authentic, individual empowerment (through creative expression, connection to nature, and access to transportation) is at the heart of this effort. Boards will provide a way to experience the local environment in a way that is relevant to youth’s daily lives. Youth will decorate the boards with their own screenprinted designs. Instructors will talk about safety while using the boards, detailing required gear and laws. Youth and instructors will go on field trips to local parks and trails to practice using the boards, engaging with the nature in an urban context. We have some of the required tools and knowledge to get started — in fact, one of the youth participants of the Apprenticeship Program, Alex, has already prototyped a board in our workshop (picture included). There is still much to be purchased and prepared before we can fully roll-out the project. Recently we connected with the owners of Rolling Tree, a local business that connects skaters and artists in the community to design boards. They gave us a board-pressing demonstration and talked about next steps to get the project started. This project has the potential to be revolutionary for our programs and youth, but we need support to get it off the ground. We are seeking donations of safety gear and hardware from other organizations. $1,000 from the Awesome Foundation would help us establish the foundation of the project so that we can engage more youth.

Philadelphia, PA – One America Philly Project

2017-07-13T00:00:00Z

The One America Movement's goal is to heal divisiveness in American society. Our programming brings people together across religious, racial, political and cultural divides to work together on a community service project, have a meal together and have a conversation together. For instance, in Washington DC in May, we brought together Jews, Muslims and evangelical Christians to serve together at a men's shelter, have a meal catered by Syrian refugees and have a 2.5 hour conversation about religion, politics, poverty and the isolated "bubbles" we increasingly find ourselves living in. We are scheduling a similar project in Philadelphia, working currently with a synagogue, an evangelical Christian church and at least one Mosque. Our goal is to again have the meal catered by Syrian refugees, both to support those refugees in meeting their basic living expenses and also to further our work to promote respect and inclusion for all people living in the US. After all, one of the key goals of One America's work is to reduce bigotry and prejudice against religious and racial minorities by bringing them into contact with Americans who may not otherwise have had contact with those groups. Forming personal relationships across those divides can not only reduce prejudice among the participants themselves, it can create "ambassadors" who return to their own communities with new perspectives and a willingness to share those perspectives with their peers. This is supported by social science research: one 2017 study indicates that one of the leading indicators of whether or not a person "likes" a particular religious group is whether or not they personally know a member of that group. But less than half of Americans say they personally know a Muslim.

Chicago, IL – TECHNE: Electronic Music Powered by Girls Chicago

2017-07-12T00:00:00Z

We seek an Awesome grant to bring TECHNE, a national music education organization tasked with the mission to give rise to distinct and divergent female voices in the realms of technology and sound, to Chicago. While in Chicago, TECHNE will give three workshops, working in collaboration with three Chicago community organizations. TECHNE will give their most popular workshop, Electronic Music: Powered by Girls to students at the Chicago Girls Rock Camp and students at Intonation. In an Electronic Music: Powered by Girls workshop, students are guided through the process of building and designing a handmade electronic instrument that is uniquely their own, learning to solder and integrate concepts of basic circuitry and instrument design as they create. In the workshop, students are also introduced to listening and improvisation skills that foreground thoughtfulness, collaboration, and self-confidence. For their third workshop, TECHNE will be hosting a Teach the Teachers event, in which they will share and instruct Chicago area arts-educators in the curriculum needed to conduct their own Electronic Music: Powered by Girls workshops. This will engender the Chicago community to continue to empower young people in the Chicago area.

