Awesome Foundation - Projects

Yerevan – #SaveHome45

2015-07-09T00:00:00Z

Home 45 is a free public space, located in the cellar of a building, constructed in the end of the 19th century on Yeznik Koghbatsi Street – one of the four streets making up the Old Yerevan district. Formally the buildings are under the protection of the government, but in reality they are being deconstructed one by one; the few ones that survived are expecting their death sentence. By supporting Home 45 you will help this historical building to get a chance to survive and live a longer life, to serve creative people from Armenia and all over the world. Home 45 was created with the means and enthusiasm of this community: a dirty rotten cellar step by step turned into a bright and light hearted free public space for social activism. It opened this spring and has hosted more than 50 travellers from all over the world, dozens of exhibitions, workshops, performances and even the most innovative wedding in Yerevan. The space is open to everyone who needs a space to create. The platform has been supported by our community and from the small donations of our guests and residents, however, it is getting harder and harder to pay the rent and communal expenses. We initiated several fundraising events, and managed to collect a small amount of money, only letting us cover one month rent. We start a campaign on indiegogo.com in parallel. You can follow the link below` https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/savehome45/x/11062057#/story

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Holistic Healing for Survivors of Sexual Violence

2015-07-09T00:00:00Z

Dr. Denis Mukwege founded Panzi Hospital in 1999 as a response to the devastating war that surrounded his community in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the brutal sexualized violence that has characterized it. Panzi Hospital treats approximately 3,000 women a year complex gynecological injuries, including obstetric and traumatic fistula, as well as other injuries sustained through rape and sexualized violence. The hospital currently has 450 beds, 250 of which are reserved for survivors of sexual violence. Panzi’s holistic model of care provides survivors of sexual violence with services that meet the full spectrum of their needs: physical recovery, psychosocial support, community reintegration and legal assistance. In addition, we make critical investments in building the capacity of civil society organizations doing the grassroots work to rebuild their communities on principles of human rights and partnership between men and women. 40% - 60% of the women treated at Panzi Hospital are unable to return home after medical treatment – either because of the extent of their injuries, the ongoing violence or, most often, the stigma associated with rape or obstetric fistula. At Maison Dorcas, Panzi’s innovative after-care facility, these women and girls who are otherwise unable to return home after their medical treatment receive housing, meals, and access to the full slate of holistic recovery support provided by Panzi, all in a protected, collaborative and supportive environment. These programs include therapeutic counseling, job skills training, literacy and numeracy classes, micro-grants and -loans for small businesses, and outreach projects to rural communities. The ultimate goal of the Maison Dorcas staff is to heal and build the resilience of the whole woman, her whole family, and her whole community, setting the entire region on a course towards lasting peace.

Melbourne (Inactive) – PROJECT HONEYCOMB

2015-07-09T00:00:00Z

WITHOUT BEES, WE'RE DEAD. I am a wild forager and an apiarist, rescuing urban bees from extermination. I rehouse bees, build them new homes and relocate them to new urban rooftops. I sell honey comb to some of the best restaurants in Australia to cover the costs of looking after over 10 colonies (700,000 bees). It's a lot of hard work and i do it for the love of mother nature and these incredibly important creatures. I need the Awesome Foundation to help cover the cost of designing packaging for their honeycomb to help us launch this product to Australian providores. The Apiarist is about rescuing and relocating bees with proceeds of the money going back to building more homes for them.

Adelaide – Adelaide Community Garden

2015-07-09T00:00:00Z

We think ping pong is pretty fun. And so does The West End Village Association's (WEVA) community garden. Put a free-for-all-to-enjoy ping pong table in a successful and established community garden in a vacant block in the West End Precinct of Adelaide City. is AWESOME! This privately leased & operated garden is used by the community for growing fruit,vegetables,herbs,flowers etc.It is also used as a social gathering place, activities or just relaxing. -- WEVA is a not-for-profit community organisation, focused on pursuing the interests of residents of the West End precinct in Adelaide.

