Awesome Foundation - Projects

LA South Bay, CA (Inactive) – Garden Project

2014-12-18T00:00:00Z

My project is to re-habilitate the garden area at our school. I got the idea as I was coming to work everyday. I work in a bungalow near the garden area. I was tired of seeing it look so down trodden and unused. I felt like it was our responsibility to take care of and nurture the garden area as a community. I found out that the area needed a lot of work. I have been recruiting students, parents and other teachers to help form a sustainable community. But we need funding to transform this area. Originally I was using m y own money. This is a daunting task and work/change comes slow if at all. We received four plots, 48 bags of fresh soil, plants and some gardening tools from the Department of Public Works. But this is not enough. I would speculate that their support has given us five percent (5%) of what is needed to make our garden an sustainable area for our school, students and community. Recently, I have been chosen by our principal to be the Sustainability Coordinator with the task of making the school garden more sustainable and creating a program fro sustainability where students can participate and create gardening project and commune with nature while learning math, science and health. This money will go a long way in helping us with renovating the landscape of the area, placing more plots and soil for more student and classroom participation. Currently we have 2000 square feet of gardening area.

London (Inactive) – Rootless Garden

2014-12-17T00:00:00Z

My awesome project is Rootless Garden, a social enterprise that provides engaging activities and social opportunities for older people in London. We create projects inspired by nature that tackle loneliness and increase wellbeing. Our projects provide opportunities for the elderly to learn, create, explore and transform using the power of nature. We are unique because we engage older people in the creation of our bespoke projects. This is empowering for our beneficiaries, who often acknowledge a lack of purpose as decisions are more regularly made for and not by them. In this essence we are very progressive, we fight loneliness and improve wellbeing not just through the service we deliver, but in the way we encourage our beneficiaries to participate. We love volunteers! We strive to encourage a deeper understanding of ageing and the lives of older people in society. We do this is by encouraging intergenerational communication through volunteering. This is a great way of mixing up our projects and giving the opportunity for older and younger people to connect over a fun project, which all start with a herbal tea blending class! Having a range of community lead projects is our ultimate goal. We want to expand our impact by harnessing the great energy in London and use it to fulfil our dream; having volunteer led chapters of Rootless Garden. There is a whole host of evidence that highlights the importance of nature in our lives; it has social and therapeutic effects. A relationship with nature can improve cognition, create sensory experiences, and can have restorative effects. Additionally, socialising improves happiness and creates a sense of belonging. This is proven to positively impact mental and physical health. We believe that our work is very radical; fitting with a wider social shift towards holistic lifestyles and complementary therapy in elderly and wider health care.

Tampa Bay, FL (Inactive) – Tampa Bay Design Week 2014

2014-12-16T00:00:00Z

Tampa Design Week strives to brings design experts, city leaders, and citizens together to celebrate and explore how design improves the quality of our lives and our community, through a series of events: FREE film screenings, an urban bike tour, Carousel (artist presentations), and Design Franklin Street: a Pop-Up Block Party. Specifically, our Design Double Feature includes free screenings of the films: "Design is One" and "Urbanized" and includes 3 food trucks at Massey Park. The Urban bike tour will highlight recently opened hotels and restaurants, with each stop featuring a brief discussion with a designer responsible for the final project. Carousel is a Todd Bate's program showcasing local creatives in a discourse about their work. And finally, for Design Franklin Street, all motivated designers are asked to design and work in collaborative cross-disciplinary teams to design and construct installations around the theme "the Power of Design", transforming an underutilized block of Franklin Street into a showcase for the day. our theme is the ‘Power of Design.’ Great design has the potential to greatly improve the quality of life in our local community. Tampa Bay Design Week's goal is to inspire the public to recognize good design and participate in the making of their environment. We will connect the public with design professionals from different disciplines to exchange ideas on design practices and innovations, all while highlighting an underutilized area on Franklin Street and promoting economic development. OUR GOAL: Great design has the potential to greatly improve the quality of life in our local community. Tampa Bay Design Week's goal is to inspire the public to recognize good design participate in the making of their environment. We will connect the public with design professionals from different disciplines to exchange ideas on design practices and innovations, all while highlighting an underutilized area on Franklin Street.

Tampa Bay, FL (Inactive) – STREAM at Turner Bartels K-8 School

2014-12-16T00:00:00Z

Our middle school and the elementary school next door are becoming a STEM themed K-8 program. We are weaving STEM concepts into our entire curriculum. This is the first of its kind in our district. To incorporate reading and the arts into our STEM curriculum we are building a STREAM community (STEM + Reading and Arts). This project will unify our teachers, parents, community, and students as we participate in creating and using this stream and come together a team. We are building a solar powered waterfall/pond/stream in the courtyard of our campus. This stream will be a beautiful outdoor classroom that can be used for every subject area and will provide a water source for the birds we are encouraging to nest on our campus. The acronym STREAM represents science, technology, reading, engineering, arts, and mathematics. The STREAM will unite us and be used to show the connections between the disciplines and grade levels. The goal of the stream is to integrate STEM activities into every classroom and to unite our campuses and teachers in collaborative planning of activities. Teachers in all subject areas will meet monthly to plan STREAM lessons. Our teachers have already began planning to use the stream in art to draw, paint, and photograph, in language arts as the subject of descriptive writing and poetry, in social studies to study the effects of technology of water wheels and irrigation, in math using data collected to create graphs, scatter plots, and linear equations including the voltage, amperage etc. of the solar panel output In science the stream will be used for data collection of water chemistry and temperature, effects of runoff, collecting data/sampling of birds and other wildlife that visits or moves in, studying solar power, building water wheels, and more. In Engineering students will explain how solar power works and create strategies for improving the function of the stream. Students will design and build water wheels.

Tampa Bay, FL (Inactive) – Florida Bookstore Day

2014-12-16T00:00:00Z

The first-ever Florida Bookstore Day takes place Saturday, Nov. 15. The day-long event celebrates independent and used bookstores in the Sunshine State, in addition to local authors and small presses. And it all starts here in Tampa Bay. We’re organizing events to take place Nov. 15 at independently-owned bookstores throughout the state. In Tampa Bay, we’ve already talked to Wilson’s Book World, Inkwood Books, Back in the Day Books and others. Bookstore Day events will vary: readings by local authors, local authors’ fairs, book signings, book releases, panels, open mics, workshops . I’ve also reached out to local media sponsors (Creative Loafing, Tampa Bay Newspapers, LifeImprovementRadio.com.) We’re also planning a fantastic after-party, venue to be determined. But in our area it most likely will take place in downtown St. Pete and will include an authors’ fair. We also will reach out to bookstores, literary organizations and media sponsors in other cities as needed to make this happen. Follow facebook.com/FloridaBookstoreDay for our updates. We’re excited about all of the possibilities of Florida Bookstore Day and we think it’s fitting that it starts right here in Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay, FL (Inactive) – Awesome Walls

2014-12-16T00:00:00Z

Little by little I will bring commissioned FINE ART graffiti to tampa. With your help we can make Tampa more Awesome by adding color/inspiration/and culture to all the boring plan walls. Heavily inspired by artists such as Shepard Fairey (google him)I will create a beautiful mural using recycled paper and wheat paste. This is a new form of graffiitti that does no harm to the buildings because you can essentially peel it off. I think graffiti is a major attraction and a way to bring more eyes to the up and coming city, especially with social media. I attached a example below of a small and fast inspirational piece i did on a abandoned side of a building and a bunch of people stop, take, pictures, and post it on instagram.

Seattle, WA – Bikerhero: Riding to the Rescue

2014-12-15T00:00:00Z

I'd like to outfit a bicycle and trailer with everything necessary to clean up debris blocking bike lanes, fix flats, and generally come to the rescue! I will put out a call for submissions of dangers to be confronted, deeds to be done, wrongs to be righted. Evils shall be vanquished, and well documented for posterity & to inspire others to good. I'll ride everywhere with a basic kit (and a cape!) for a month, publicizing my efforts and making it easy to call for help. We'll post daily about our exploits. Rescuing a stuck car would be fantastic! (I once rode my bike to help change a car’s flat tire). The ultimate goal is to foster a sense of camaraderie, in which strangers will help out in the same situation. To this end, we'll document our adventures, as the plan is to inspire more people than we can actually help on any given day. I will focus on areas of particular interest to bikers: the Burke-Gilman trail, Green Lake, Bicycle Sundays (bike/ped only days on Lake Washington Blvd). Specific events will be planned, such as offering help with tuneups or Superhero tandem rides, while other appearances will be left open to unforeseen circumstances. Did I mention that dressing up in a cape and helmet would be a great part of this? I very much enjoy storytelling and spectacle, and don’t mind doing whatever's necessary to get the job done.