San Francisco, CA – The Artship at Playland at 43rd Avenue

2017-07-12T00:00:00Z

The ArtShip is a shipping container at Playland at 43rd Avenue that we are retrofitting into a multiuse space facilitating both artists’ studios and a Creativity Corner focused on kids and art workshops. The ArtShip seeks to support Bay Area artists by providing a space to develop and create their work and a platform to show it. The ArtShip will celebrate and add to the Outer Sunset community through public art. Artists will have access to the container for a six-week residency, transforming it into a gallery and studio for the creation of work that fosters community engagement and speaks to the Outer Sunset vibe. During that time, artists will offer at least one workshop connecting and sharing what they do with people visiting Playland. We eventually hope to bridge what happens in the ArtShip with vendors in the community, allowing work to be shown both in the container and locations around the neighborhood. The Creativity Corner will feature workshops sponsored by anyone with an interest. Sponsors of workshops will open the doors at one end of the ArtShip and assist kids and families who may be in the park and want to draw, color or make something. Also check out: https://www.facebook.com/Playlandat43rdAvenue/

Ann Arbor, MI – Sahbi

2017-07-11T00:00:00Z

One of the projects we have undertaken as an organization has been to provide libraries for different programs. In these endeavours, we work to donate the supplies necessary to have a substantial library addition to their facilities with no cost burden to their budgets. We recognize that the budgets of these programs are not always able to allocate funds for promoting literacy or the arts when they are often strained to provide for the day-to-day essentials. We provide resources by donating the physical supplies necessary while also donating our time and efforts in building the libraries. Books for a Benefit provides a large number of books fitting for the age ranges of program participants, furniture such as bookshelves and seating for reading areas, decorations, as well as painting and cleaning supplies. The combination of these resources and our efforts in cleaning library areas, assembling furniture, and sorting donations creates a desirable library area to enjoy the books. Our organization has been able to build libraries in a variety of areas including the youth shelter services program Matrix Off the Streets in Detroit, Cornerstone Community Outreach in Chicago, Illinois, and PRIMO Center for Women and Children in Englewood through Alternative Spring Break Trips to Chicago. Books for a Benefit aims to promote literacy and increase interest in literacy in youth populations. Our efforts have allowed us to create environments that promote and facilitate interest in reading through providing a safe, calm space to escape into the stories. Our impacts have been long lasting in these communities as the libraries provided will remain with the programs and the interest sparked in the youth will follow them throughout their educations.

Awesome Without Borders (Inativo) – Lower Ninth Ward Home Rebuild

2017-07-10T00:00:00Z

When the levees broke after Hurricane Katrina, 80% of New Orleans was flooded, and 100% of Lower Ninth Ward homes were rendered uninhabitable - 14,000 residents were rendered homeless overnight. This 98.1% African-American neighborhood, which had one of the highest rates of black homeownership in the nation, continues to struggle in its recovery. Almost twelve years after Katrina, the majority of former residents have not returned. The federal recovery program put in place to help Louisiana homeowners return to their properties after the levee breaches was found to be discriminatory in a federal court in 2010. Rather than basing settlements on damage to property and estimated cost to rebuild (minus insurance settlements and other resources) the Road Home program based settlements on pre-storm property value, meaning those in low-wealth communities received less. In the Lower Ninth Ward, settlements averaged 25% of the median state figures. Working directly with homeowners, lowernine.org uses volunteer labor and donated materials to rebuild residential properties for pre-Katrina residents. Work on the homes occurs when there is funding for materials or in-kind donations, and when there are volunteers available. Working with lowernine.org, volunteers brings the cost to rebuild down to 30% of market rate. In-kind donations from valued partners like James Hardie and Atlas Roofing make that figure lower still. With summer volunteers and a small investment in the remaining materials, lowernine.org plans on completing its 84th and 85th homes before September 2017.