San Francisco, CA – Teaching Electronics to Visually Impaired Students

2015-07-08T00:00:00Z

Traditionally circuit blocks are teaching aids that are constructed with wooden blocks and nails and components such as red and black wires, switches, batteries and lights. Students usually construct the circuits by using alligator clips to connect the nails and different circuits together. This kind of STEM activity is inaccessible to the blind and the visually impaired. With this grant I will develop a learning aid for blind and visually impaired students that teaches electricity and basic circuit skills. I will design “circuit blocks” that use an electrically conductive sticky tack rather than traditional circuit building methods like soldering and breadboarding. Using a material I developed called ‘Conductak” and also embossed tactile graphics the students will be able to build their circuits solely through touch. Here’s my idea: Embossed on the block will be tactile graphics, so that students will be able to feel simple circuit diagrams. The new circuit blocks will be shaped (i.e. the battery circuit block will be shaped like the schematic symbol of a battery). Polarity will be indicated by the relative length of the "leads" of the block with the longer lead being positive. Rather than traditional alligator clips, a magnetic system will be used to simplify electrical connections. I was inspired by Roberta Williams, a teacher of the blind and visually impaired in Monterey, to develop projects for her students. This summer, I'm bringing these lessons to her 10-12 mostly middle school age students. To my knowledge this is the first time circuit blocks have been made accessible to the blind and visually impaired.

Lusaka (Inactive) – Sunshine Zambia Project

2015-07-07T00:00:00Z

Project Background In Zambia, those most excluded from the labour market are persons with mental health difficulties or intellectual disabilities (ID). As a first step towards achieving inclusive employment for people with ID in Zambia, the Sani Foundation is piloting the Sunshine Zambia Project which aims to provide holistic, and relevant training to prepare adolescents and young adults with ID for employment and independence within their community. The Sunshine Zambia Project uses evidence-based approaches, adapted to the local setting to establish an environment in which persons with ID are stimulated and aided to create and sell products using recycled materials as well as receive training that will prepare them for employment on the open job market. The project delivers this outcome by profiling each member’s needs, identifying their aspirations & skills, and procuring short term internship engagements for members to have a first-hand experience of the employment world before accessing a permanent job or setting up a business. To improve opportunities for internship and job placements, the project will also include a number of awareness campaigns and activities that will include family members and potential employers of persons with ID. Field trips to different companies will be held to expose member’s to different career options. Scale up mechanisms The success of this pilot project will be used as an evidence base with which to begin to influence policy change among various stakeholders. The goal is to have government systems in place to support persons with IDs to start their own micro enterprises, contract the services of job centres, or hire personal job coaches. Long-term, we will lobby for the adoption of our evidence-based model as the national standard for providing transition and employment services to persons with ID.

Rio de Janeiro (Inactive) – Cartas que falam: do plantio à troca de saberes

2015-07-07T00:00:00Z

Hortação é um projeto de agroecologia com crianças que já espalhou muitas sementes no Rio de Janeiro. Com o projeto Cartas que falam, queremos intensificar a troca de saberes entre crianças dos meios urbano e rural. Os alunos de área urbana terão a experiência de construir uma horta orgânica com sistema de rega de baixo custo e irão compartilhar suas experiências por carta com alunos de uma escola na área rural, na qual essas vivências já fazem parte da cultura da região. Os alunos de ambas escolas efetuarão trocas de experiências através de cartas, a fim de compartilhar informações e saberes sobre alimentação saudável, plantio de manejo tradicional, cuidados com a horta, a cultura de plantio de alimento de cada região e a colheita dos alimentos produzidos nas suas respectivas hortas. Como o apoio da Awesome Foundation Rio vamos construir uma horta orgânica suspensa em uma biblioteca municipal no bairro do Grajaú, Rio de Janeiro, que atende alunos de escolas públicas de ensino básico e também iremos ampliar a horta existente em uma escola municipal na Ilha do Araújo, em Paraty. Os educadores do Hortação vão ensinar os alunos a realizar o plantio e cuidar de manejo orgânico da horta da biblioteca. A manutenção desta horta ficará sob responsabilidade do Hortação, que também irá engajar os alunos no processo. Já a manutenção da horta da escola de Paraty ficará a cargo de uma professora da própria escola, que já realiza tais atividades com os alunos. ____________________________ Hortação (Vegetable Gardening) is a child-oriented agro-ecology project that has already planted many seeds in Rio de Janeiro state. With the project Letters that Speak, we hope to deepen the knowledge exchange among children from both urban and rural backgrounds. The urban students will learn what it's like to build an organic garden with a low-cost watering system and they'll share their experiences by letter with rural students, where such experiences are built into local culture. Both schools' students will exchange experiences through the mail, sharing information and knowledge about healthy foods, traditional planting techniques, gardening, food production in each region and the harvesting of garden produce. With the support of the Awesome Foundation, we'll build a hanging organic garden at a city library in the Grajaú neighborhood, in Rio, which serves public elementary school students; and we'll enlarge the existing garden at a city school in Ilha do Araújo, in Paraty, a coastal town between Rio and São Paulo. The Hortação instructors will teach students to seed and care for the library's organic garden. Maintenance will be Hortação's responsibility, though we will engage students in the process. A Paraty schoolteacher will keep up the Paraty garden, which is already part of ongoing student activity.

