Awesome Foundation - Projects

Cleveland, OH – Reading Rehabilitation

2024-03-13T00:00:00Z

I am a teacher at the Juvenile Detention Center. Unfortunately, incarceration leaves my students with a lot of downtime. Fortunately, they become avid readers while here. Many of my students are below grade level in reading and I love to offer them high interest/low readability books. The kids will check books out of my classroom library (which I have built using my personal funds and donations from friends) and take books back to their rooms to read at night. My students will put their names on a waiting list to be next in line to check out a classroom favorite (many Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Bluford novels). Reading is the key to a successful future for my students. Reading and academic success go hand in hand. The Department of Justice states, “The link between academic failure and delinquency, violence, and crime is welded to reading failure.” If I can help my students increase their literacy level while they are with me, they will go back to school more confident and ready to achieve. According to a special report, Early Warning, from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, “…the process of dropping out begins long before high school. It stems from loss of interest in middle school, often triggered by retention in grade…and that, in a great many cases, is the result of not being able to read proficiently as early as fourth grade.” I want to build a larger library, with more choices, and a reading program that will entice my students to read more and become more successful in their educational programs. Students will be offered incentives for books read and book reports completed. They will be able to earn bookmarks, stickers, pencils, and a pizza party to celebrate their achievements. Certificates will be given to them that they can present to their parents and judges. I want to be able to build a reading corner with a shelf overflowing with teen novels. I want students to learn to love reading as much as I do.

Cleveland, OH – Slavic Village Bike Fix-a-thon

2024-03-13T00:00:00Z

Bikes are an important part of our neighborhood dynamics. Many people in our neighborhood cannot afford a vehicle and must use alternative transportation. Also, with screens being such an issue in the lives of children, bike use is a great way to encourage them to leave the screens behind. Our neighborhood Bike-a-thon is designed to help locals with minor repairs of their bikes in an effort to help encourage them to ride their bikes. We hope to bring in a bike coop who, for a flat fee, will repair 60 bikes. We are also looking into buying helmets to pass out as well as supplying items to decorate the kids’ bikes.

Cleveland, OH – Cleveland Sews' Community Sew-A-Thon

2024-03-13T00:00:00Z

Cleveland Sews first piloted the idea for social manufacturing with a Community Sew-A-Thon in 2018. The event partnered with Burten, Bell, Carr's community radio station, WOVU, and brought together community members to make winter hats and scarves for underserved youth in the Kinsman neighborhood of Cleveland. Annually, similar events took place as blanket drives, where fleece blankets were made and distributed to low-income seniors, un-housed individuals, and newly settled refugees. In May of 2024, Cleveland Sews will host their largest Sew-A-Thon event in partnership with St. Vincent Charity Community Health Center. Taking drapery that once hung in the hospital, Cleveland Sews will bring together community members to cut and sew reusable tote bags at scale for St. Vincent's Mission Kitchen and Pantry program. This endeavor is led by a participatory community leadership committee of the new Stitching Committee, which represents a diverse sector of the community. Long term, through the partnership with St. Vincent Charity, Cleveland Sews is able to align mission interest to share and increase joint capacity and create a re-manufacturing hub in the now vacant hospital that serves residents of the central neighborhood and participants of St. Vincent Charity's programs. Central to this project is the effort to disrupt traditional ways of manufacturing and consumeristic thinking by creating a culture around repair, mending, upcycling and redistribution. This sustainable model for a new artistic and creative manufacturing, diverts waste that would otherwise be headed to the landfill and creates more equity and accessibility to resources and education, while addressing sustainability goals of the city and county. The Sew-A-Thon will be the launch of this catalytic project by upcycling material that has such a significant historical connection to the community. The most beautiful part is community will come together to transform it and give it back to the community.

Ipswich, MA – 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY PARADE AND EVENTS

2024-03-12T00:00:00Z

The VFW Post 1093, American Legion Post 80, PLAV and AMVETS have joined together with the Town Manager, Chief of Police, Chief of Fire Department, Select Board, Bank Gloucester, Brookline Bank, Rotary, Masons, Ipswich Fish & Game Club, Ipswich Public Schools and individual citizens with the focus to bring a respectful and honorable recognition to those who participated in the D-Day Invasion some 80 years ago in Normandy, France. There are three concerts scheduled as part of our fundraising program. All funds raised will go to the expense associated with hiring marching bands, paying for local high school bands transportation costs, etc. All funds are audited and controlled by the two banks mentioned above. We are working with Veterans organizations, High Schools, Civic Organizations and others throughout Essex County. Our focus is to have an education opportunity and patriotic event that will be memorable for all Essex County citizens.

Philadelphia, PA – Benches for Neighborhood Garden

2024-03-12T00:00:00Z

Philadelphia Scenic Works (PSW) is a non-profit woodshop located in North Kensington in Philadelphia, an area with vibrant population but an extreme lack of historical investment. So, residents have taken it upon themselves to beautify the neighborhood. One such resident - Gloria "Smooches" Cartagena - has been working for the past few years to beautify the corner lot outside her house. A few years ago, PSW helped by building a fence for the lot and providing decorative wood decals. Smooches enlisted neighborhood kids paint flower boxes, and got a mural painted on the wall. In the summer she brings out planter boxes and gardens. She calls it the "butterfly garden" because of the butterfly decals and the butterflies on the mural. We would like to continue to enhance this outdoor space by building and installing some benches for residents to sit. The space is nice and well used during the warmer months, but it needs places to sit and enjoy it.

Orlando, FL – ArtReach Orlando Youth Gallery

2024-03-11T00:00:00Z

Arts on Arlington is a renovated 10,000 square-foot building home to McRae Art Studios and ArtReach Orlando's Community Classroom. Adjacent to our classroom, is studio space for our Artist-in-Residence. Our Artist-in-Residence program is an effort to support emerging artists to develop their practice and engage with youth in the community. An empty studio is available and ArtReach Orlando is interested in transforming the space into a Youth Gallery. Not only will seeing their works framed and mounted in a gallery be empowering for our young artists, it will serve as a tool for sharing our impact and fundraising. ArtReach is often asked for gallery displays around the community. A permanent gallery in our space will serve as a tool for curating this work, displaying art for our youth and community members first, and then traveling the art around the community. This includes the EBI gallery space in Winter Park, the Winter Park Health Wellness Center, Orlando Family Stage, and Science Center to name a few.

Santa Cruz, CA – Earth Month - River Exhibit & Upcycle Festival

2024-03-10T00:00:00Z

A collective of 6 diverse community-activist artists @ the Tannery Arts Center are planning an Earth Month celebration of the San Lorenzo River. This will be a curated, community-based River Exhibit, open to all ages and all artistic experience. We have an open call right now, Our exhibit will be for the month of April. In addition, we will host a First Friday Art Reception as well as an Earth Day Upcycle Festival. We don't charge entry fees or sales fees, but for this exhibit, we are asking participating artists who sell their work to give the Coastal Watershed Council 20%. We want to engage the Santa Cruz community to think about and take action to care for this river that gives us 70% of our drinking water and is home to thousands of delightful creatures.

Vegan (Inactive) – Help Secondhand Stories Grow!

2024-03-10T00:00:00Z

Secondhand Stories is a registered non-profit chicken sanctuary and online used-book shop based in Rideau Lakes, just outside of Ottawa. Our mission is to provide a loving forever home to abandoned, abused, and neglected farmed animals. We have 19 very special rescue chickens. We accept donations of gently used books from the community and resell them on our website to help raise funds for our sanctuary. It is a passion project that aims to bring the reading and animal-loving community together to make a positive impact.

Newburgh, NY – The Very Hungry Caterpillar Puppet Show!