Asheville, NC (Inativo) – Community Creativity & Celebration at Ledgewood

2017-07-10T00:00:00Z

We want to bring a day of celebration, connection, and creativity to the folks living in the Ledgewood Village Section 8 Housing Project in Asheville, NC. There are over 150 people living here, including many kids. We will collaborate with members of Faerie Kin Enchanted Stiltwalkers and Nex Millen of ONEmic Studio. Chakaba (pronounced shah-kah-bah) is the traditional African practice of wearing a sacred spirit mask while dancing on stilts. The practice goes by many names, depending on the African language that is spoken by the people. The tallness, the stilts, is a reminder to look up to the great things ancestors did. It also represents maintaining balance in life. The mask and costume contains objects that are flora (plant), fauna (animal), mineral (earth), and aqua (water, the sea). It brings forth the concept that these things are important, and a healthy world must strive to be in balance with nature for harmony, peace and continuity. We will share and teach easy, earth-centered, and connecting songs to folks of all ages. We will also co-create simple dances to the songs with the participants. There will be the opportunity for youth to provide back beats to the songs on equipment provided by Nex Millen. There will be a puppet artist who will offer easy instruction for folks to make spirit masks (materials will be provided). We will put it all together in a parade led by the stiltwalkers that includes everyone singing, dancing, and wearing masks. We'll conclude the celebration with a shared meal of healthy nutritious food and offer a song of gratitude (and a time for participants to offer their thanks).

Poughkeepsie, NY – POP Program (Pride and Ownership of Poughkeepsie)

2017-07-09T00:00:00Z

Mental Health America of Dutchess County, based at 253 Mansion Street in Poughkeepsie serves over 5,000 people per year. Part of the programming within the organization is Mel's Place. Mel's Place is a daytime homeless shelter. At any given time we have over 60 people attending this drop in center each day. The reason most people in and around Poughkeepsie are not aware of the extent of homelessness in Dutchess County is because of Mel's Place. Our experience of the homeless of Dutchess County is that they are kind and caring individuals who, despite not having a permanent place to reside at the time, have pride in the area they live. Far too often people in the community experience a few homeless or mentally ill people in Poughkeepsie because those particular people may be struggling and causing disruptions. This unfortunately paints a broad stripe of all homeless in a negative light. We want to change that perception by having our clients display very positive behaviors which exhibit a Pride and Ownership in Poughkeepsie. The goal of this project will be to identify one block sectors working out from the Family Partnership. These sectors will include Mansion Square Park. Volunteers will be solicited from our homeless program and from our other programs. These volunteers (2 or 3 at a time), will be tasked with reporting to a specific sector. The goal would be to work their way around the block picking up all trash they see and bagging it. Our expectation would be that we would identify different sectors on average 1-2 times per week. Once the job is complete the individuals would be given a $5.00 gift card.At the end of the year a pizza party will be held with all participants for the year and elected officials would be invited as well.

Adelaide – Hannah:

2017-07-07T00:00:00Z

Hannah is a text based, chat style video game that aims to raise awareness of some of the complex elements involved in Domestic Violence (DV), and help family and friends provide non-judgmental positive emotional and practical support to those experiencing DV. DV is common in Australia with one in three women reporting that they have experienced violence by a male since the age of 15. The responses of friends and family in DV situations are incredibly important, as negative and uninformed attitudes results in less understanding, empathy and support being provided to survivors of violence and can make it much more difficult for women to end abusive relationships. Games have been utilised in educational contexts to ‘teach’ and explore empathy, and frameworks have been developed to help empathy educators analyse and choose games to teach identified empathy educational outcomes. Hannah is being developed based on respected research around utilising games to help teach skills and explore different life experiences, as well as the personal experiences of women who have experienced domestic violence, and the family and friends who supported them during this time. Hannah is designed so that family and friends wanting to help, can play it in order to develop a deeper understanding of the situation of someone experiencing DV, their experiences, feelings, and the difficulties they encounter attempting to gain support from support services. The game will aim to model and teach ways that the character can provide non judgmental support, empower a DV victim, and help them on their complex journey to accessing support services. You can also read a little more about Hannah here: https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2016/03/australian-developer-creates-game-to-help-domestic-violence-victims/ or here: http://susannahemery.com/game-design/

Awesome Without Borders (Inativo) – Summer Camps for Grieving Children

2017-07-07T00:00:00Z

One week of camp can change the life of a grieving child. It gives them a place to feel connected to others who understand what they're going through. We currently run one-week programs in Maine, New York, California, and Georgia, and will serve nearly 500 campers this summer. The week is a mix of traditional camp fun and bereavement support sprinkled in to normalize the grief process and give kids the tools to create positive outcomes in their lives.