New Orleans, LA (Inactive) – Young Creative Agency Summer Design Intensive

2015-07-07T00:00:00Z

In the picture attached, you'll see Clyde, age 15, pitching his design idea to a local business leader. And he's the kid who doesn't make a peep in class. Low-income New Orleans teens are not exposed to digital media training that will prepare them to compete in the creative tech economy. Young Creative Agency is a youth design studio that pays teens across socio-economic boundaries a fair wage to work on real client work under the guidance of experienced mentors; teens are empowered by the process of project-based learning, mentorship, client conferencing, and a fair hourly wage, while clients receive a polished product that reflects their investment in the future of New Orleans’ youth and creative economy. This fall we launched at the same school as a provider in the after-school program, 3 days a week, with ten students, one consistent and two adjunct volunteer professional design mentors. We have successfully completed four commissions, earned $350, $150 of which went directly to students, and have a waiting list of 10 clients, before any concerted marketing of our services. Through survey responses and mentor evaluations, we found that all participating youth improved their skills in Adobe software, time management, and communication. YCA is poised for future success with partnerships with YAYA and Youth Empowerment Project in the fall but we need to keep momentum going this summer. We look to continue this awesome programming for youth with a Summer Design Intensive in which we delve deeper into teaching foundational skills in design, and continue to use commissions as the authentic project-based learning opportunities that motivate deep growth academically and professionally! Students like Clyde need opportunities for meaningful employment where their economic security is the result of their individual creativity-- this accelerates their pathways to fulfilling careers and a more equitable civic landscape.

Moscow (Inactive) – Чистое Дело

2015-07-07T00:00:00Z

В России пока нет распространенной системы раздельного сбора отходов. Однако законодательные инициативы постоянно пытаются создать стимул для создания таких систем. Одной законодательной инициативы может быть не достаточно, раздельный сбор должен стать прибыльным. Именно этим занимается команда Чистое Дело. Мы ставим перед собой цель создать масштабируемую технологию сбора и доставки вторсырья от жителя до завода по переработке. Мы разрабатываем свои собственные контейнеры (сейчас их 9), систему определения заполненности контейнеров, прогнозирование этой заполненности. Далее мы строим расписания вывоза, отвозим все на склад, там с помощью разрабатываемых нами устройств вторсырье подается в пресс, прессуется в брикеты и отвозится на завод. Сейчас мы создаем устройства детекции и передачи данных, и веб-приложения для отображения и управления системой. Алгоритм построения расписания еще впереди. Эту технологию мы внедряем в подмосковном Долгопрудном на примере одной фракции - пластика. Кроме этого у нас есть павильон для макулатуры, который работает 24 часа в сутки, 7 дней в неделю. И несколько контейнеров для батареек, которые находятся на территории образовательных учреждений: ВУЗа, школ, детских садов. Где мы иногда проводим просветительскую работу. Книги, которые оказываются у нас в павильоне, а иногда и редкие и дорогие книги мы размещаем в специальном шкафчике и публикуем в сети какие книги еще есть в наличии, студенты и не только часто разбирают новые книжки. К нам часто обращаются с просьбой поделиться опытом как мы работаем с людьми, почему в наших контейнерах только то, что нужно, мы всегда готовы помочь. Тем самый приближая день, когда раздельный сбор отходов в России станет реальностью, что сбережет нашу природу, создаст новые рабочие места и дополнительное развитие экономики. Кроме сайта http://www.chistoedelo.org/, у нас есть группа Вконтакте. там идет наиболее близкий диалог с жителями и там же публикуются наши самые актуальные новости: https://vk.com/chistoedelo