2024-03-10T00:00:00Z

Little Friends Learning Loft at the Newburgh JCC would love to invite you to an Eric Carle-inspired puppet show presented by Rockefeller Productions with handmade puppets. The Storytime presentation of each story runs approximately 12-15 minutes with professional actors and a few small props will present a theatrical, story-time style reading of the selected Eric Carle stories. After the performance, there is also an opportunity to take pictures with Hungry Caterpillar. It is a perfect, up-close, and engaging performance for little ones!

Newmarket – Celebrate Life Birthday Program

2024-03-07T00:00:00Z

This organization is starting a new Birthday celebration program to provide an equal opportunity to low income families and children including seniors to be able to celebrate birthdays and life among family and friends. We launched our first Birthday program on Feb 10 2024 in Co-op residential building in Newmarket. We celebrated all children, youth, seniors whose Birthdays fall in Month of February. The program was a tremendous success with great attendance of over 70 people. We expect to have a lot more households attend each month. We include a large cake serving 80+ people, pizza slices, birthday balloons, chips and juice box for everyone. After the cake celebration, the participants engage in Arts and Crafts activities decorating seasonal items and crafts to celebrate and socialize with family and friends. The first program held this weekend helped a lot of children come together. We had seniors, disabled individuals, youth and adults in attendance. There were 8 people whose birthdays were celebrated with the cake and pizza party followed by Art activities and educational books for each youth aged 1-25. These low income families do not have an opportunity to celebrate life and feel the happiness of a birthday cake and party celebration. This program is important to reduce harmful effects of poverty on mental health. The youth felt happy, satisfied and walked out with newly created crafts and books to get inspired in school and at workplace. This increase self confidence and self worth of the families. It is important to carry on this program once a month to celebrate all who are less fortunate and need happiness in their lives. We continue to raise funds for this awesome program and hopeful that your grant can support us.

Glasgow – Glasgow Menopause Social

2024-03-06T00:00:00Z

Currently, there are no menopause support groups in the G13/G14 area. We would like to offer a Menopause Social for a 10 week block. The area around Whiteinch Community Centre is among the poorest in the city. Women, in particular women from the BAME community, do not talk openly about menstrual health because of cultural taboos. Profound poverty can also lead to social isolation. We would like to encourage participation and build connections between women of all backgrounds, cultures and faiths as this something that connects us all. In sharing experiences, symptoms and treatments women will be able to share how they were supported by their healthcare provider, encouraging other women to seek support. In our experience we have found that many women do not even consider that their symptoms or poor health might be related to peri-menopause or menopause and often symptoms can be easily treated with HRT. We make it clear that we are not offering medical advice and that we only signpost and offer support to women who don't have the confidence to advocate on their own behalf. Providing women with a safe space, in a supportive atmosphere where we can talk and provide refreshments, will help build connections withing and between communities.

Sydney – If/When

2024-03-06T00:00:00Z

If/When is a 6-minute stop-motion animation about lonely Ollie - born with a unique time-traveling condition who struggles to make lasting connections; until they meet Az - with her grey restless eyes, who are worth trying to defy the universe for. If/When is about fighting to be with our loved ones and holding onto them for as long as we can. We’re proud to share that our inclusive crew is primarily made of women and non-binary crew members. This story is adapted for the animated screen by Courtney Westbrook and is based on the original short story by Richie Black. Not only is our story awesome, but our emphasis on creating a warm and positive environment that is female focused. The labour of love involved with handcrafting has become increasingly valuable in an AI obsessed world. If/When has completed production on our lead puppets ‘Ollie’ and ‘Az’ and major set design. We are moving into the stage where we are making the last of our sets and getting ready to start camera tests. As our sets and puppets are completely handcrafted they require very particular materials to work for the animation process, as well as the overall aesthetic. Keeping this in mind, we’ve adopted a sustainable approach by selecting materials from 'Reverse Garbage' who extends their lifecycle and diverts them from landfills. Additionally we utilise landfill diverted paper wherever possible for set construction and puppet creation. We’ve conducted extensive research into animation, female and LGBTQIA+ focused grants; however due to the nature of the industry they are few and far between. When we came across The Awesome Foundation we were excited that projects would be judged based on the merit of how they create a positive and lasting impact on the Sydney community. Our Director, Courtney’s hope for If/When was to hire a female identifying crew to help create equity on and off Australian screens. Likewise, we have also created learning opportunities in a variety of roles: bringing on board art, production and sound trainees to gain mentoring experience. The Awesome Foundation will be a significant help in bringing our characters from the page to the screen with intricate backdrops and complex puppet designs. It will enable us to move into the next stage of production involving camera and animation tests. Overall, our commitment to sustainability goes beyond just the choice of materials, it encompasses the entire production process from design to disposal. By prioritising environmental responsibility we aim to create a positive impact both within our project and the broader community. If/When hopes to shine a light on animation, mental health issues, and women and non-binary representation within the film industry. Our aim is to show this film at festivals and hope that its impact will continue to be felt for many years to come, giving hope to those lost or seeking comfort.

Rockport, MA – Neuro-Health through Native Gardens

2024-03-05T00:00:00Z

Supportive Living, Inc. (SLI) provides affordable, supportive housing to brain injury survivors. SLI’s Cape Ann facility, Old Farm Rockport, is a renovation of the historic Old Farm Inn at Halibut Point, which opened to residents in 2014 and houses 8 local, low-income residents. SLI offers neuro-wellness programs to over 150 individuals living with brain injury and other neurological conditions each year, providing recreation and fitness opportunities designed to improve physical, cognitive, emotional and social wellness. Programs include: Neuro-Fit, an evidence-based assisted exercise program serving 100 individuals each year at the Cape Ann YMCA; music, art, dancing and yoga classes led by professional instructors; enrichment events in collaboration with Rockport Music and Halibut Point State Park; and Flower Buds, a therapeutic horticultural program engaging clients and volunteers in assembling bouquets from flowers grown on-site to deliver to community recipients. Flower Buds participants have demonstrated improved physical, social and emotional wellness by engaging with nature, using their hands and senses, having a sense of purpose, working as a team, engaging with volunteers and spending time outdoors. Based on the success of Flower Buds, SLI proposes a new therapeutic horticultural project—Neuro-Health through Native Gardens. This project will engage at least 50 individuals living with neurological conditions and 50 local volunteers who will work with a native plant specialist to establish a meadow of native flowers and grasses on 15K sq. ft. of street-facing land at Old Farm Rockport. The native plant specialist will plant in the spring and fall, and nurture the plantings during the season with volunteer support from the Boy Scouts. This new, highly-visible, outdoor space will promote the value of native plant habitats and be used for nature-based, neuro-health programs for an increasing number of people on Cape Ann living with neurological conditions.

San Francisco, CA – Wheelchair modding workshop

2024-03-05T00:00:00Z

I'd like to host a workshop at the Independent Living Resource Center SF, that will be hands on DIY creating custom wheelchair modifications like cup holders, cane and crutch holders, specialized bags and pouches, lights, backup or dashcams, and charger mods. This will be cohosted along with Vince Lopez and Marisol Ferrante, who do repair and assistive tech lending librarianship at ILRCSF. At the workshop there will also be a show and tell as we gather information on what other wheelchair user attendees have invented to mod or enhance their chairs. All workshop DIY projects will be published on GOAT's web site (Grassroots Open Assistive Tech). Future workshops will likely rotate between Bay Area locations (at Ed Roberts campus, at ILRCSF, at the Disability Cultural Center once it's open in 2025, and at various hacker and maker spaces)