Boulder, CO (Inactive) – Sharing petals of poetry

2014-12-15T00:00:00Z

Poetry to me is the sharing of creativity. It is a way to be expressive and elegant with words and ideas. Each word is like a petal that softly floats from the mind. I want to shane poetry with the people of Boulder all age ranges. Together boupder community can create a bouquet of flowers.

Moscow (Inactive) – фильм "Спасибо тебе"

2014-12-14T00:00:00Z

мы молодая независимая киностудия "Наследники", официально оформились в июне 2014 года. С августа 2014 и по нынешний день занимаемся съемками своего первого полнометражного фильма "Спасибо тебе". Это уникальный проект для нас и нашего родного города Иванова. Эта картина объединила вокруг себя более 20 человек фанатов кино. Для каждого из нас в первую очередь важна творческая самореализация, поэтому несмотря ни на что и вопреки всему мы добиваемся нужного результата: если нужно переснять сцену или даже 5 сцен, мы это сделаем. Наша картина о 5 разных судьбах, объединенных темой благодарности. Их жизни переворачиваются с ног на голову , заставляют задуматься и спросить себя: а может пора что-то изменить? Главная декорация фильма - стена "Спасибо". Она стихийно появилась в городе. Впоследствии, обычная, серая , превратилась в место добра, благодарности и любви - жители писали на ней свои "спасибо". Так происходит по сценарию и в реальной жизни ( в Ярославле) Главная интрига - кто ее создатель? В нашем фильме снимаются профессиональные актеры театра и кино, а также студенты театральных вузов. Для кого-то из них это первые роли. Важнее всего для нас снять стильное, качественное произведение, способное тронуть зрителя. Тем более нас поддерживают, верят и ждут жители нашего города Иванова и города основных съемок Ярославля

Halifax, NS (Inactive) – Floorwars - Submitted by Marcus Wells

2014-12-12T00:00:00Z

Fresh Moves You know you've done something right when the Co-dean of the Awesome Foundation is doing the worm across a stage to the uproarious delight of a bunch of high school students. That was how the grant presentation went down as the young breakdancers of Dartmouth High got down to celebrate Marcus Wells’ cash prize from Awesome Halifax this month! Marcus has been a local HRM breaker with a passion for active involvement in the community for 5 years, and you could tell by his enthusiasm that inspiring youth to be involved is something to dance about. AFH thought so too when after some discussion at the Awesome Foundation’s November deliberation, the board of trustees decided to award the $1000 grant to Marcus to support the annual breakdance competition Floorwars. Since 2001 Halifax’s Floorwars sets the stage for dance crews to do battle in Atlantic Canada, bringing national hip hop and local artists together. Marcus knows personally the joy of dance and wants “future youth to feel that too.” Marcus’ dedication to his breaking community led him to apply to the Awesome Foundation for the funding to take the event to the next level and use the money to fly in judges for the competition and host workshops. Watching Marcus showcase his talent and knowledge of breakdancing at the presentation was awesome, and he even showed Shannon Matheson and Rachel Sovka from the Awesome Foundation a few fresh moves to try out at the next deliberation. This year the event format includes pairing teachers and their students together in 2 on 2 battles. Competitors are traveling to the east coast from as far away as the Yukon and several hundred people are expected to be in attendance. It had the potential to be a great event, but now it will be an awesome event! Floorwars will take place on May 29th, 2015 at Dartmouth High School. Until then, keep your eyes open around town for our giant Awesome cheque making people dance across the HRM!

Yerevan – Lanterns light up Yeghegnadzor

2014-12-12T00:00:00Z

After studying abroad as I returned to my hometown Yeghegnadzor, I felt that something was missing in the lives of people. The town was covered in a grey silhouette. Neighbors, friends, and even young people looked unenthusiastic and their overall outlook on life was negative. It seemed that people had stopped believing in their wishes. I was thinking of ways to awaken the dreams of people. So, I thought of the most inspiring and fulfilling moment I have had, and remembered last New Year’s Eve at this small town in Mexico. At midnight everyone in the town gathered at the center and released a sky lantern. It was marvelous when the sky lit up with hundreds of lanterns at the distance. As my boyfriend and I released our lantern, we both wished we would spend the next New Year together, as we live in different countries. Now I want to share this awesome feeling with everyone in my hometown. The project I propose consists of three steps: making sky lanterns, releasing them and following up with people’s wishes. For making the lanterns, I propose to organize a workshop at the local high school where our team will teach high school students and anyone else interested to make their sky lantern with a personal wish on each of them. We are aiming for 100 participants and we will have 10 volunteers to teach 10 students each. On New Year’s Eve, everyone will gather at the town center and release the lanterns into the air. It is an invaluable moment to see your lantern with your wish reach for the sky. We will also provide Christmas music and small presents for kids. Lastly, we will follow up with people on their progress in accomplishing their dream and we will publish inspiring stories of people having their dreams come true and share experiences in the blog we have set up. Through this project, I hope that the people of my hometown believe in their dreams again and accomplish them, just how I accomplished mine with my boyfriend spending this New Year together in Armenia.

Antigonish, NS (Inactive) – Frig Off Get Fit Web series

2014-12-12T00:00:00Z

Frig Off Get Fit is a web series that launched November 30, 2014 by Rosemary Curry and Corinne Dunphy. The team uses a blog as its platform and is committed to delivering one episode each month. The idea behind FOGF is about engaging in a healthy lifestyle, exploring what makes our home unique, and having fun in the process. This project was conceived with community in mind. Rosemary, while frigging off in her natural habitat, came to the realization that she is surrounded by the most beautiful area and the most lovely down to earth people. She wanted to show everyone what makes her home so special. FOGF is primarily meant to target east coasters who are keen about sustaining a healthy lifestyle and an interest in their community. Here you have two women, proud to be born and raised in small town Antigonish. We are enthusiastic and fully committed to the idea of showcasing the rich landscapes, people and talent that constructs the fabric of town. Fan loyalty is important to us. While we are in the initial stages of this “movement”, we want to make sure we do not lose our viewer’s attention. We believe professional content is at the forefront of returning guests. In addition, we will provide weekly blog posts consisting of anecdotes, fun facts from the activities, behind the scenes photos, etc. It is equally important that we make the blog participatory. As we grow, we will have social media draws for FOGF merch for those who “like”, “share”, and provide us feedback. Using the hashtag #FOGF, we will request that our fans post their own photos. From wearing our merch, to swimming in the sea, to having a chat with one of our guest stars- anything goes! This online presence will shine light on our community of Antigonish. To gain traction, we will post four episodes in the month of December, followed by one a month in the new year. Working together with local businesses and community initiatives we strive to be promoted through positive feedback and reviews.

New York City, NY – Showered With Hope Inc.

2014-12-11T00:00:00Z

Showered with Hope is a New York City-based non-profit whose founders aim to empower individuals experiencing homelessness in New York City to achieve self-sufficiency. Founded by NYU students moved to take action to impact NYC's homeless and augment city services, Showered with Hope will create programs that deliver meaningful interventions for the homeless community, starting with mobile hygiene centers focused on those experiencing homelessness who are currently underserved by the city's existing infrastructure. Their ambition? SWH will retrofit compressed natural gas transit buses into mobile "hygiene units," each consisting of a shower, toilet and private changing area, bringing to life their mission to use hygiene to help restore the dignity of individuals experiencing homelessness. Taking cues from, and working closely with, the mobile program run by San Francisco's Lava Mae, Showered with Hope's roving hygiene center will park near partner and development services, coupling their mobile program with interventions to help improve the lives of New York's homeless, including counseling and resume building. We're happy that our December grant will go towards the development of its proof-of-concept SWH Mini - a model for smaller, independent shower units that can be transported via trailers or trucks. The grant funding will also be used to support the group's awareness campaign, Unsheltered New York (UNY), a Humans of New York-like take on the struggles of New York City's homeless. Follow them and contribute to their efforts at http://showeredwithhope.org/ and @swh_ny.