Dubai (Inactive) – Edu-CAT-ion Dubai!

2015-07-07T00:00:00Z

It's no secret that Dubai is over-run with stray cats, generations of which have lead to feral cats. In 2009, the last statistic we've seen, there were over 150,000 strays on Dubai streets! While there are good organizations in Dubai now such as Bin Kitty Collective, Feline Friends Dubai, and programs like Animal Project's Trap, Neuter, Release, these all serve the problem after the fact. Realizing we need prevention rather than reaction and to educate local communities that if strays are frequenting their property not to feed stray animals unless they intend to keep them as pets and care for them as doing otherwise is cruel and only adds to the growing stray population. How I will use the money: Over one month period we we will create flyers and distribute across key problem areas in Dubai like Bur Dubai, Deira, and Jumeirah. We will create PSAs advising what to do if families have stray cats in their property and air them primarily on Arabic and Hindi radio as well as English.

Liverpool (Inactive) – The Plasticine Archive of 5416 Mammal Hearts

2015-07-06T00:00:00Z

How is a living being to manage the thought of its diminutive size in relation to its world and the unfathomable infinity that surrounds it; the contradiction between the immeasurably brief speck of time for which you are able to breathe and the lifetime of existence which yields all the time that a human can ever understand; expiry closer with every thump in the chest? Although endlessly romanticized, hearts, in their very essence, hold the inevitability of death. Throughout the mammal kingdom this shared pump of expiry differs little, and stays hidden in a multitude of chests as the essential life-giver. I have decided to build an archive of the hearts of all the existent mammal species, ranging from Bumblebee Bat (7mm) to Blue Whale (the size of a small car). My aim is to create an immersive installation in which the human can place itself on a par with its mammal relatives, stripped of the intelligent body which consistently conceals its animal parallels. Thus, the installation will illustrate the similarities, rather than the differences, between the human and all other mammals. It is a salutation to life, but one that recognizes that it cannot be without death. With limited amounts of research existing on individual species, the common 'fact' that has been central to my scaling of these hearts is that the organ is roughly 0.6% of any mammals total body weight. Consequently, the piece becomes a work of averages. Common sizes, weights, and obtainable details determine the outcome of my sculptures. The sculptural outcomes of this project are far from scientific representations. Rather, they are undoubtedly botched versions, made in plasticine as to be evocative of the learning process. These lumps of plasticine lack biological detail so as to lead the viewer away from considering the sculptures as individual works of skill, but instead as a complete installation which compares and contrasts the different scales of living things.

Raleigh, NC (Inactive) – Urban Porch

2015-07-01T00:00:00Z

In the South, sitting on your front porch is a historical and universal tradition. Many times, this idea of a front porch ends at the edge of residential neighborhoods. The pedestrian connection between sidewalk and building is limited to a few measly metal benches almost randomly set up by the city or sidewalk chairs and tables that are set up by restaurants, requiring a purchase. This limits the pedestrian experience in cities. Sitting and watching the world pass by in a relaxing, free-spirited way should be accessible. The addition of simple and colorful benches will liven up these urban locations with a splash of color and a moment of rest to take in the urban experience. Spreading benches of similar color across the city would then create a networked connection between the locations. The Urban Porch tackles this idea by offering a relaxing and movable front porch all around the city.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Rock Camp for Girls Montréal