Brumadinho – Homenagem ao Cacique Merong Kamakã Mongoio

2024-03-04T00:00:00Z

É com muito pesar que o Cacique Merong, virou encantado no dia 04/03. O mesmo deixou órfão seu povo. Nas palavras da associada guardiã da Nossa Cidade, Hélcia Veriato: "Quando matavam os parentes próximos, eu perguntava para o Merong como ele estava e ele me dizia sempre a mesma coisa: "Minha irmã, não dá tempo de chorar, guerreira. Eles seguem nos matando e temos que ser fortes para seguir resistindo e lutando pra viver." Gente, esse é um dos ensinamentos dele. Transformar o luto em luta!💪🏼/ Aprendi com o Merong que não dá nem tempo de chorar as perdas pois a luta continua! Com o coração apertado pela perda de um amigo, um grande homem, um forte e jovem guerreiro, que somei forças junto aos meus colegas de Fundo Regenerativo de Brumadinho para apoiá-los nesse momento. Recebam o pão para fortalecer vocês na data de hoje! E ninguém solta a mão de ninguém, porque nenhum de nós é melhor que todos nós juntos!" Nas palavras da associada colaboradora da Nossa Cidade, Maria dos Anjos: "com meu coração indígena da região de poté de Minas ,hoje pulsando mais forte em ver a dor dessa tribo, que aqui está para cuidar da mãe terra e desfrutar do que nos foi dado por Deus, quero dizer que quando se vai um indígena, fica a certeza de que fez sua parte e contribuiu para nossa preservação, pois a determinação, sabedoria e vivência permanecerão para sempre nesta terra. Deus os fortaleçam para seguir em frente. PARABÉNS a família pela cultura de Guerreiro na vida desse jovem, que influenciou pessoas e que continuará encantado no nosso meio como um exemplo de coragem em defesa do seu povo." Tocados em enviar nossa solidariedade e contribuir para a despedida de nosso amigo Merong, liderança indígena pertencente ao povo Pataxó-hã-hã-hãe, líder da comunidade Kamakã Mongoio, conhecido nacionalmente pela sua atuação na defesa do direito dos povos indígenas aos seus territórios tradicionais, enviamos uma humilde oferta de mantimentos para não deixar faltar o alimento pra tribo, o café e o lanche no seu velório.

Los Angeles, CA – Pirates Wanted

2024-03-03T00:00:00Z

Pirates Wanted is an immersive and interactive experience performing aboard the American Pride, the 130-ft, 3-masted tall ship operated by the Los Angeles Maritime Institute in San Pedro. Pirates Wanted started from the simple idea of "what if we did an immersive show on an actual ship?" Over the last year and a half, this thought transformed and grew into the magical explosion of adventure, love, and diversity that is Pirates Wanted. Through the lens of a colorful and queer pirate crew, Pirates Wanted! embraces the idea that everyone can be a pirate. The casting and storyline of the project specifically highlights people from historically marginalized groups (i.e. BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+). Pirates Wanted tells the story of Captain Souvanna, a fierce queer woman of color who is trying to make her mark in the Golden Age of Piracy. This wild and wacky crew will first attempt to steal a ship from the British Royal Navy and then turn a ship full of landlubbers (the audience) into actual seaworthy pirates just in time to prove their worthiness to the Great Pirate Council once and for all. However, this is not the only challenge of the night as the threat of sirens comes to light and rumors of mutiny abound. It's up to the audience to decide whether this crew will sink or swim as they navigate these unfamiliar waters. The amazing thing about immersive theatre is how it pulls audiences directly into the world and gives them the ability to affect that world. Pirates Wanted is highly interactive, with audience members directly working with the characters to influence the narrative and change the ending of the show night after night. It’s this kind of direct engagement that can have an impact on how people see the world and navigate through new experiences and ideas. A show like this, with this level of interactivity and storytelling on a ship has not been done on this scale in LA before, and we need all the support and funding possible to make it happen.

Durham, NC – 2024 Wellness & Vision Board Party

2024-03-01T00:00:00Z

Our awesome project's mission is to merge community, vision, and networking to the Durham and the surrounding areas. Last year I attended a Vision Board Event and casted my vision for Lex Go Hiking, a non profit organization that specialises in bringing the community together through hiking experiences. At the moment I was afraid to Bet on myself and create a vision for it however because of the environment of the event Ib decided to GO FOR IT, and through that experience this year I've accomplished more than half of the things I had a vision for. I want to create that experience for our community! Sometimes we need an experience to push us to our goals and believe in ourselves. This project will impact others to dream again and dream big while incorporate a wellness component. We'll provide: Supplies Food & Beverages Ice Breakers Champagne Toast Photo Op Station 2 local business to highlight Wellness Tools and Message to bring into 2024 Raffles & Giveaways Mixer/Networking to end @lexgohiking on Instagram & Tik Tok

Rhode Island – Winslow Gardens Elders Theater Club

2024-03-01T00:00:00Z

Awesome Foundation Rhode Island's first grant is being issued to Elder Residents at Winslow Gardens in East Providence, who recently started a theater club to preform for their neighbors, other seniors, and the public. Winslow Gardens is an assisted living community that houses over 200 elders, most of whom are on Medicaid and over 80 years old. The theater club is a resident-led club, where the residents get to write, act, and direct a play themselves. The members choose and design the costumes, do each other’s make-up, and make props together. The plays are preformed on the Winslow Gardens dining room and are usually organized with a resident/staff showing, and a family and friends showing. After their recent first performance, one elder star reported, “the play inspired us to feel young again, to be creative. For most of us, this was the first time we were ever in a play. We never thought we would be able to do anything like this, until the club started.” The club will be using funds to assist with A/V needs, costuming, and snacks.

Liverpool – Liverpool Architecture Foundation 2024 / LAF24

2024-03-01T00:00:00Z

Liverpool Architecture Festival 2024 (LAF24) will be hosted from 1st to 30th June 2024 inclusive, delivering over 100 free-to-attend events. These events will include walking and building tours, workshops, and symposiums for young people and families, academics, students and professionals, and community groups throughout the Liverpool City Region. LAF24 will be titled 'Neighbourhood' with the intention of connecting people with their local built environment, and engaging with the architecture that is closest to them, with a focus on the key values of inclusivity, climate and community. There will be an emphasis on physical participatory events where we encourage people to participate, and learn about their local built environment throughout the six boroughs of St. Helens, Sefton, Knowsley, Halton, Wirral and Liverpool. LAF24 will be the third iteration, with LAF21, and LAF22 having been successfully delivered in October 2021, and June 2022 respectively. Previous Festival brochures can be found on our website: https://www.laf-uk.com/ The funding will be utilised to deliver free architecture walking tours for 4 local community groups within the Liverpool City Region, one each week of the Festival. The expertly guided 2-hour tours will be in a location of the group’s choice and curated to engage communities with their local architecture and neighbourhoods. LAF will work with a diverse range of community groups. Each tour will accommodate 25 people at a cost of £125. The allocated £500 funding would deliver the tours for 100.

Gloucester, MA – Giving Meadows at Blackburn Circle/Burnhams Field

2024-02-29T00:00:00Z

Cape Ann is one of the few service stops in the vast Gulf of Maine on a migration superhighway north and south. Research has revealed that the resting and feeding habitat for migratory birds is dwindling rapidly. According to a leading entomologist, Doug Tallamy, the need has never been more urgent to address the loss of biodiversity. For example, bird populations have declined by almost a third in the past half century, according to a 2019 study. Despite this grave news we can all pitch in and do something to help. Our group’s goal is to create more diverse habitats for migrating and non-migrating species to attract a myriad of bugs that they can feed on and food sources through plants. In 2022 I partnered with the Department of Transportation to adopt the Blackburn Circle and transform it into a better ecosystem. The Blackburn Circle rotary is a parcel of land which consists primarily of turf-grass that requires mowing and fertilization. In September and October of 2022 ten community volunteers gathered to help plant out a 7,500 square foot meadow in the middle of the rotary. Over half of the plants were donated by these avid native plant enthusiasts who are growing and sharing these plants to the community free of charge minimizing costs and plastic waste and making it easier to say ‘YES’ to planting natives. The plants were put directly into the organic herbicide treated grass which was rototilled prior to planting. This minimized labor and the need to haul material off-site and maximized using the decomposing turf as mulch for the planted meadow. Because Blackburn Circle is inaccessible to the public we partnered with Backyard Growers and the City of Gloucester at Burnham's Field Park to establish an educational native meadow which began in the Spring of 2023. The projects will evolve and expand over the next two to three years and we hope to partner with Black Earth Compost and the Cape Ann YMCA to create new meadows in 2024 and beyond.