Chicago, IL – The Kung-Fu Cage

2014-12-10T00:00:00Z

The KUNG-FU CAGE is a simulator built to feel like being in a fight scene from a kung-fu action movie, one of those big amazing fights which have nothing to do with real martial arts but are all about acrobatics and doing cool strong moves and kicks and punches. WHAT IT IS IS: A 10' tall and 15' wide cylinder made of lightweight plastic, open on the sides and top, with hoops around the top and bottom borders. In the basic game, attackers outside the cage toss projectiles (dodgeballs at first) into the top of the cylinder. The player inside needs to 1) defend herself by not letting anything touch the ground inside the cage and 2) punch and kick these projectiles at targets outside the cage to defeat her attackers. The Kung-Fu Cage will be a portable performance game, able to be played by all ages, with very flexible levels of audience participation. It works on its own as a standalone game, but will also be used during performances of Kung-Fu Saga (working title), a storytelling system designed to create action/comedy stories with a small cast of actors and players chosen from the audience. I plan to take the Cage to greenspaces and festivals in the city, for people to play with and compete with others, and later run Kung-Fu Saga at a theater in Chicago as an all-ages comedy show. HERE'S OTHER COOL THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH THE CAGE: 1) Set up two-player duels in side-by-side cages, where players block their opponents and launch special attacks by hitting targets and making baskets with awesome moves 2) Adjust the difficulty with the color-coded target zones built into the cage's floor, "flame jet" environmental hazards built into the edges, bumpers and obstacles strapped onto the cage itself, and deadly "laser beams" criss-crossing the playing field 3) Just in general have a great time

San Antonio, TX – Kids Building Bikes for Kids

2014-12-10T00:00:00Z

This year we were blessed to have two amazing kids from the Cassiano Courts go through the Earn-A-Bike program at the Earn-A-Bike Co-op. These two kids wanted a bike. They wanted a bike to go to school, visit their friends, go to the store, and ride to the Co-op. They knew their parents could not afford one and the only way to get a bike was to steal it or come to the co-op and work for it. Luckily they chose to come to the Co-op. Even so there are many other kids at Cassiano Courts that don’t have the resources to visit the co-op and go through the program, and therefore the reason for this grant application. Our awesome project consists of bringing the Earn-A-Bike program to Cassiano Courts the two weekends before Christmas. The project consists of getting new bikes in boxes that require assembly and have the kids earn a bike by attending two 4 hour Saturdays where they will work on their bikes and take the necessary training for safe riding. They will earn their bike in 8 hours vs. the 15 hours we require at the Co-op. To earn their bike the participants will have to build their bike, take a safe cycling course and complete the bicycle civics lesson that deals with honesty, respect, safety and the value of work. This project will require the San Antonio community to get involved, as we will need volunteers to work with the participants and help them through the process. At the end of the program and during the six months after, the Earn-A-Bike co-op will follow up with the participants and evaluate key indicators, like school attendance, level of physical activity, workability of the bike and other indicators.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Women's Health -- HPV and Pap Screening

2014-12-08T00:00:00Z

Women's health is a major challenge for the clinic. We are adding about 40 new patients each month and two-thirds are women, many of whom have not received any health care for years. The clinic added a gynecological program in 2013 and it continues to expand. In mid-2014 the clinic added HPV testing to its range of women's services which includes screening mammograms and Pap testing. The clinic is fortunate to receive reduced rates for these tests due to its non-profit status and the work of its volunteers. HPV infection is a precursor to several types of cancer, so it is important to test for it. The test costs the clinic $45, so the charges add up quickly. However, the benefit of the test cannot be understated, especially for patients who have gone for years without any Pap or HPV screening. The goal of this program is to provide HPV and Pap testing to as many of our patients as possible.

Santa Fe, NM (Inactive) – STORYBOOK PRODUCTIONS

2014-12-07T00:00:00Z

StoryBook Productions’ mission is to empower children with ‘royal’ traits; showing through storybook characters that royalty isn’t just about fine clothes, fancy cars or nice things, but opening their hearts to others, & sharing kindness to those that need it most. It is all about learning essential life skills & connecting to their own power, focusing on friendship, dignity, respect, self-esteem, & purpose. While dressed as storybook characters the children will recognize, StoryBook Productions will focus on the strong traits of each fantasy character. As an example, Cinderella, while being beautiful & wishing for her prince to come & rescue her, went after her dream & never gave up; Snow White, a princess chased by her evil stepmother, is kind, optimistic, & a happy person who sees the good in everyone; & Belle longs for adventures & has traits of bravery, independence, & intelligence. From this world of make believe, children are free to explore different roles; it is practice for divergent thinking & problem solving. But on the lighter side, StoryBook Productions will create the magical place where anything is possible; where kids can be kids, & know that they are valued. It is our belief that if children are empowered they will develop sound character & be better enabled to navigate a world dominated with impersonal technology. StoryBook characters will be available for parties, hospital visits, & special events. While not a non-profit organization, StoryBook Productions will be heavily involved in charity work. Current plans include: (1) monthly drawing to award an "Evening of Royalty" to a needy, low-income child, (2) summer Princess Giving Retreats, (3) annual Charity Masquerade Ball. StoryBook characters will be played by the founders of StoryBook Productions, but also by high school students. These individuals will be chosen for their character as they will be role models; a win-win situation as all StoryBook Productions employees will benefit from their interaction with the children!

Ann Arbor, MI – Camp Take Notice - Tiny Home

2014-12-07T00:00:00Z

I am currently in a class called Experimental Architecture in the U of M Art and Design school. We were assigned to create a tiny home for Camp Take Notice, a developing homeless camp near Stone School Rd.. I was excited, a real client. Half way through the semester, one design was going to be chosen. However, I continued with one goal: Help Camp Take Notice in some way. I knew from the very beginning that the reality of getting a tiny home design, built and implemented throughout the camp wasn't feasible within the semester, but it was to show a concept. We presented our projects to the class and two leaders of Camp Take Notice to receive feedback. The next class, two designs were brought up to the front, my design and another. It was brought to a vote for which one to build. My design was outvoted 12-4. I wasn't disappointed, it was what the class wanted to pursue. However, a week later, our professors tell us that Eli’s design (Chosen design) is too complicated to build, which it wasn't, resulting in a complete new design created essentially by our professors. Then I was disappointed. I began to think about my design and think about whether or not I was okay with being done with it. I wasn't. I went back to Camp Take Notice asking them if it was possible to build my structure on the camp. I got approval. However, Tate and I both agreed it was going to be a long process and not something I can just start building. I understood it required more refinement. After, I started to ask him about the class. I was surprised. I had the impression that my professors worked a lot with Camp Take Notice with what they wanted when choosing the design, and I was told they didn't, which saddened me. When I met with my professor I asked “I thought Tate said there wasn't going to be a sink?”, my professor responds, “Were taking the design in a different direction”. I lost my mind. My classmate said it best, “They want something to show at the exhibit”.

Sarnia (Inactive) – AC/LC Winter Round Dance

2014-12-04T00:00:00Z

The Aboriginal Students' Council at Lambton College is very excited to bring to the college for the first time ever in the college's history, a cultural gathering and celebration called a "Round Dance." It is a social event based around traditional hand drum singing and dancing. This even is quite different from a Pow Wow. Traditionally, Round Dances were held in honour of loved ones who have passed on. Today they are still held as memorial gatherings but also for weddings, graduations, birthdays, anniversaries and anything worth a big celebration. We would like to celebrate the diversity of Lambton College by inviting all students from all cultures to come and celebrate together. The Round Dance ceremony comes from our Cree relatives of the western plains. The recent popularity of this type of gathering has caught on here in the Great Lakes area. More communities are hosting their own Round Dances. The event consists of an emcee and a stickman who keeps the event in motion and acknowledges the lead singers and any other singers who arrive. He also is in charge of choosing the next lead singer to sing 4 songs with the help of any other singers. Spectators can choose to take part in the dance called "the side step". This dance is slow and to the beat of the hand drums. The dancers dance in a circle around the table of singers; hence the event's name, "Round Dance". The night is a great opportunity to socialize with friends and family but to also meet new people. In addition, the evening will include a silent auction and a traditional food booth to raise money and awareness for the Annual Pow Wow being held at the college on April 2, 2015. We would like to bring this very special event from the First Nation culture to the students, staff and faculty of Lambton College. We always look to educate the Lambton College and local community on the culture and traditions of the First Nations people in the interests of understanding, diversity and friendship.