2015-06-30T00:00:00Z

Rock Camp For Girls Montreal is a space where campers discover and express their talents, and become leaders in creating their own kind of cultural production through music. Our summer program runs from July 20th-26th at the Suoni per il Popolo venue and restaurant space. Our five camp days run from 8am-4pm, resulting in a final showcase concert on Saturday and a recording day at the Hotel2Tango studio in Montréal where bands perform and record their original songs. Our aim is to serve girls and gender nonconforming youth who could benefit from the a freeing and supportive environment created during our summer camp. Rock Camp for Girls Montréal fosters the promotion of self-esteem, skill-building and critical thinking skills for girls through collaborative music composition and performance. We supplement the music component of RCGM with workshops based on feminist and anti-oppression frameworks that provide campers with a space for critical examination and empowerment. We depend on the support of musicians and community members for instrument instruction, tech tutorials, band practice and skill-building workshops. At the week’s end, campers get the chance to show off their talents to friends, family, and community members at the Showcase Concert. We also have donated time from Howard Billerman at Hotel2Tango studios so that bands can record their original song at one of North America's most sought after recording studios.

Austin, TX – Circus of Hope

2015-06-30T00:00:00Z

Circus of Hope, created by a team of former flying trapeze artists, works to empower at-risk and special needs children throughout the Austin community. Through a variety of circus-based activities such as aerial arts, partner acrobatics, and juggling, kids learn the benefits of team work and positive risk-taking while gaining self-confidence and expressing creativity. This Awesome Foundation grant will allow Circus of Hope to upgrade their equipment so they can continue to bring their free programming to area youth.

Paris (Inactive) – Les 400 vues

2015-06-30T00:00:00Z

En juin 2015, 20 jeunes photographes amateurs venus d’Égypte, France, Slovaquie, Roumanie et Turquie ont revisité la ville de Paris à travers leurs appareils photo. Ils ont pu porter sur les 20 arrondissements de la capitale un autre regard, sur la thématique « territoire urbain, territoire identitaire ». Ils ont été accompagnés dans leur découverte par des habitants des quartiers qui les ont guidés dans un Paris atypique et riche de sa diversité. Des ateliers encadrés par deux photographes professionnels ont permis aux participants de sélectionner leurs photographies, de dégager un regard et une cohérence dans leur pratique. 400 photographies ont été sélectionnées pour 20 expositions qui auront lieu dans les 20 arrondissements de Paris en mars – avril 2016, en extérieur et dans différents lieux en accès libre. Promouvoir la diversité culturelle et sociale de Paris, faire (re)découvrir des quartiers, mais également et surtout instaurer un véritable dialogue interculturel, entre les participants et avec les Parisiens, sont les objectifs de ce projet créé à l’initiative de l’association AP2i. In June 2015, 20 young amateur photographers coming from Egypte, France, Slovakia, Romania and Turkey, have revisited the city of Paris through the lens of their cameras. They offered a new way of looking at the 20 boroughs of the French capital, following the theme « urban territory, territory identity ». They were guided by local residents to discover a rich and diverse Paris. During workshops led by two profesionnal photographers, the participants learned how to select their photographs, how to develop a photographic eye, and how to bring out coherence in their practice. 400 photographs where selected and will be presented in 20 free outdoors exhibitions displayed in the 20 boroughs of Paris in March-April 2016. To promote the social and cultural diversity of Paris, to encourage people to (re)discover neighborhoods, but mostly to start a real intercultural dialogue between the participants and Parisians, are the objectives of this project initiated by the AP2i association.

Nairobi (Inactive) – Public Safety Certification

2015-06-29T00:00:00Z

Women and girls should not have to live in fear when commuting by public transport. We are providing an opportunity for forward thinking Public Transport Groups (PSV SACCOs) to positively change the way public transport works, and be recognized and rewarded for it. We have designed a certificate programme that trains and rewards public transport providers on gender equality, exemplary customer service and personal and professional staff development. The Awesome Foundation funding will provide the remaining funds we need to pilot our program with two PSV SACCOs.