Ottawa – Giggles4Health

2024-02-29T00:00:00Z

February’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to Jocelyn Umengan to support Giggles4Health, her initiative to enhance mental wellness through the magic of laughter. “In a world where daily pressures often overshadow our need for joy and connection,” explains Jocelyn, “Giggles4Health strives to be a sanctuary where the community can gather, share laughs, and revel in the profound simplicity of happiness.” “At the heart of this venture are thoughtfully curated events,” she continues, “each designed to uplift spirits and forge lasting connections — all free of charge. From the lighthearted banter of ‘Silly Dad Joke Sessions’ to the stress-free mingling of ‘Speed Friending with a Twist’ and the nostalgic joy of ‘Minute to Win It Games,’ these gatherings transcend mere entertainment. They are a deliberate exploration into the realms of mental wellness, providing participants with a respite from life's demands.” “Laughter is a shared language,” says Jocelyn, “and the pursuit of mental well-being is a collective journey.” Jocelyn is a marketing professional and social media guru. You can join one of her events at [meetup.com/giggles-4-health] (https://www.meetup.com/giggles-4-health).

New York City, NY – Help Tami fight the Ambalo Bros and tell her story

2024-02-29T00:00:00Z

Ten years ago, Tami Green was biking in East New York, Brooklyn and came across an abandoned house in disrepair. Tami was homeless at the time and living in her storage unit nearby so when she learned from neighbors that the previous owner had passed away three years prior and lay vacant, she decided to move in and fix it up - she replaced stolen copper lines, fixed the roof and removed a dangerous tree. She also became a beloved community leader who organizes block cleanups and food and backpack giveaways. Tami is now fighting eviction from property speculators who have purchased the property. The East New York Community Land Trust is a grassroots, people of color-led non-profit organization founded by community residents dedicated to preserving affordability for future generations and providing a vehicle to create generational wealth. _"Tami is such a precious part of our community and we cannot let her be evicted by these speculators who have made a profitable business off of stealing deeds, displacing residents and destabilizing Black and Brown neighborhoods across New York City. We will send a message to all speculators trying to prey on working class people in our community and across NYC."_ The ENY CLT are currently helping Tami with her legal battle and will use this AwesomeNYC grant to to hire filmmaker Ifeyinwa Arinze to create a short video about Tami’s fight to help spread the word about Tami's story and the work the ENY CLT is doing to keep New Yorkers in their neighborhoods. This project is about neighbors coming together to take community control of land and housing and we're excited to help them tell that story. * [Learn more about the ENY CLT on their website](https://www.eastnewyorkclt.org/) * [Read about Tami's Story](https://www.brooklynpaper.com/woman-claimed-east-new-york-house-fights/) * [Follow ENY CLT on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/EastNewYorkCLT/)

Toronto – Cornell Community Iftaar

2024-02-29T00:00:00Z

Cornell Public School, in collaboration with the Cornell Parent Council, is holding its second annual community iftaar on March 28, 2024. Open to all students' and their families, our community comes together for "iftaar", a meal which marks the breaking of the fast during Ramadan, a holy of month of fasting for Muslims. Our school has a high population of Muslim students, and we feel it is important that our students feel connected to their school community, and see themselves reflected in the experiences and events held at Cornell. Our school also serves a high population of low-income families, many of whom are refugees or new immigrants. We work hard to offer this event free of charge for students and their families so that it is accessible to all. Last year we held our first ever iftaar which serviced 800 attendees. Students and their families enjoyed a hot meal, refreshments, and motivating speeches by community leaders, politicians, and educators. This year we hope to continue the tradition of holding a community iftaar, bringing together our Cornell families in joy and belonging.

Disability – Campaign Co-Create, Not Confine

2024-02-29T00:00:00Z

Co-Create, Not Confine is a campaign focused on disabled researchers/scientists which is created by disabled researchers. This campaign will focus on co-designing with disabled researchers/scientists from lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) to better understand the barriers they face as they navigate academic space as well as seek advice/guidance on creating inclusive space (eg: topics of resource allocation, navigation in labs, infrastructure, etc). This discussion will take place through focus group sessions by recruiting disabled researchers and making sure to have representatives from different LMICs. Their inputs from the focus group session will be further evaluated, made public, and presented to larger groups (stakeholders, different lab directors, etc) to understand how these can be better implemented further by a roundtable discussion. There will also be a dedicated website that will be up and running soon to make this campaign public. The aim behind this initiative has been a product of ongoing discussions around accessibility concerns as well as to further create and encourage more disabled researchers to thrive in academia, especially those from developing nations as they continue to remain underrepresented. Additionally, my own lived experience with discrimination as a disabled researcher in labs made me not only voice out but also remind me how many others like me have been discouraged from to continuing grow in this space. This campaign is a must and the need to discuss this is of importance. Diversity does not end at inclusivity, it also begins when there is accommodation made in place. To understand this better, the voices of the disabled community are significant and essential to shed more light. Note: The website for this is under construction **What our grantee is saying:** "Receiving the Awesome Disability Grant is going to make a huge difference. It is not just supporting the campaign "Co-Create, Not Confine," but also embracing the disability community's potential to co-create and advocate together for better space for and by the disabled community. This grant fuels the fight for equal opportunity in academic spaces, allowing us to champion and echo the voices of disabled researchers, especially those from underrepresented regions. With the grant, we are one step closer to dismantling barriers and creating a thriving, diverse, and inclusive scientific landscape for all."

San Antonio, TX – Mujeres Cycling

2024-02-29T00:00:00Z

Mujeres Cycling is a developmental training team in San Antonio, TX. WTFNB cyclists are extremely under-represented in our community; It’s our mission to offer training, support and guidance to all WTFNB (regardless of level or speed) who want to advance in their cycling hobby.

San Antonio, TX – Wild at Heart

2024-02-29T00:00:00Z

Wild at Heart's pre-k program offers a free nature-based weekly program for underserved children (ages 3-5) and their families in San Antonio. The program meets once a week in monthly sessions (year-round). The group size is small (8 seats) in order to maintain a quality experience. The program is designed to each child's entire family including both parents and all siblings as to eliminate barriers in program participation and to create an opportunity to a shared family experience. Each session is two hours long and includes story time, a nature walk, and a process art activity. We also provide a healthy breakfast for both children and their families because we know nourishment is essential to learning and caregiving as well as a positive experience. The class is designed and lead by a master teacher (MEd level educator) and is accompanied by one to two Master Naturalist volunteers. To target underserved communities, we strategically market to neighborhoods and schools of low social-economic status. We track targeting by collecting demographic information at registration. We aim to maintain our current target of 75% of our participants being from a low income background, with 100% being non-white. For our pre-k program, we measure program impact through surveys which are conducted before and after participation and collect testimonials from individual participants to capture stories of impact. We also conduct collective case studies for academic research on equity and closing the nature gap. We know that transportation can be a barrier to access nature and programming which is why Wild at Heart also offers Drop-in program to activate sites so that we can "bring nature" to underserved communities. We offer a one-time drop-in program at a different site location within San Antonio each month. Each program offers a high-quality nature-based activity. We have partnered with Parks and Rec and Haven for our Hope for Drop-In program.