Washington, DC – Lincoln Road Looks

2014-12-03T00:00:00Z

Just like my neighborhood, this project is awesome! Lincoln Road Looks is a neighborhood photo project documenting the lives of the community that lives on Lincoln Road. My aim has been telling our stories of interconnectedness and community through photography. This photography project has been a collaborative effort since it started a year ago. My neighbors know me as the 'camera girl'. I was immediately at ease when I moved to the area. In a bustling city, Lincoln Road feels familiar and friendly. Everyone smiles and greets each other. When there are barbecues everyone is invited to partake and have a good time. I learned that there were generations of families living in our neighborhood. A couple of my neighbors even grew up in the same apartment where I now reside and showed me old pictures of them as children playing checkers on the same stoop. Often I would take walks with my camera and chat with neighbors outside. Soon, they began asking me to take their pictures and even offered to pay for prints. I declined payment, but promised each person that i would print the pictures. After a couple of months, the idea came to have a community art show featuring all of my neighbors. They have been encouraging me to continue documenting their lives in a place that is slowly changing. For me, the most important part of the project is to provide everyone a print of the portraits taken. For this project, as a photographer, it's important to make this a mutually collaborative project. One way of doing that is providing them with the prints. The community is small, but unfortunately we don't have the money to finance the prints. I will use my apartment for the art show, but the prints will cost money.

Lusaka (Inactive) – GIRLS UNITE- GU

2014-12-03T00:00:00Z

*WHO WE ARE* Girls Unite (GU) is a national organization that empowers girls and helps tackle issues that they face in their day to day lives by providing motivational talks and one on one interaction. *OUR GOALS* GU empowers girls for personal and social transformation. Our mission is to help young teenage girls build self-esteem, develop leadership skills and recognize their full potential. The talks inspires girls to have the voice, ability and problem solving capacity to speak up, be decision makers and create visionary change. *OUR VISION* GU helps in increasing the confidence in the voice of the girls, developing life-skills, and improving the ability to identify paths that can contribute to positive change and break cycles for a lifetime. We envision a world where girls with strong voices become active leaders and passionately engaged citizens, impacting not only their own neighborhoods but also their nations as girls become informed and participating citizens in their civic, political and cultural communities. *TARGET* Girls in the age group of 13-21 *METHODOLOGY* · Radio talks · Television · Social networks · School talks · Colleges and university talks · One on one sessions *TALK TOPICS* - Communication (True.Helpful.Important.Necessary.Kind) - Leadership (8 to be great) - Critical thinking - Aspirations - Anti-bullying - Healthy decision making - Smart media usage - Peer pressure - Early pregnancies - Early marriages - Alcohol abuse - Independent life - Equality - Sex *GIRLS CAN'T WHAT????* We will then hold a work shop that will be themes "Girls cant what??" An inspirational talk on advising the young girls that they should strive for what they want and they shouldn't feel like just because they are girls they cannot achieve it. Girls can do anything…you can do anything..

South Shore – Local Food Fair For Kids!

2014-12-03T00:00:00Z

These fine folks got $1000 to put towards a local food fair for kids. Congrats!

San Francisco, CA – The Bayview Bus Project: Art Not Ads!

2014-12-02T00:00:00Z

In this project (already underway and partly supported by The 3rd Street Youth Clinic) teens in the Bayview District will create expressive art to place on Muni buses, counteracting hateful ads and transforming the transit experience across the city. The money will be used to purchase art supplies for the creation of the art and (primarily) to purchase the advertising space. --- With hateful ads appearing on SF buses once again (http://bit.ly/1w75jKp), we think it’s high time to give our city’s transit a little makeover. The Museum of Joy has been working with youth in the Bayview to produce art around the theme of joy and community, and what better place to put it than inside a Muni bus for the whole city to see? Far from being creative spaces, Muni buses are often dirty, cramped, and miserable, with nothing to look at on your long ride when you can’t get a seat but the advertising on the walls. But those ads don't actually cost much – and are a perfect opportunity to provide SF riders with inspiring art at the same time as giving a voice to youth whose thoughts, feelings, and ideas are rarely heard outside their own neighborhood. We’ll deepen our work with the youth of the 3rd Street Youth Center by creating a series of artworks expressing their dreams, hopes, and visions for themselves and their city. The art will be placed on buses that terminate in the Bayview; for 50 ad cards, the agency that places the ads estimates 1,810,200 impressions (really!) for the art over a 4-week period. The vision of the participating youth will reach out from their own neighborhood and wind its way through the Bayview, the Mission, the Haight, the Fillmore, Pac Heights, & the Marina, surprising and delighting riders who realize the ads have been replaced with art and their bus subtly transformed into a space of communication, creativity, and the sharing of meaning. This project is an answer to the recent spate of vitriolic ads placed on the sides of Muni buses (http://bit.ly/1w75jKp), which the SFMTA has worked to address by replacing some of their ads with quotes from famous peacemakers and signs saying “Love,” “Peace,” and “Acceptance.” We hope to inspire other artists to come forward and transform their public spaces from mouthpieces for hate into locations uniquely poised to carry a message of inspiration across the city – literally. The Museum of Joy exists to transform public spaces into locations rich with aesthetic possibility and unexpected meaning. Past projects include Poemflowers, a Valentine’s gift of love poems to strangers; the Awesome-funded Library of Joy, which left 100 tiny books in 12 SFPL branches over the Easter/Passover weekend; operas staged on BART platforms; pop-up dance performances; and the yearly lantern-lit labyrinth on Baker Beach, one of the top free anti-Black-Friday events in the Bay Area.

Liverpool – An Hour For Others

2014-12-01T00:00:00Z

We are a newly registered CIC called An hour For Others. I am founder and director, it is my idea that people donate an amount of time when they can in helping people or organisations across the city who otherwise would struggle to either help themselves or afford to get the help. I am a qualified painter & decorator and am willing to go into the homes of people living in poverty young or old or with disabilities, community groups etc and brighten areas up for them and improve their living conditions free of charge. I put it out on facebook a couple of months ago and within a few days got a database of nearly a hundred people from various sectors with many skills to offer those less fortunate within Liverpool and surrounding areas. We have lawyers, choirs, cleaning companies, directors of childrens services, joiners, roofers, gas fitters, labourers, van drivers, childrens entertainment companies, maths tutors to name a few all willing to get out to the most in need in our communities and use their skills in anyway they can. I have completed our first project alone in west everton community council. i donated 60+ hours of my time and a friend paid for the materials to paint 2 rooms which are used by kids playschemes, stroke clubs, art classes, and bingo for the elderley etc. During this time on our facebook page people have been getting involved by offering furniture, toys, football tickets etc to those worse off. We managed to get tables and chairs which were getting thrown out of BHS and redirect them to West Everton Council, my friend and I donating time in picking them up and dropping them off in his van. We have sent dozens of kids from knowlsey young carers, sefton womens and children aid and west everton to watch Liverpool FC games in the premier lounge with meal included. The kids we were told had great times and were much needed little breaks from the unfortunate situations they find themselves in. We want helping each other to become contagious here.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Say It In Color Art for Suicide Survivors

2014-12-01T00:00:00Z

Our Mission is to facilitate emotional healing through art and creative expression for those who are living in grief, pain, stress and fear. There is nothing simple about grief. Finding the words to express how you feel can be very complicated. Colors can convey what you can’t say. The colors we choose to represent our feelings, emotions and memories are as unique as each one of us. YHOA workshops are designed to assist those that are suffering from loss to process their feeling about grief. Each workshop we will build on encouragement to help participants to continue to explore both negative and positive feelings using different forms of art to include painting, drawing, and collage to express their feelings. Participants create a series of work that brings to the surface his or her own story. Each art form reflects it’s creators unique personal journey. Producing art brings immediate results. Being creative calms us, clarifies attitudes and beliefs, and makes us feel better both mentally and physically, while our paintings often mirror what we keep hidden inside. Your Heart on Art facilitates the creative process while encouraging emotional healing—and these two paths often intersect when words are not adequate, and pain is too deep. Our mix of artistic development and expression coupled with a creative healing model allow participants to learn a new way of communicating through color that encourages emotional breakthroughs and further enhances the therapy process. Unlike other art programs that employ a loose format of free expression, our curriculum, contains strictly guided exercises and is designed to elicit emotional responses.