Washington, DC – Lead the Way Expedition

2015-06-29T00:00:00Z

Wilderness, Leadership & Learning is a 12-month, experiential-learning, youth-leadership, and life-skill development program for DC high school youth. Throughout the program youth engage in hands-on activities to develop knowledge on a variety of issues including team work and decision making, cultural awareness, smart goals and financial literacy, and environmental awareness through community service projects in DC, a field trip to the Chesapeake Bay, and through their capstone project: a 7-day expedition on the Appalachian Trail. The project which we are applying for is the Lead the Way Expedition which is the final achievement for our youth. Through this 7-day expedition the youth are utilizing each skill they have acquired throughout the previous months. The expedition is an opportunity for the youth to continue to learn team work and encouragement as they only hike as fast as the slowest person. They learn “real-world” decision making by determining what gear, food, and personal items they will take on the expedition, understanding that everything will be packed-in and packed-out. They continue to learn respect for the environment by following leave no trace principles, and finally they will continue to develop themselves as leaders and trail blazers in their own families and communities by completing the expedition and graduating from the program. The Appalachian Trail expedition concludes with each youth participating in a 12-hour solo where they will spend this time reflecting on the last year, journaling about what they have learned, how they have developed, and forming future plans following the smart goal approach. This project is awesome because it gives DC teens exposure to a completely unique environment, while providing an opportunity to rely on each other, and for youth to self-examine and recognize how they have grown and matured in only a few short months. Many youth describe the experience as incredibly hard, but totally worth it!

Amsterdam (Inactive) – Eden

2015-06-28T00:00:00Z

The gentrification of Amsterdam is a fact. The coffee shops and the hookers disappear, and in come the frozen yogurt, and salad places... Not so awesome. There for I will give the city it's legendary status back by planting hemp (male weed) throughout the city.

Oahu, HI – Project Ho'omana

2015-06-26T00:00:00Z

Project Ho'omana at Waipahu Intermediate School is a program that gives positive alternatives to Waipahu Teens to keep them off the streets. We service about 100 teens throughout the year. We plan different activities every day and get the kids involved in as many community service projects as we can. We also have a volleyball team that we use to encourage kids to get interested in high school sports (in hopes of continuing into college sports). All of these activities are designed with the intention of making these teens proud positive contributors to their community through their service and teamwork (representing Waipahu on the courts with class). During the summer, one of our biggest goals is to go on field trips around the island to get the teens to experience life outside of Waipahu. We encourage them to try new foods, see new things and not be afraid of things that are different. One of the highlights is getting to go to a fancy place for Mahalo Banquet. Its a great experience for a teen who doesn't even get to eat at dine in restaurants with their families.

Alaska (Inactive) – Get the Veggie Truck rolling!

2015-06-25T00:00:00Z

Do you remember the excitement you felt as a youngster when you heard the familiar jingle coming down the street? That meant one thing: ice cream. What if instead of that nostalgic tune, you heard hip hop and positive rap, and what if instead of anticipating their favorite ice cream cone, kids raced to get their very own bag of sweet snap peas harvested that morning? This grant would fund a delicious endeavor in Fairbanks, AK: the Veggie Truck. In summer 2015 Calypso Farm will establish a new farmers market in a low food access area of Fairbanks in partnership with a community center that will provide the space. The goal of this market is to connect local farmers with local low-income residents. This market will mutually benefit farmers and customers, with no overhead fees for farmers and an opportunity for residents to access fresh, healthy food. The market will have two aspects: the market and the Veggie Truck. 5 to 6 local farmers will set up and sell vegetables at tables while the Veggie Truck stocked with vegetables from each farm drives through the South Cushman area. This is one of the lowest income areas in Fairbanks and it is a food desert with little ‘green space.’ It is populous community with high pedestrian traffic. The Veggie Truck allows people to develop a friendly relationship with local farmers and the delicious fresh food they grow. Both the market and the truck will accept Food Stamps, and customers will be able to pay with cash, credit card, WIC coupons or Quest Card (Food Stamps). People will look forward to a reliable weekly source of fresh food, which will require little to no preparation: imagine bags of snap peas, bunches of carrots and radishes, kale and broccoli! Children living in this area have likely never tasted a fresh Alaskan carrot, garden fresh snap pea or colorful bunch of locally grown radishes. The Veggie Truck will bring these crops more directly to people who don’t otherwise have access to any fresh, locally grown food.