State College, PA – OUR JOURNEYS: Voices of Bellefonte’s Youth

2024-02-28T00:00:00Z

OUR JOURNEYS is a student directed, trauma-informed language & visual arts program for underserved youth who attend the Bellefonte Youth Center (BYC). Over 7 months this year, the program is engaging youth in creating 2 major collaborative art projects: 1) an illustrated book of poems & stories, and 2) a large indoor mural based on these writings. OUR JOURNEYS consists of two distinct seasons of weekly programming: SPRING: Over 10 weeks in spring, youth who self-select to attend the BYC’s weekly Imagination Club for 5–11-year-olds are working with Teaching Artist & poet Abby Minor to explore different modes of storytelling. Expanding our notions of what counts as literacy, each week we tell & act out stories; create visual art; take field trips & engage in place-based writing; and use audio recording equipment to capture our collaborative poems. These diverse approaches to literacy—including physical movement, visual tools, & audio recording—invite all youth to feel welcome in the creative writing process. This season of programming will culminate in an illustrated book of writings which we’ll publish and celebrate at the end of April. SUMMER: During 12 summer weeks, youth who attend Imagination Club will work with local Teaching Artist & painter Elody Gyekis to design & create an indoor mural at BYC based on stories developed in the spring. This summer program will continue to invite youth to engage in diverse literacy practices, incorporating creative writing into the design process. We’ll celebrate the completion of the mural in August. Over both seasons, we’ve designed OUR JOURNEY workshops to meet the needs of a wide range of learning styles, personalities, experiences, & interests among the students who come through the doors at BYC—a center with a long history in Centre County of providing a safe, supervised environment for kids where they can be with friends, get a meal, find help with homework, and participate in fun and meaningful programming.

Georgetown, MA – Community CPR/First aid

2024-02-28T00:00:00Z

I have provided licensed childcare in my Georgetown home for 31 years. Because of my profession, I have taken CPR and first aid for all of those years as required. But I have seen how people can panic when an emergency arises and would love the opportunity to help them gain knowledge that will aid them when this happens. About 25 years ago, I worked with the Red Cross to bring a training to Georgetown. This was a full certification program and about 30 people got trained but it was a lot of hours and over two nights. I reached out to the Chief McKay a few months back and asked if there were a way to work Awesome Georgetown and his department to again offer a program for the community. Though he was very interested, it was decided that a full certification program would be difficult. He said he would talk to his team and try to come up with an alternative. Well, they did it!! We have the possibility of training 40 people in a pilot program. This will not be a training for people who need a full certificate. It will be a basics training, covering Infant/Child/Adult CPR, choking, AED and first aid for community members. Full proposal from Chief McKay is available but I need an email to send it to.

Chicago, IL – Martial Arts & Self Defense for Refugee Kids

2024-02-27T00:00:00Z

I am working to create a martial arts and self defense program for refugee children and teens. I began this program months ago, when Chicago's refugee population skyrocketed and I noticed an increase in young refugees with very few positive outlets. I welcomed several youth into my gym, Mission MMA and Fitness, and quickly learned of the growing need. I decided to launch a more formal program to better reach and serve these youth. This program will be open children and teenagers who arrived to the US as refugees or asylum-seekers. All participants will be given martial arts gear and access to classes 3x/wk. Classes will include kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and self-defense, with a special women-only self defense program for young women and girls. This program has the potential to reach hundreds of Chicago youth! Our team is excited to welcome these kids into our gym community as soon as we have the funds to make it happen.

Washington, DC – DC Black Liberation School

2024-02-26T00:00:00Z

Libereaders along with Serve Your City will hold a 6-week Black Liberation school designed to provide DC youth (middle school/early high school) with an in-depth understanding of Black liberation, social justice, and advocacy. Participants will engage in interactive lessons, discussions, and activities to develop a strong foundation in these critical areas. DC needs to do this because it would foster an understanding of Black history, culture, and identity – particularly as it relates to DC, encourage critical thinking and discussions about racial justice, develop leadership skills for advocating for change, and create a sense of community and empowerment among participants. All of this will strengthen and enrich youth in the DC Community.

Baltimore, MD (Inactive) – A Culinary Tour of Green Mount Cemetery

2024-02-23T00:00:00Z

Did you know that 75+ people who are buried in Green Mount Cemetery have published food recipes? This initiative will create a book and organize a tour based on the people and recipes. The book will not only include old recipes but bios of the people and stories about their lives (including whether their kitchens were enabled by the labor of enslaved people, with information about that history), art related to Victorian burial customs and the burial location in the cemetery. The book will be distributed to tour participants and made available to others.

Oahu, HI – Grade level funds

2024-02-21T00:00:00Z

Field trip to Honolulu Thearte for Youth to see the play The Great Race.

Javakhk – Երաժշտական ստուդիա

2024-02-20T00:00:00Z

Բարև ձեզ, սիրելի ընկերներ։ Այսօր ուզում ենք ձեզ հետ կիսվել մեր նպատակով և երազանքով, որն է՝ ստեղծել երաժշտական ստուդիա քաղաք Ախալքալաքում։ Մինչ մանրամասն ներկայացնելը, թե ինչ նպատակներ ունենք և ինչ քայլերով ենք մտադիր գործել, կուզեմ ուշադրություն դարձնենք երկու հարցերի․ 1․առաջին հերթին՝ ինչ միջոցներով է այսօր ժամանակակից աշխարհում մարդն ունկնդրում երաժշտություն, 2․ կա՞ն արդյոք Ջավախքում միջոցներ, որով Ջավախքի ձայները (երաժիշտները և երգիչ/երգչուհիները) կարողանան իրենց ձայները և գործերը լսելի դարձնել ոչ միայն տարածաշրջանում, այլ նաև ժամանակակից համաշխարհային հարթակներում ։ Պատմության տարբեր ժամանակաշրջաններում մարդը երաժշտությունը ունկնդրել(լսել) է տարբեր կերպ ։ Նախկինում՝ մինչև ժամանակակից տեխնոլոգիաների ի հայտ գալը, երաժշտությունը կենդանի զգալու հիմնական միջոցներից էին համերգներն ու օպերային ներկայացումները ։ Ժամանակի ընթացքում երաժշտություն լսելու ձևը զգալի փոփոխություններ կրեց: Եթե (CD) կոմպակտ սկավառակները հայտնի էին 2000-ականներին, այժմ հոսքային/թվային ծառայությունները դարձել են երաժշտություն լսելու գերիշխող միջոց: Օգտատերերը կարող են միլիոնավոր երաժշտական գործեր լսել այնպիսի հարթակների միջոցով, ինչպիսիք են Spotify-ը, Apple Music-ը, YouTube-ը, soundCloud-ը , Deezer-ը կամ այլ հարթակները։ Այս հարթակներ մուտք գործելու համար անհրաժեշտ է կատարել հնչյունային ձայնագրություններ։ Այսօր Ջավախքում կան շատ երաժիշտներ, երգիչ/երգիչուհիներ, ովքեր ճնչյունային ձայնագրությունների համար գնում են այլ քաղաքներ(Երևան, Թբիլիսի և այլն), քանի որ Ջավախքում չկա ձայնագրման ստուդիա։ Հիմա սիրով կուզեմ ներկայացնել Ջավախքում երաժշտական Ստուդիա ստեղծելու գաղափարը, որի առաքելությունը և հիմնական նպատակներն են՝ 1․աջակցություն ստեղծագործ երաժիշտներին, 2․ոգեշնչում և նորարարություն երաժշտության աշխարհում։ Մեր ծառայությունները․ - ձայնի ձայնագրում և միքսում, - երաժշտական գործիքավորում, - վարպետության դասեր, - ստուդիայի վարձույթ, - երաժշտական միջոցառումներ և համերգներ։