Adelaide – getmoova

2017-07-07T00:00:00Z

getmoova is an electronic smart wrist device for children. It combines a virtual pet that is rewarded for active travel or movement, along with an emergency notification system that sends a message and G.P.S. coordinate to the parent’s phone if the child believes they are in danger. Minigames will also be available where the child can be active in situations where it wouldn’t be suitable for them to go outside. The aim of getmoova is to get children active whilst being safe at the same time in a world where levels of physical activity are declining. The device is an alternative to a mobile phone for youth aged 5-11 and is planned to be affordable, with a retail price planned to be less than $50 per unit. It will also not have a monthly phone plan cost, which can be a burden for parents and a school mode, so the device doesn’t disturb learning time. Since September 2016, when I first thought of the idea, I have been developing the product and researching the market. In March this year I ran a stall at the Tonsley Science Alive event where I received around 300 survey responses about getmoova from both parents and children. With feedback saying that 82% thought the idea was great and 80% saying they would have purchased it on that day, means getmoova is a product that is wanted in the marketplace. I have now structured getmoova’s business model accordingly and since developed two prototypes that have working virtual pets and motion tracking. getmoova has ambassadors including Pamela Kent, the President of the South Australian Primary Principals Association, who thought the idea was great and that it could be combined with programs including the Premier’s Be Active Challenge. Additionally, Annesley Junior School have said that they would be happy to hold trials for the product and thought that it would promote an active future.

Oakland, CA (Inativo) – Non-Fiction High Engagement Texts!

2017-07-06T00:00:00Z

I am a 5th grade teacher at a public charter school in Richmond, CA. We are a Title 1 school serving a 85% Free/Reduced Lunch population of underrepresented scholars. My scholars are making leaps and bounds in our school of high expectations, however, much of this is due to outside resources I provide in my classroom. Literacy is one of the biggest indicators of future success and college readiness for a student and therefore, must be highly encouraged and supported in classrooms. We are unable to provide a school library and many of my students do not have a supply of their own books at home. I have spent many years attending free book drives or buying books to compile my own classroom library but as such, it is not always as up to date or engaging as I would like it to be. In order to further expand my student's access to engaging texts, I would like to provide a plethora of non-fiction magazines in my classroom in order to continue engaging students in reading that is relatable and encourages their interaction with unfamiliar cultures and places. Magazines such as Time for Kids or National Geographic for Kids are a great resource for students to learn about these unfamiliar topics as well as increase their exposure to highly engaging non-fiction text that will challenge their current reading abilities to grow further. With a subscription based text set, students could find excitement in waiting for the next edition to arrive in our classroom, further promoting excitement about literacy and engaging students in accessing new text and information. These magazines would deeply enrich my student's reading experiences as well as grow their highly applicable non-fiction reading skills into future careers and experiences.

Annapolis, NS (Inativo) – Gleann na Gaeilge - Valley of Irish

2017-07-05T00:00:00Z

Gaeilge sa Ghleann was the Awesome Annapolis winner for July with support for an Irish Gaelic immersion weekend, based in Annapolis Royal The Irish activities will take place on the weekend of October 13 to 15, 2017 from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, and will consist of Irish language classes taught by qualified teachers, cultural activities and Celtic music, and social events. This immersion weekend is open to all including Irish learners in the local Gaeilge sa Ghleann group as well as the broader Canadian and International Irish Gaelic learning community. This is the first time such an immersion program is being offered in this area, and the focus will be on beginners and lower intermediate language learners. We are projecting a total participation of 30 to 40 people. The immersion course will find its home in the O’Dell House Museum. The goal is to harness the strength of Annapolis Royal, which is a collection of unique heritage buildings and a diverse base of entrepreneurs. The program will spread out to other venues in the area and will benefit many of the local businesses.