Detroit, MI – BattleShips - Maker Faire 2015

2015-06-24T00:00:00Z

BattleShips is an interactive micro-controlled two player game, similar to the original created by Milton Bradley. Our version involves digitally controlled LED pegs on a 4x4' display board, operated by the players at the front of each game board. Each game board will have realistic ships ranging from the 2' long Scout boat up to the massive 8' long aircraft carrier. Each BattleShip will have pneumatic underwater explosions indicating hits, after the ship has reached its critical hit, a red flag will raise indicating the sinking of that ship. In between matches, the host will describe the workings of the games construction, basic electronics, while encouraging children and adults to pursue their dreams on the high seas. The game has involved hours of construction, many hours of soldering, and even many more hours of coding. The entire game spans over two 10x10' game boards providing the audience an amazing experience while an admiral keeps the audience engaged in live action play by play. With over 100k people in attendance, we expect to have an enormous turnout throughout the weekend. Our sponsors will gain naming rights to our boats sailing alongside the "USS i3Detroit" We will be setting sail at Maker Faire July 25-26, conquering port Henry Ford, the battle will be epic, and many ships will be sunk, it will be a glorious day.

Sydney – Off The Wall Gallery

2015-06-23T00:00:00Z

Off The Wall Gallery is to be an alternative outdoor popup art space in Inner West Sydney using projections to create light graffiti or “art-vertising” on a publicly viewable wall. Located beside St Peters station, 1000's of viewers pass daily, giving an opportunity to promote marginalised artists work to a large audience without the physical demands of installation. Digitally exhibiting provides an alternative exhibition modality for those with physical or mental disabilities, or local & international artists who need only provide digital imagery to display their work. The title Off The Wall refers both to the physical reality of the concept – art exhibited on the wall, yet not physically “on” it – & the supposedly “unconventional” nature of disabilities. Exhibiting on a public brick wall is reminiscent both of traditional billboard advertising, & the graffiti that so often goes hand in hand. Off The Wall Gallery hopes to subvert the paradigm by exhibiting art-vertising – site specific works influenced by the medium & modality, transforming a medium traditionally used to degrade & disempower the marginalised into a powerful & public voice to question the status quo. Off The Wall Gallery aims to deliver benefits to the arts sector and wider public by innovating a fresh take on the traditional art gallery; encouraging site specific artworks that respond to the medium & the environment; enabling impaired or disabled artists to exhibit without the physical & mental extertion of traditional installation; advocating marginalised & under-represented artists; supporting the development of a vibrant local arts community; promoting a creative & cultural city; exhibiting to audiences that may not usually attend traditional art galleries; supporting local & early career artists; beautifying a local urban environment usually dominated by advertisements or tags; & engaging the hearts & minds of local commuters & community in an innovative & unexpected way.

London, ON (Inactive) – 2015 Summer of Awesome

2015-06-23T00:00:00Z

Why reinvent the wheel when you already have something awesome? The 2015 SUMMER OF AWESOME harnesses the power of past awesomeness to create unique experiences in the underserved community of Glen Cairn. The projects below were all successful recipients of previous Awesome grants, and can be recreated or promoted with relatively few resources: 1. Block Party in a Box (London, ON - Keven Van Lierop) http://bit.ly/1eWtc6Y Let’s promote, lend support, and cover printing costs for a bunch of block parties this summer in Glen Cairn! The Block Party in a Box is a “collection of ambiguous resources that can be used by anyone wanting to plan a block party for their street, community or neighbourhood of any size. With pre-made posters, checklists, games and other resources, all provided in a build-it-yourself box.” 2. Cardboard Fort Day – (Toronto) http://bit.ly/1IvibWM Fun, whimsical, self-explanatory! “We provide huge swaths of brand-new cardboard - the kind you could only dream about as a kid. We also provide duct tape, magic markers and scissors.” 3. Postcard Project (San Francisco) - http://bit.ly/1doadkE The Postcard Project encourages community connection through storytelling exchange. Participants in Glen Cairn fill out the postcard with a personal story of their community and then the postcard is mailed to a random London resident to initiate stronger connections between people and communities. 4. Community Love Notes (San Francisco) - http://bit.ly/1Gtj9lQ A community project of painting and hanging love notes on wooden boards throughout Glen Cairn. This SUMMER OF 2015 will see AWESOME ideas shared and repeated in an ever-expanding circle of awesomeness!