Javakhk – "Ari" podcast

2024-02-20T00:00:00Z

"Ari" podcast-ի շրջանակներում Ջավախքի երիտասարդներին ծանոթացնելու ենք այն բոլոր անհատների, կազմակերպությունների հետ, ովքեր մեծ ներդրում ունեն երիտասարդների զարգացման գործում։ Այն հնարավորություն գտա տանը նստած՝ ծանոթանալ այն բոլոր ռեսուրսների հետ, որոնք շատ մոտ են, բայց ոչ իրենց հայտնի,,նոր կապեր ստեղծել և միանշանակ յուրաքանչյուր փոդքաստի ժամանակ մեր հ՛յուրերը խոսելու են շատ կարևոր թեմաներից, միաժամանակ կիսվելու են իրենց փորձով՝ դառնալով մոտիվացիա։ Նմանատիպ ֆորմատը նորություն լինելով Ջավախքում կարող է խթան հանդիսանալ քառակուսիների մեջ փակված երիտասարդներին դուրս գալ թաքստոցից և ավելի մեծ երազել։ Մենք ցանկանում ենք ոչ մի միջոց բաց չթողնել մեր Ջավախքը զարգացնելու և այնտեղ ապրող երիտասարդներին մեծ հնարավորություններ տալու համար։ Հ.Գ Փոդքաստը առանց տեխնիկական պատրաստվածության մեկնարկել է։ Մեր առաջին հյուրը եղել է Դավիթ Մկոյանն էր, ով կիսվեց իր փորձով, պատմեց երիտասարդներին տրվող հնարավորությունների, Awesome Foundation Javakhk-ի և մի շարք այլ կարևոր բաներ։

Brumadinho – Atelier Verde Encanto

2024-02-20T00:00:00Z

Minha idéia é construir um atelier no meu quintal, em Casa Branca/Brumadinho. O objetivo é trabalhar com cerâmica no torno e modelagem. O espaço serviria para dar aulas , compartilhar vivências na arte ceramista onde moro tendo em vista que é um lugarejo que não possui esse tipo de tipo de espaço e tem grande potencial pois está próximo ao circuito de ceramistas de Palhano e região.

Poughkeepsie, NY – Pride In The Sky

2024-02-19T00:00:00Z

Walkway Over the Hudson Friends group in partnership with Big Gay Hudson Valley will host the first-ever LGBTQ+ Pride event on the Walkway Over The Hudson - called 'Pride in the Sky' on Friday, May 17 from 6pm to 10pm. During the event, LGBTQ+ community groups will be invited to set up interactive booths on either side of the bridge to share information on June Pride activities throughout the area. In addition, Big Gay Hudson Valley working with both Ulster and Dutchess Tourism will use the event to promote their newly released queer maps/guide for Ulster & Dutchess Counties. We anticipate have groups like the Dutchess Pride Foundation, The Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Community Center, and others exhibiting at the event to promote their services to the region's LGBTQ community and our allies. We also plan to have a DJ present in the center of the Walkway to keep the spirit high and deliver some beats, while also encouraging attendees to wear illuminated outfits to show off their Pride. Starting at 8:30 Walkway will illuminate the bridge's LED lights in rainbow colors and invite guests to stay through the evening (10pm) to enjoy the Walkway after hours. This will be the first time that the Walkway will be utilized in Rainbow, and we will coordinate with the Mid Hudson Bridge to ask them to please do the same. Pride in the Sky will be free to the public and support from the Awesome Foundation will help to defer the costs for the production of this community wide event that will take place in the City of Poughkeepsie and in the Village of Highland. In the event of inclement weather, the rain date for the event is Saturday, May 18th.

Pittsburgh, PA – Healing with Nature Mosaic Project

2024-02-19T00:00:00Z

The Healing with Nature Mosaic Project will offer communities a vehicle for facing grief and transforming suffering together. The first iteration will be offered to the Squirrel Hill Community in the healing environment of the Frick Environmental Center. Through this project, community members of all ages will be shepherded by professional therapeutic staff through the vicissitudes of grief with healing elements of therapeutic storytelling, ritual and ceremony, and through the creation of a collective mosaic mural with the artistic direction of accomplished mosaic artist Laura Jean McLaughlin. The project will gather shattered pieces together to tell a story of community healing and resilience. The community mosaic will be installed at the Frick Environmental Center as a testament to the healing power of community and as a refuge for all who grieve and long for sanctuary.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Awesome Foundation Disability Chapter

2024-02-19T00:00:00Z

The Awesome Foundation Disability Chapter was created by Tiffany Yu and Alice Wong, two disabled women of color, in April 2017 to spread awesomeness in the disability community. To date, we have awarded $83,500 to 84 grants in 11 countries and have received over 7,000 submissions. We know that there is a need for more access to funding in the disability community, with only about 2% of philanthropic dollars going to disability advocacy globally. All of our trustees identify as disabled, showing that disabled people are funders, decision-makers, and leaders. Over the years, we have had over 30 disabled people join us as trustees.

Westminster, MD – Peace, Love, Dolls

2024-02-15T00:00:00Z

Peace, Love, Dolls is a nonprofit committed to bringing smiles with toys. We collect donations of used toys, restore them, and donate them to children in need locally as well as across the globe . We donate and restore all kinds of toys to keep them out of the landfill and give them a new life to where they will be loved. Peace, Love, Dolls has worked hard to keep all toys we receive out of the landfill so the ones that unfortunately cannot be saved are sent to Mattel to be recycled and made into new toys. Peace, Love, Dolls got its start in Westminster in 2017 with a humble donation of just thirty dolls to the Department of Health and Human Services and Safe House of Carroll County. Since then, we have expanded on a global scale sending donations to Ghana, Jamaica, and Honduras while also remaining dedicated to our local community here in Carroll County. On a local level we work with the Boys and Girls Club, ConnectandoUS, Shepard's Staff, and Live, Hope, Laugh. In 2020, We also donate to Carroll County Public Schools and individuals who are in need. Peace, Love, Dolls launched a diversity initiative to provide representation of all body types, ethnicities, physical abilities, interests, races, etc. to the children we donate to. This initiative has the goal of fostering a kinder, confident, and more accepting future generation by providing well-rounded, inclusive representation. We have made tremendous progress in working towards our goal by gaining more diverse toys to donate and by providing education on representation and diversity both in person and through social media. As of December of 2023, Peace, Love, Dolls has donated over 6,000 toys. Lastly, in 2022 we gained nonprofit status as a registered 501c3.

Cass Clay – 5th annual Juneteenth

2024-02-15T00:00:00Z

In the heart of Fargo, a transformative celebration unfolds annually, breathing life into the community through the Fargo Juneteenth 5th annual cultural event. This vibrant gathering, scheduled for Saturday, June 15th, is a tapestry of education, entertainment, virtual reality, art, and volunteerism. At its core, this celebration serves a profound purpose - to provide nourishment, both for the soul and the body. One of the hallmark initiatives of this event is the feeding of 250 low-income kids, a testament to its commitment to inclusivity and community support. With a dedicated team of volunteers, Fargo Juneteenth strives to create an immersive experience for these children, where the joys of celebration are coupled with the fulfillment of basic needs. The annual budget for this noble endeavor is $2500, ensuring that every child attending the event is not only enriched culturally but also leaves with a full stomach. In this poignant commemoration of Juneteenth, Fargo Juneteenth invites you to be part of a movement that not only celebrates the past and present but also invests in the future of our community. Through the lens of unity, education, and nourishment, this annual cultural event promises to be a beacon of hope and inspiration for generations to come.