Nairobi (Inactive) – MyRide - Kenya - Safe, Comfortable & Fun Matatus

2014-11-30T00:00:00Z

Love them or hate them - Matatus (the public transport system in Kenya) are here to stay. Matatus have become notorious for the poor manner they are driven and managed causing hundreds of deaths of passengers each year on Kenyan roads and for surviving passengers, they get an earful of choice insults, arbitrary fare hikes and ear splitting music from the boom speakers. The government seems unable to rein in the matatus and perhaps the most effective way to control them is through the power of the people that actually use them and pay for them. Not all matatus fit the archetype described above; so what if passengers could rate them in real time, giving a thumbs-up to those that work well while shaming those that are a nightmare for the passengers? That is what My Ride is all about. My Ride is a mobile phone based app that allows passengers inside matatus to rate them in real time (sort of a tweeter for matatu passengers). Using the registration number of the matatu as a hashtag they can then share their experiences while connecting with each other. My ride is also a great management and enforcement tool because for each matatu, it creates a log of conversations which are accessible to police, the National Transport Safety Authority and the owner of the matatu, thus increasing the accountability of the matatu crew. Our goal is to facilitate conversation and bring to the fore, voices the passengers that are often ignored and help bring safety and comfort to the Kenyan public transport system..

Paris (Inactive) – Me&Moon : Salon de coiffure / Galerie d'art

2014-11-30T00:00:00Z

Mon projet :" Me & Moon Fait Mousser les Têtes Créatives." C'est dans une ancienne galerie d'Art du 4ème arrondissement que Mouna a créé un salon de coiffure dans l'idée d'en faire un lieu d'échanges, de rencontres et de découvertes. En s'inspirant de la galerie d'origine, le but est de créer une mixité culturelle en exposant des œuvres, tout en restant un salon de coiffure et de soin. Me&Moon est un espace libre d'expositions temporaires et accueille des artistes accomplis ou en devenir, qui peuvent s'exprimer dans cet espace dédié à la performance. Mouna created her hairdressing salon in a former art gallery, in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, with the idea of making it into a place that encourages exhange, meetings and discovery. Using the old gallery as a source of inspiration, the aim is to stimulate cultural diversity by displaying works of art, while staying a hairdessing salon. Me&Moon hosts free temporary exhibitions that welcomes both young and confirmed artists, who can express themselves by using the salon as a performing stage.

Moscow (Inactive) – Эко-горшки для цветочного кроссинга

2014-11-29T00:00:00Z

Мы работаем над созданием зеленого и гармоничного города, который сочетает в себе комфорт городской жизни и бережное отношение к окружающей нас естественной и живой среде. А еще мы стараемся знакомить и объединять людей, имеющих зеленные ценности. И создаем социально-экологические сервисы в городе. В 2014 году мы создали стационарные точки обмена цветами и семенами на базе библиотек и культурных центров – точки цветочного кроссинга, в которых один человек может оставить цветок, а другой – взять себе, абсолютно бесплатно. Увидеть расположение этих мест можно на специальной «Карте Зеленых Точек» - http://www.greenspotmap.ru/Karta-zelenyh-tochek/ при нажатии на кнопку «Цветочный Кроссинг» над картой появятся названия, адреса и графики работы учреждений, участвующих в проекте. Сейчас в проекте участвуют 6 библиотек, 3 центра культуры и творчества и 1 галерея. И мы хотим развивать его дальше – создавать больше пунктов цветообмена в разных районах и городах. Презентация о сайте «Карта Зеленых Точек» и его функционале есть здесь - http://g-lantern.blogspot.ru/2014/10/2014.html

Sydney – A Sense of Place: Sydney's Inner West

2014-11-27T00:00:00Z

"A Sense of Place: Sydney's Inner West" is a participatory photography project run in collaboration with the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre (NNC) and the Boarding House Outreach Service. In February 2015 local photographer and facilitator Lisa Cross will run photography and storytelling workshops with eight residents of general boarding houses in Sydney’s Inner West. Over three two hour sessions this diverse group will learn photography, editing and story telling fundamentals, share their ideas in a creative way while identifying issues that are important to them and produce a photographic story from their point of view. Disposable cameras will be used to ensure the project is accessible and the need for technology is reduced. It will also force participants to explore their sense of place through the frame of a viewfinder instead of a screen. Boarding house residents are commonly at risk of homelessness and often experience social isolation. Taking part in “A Sense of Place” will give participants the opportunity to connect with their community, empower them to tell their story and raise awareness in the wider community of issues such as homelessness, the effects of gentrification and life in a boarding house. In order to create the final artwork for the Newtown Art Seat the five prints produced by each participant and a handwritten description of the series will be arranged on and attached to white card. This will then be re-photographed in the studio with a high-resolution digital camera to produce a single digital image of the whole series. The final eight series will then be combined in a layout for the Newtown Art Seat. To coincide with the finished work being displayed on the Newtown Art Seat, an opening celebration will be held at the NNC for the participants, organisers and their friends and family. Each participant will be given a certificate of participation and the artworks will also be displayed inside the NNC.

Annapolis Valley, NS (Inactive) – GAME ON

2014-11-27T00:00:00Z

The New Minas Code Club has been coding games for two years. Our Coding Club would like to invite the wider community and local area to a Gaming Challenge Conference called "GAME ON". The day (or depending on the interest - maybe 2 days) would consist of : 1) Showcases of games made by the youths themselves based on level of competency (Beginners / Intermediate / Pro) 2) Guest Speakers in the Field (Pro Game Makers / Players) 3) Food, Game, Gear and Gaming Hardware Vendor Trade Show or Kiosks 4) New Gear and User Interface for Gaming Demonstrations 5) New Game Demonstrations 6) Game Making Competition (in under 1 hour) 7) Game Playing Competition (short retro games eg. PacMan / Tetris) and (1 hr League of Legends or Mario Bros) 8) Costume Judging We are hoping to involve local vendors of video games and specialty game hardware gear and UI. Local Gamers, and maybe even not so local gamers, could be invited. We would ask people to bring their own laptops. We hope we can share some AWESOME videos of our games with you.

Newmarket – Bridging the Gap

2014-11-26T00:00:00Z

Our Bridging the Gap Program is essential to ensuring women and their children in York Region have food, school supplies, access to transit, warm winter clothing and above all else, maintain their dignity.Your gift can make a tangible difference to the women and children we support. Serving women and their families in York Region for 37 years, we believe that every woman deserves to feel empowered and live to her full potential. For women who have identified the need and desire for positive change in their lives, Women’s Centre of York Region offers unique programming and services that address a range of circumstances. Unlike any other organization in York Region, our programs and services are offered at little or no cost. In a safe and inclusive environment, we welcome each woman and meet her right where she is. Our goal is to fully support each woman on her personal journey of discovery in order that she thrives fully. Our inclusive and collaborative approach creates a place of hope where women are supported to thrive. Guided by the principles of Inclusion, Collaboration, Connecting, Learning, Innovation and Possibility – the holistic and multi-dimensional approach of the WCYR expands each woman’s capacity to participate in and contribute to her community and the economy. We’re best known for helping women break through barriers to success and reach their true potential. A healthy woman means a healthy family and community. Bridging the Gap provides tangible supports to women and their families. We provide: - Grocery gift cards, distributed to clients to purchase food for themselves and their families - Personal care bundles are distributed to clients ensuring they and their children have essential personal care items (shampoo, deodorant, feminine care products), freeing up limited finances to purchase other necessities - Winter Warmth items for clients and their children ensuring they are prepared for the winter

Kitchener-Waterloo – Turning To One Another Skills Building

2014-11-26T00:00:00Z

Turning To One Another (TTOA) Working Group is for people living with HIV at the AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo & Area. The most important direction for this group is skills building. There are some who would like to re-enter the workforce and others who are older want to build their capacity in order to volunteer out in the community. TTOA members not only want to educate themselves but also provide workshops in the community to help break the stigma of those living with HIV. Our PHA Capacity Development Program is for those living with HIV and the Turning To One Another Project is a chance for those living with HIV to turn to each for support and viable program and project ideas. Their goal is to build their capacity to lead these workshops and find ways to remove the barriers of stigma and discrimination. We are currently learning how the Social Determinants of Health play a large part in HIV infections and this is one of the community workshops they would like to create.