Kingston – Many Moons Events

2024-02-15T00:00:00Z

I have been hosting cultural events emphasizing inclusive community and showcasing diverse talent in the Kingston region for 20 years. In the last two years, I started a collective under the name ‘Many Moons’ that has programmed over 50 events in Kingston and on Wolfe Island. Many Moons programming is informed by a mandate emphasizing the inclusion of women, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC performers. With Many Moons, I strive to curate national talent alongside local performers. I often program touring bands and DJs mid-tour as the Kingston region presents a natural stop for artists travelling between major city centres for gigs. Kingston has so much potential to become even more of a cultural hub than it already is and it needs as many diverse artists, event organizers and patrons as it can find to help it get there. I want to see my home town continue to be the type of vibrant place I'm excited to live in. With that in mind, as of Dec 2023, I began renting a studio that can serve as a crucially needed small venue for Many Moons Events. By securing this space, I am creating the potential for Many Moons Events to expand on its programming within Kingston, where previously a lack of small to mid sized venues served as a significant barrier. I have already been in talks with other community organizers hoping to use this space to host their own events, talks, art exhibits and concerts as well. In addition to this, the venue can equally serve as a jam space for local musicians in desperate need of places to practice. Receiving community funding will go a long way in the sustainability of this project, keeping rental costs low or non-existent to third parties, allowing patrons to "PWYC" at all events, and allowing for all excess funds raised at events to go directly to the artists and performers involved. This is a space that the public and local artists can presently access on a PWYC (Pay What You Can) basis, providing much needed practice space as well as a venue for performance.

Westminster, MD – Peace Love Dolls

2024-02-14T00:00:00Z

I started Peace Love Dolls when I was in the 4th grade and now I am a junior at Westminster High School. My mission is simple. Spread smiles with dolls. Since starting I have expanded from just Barbie's to all dolls, as well as action figures, and dollhouses. To date I have restored, repaired, and packaged over 6,000 dolls and toys. I originally started with Social Services, and Safe Houses. I knew my items needed to be small and fit in a backpack. My idea and project grew from that point on. Not only do I work locally with several non-profit groups but I also work with an orphanages in Ghana. I have also helped to supply several mission trips with dolls and toys and they were able to put them in the hands of the local children. My newest initiative is to have more diverse dolls. Studies show that if your doll looks more like you it creates a better self image and foster acceptance of all people. These dolls, for this initiative, are oftentimes not donated and need to be purchased. I was able to grant three Christmas wishes this year by refurbishing dollhouses as well. So my mission is truly three fold: spread smiles with dolls, help our environment by recycling toys, and creating a confident, more accepting future future generation. My bonus is that if for some reason I cannot use the doll Mattel will recycle them. To date I have kept 1,000's of toys out of the trash by recycling them. Peace Love Dolls is meant to provide smiles for all it touches. I gained 501C3 status in 2021.

On the Water – The Songs of the River

2024-02-14T00:00:00Z

Our Awesome On the Water Project is a summer camp for kids to engage with river conservation by learning how to play and build traditional Andean wind instruments, like the sukus fuyu or the pallas, which are made from carrizos, a type of reed that grows in river beds. Sadly, rivers are losing water, which not only affects our wildlife, habitat, and production, but also our music. If our rivers are not healthy, our flutes sound empty and out of tune. If the carrizos do no grow big and strong, we cannot create the flutes and the tunes of our ancestors risk being lost. In addition to learning how to build and play the andean flutes, we will also have activities to protect our watersheds. One of the activities is to plant native trees and bushes in critical points. We have an alliance with a local plant nursery which will provide us with native plants and technical asistance. Last year, we were able to launch a small pilot project with 10 people and it was very successful. The link to the video was posted in the page of a local NGO called FUCAE and is shared with you in this application. The pilot project proved to us there is interest in participating. With your help, we want to increase the number of participants and reach more communities. In our area, most parents work long hours in the flower industries and when they are not in school the kids are left home alone. This summer camp provides a fun and educational alternative. As the famous Baba Diuom stated in 1967 "In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught". Nowadays kids are used to playing with plastic toys and cellphones waiting for their parents to buy from a store. We have had a disconnect from nature and forgotten many of the joys and uses our ecosystems provide us. Our awesome project aims to reconnect kids with nature and teach them about the importance of water conservation through music and play.

Ann Arbor, MI – Camp compassion/ A2outreach

2024-02-14T00:00:00Z

I started a camp out reach program over the past summer. We have had many "tent city's" pop-up in and around the Annarbor-Ypsilanti area. The people within are are not refugee's but are part of are community. Unfortunately many of us are one paycheck away from housing insecurity. I currently work for the shelter association of washtenaw county. I work with the financially unstable daily and think I could do more. I currently go around to are local "camps" and assist people with everyday needs. With your help this program could help feed, cloth, and protect people from the elements by providing tents. As well as help get state ID's, rides to FIA (welfare office) or CMH (community mental health) and the delonis center. We help people find their selfs again and rejoin the community at a productive state.

Ipswich, MA – Community Canvas Collaborative

2024-02-13T00:00:00Z

The Community Canvas Collaborative in Ipswich is a unique open-air art project designed to foster community engagement and celebrate the town's range of beautiful places. The process involves placing blank canvases at various locations and inviting residents and visitors of all ages and backgrounds to contribute by painting what they see. The goal is to create original artwork capturing the town's essence and special places. The initiative emphasizes inclusivity, encouraging everyone to participate in the collaborative painting process rather than relying on professional artists. The culminating event is a multi-day art show showcasing the diverse creations and celebrating Ipswich's unique character. The art created during the project will be displayed, celebrated, and auctioned off, with the revenue generated used to fund future town-wide projects. The Ipswich Community Canvas Collaborative invites active participation from the community, encouraging suggestions for canvas locations, volunteer hosts for paint days, donations of art supplies, support for promotions, venue offerings for the art show, and contributions to the opening event. The project's mission is to unite the community through art, fostering a sense of belonging, showcasing local talent, and making Ipswich even more awesome through creative expression. The initiative ensures accessibility by making paintings and attending the show free of cost. The Process Select Locations, Dates, and Hosts Set up the canvas, paint, and brushes Allow people of all ages to make their mark Display, celebrate, and sell the art

Ipswich, MA – Ipswich's Train Cafe

2024-02-13T00:00:00Z

I am the mom of two train-obsessed children, one of whom has severe autism. Trains are what has brought my neurotypical child and his autistic brother together. My neurotypical son wants to "run the MBTA and fix it for good" because of his love of toy trains. (And heaven knows we need that!) My autistic son has bridged gaps with his brother and other neurotypical kids because of trains. My project would be to have the first-ever "Ipswich Train Cafe." An event where kids and adults of all ages and abilities can gather and admire and play with trains. We would set up a model train display or two (one that we own, one from a local volunteer), and then have wooden train layouts for kids and adults to play with. Quite importantly for all the moms out there, there would be coffee for the adults. The aim of the Ipswich Train Cafe would be to show the community that no one is too old to play with trains. Also given that many neurodivergent people also like trains, it would be an accepting and welcoming place for those adults and children to celebrate something they love. This event would be free to the Ipswich community. This is important because so many train-related activities in the area (Wenham Museum, Museum of Science's holiday train exhibit, the Wilmington Train Show) have admission costs that prevent families with tight budgets from attending.

Ipswich, MA – Funding the IHGM Student Artist Booth 2024

2024-02-13T00:00:00Z

We are quickly approaching our 2024 season of the IHGM and looking for this years sponsor of the Student Artist Booth! In 2023 this student artist booth was fully funded by a grant from the ICC. One of our pillars is to fully support local student artists by giving them the opportunity to showcase their art!

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – TRHPS

2024-02-12T00:00:00Z

The Rocky Horror Picture Show was made for misfits. It was made for outcasts, weirdos, and freaks and it does so in a way that is both humorous and empowering. This is a film that was ahead of its time in terms of its representation of LGBTQ+ characters. In the years since its release, TRHPS has become a cult classic, but the play has never been acted out on the Georgian stage. Georgia has struggled to end discrimination against the LGBTQ+ communities, even though the country's parliament passed an anti-discrimination law that includes protections for gender identity and sexual orientation. Queer people living in Georgia know how hard it is to live a day-to-day life. They are often refused service by businesses and hospitals, bullied in schools, and harassed by the police or civilians, not to mention the more severe cases. Despite all the challenges, the LGBTQ+ community in Georgia faces, It still tries to make a stand and fight back in a non-violent fashion, by organizing parties, theatrical plays, fashion shows, and such. Due to the relentless work of the community, there have been some advances in promoting acceptance, tolerance, and diversity. Queer party series "Horoom Nights" at the renowned Georgian club Bassiani, the first Georgian Drag Ball, the opening of the first Queer Bar "Succes", have all been major in tackling the problem of homophobia in Georgia. By Staging the Rocky Horror Picture Show in Georgia, The community has the power to present themselves in a playful and entertaining manner, offering a new and positive outlook without encountering negative judgment. It’ll have a big cultural and social benefit by bringing polarized and divided people together. Most importantly, it brings opportunities for LGBTQ+ people to have a way of self-expression, another safe and inclusive place to celebrate their identities, and a meaningful source of income, which today in Georgia is so hard to come by because of the oppressed.