Melbourne (Inactive) – Wearable Arts Experience - From Concept to catwalk

2014-11-25T00:00:00Z

The Alkira Wearable Artists Collective have been taking to the stage and showing off their superstar attitude and funky stuff for the past 18 months. With 4 catwalk shows under their belts so far they are heading for high places and are fundraising to take themselves (8 wearable artists with Intellectual Disabilities) to Alice Springs to take part in the Central Craft Wearable Arts Awards, 2015, the most prestigious wearable art catwalk in Australia!! People with disabilities are massively underrepresented in media, art and culture and we are changing that one catwalk at a time! This project is about creating inclusive and cohesive opportunities for the artists to get engaged in community events, and provides a wonderful platform for the artists to show off their talents and skill development. The project needs to raise $22,000 to take the group to from Melbourne to Alice springs for 6 days, and will include an overnight bush campout, sunset camel riding at Uluru and a wearable arts workshop.. The artists will each be contributing $1000 to the trip, plus $500 prize money from winning 1st place at last years Royal Melbourne Show for their first competition entry. Several fundraising activities are planned including a day of performance culminating in a catwalk show at the Box Hill Art Centre, a catwalk show at the VALID International Disability Conference and a catwalk show alongside prestigious Melbourne artists as part of the Visual Arts Melbourne Festival where they will be launching their Pozzible campaign. This project is AWESOME because it fosters friendships, develops skill, provides an opportunity to break down some of the barriers in our communities and show that people with disabilities are fun, fabulous and talented. The boost in confidence and outrageous dose of fun that the catwalk experience gives the artists carries over into all areas of their lives in their confidence and positivity and general AWESOMENESS!!!

London, ON (Inactive) – Little Libraries London

2014-11-25T00:00:00Z

Merging community outdoor swap boxes (as seen in Wortley Village) with a love of books, I want to build outdoor swap boxes for books along similar lines of the Little Free Library Project. My plan is to have them built and installed with property owner consent and participation in poorer working class neighbourhoods in high pedestrian traffic areas (near schools). The goals are: 1- To increase community engagement with fellow neighbours over a love of reading. 2- To get books into the hands of children who, for various reasons (financial, parents lacking ID, overdue fines, travel problems, etc) do not use our public library system on a regular basis. 3-Increase children's literacy rates and teach sharing with the community through a love of reading. 4- To upcycle used books and increase book swapping on a local level.

Seattle, WA – Sand Toys for Seattle

2014-11-24T00:00:00Z

My awesome project, Sand Toys for Seattle, will initially provide sand toys for 25 Seattle Park's (all regions) that have sandboxes in the Children's Play Areas or have sandy beaches used by children. I hope to expand to more parks by inspiring parents/caregivers to supply their neighborhood park. The sand areas will be filled with such items as buckets, shovels, molds, sifters, play bowls and cups, toy diggers, dump trucks. Some of my fondest childhood memories include playing in sandboxes at the local parks. In sandboxes kids of all ages, genders, ethnicities, languages, and economic backgrounds can all come together and be creative through play. Sandbox play teaches children how to: interact with others; be creative, imaginative and problem solve; share; develop fine/gross motor skills and most importantly...have fun. Seattle's Parks have many great sandboxes in their Children's Play Areas and sandy beaches. There are over 100 Children's Play Areas out of over 400 parks. Sadly however, the sandboxes and beaches are never designed with sand toys! There is only so much play you have with a pile of sand, but when you add sand toys to the mix, the imagination goes wild. I believe sand toys should always be available in the sandboxes and beaches of Seattle's Parks and people should not have to bring their own sand toys. Since early 2012, when my oldest son started playing at city sandboxes, I have been regularly filling the sandbox at the Seward Park Playground (closest to our house) with sand toys. It makes me so happy when we go down to the playground to see children playing with the sand toys that I have brought or see the excitement in the children when I drop off toys. I also love to see the community the sandbox creates-children making new friends and the parents/caregivers engaging in conversation. The other day some of the kids were playing together in the sandbox and brought the parents that were talking some of their creations: pretend eggs and coffee!

Portland, OR – East Portland Bike Oasis

2014-11-24T00:00:00Z

The Rosewood neighborhood straddles the Portland/Gresham border along NE 162nd Ave. This area has been systematically ignored by the City of Portland, and has suffered the ill effects of forced density without the benefit of any accompanying infrastructure improvements. As other parts of the city have gentrified, low income people, and especially minorities, have been pushed into the Rosewood area, where they are basically left to their own devices. It's an area of incredibly diversity, with many new immigrants relocated to the neighborhood. Many of our residents are car-free and thus rely either on mass transit (which is sadly under-developed in the area) or their own feet/bikes. As you can see in the accompanying map, there are NO private bike shops anywhere remotely close to the Rosewood area. 70%-80% of the residents live in apartments, and thus don't have the ability to work on their bikes at home. Due to these factors, relatively simple bike problems like a broken chain, inoperable brakes, or flat tires leave residents without the use of their primary means of transportation. Portland's bike-friendly ethos has skipped over the Rosewood area. Our goal with this project is to empower these residents that have been left behind... to give them a place to work on their bike, a place to have volunteers assist them with bike maintainence, a place to gain new bike skills and knowledge, and a place that will restore another transportation mode for these residents that desperately need it. Our vision is to provide weekly drop-in sessions, staffed by volunteers. The Community Cycling Center has committed to providing volunteers and well as technical assistance. This simple Bike Oasis will have immediate and significant positive impact for our residents. Beyond being awesome, this Bike Oasis will be IMPORTANT.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – VIVA VERDI!

2014-11-24T00:00:00Z

My awesome project is, VIVA VERDI! A 90-minute documentary currently in development. VIVA VERDI! Giuseppe Verdi, the most influential Italian opera composer of the nineteenth century – La Traviata, Aida, Falstaff, Rigoletto – willed his vast fortune to creating a retirement home for aging musicians and artists. Because of his extraordinary generosity and strong belief in the necessity of a dignified, musical retirement home for musicians, over a thousand living legends have called Casa Verdi home since its opening in 1902. Once gracing the great opera stages of the world including La Scala, The Royal Opera House and The Metropolitan Opera, Casa Verdi’s “guests,” who range in age from 77 to 103, are comprised of international opera singers, ballet dancers, musicians, conductors and composers now living out the third act of their lives with passion, dignity and purpose. Saturated with music and painted with lush cinematography, VIVA VERDI! will give viewers a glimpse of the celebrated and historic careers of these residents, currently living within the walls of Casa Verdi, and share the inspiring realities of their vibrant day-to-day lives as they continue to compose, dance, play, and mentor the newest “guests” – young music students from around the world who also call Casa Verdi home. VIVA VERDI! reveals how Verdi’s vision is not only alive and well today, but thriving – a life-affirming reminder of how music moves us at a fundamental level, and how nurturing artistic expression can create an ageless joy.