Santa Cruz, CA – Mic Drop! Open Mic

2024-02-11T00:00:00Z

Mic Drop is an "ALL the Way Open" Mic Community that meets once per month, every last Sunday located at The 418 Project in Downtown Santa Cruz. Our Mic Drop! community is built on a desire to build space where difference is celebrated, not only just tolerated in a brave safe space, but also in an inclusive environment, particularly for those persons who have been excluded from venue access & the arts. We seek out and support a wide variety of creators who might otherwise be on a journey of sharing their creative endeavors at various points of the process & from a variety of shared perspectives. Our intention is to come together to provide a safe space for unseen, unheard groups allowing folks to realize they are valuable, worthy of being heard, seen, & have great potential. Funds will be used to offset costs of producing these events including paying featured artists to perform.

Austin, TX – Composting for a Soil-Rich Farming Future

2024-02-09T00:00:00Z

Established in May 2023, Hot Spell Farm is a woman-and-nonbinary operated, diversified vegetable farm located in the farthest eastern corner of Travis County. Hot Spell emerged from a desire to contribute to Austin's local food system and create a farm operation that broke the individualistic norms of how farms are traditionally operated. Compost can be the most expensive yet critical input on a farm. Whether for soil tilth, good fungal and microbial diversity, or water retention, farmers call it black gold for a reason! A $1000 grant from the Awesome Foundation will fund Hot Spell Farm's first bulk compost order and a volunteer compost project day on the farm.

Newcastle – Elderly Wellness Program

2024-02-07T00:00:00Z

At Meals on Wheels Wellness, our mission is to uplift and empower isolated seniors, reigniting their connection to the community and helping them rediscover the joys of life. It all began when we noticed that many of our clients, whom we initially served by delivering meals, were facing a profound sense of isolation and disconnection from the world around them. Determined to make a positive impact, we launched our innovative Wellness Program. Through this program, we go beyond delivering meals to address the deeper needs of our seniors. We organize engaging activities, heartwarming outings, and create a supportive network that fosters meaningful connections. Our aim is to bring these isolated seniors back into the vibrant embrace of their community, where they can once again enjoy the richness of life. By providing opportunities for social interaction, physical and mental well-being, and a sense of belonging, we witness incredible transformations. Seniors who were once disconnected and lonely find themselves surrounded by friendship, laughter, and support. Meals on Wheels Wellness is more than just a program; it's a lifeline that helps our seniors reclaim their place in the world. We believe that every individual deserves to live a fulfilling and vibrant life, regardless of age or circumstance.

Sydney – Kangaroo & Joey Rehabilitation Enclosure

2024-02-07T00:00:00Z

I am working with a volunteer rescuer/carer Helen Coy from Sydney Wildlife Rescue to help build a much needed kangaroo rehabilitation and orphan joey enclosure in the Windsor area. Helen is an aged pensioner and the sole supporter of her husband, an ex NSW police officer suffering from dementia. Her respite from looking after him is volunteering to save native animals. Sadly this much needed service is unfunded in our communities right across Australia and all costs are borne by the individuals who help. Sydney Wildlife Rescue is in need of an enclosure for kangaroos injured by cars and their orphaned joeys. There are a lot of kangaroos and joeys in Sydney that are euthanased because of a lack of rehabilitation facilities so Helen very generously offered that it could be constructed at her property. To build this enclosure means saving many animal lives not only now but into the future so that they can be returned to a safe environment in nature. Our native animals are born to live healthy and free instead of being a victim of urbanisation and societal apathy. It is wrong that these beautiful Australian animals are killed unnecessarily because of a lack of resources and money. I believe our wildlife and the people who care for them deserve to, and should be helped. I know Helen very well and she is a dedicated and sincere lady who puts all her spare time and money into our precious wildlife. I've never applied for a grant before and do not want assistance for myself. If funds were granted I would like them allocated to Helen Coy on behalf of Sydney Wildlife Rescue to help save our kangaroos and joeys. I have secured the best quotes for the materials to build the enclosure and have organised volunteers for its construction. Your grant would mean making this project possible. The future of wildlife is everyones responsibility and making that a reality is more than awesome. A $1000 would be the difference between life and death for our wildlife.

Awesome Foundation - Projects

Cleveland, OH – Reading Rehabilitation

Cleveland, OH – Slavic Village Bike Fix-a-thon

Cleveland, OH – Cleveland Sews' Community Sew-A-Thon

Ipswich, MA – 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY PARADE AND EVENTS

Philadelphia, PA – Benches for Neighborhood Garden

Orlando, FL – ArtReach Orlando Youth Gallery

Santa Cruz, CA – Earth Month - River Exhibit & Upcycle Festival

Vegan (Inactive) – Help Secondhand Stories Grow!

Newburgh, NY – The Very Hungry Caterpillar Puppet Show!

Newmarket – Celebrate Life Birthday Program

Glasgow – Glasgow Menopause Social

Sydney – If/When

Rockport, MA – Neuro-Health through Native Gardens

San Francisco, CA – Wheelchair modding workshop

Brumadinho – Homenagem ao Cacique Merong Kamakã Mongoio

Los Angeles, CA – Pirates Wanted

Durham, NC – 2024 Wellness & Vision Board Party

Rhode Island – Winslow Gardens Elders Theater Club

Liverpool – Liverpool Architecture Foundation 2024 / LAF24

Gloucester, MA – Giving Meadows at Blackburn Circle/Burnhams Field

Ottawa – Giggles4Health

New York City, NY – Help Tami fight the Ambalo Bros and tell her story

Toronto – Cornell Community Iftaar

Disability – Campaign Co-Create, Not Confine

San Antonio, TX – Mujeres Cycling

San Antonio, TX – Wild at Heart

State College, PA – OUR JOURNEYS: Voices of Bellefonte’s Youth

Georgetown, MA – Community CPR/First aid

Chicago, IL – Martial Arts & Self Defense for Refugee Kids

Washington, DC – DC Black Liberation School

Baltimore, MD (Inactive) – A Culinary Tour of Green Mount Cemetery

Oahu, HI – Grade level funds

Javakhk – Երաժշտական ​​ստուդիա

Javakhk – "Ari" podcast

Brumadinho – Atelier Verde Encanto

Poughkeepsie, NY – Pride In The Sky

Pittsburgh, PA – Healing with Nature Mosaic Project

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Awesome Foundation Disability Chapter

Westminster, MD – Peace, Love, Dolls

Cass Clay – 5th annual Juneteenth

Kingston – Many Moons Events

Westminster, MD – Peace Love Dolls

On the Water – The Songs of the River

Ann Arbor, MI – Camp compassion/ A2outreach

Ipswich, MA – Community Canvas Collaborative

Ipswich, MA – Ipswich's Train Cafe

Ipswich, MA – Funding the IHGM Student Artist Booth 2024

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – TRHPS

Santa Cruz, CA – Mic Drop! Open Mic

Austin, TX – Composting for a Soil-Rich Farming Future

Newcastle – Elderly Wellness Program

Sydney – Kangaroo & Joey Rehabilitation Enclosure

Javakhk – Երաժշտական ստուդիա