Oahu, HI – POW! WOW! Hawai`i

2014-11-23T00:00:00Z

Centered around a week-long event POW! WOW! Hawai‘i has grown into a global network of artists that organizes gallery shows, lecture series, schools for art and music, mural projects, Lana Lane Studios, a large creative community space, concerts, and live art installations across the globe. The central event takes place in February of each year in the Kaka’ako area of Honolulu, and brings together over a hundred international and local artists to create murals and other forms of art. This weeklong celebration of art culminates in a large-scale finale event. Last year, a large block party was thrown that held a fashion show, food trucks, art exhibitions, and live painting. Almost 12,000 people, including celebrities and dignitaries attended the festivities and millions worldwide viewed the events and murals via the Internet and social media, making it one of the year’s most anticipated and popular events of the year and focusing attention on Honolulu and the State of Hawai`i. POW! WOW! Hawai‘i is all about community; the local, national and international communities. The event brings local residents and visitors together and helps bind them to their colleagues, friends and fans around the world. To create a community, the skills and wisdom of the right kind of creative leaders are needed to stimulate and develop the sense of community. This in turn will encourage economic expansion, reduce crime and raise the overall standard of living in the area. POW! WOW! Hawai‘i is at the forefront of the renaissance to help shape the direction of these plans and encourage economic development through the power of the arts. All aspects of POW! WOW! Hawai‘i routinely strive to positively impact the environment, the community and the economy while also promoting Hawai`i's unique culture, history, people and diversity.POW! WOW! Hawai‘i has become the standard by which all other urban art festivals around the world attempt to replicate.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Kyn :: Democratizing Philanthropy

2014-11-23T00:00:00Z

We want to use digital tools to democratize philanthropy for all. We think it's too hard for new funders (particularly millennials inheriting large sums) to get engaged in philanthropy. Our launch app makes it super simple for new philanthropist to find and follow the work of more experienced funders in their sector. For example, if I'm interested in media innovation, I'd use Kyn to quickly find John Bracken @ Knight, Kathy Im @ MacArthur, and John Hallett @ McCormick. I'd see that two of them have made a grant to Crisis Text Line. I can either use the Kyn community to connect with those funders directly to discuss their diligence on CTL, or I can make a two-click grant to the organization. It currently takes b/w 12-17 clicks to donate to a nonprofit listed on a foundation's website. We think that should be reduced to two at most. Our vision is to insert just the right amount of technology to make philanthropy work better for all. We're exploring pseudo-anonymity tools for individuals (we've learned many people are afraid to hang out their philanthropy hat for risk of being inundated with proposals), RFP tools for family foundations (e.g. we know we want to focus on XYZ sector this spring, but how do we get the word out), and other tools to help an individual with a $200k donor advised fund be as effective as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Misadventures Magazine

2014-11-23T00:00:00Z

Misadventures Magazine was founded to fill the media gap between outdoors magazines, which are mainly written by and for men, and traditional women's magazines, which usually cover topics like fashion, weight loss, weddings, dating advice, and diet. We didn't see ourselves on either of those publications' pages and knew that there must be so many women who didn't either. We wanted Misadventures to be an outdoors magazine by and for adventurous women, and since our founding in October of last year we've gotten nothing but amazing feedback and support from so many women saying basically, "Finally! Thank you!" We've grown exponentially and now get 15,000 page views per month and have more than twenty regular contributors. Our content includes long-form essays, how-to's, guides, gear reviews, photo essays, recipes, and interviews. We hope to keep growing our readership, expanding our content and reach, and upholding our goal to change the way women are shown in the media. As our mission states: MISADVENTURES champions women who embrace creativity, take risks, and go out and beyond. We spotlight inspirational feats and figures, beautiful spaces, honest-to-goodness adventures, and discoveries of all sorts.

Los Angeles, CA – Strive Kitchen Fundraiser

2014-11-21T00:00:00Z

Strive is an academy-par After-School Academics & Arts program operating in the Watts community of South Los Angeles, serving 150 students daily. Strive's mission is to educate well mannered, academically prepared, individually responsible children who do not allow their lives to be defined by personal circumstances. One of the most important parts of this project over the last decade has been educating our students about nutrition and health. Unfortunately we find ourselves in an uphill battle against fast food, processed snacks, and sugary drinks. Don Anderson, our Program Director, has responded to our student’s eating choices by introducing a Strive kitchen and cafe, where students can have a nutritious meal and buy daily homemade treats. The success of this café has really been greater than we expected. As the kitchen has grown, we have been able to use it as a classroom, and open up a conversation with our students about nutrition and self-sufficiency in the kitchen. We are reaching out to you, to ask for your support in expanding and improving our kitchen - that's our awesome project. We have started a Fundly campaign toward this end, with a video I hope you will watch: https://fundly.com/strive-kitchen-fundraiser# Our goal is to purchase a commercial stove so that we can take the Strive Café to the next stage and have trained students working in our kitchen. Looking toward the future, we want to offer a program in which Strive operates as a restaurant, and students can learn skills as cooks, servers, and managers. The food landscape in our part of Watts provides limited choices for the hundreds of teachers and police officers that commute here daily. With your support, we can have students learning to cook and eat nutritiously, providing healthy food to the community, all while contributing to the ongoing financial viability of our after-school academics and arts program. I think that's pretty awesome, and hope you will too.

Kingston – Christmas Cheer

2014-11-21T00:00:00Z

We feed about 55 people each day; the number varies between 30 and 70. This is about 11,500 meals a year. All are welcome, and our clients are mostly the alienated, disadvantaged and marginalised of Kingston. We would like to make their Christmas a little more cheerful by providing a Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings, and, to our regular clients, a Christmas stocking of personal items which they cannot afford out of their limited incomes. We used to be able to cook the meal ourselves, but legislative changes in health and safety re cooking mean that we now have to have it professionally prepared in a commercial kitchen and this has greatly increased our costs. Your $750 will mean that we are able to have a full meal and desert and juice and coffee in a properly decorated Hall with a Christmas atmosphere. Our Coordinator identifies the regular clients - about 60 people - and we plan to give them a Christmas stocking filled with personal items such as toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, toques and scarves. Much of this is donated during the year and kept for Christmas, but we are always lacking enough of some items. We like to keep each stocking as equal as possible.

Stockholm (Inactive) – TedxYouth Stockholm

2014-11-21T00:00:00Z

In November we did something a bit different. Instead of handing out a grant ourselves we got the Swedish Prince to do it instead (yep, he's the guy in the middle). Pretty Awesome ey? It was in collaboration with Fryshuset and the competition "Sveriges Ungdomsentreprenör". The winner, 16 year old Negin Azimi, runs TEDxYouth in Stockholm. She's an incredible driven woman who has charmed the start-up and creative sector in Sweden in no time. Big congratulations and it will be great to follow her on her future endeavours!

Orlando, FL – The Oceanographer

2014-11-20T00:00:00Z

The Oceanographer is a unique and interactive puppet show. It will consist of four puppeteers performing under black light and choreographed to a custom composition. The puppets are performed on poles so the entire show can be elevated above the audience. The show is very adaptable and can be taken to many venues including schools, festivals and retirement communities. The puppets will be made from recycled and surplus parts as to inspire the audience.

Miami, FL – Bake-A-Wish Cakes Miami

2014-11-20T00:00:00Z

I started Bake-a-Wish Miami in 2011 during the summer after 8th grade. My water polo team had visited the Miami Rescue Mission for a community service project to read with the kids in the after school reading program there. I fell in love with the kids and wanted to do something nice for them, so I started baking birthday cakes for each child's birthday. Since then, Bake-A-Wish has added 3 other groups, including the after school program at Virrick Park and Esther Armbrister Park in Coconut Grove, Florida and Casa Valentina, a program for kids transitioning out of foster care and into the world. We also bake birthday cakes for the volunteers at these organizations. Our Bake-A-Wish team (which is comprised of 6 girls, ages 11-18) will bake almost 500 cakes this year. We bake every week and deliver a fresh cake on or a few days before the actual birthday of each child. We deliver every week. Below is an email I received this morning from the reading program director, Marty Steinberger: (Hi Katie, So I know that week after week it can’t be easy to get all those cakes baked. But I just want to thank you again. I wish that you could see what we see and hear what we hear about how much the cakes mean. This week there was one that meant so much that one of the READ ON volunteers was in tears because a third grade boy told her that he got a cake this year, only yours, for his birthday.…his family was evicted from their home the day before his birthday..the possessions on the street kind of eviction. He has worn the same shirt all week and it’s for sure that he wouldn’t have had a birthday celebration at all without you. He was so happy about that cake. All that baking is huge to these kids and families. Thanks, Marty) A cake seems like such a little thing, I know. But we believe that the little things make a big difference and that every child should feel special on their birthday. Thanks for reading!

Ottawa – Ghosts of the Internet

2014-11-18T00:00:00Z

November’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to Evan Roth to support a pilgrimage using ghost hunting technologies to document physical evidence of the Internet. “Paranormal researchers,” explains Evan, “have developed their own technologies to help them communicate with spirits. And while I am agnostic towards the existence of ghosts, I find this equipment fascinating and telling of society’s relationship with technology in general. Ghost hunting technologies, like many of today’s social media platforms, are made by believers who attempt (and often fail) to use technology to give us human and emotional connections to people who we rarely see in person. Through this journey, I want to learn more about the physical and spiritual foundations of the Internet by documenting its infrastructure using technology designed to detect ghosts.” “Off the coasts of England and Wales,” Evan continues, “there are several small beach towns that are the landing points for the fiber optic cables that connect the United States and Europe. As it happens, these locations also contain a number of castles, cemeteries, and abandoned prisons considered to be haunted by many paranormal societies. Over the course of a five-day ghost hunting mission, I will visit locations of importance to both the Internet and spirits. I will take various ghost hunting technologies with me (e.g., full spectrum video camera, thermal flashlight, and electronic voice phenomenon recorder) and plan to collect data from these devices and from nearby public computer terminals (e.g., Internet browsing history and cached data).” Evan plans to document his ghost and Internet hunting activities online using photos, videos, and maps. “My aim with this mission,” he says, “is to share my findings on the physical and spiritual Internet, as something that passes through, over, and under the places where we live and die. I also haven’t ruled out the possibility that I may make contact with something unexpected.” Evan is an American artist based in Paris. His website is http://www.evan-roth.com.

Boulder, CO (Inactive) – Support in Rebuilding

2014-11-18T00:00:00Z

I am helping a family who has lost everything in a recent mobile home fire find permanent housing . This has been an opportunity to call on friends to pitch in to help a family through tremendous grief . We will be looking at a mobile home in Lafayette on Friday . $12,000 has been raised through GoFund Me . We can buy a mobile home for this amount and then continue to raise funds to remodel or I can continue to reach out and get commitments to get them into something nicer and newer . Friends have donated the money to buy all new beds , pads , sheets , pillows , comforters and towels . What is needed now is a safe home . Thank you for your consideration , Sherry ROSAMOND 1500 Alpine Avenue Boulder, CO 80304 7204349108

Gloucester, MA – St Vincent de Paul of Cape Ann

2014-11-18T00:00:00Z

The St. Vincent de Paul Society provides support for the basic needs of people in the Cape Ann community. Services that are offered, but not limited to, are assistance for rent, heat, and utilities, food from our Food Pantry, clothing, via the Clothes Closet and security deposits. Food is donated via food drives and individual donations. All money we receive is also donated by patrons who have chosen St. Vincent de Paul as their personal charity. A hundred per cent of donations is returned directly to the community of Cape Ann, as no administrative costs or fees are taken. For those services we cannot meet, we direct our clients to various agencies. At Thanksgiving we provide dinners, and at Christmas we provide dinners and presents to the children of the families to whom we have provided services.

Perth (Inactive) – Eat Your Art Out: An edible Art Community Event

2014-11-16T00:00:00Z

My project is a public art event. The concept is to create 'edible dopplegangers' of famous works of art. The edibles will be displayed next to/near prints or decals of the artworks. I will bake some of the edible goods, and the others will be prepared by hired bakers as well as artists and bakers recruited from the community who are offering their skills for free. An event location has already been confirmed - it will be held at Crow Books as well as Crow Books in East Victoria Park, simultaneously (the venues are about 100 metres from each other). It will take place at night in February 2015. Attendees will spend some time admiring the edible dopplegangers, before being able to buy anything edible to taste for themselves (these are things like individual sized parfaits, pieces of cake, cheese platters drinks). The event is aimed at increasing a sense of community, and appreciating modern art. This is also a charity event. Proceeds from the event will go to the Harry Hunter Rehabilitation Centre, which is currently the ONLY organisation in Western Australia to have a therapeutic program for children whose parents have drug abuse issues. These children are at a high risk of psychological problems, including their own drug abuse issues as they reach adolescence. Despite calls from researchers and government agencies for an urgent need for programs to help this at-risk group, there currently remains only one in WA. The proceeds are needed for Harry Hunter to continue running the program by updating program materials and training new counsellors to run the program. Please note that whilst some of the attached images show edible art that will in appear at the event, artists/bakers will also be given free range to be inspired by their own artwork and bake an edible good of their own choosing.

Yerevan – ՛՛ Թատրոնն անիվների վրա՛՛

2014-11-14T00:00:00Z

Ամեն կիրակի խումբը մեկնում է որևէ սահմանամերձ գյուղ: Դերասաններն ու տիկնիկները գյուղով անցնելիս հրավիրում են մարդկանց ներկայացում դիտելու: Ներկայացումից հետո կլինի մաստերկլաս, որի ընթացքում կսովորեցնենք տիկնիկ պատրաստել , ապա իրենց պատրաստած տիկնիկներով տեղում կբեմադվի ներկայացում և այն կնվիրվի կամ կմնա տվյալ գյուղի դպրոցին կամ մշակույթի տանը:

Philadelphia, PA – Student Investment Lab and Fund

2014-11-14T00:00:00Z

Did you know 70% of Pennsylvania college students graduate with student debt? And only 1 in 4 invest in 401(k) retirement tools. And in 2014 the average credit card debt of Americans was $15,600. The fact is, Americans aren't the most financially literate people. I want to fix that with a program called Student Investment Lab and Fund, or SILAF. SILAF is a non-profit education program for Philadelphia high school students that teaches financial literacy through investment. Unlike other investing programs for high school students, we create a structured platform for students to work with real money. No other organization (save a few swanky private schools) does this. How does investing relate to financial literacy? Glad you asked. Our premise is that when a student understands complex concepts in investment management, a baseline of awareness is created. That baseline includes an understanding of what a 401(k) is, how to invest, and the importance of balancing assets across cash, credit, equity, and other financial vehicles. In other words, not every student may understand how to trade commodities in the futures market, but all will understand how to save using stocks (and a retirement plan. Because our program is 100% hands on, with all real money, students become really engaged. That engagement helps them get real-world experience (and comfort) in investing. Then, when confronted with signing a student loan document, starting a retirement account, or opening a new credit card, they are more familiar with the importance of their financial decisions to giving them power over their lives.

Boston, MA (Inactive) – Telescope lending project

2014-11-13T00:00:00Z

I am a Boy Scout in Troop 1 Acton and am currently at Life rank, the one before Eagle. This project will help me finish my Eagle Scout rank. I want to purchase and modify 3 telescopes so they can be lent out by the Acton Memorial Library. Once they are constructed, any citizen of Acton will have the ability to "borrow" a telescope from the library just as they could any book or movie. I will need to order a total of 3 telescopes. The StarBlast 4.5"Astro Reflector" has been used very successfully in several libraries in NH and is recommended because it is sturdy and durable. The telescope was designed for simplicity and good basic performance. It swivels on a sturdy wooden altazimuth base so you can point it and view the sky easily. The whole telescope comes pre-assembled and ready to use. To use it, you have to attach the included EZ Finder II reflex sight, and insert one of the two included 1.25" telescope eyepieces. The developer of the telescope lending programs recommends modifying certain parts of each telescope in order to make it more durable for lending. The materials I will need will be the parts necessary to modify the StarBlast 4.5 telescopes. These include 3 Celestron 8-24mm Zoom eyepieces (3 @$50 each =$150), some 8” nylon Mason’s line string ($10), Epoxy Glue - Fast setting ($5.00), Velcro “Spots” (1” by ¾”) ($5.00), and 20 Plastic furniture sliders ($5.00). I will also need to assemble the three user manuals to go with each telescope, and make some warning stickers to put on each. The manual is an 18-page booklet printed on 9 (4 x 6 ") unlined index cards. The lamination keeps the booklet dry when out under the night sky. Staples will, for a small fee, laminate and spiral bind the instructions using 30 4''X 6'' card stock paper. T think this project is awesome because it has never been done in my town, and I think everyone deserves to see the stars! Some members of the Amateur Telescope Makers of Boston (ATMoB) have agreed to mentor me.