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Simply Music Gateway - Music for Special Needs

2015-06-22T00:00:00Z

We are developing a piano program that teaches special needs children how to play the piano without having to learn how to read music (which is something they typically aren't able to do). Oh, and we are going to give it away for FREE to anyone that wants to use it! Our unique, adaptive piano program is designed specifically for any child with special needs who thinks differently and needs to learn in a different style. This program simplifies the process of learning by breaking down the steps into tiny increments that are easy, fun and playing-based. This method works because it transforms the issues that prevent a child with special needs from learning in a conventional way. Simply Music’s Gateway program develops the fine motor skills necessary to progress to more advanced levels, and addresses processing issues and learning differences by focusing on one sensory system at a time. The Simply Music Gateway program will be an online streaming program designed so that it may be administered by anyone. Simply create an online account and access one of the many guides available to utilize this method. The best part of this program is that it comes with customized training, support and guidance materials that have been designed specifically for occupational therapists, music therapists or music educators, as well as parents/guardians or care-providers. No extensive background or training in special needs education is necessary. This program was designed specifically to be taught by YOU! Once production of the program is complete, we will offer access to anyone across the glove that has a child with special needs for FREE. Yes, that's right- FREE!

Yerevan – The Living Gate

2015-06-22T00:00:00Z

The Botanical Gardens in Yerevan is one of the most unjustly underliked spots in the city. It’s the largest park and a depository of the amazing diversity of Armenian flora (1800 species). Now the park is foremost a selfie-spot for the newly-weds. Our team of city-romantics proposes to revive the popularity of the Gardens. The strategy will start with an opening of a Northern Gate for the visitors. The Gate would allow access to the growing community of the “University Condominium”, which by the end of 2015, will be populated by 1,250 families of scientists, lecturers, members of creative unions, and other young specialists. Our pilot cooperation with the park has resulted in an inflow of new visitors, who ensure at least 150000 AMD monthly income for the park, with a suggested season tickets at 2000 dram monthly fee. But our residents have to walk 2km to the main entrance gate on the highway to access the Gardens, which is often blocked for weddings and official ceremonies. Our negotiations with the park managements have resulted in an agreement to open up a new Gate for residents of Avan, Masiv and Zeytun communities on the Tsarav Aghbyur side. Easy to access, friendly to families, this access will bring a new life to the Garden. Our community is also committed to volunteer for the garden, by initiated festivals, concerts, crowdfunding campaigns and just musing the park management for new ideas.

Boulder, CO (Inactive) – Boulder Food Rescue

2015-06-22T00:00:00Z

Boulder Food Rescue (BFR) is a non-profit organization whose goal is to create a more just and less wasteful food system. We facilitate the sustainable redistribution of food "waste" to agencies that feed hungry, homeless, and low-income populations while educating communities about food justice. We were conceived in the fall of 2011 as a result of University of Colorado research conducted by two of BFR’s founding members. They discovered that enough food is wasted each day to feed everyone who goes hungry in Boulder and Broomfield Counties. In discussions with grocery stores regarding this finding, they felt by the time the food was redistributed to shelters and homes, it would have become inedible. Additionally, some of the to-be-composted food could not be accepted by the area food banks because of policy restrictions. Fruits and vegetables not in original packaging are precluded from being distributed by these food banks, which amounted to thousands of pounds of nutritious food being thrown away every day. In light of this situation Boulder Food Rescue was formed to provide direct, just-in-time delivery of perishable food, thereby helping to mitigate hunger in Boulder County; increase the access of at-risk populations to nutritious, fresh produce; and ease the food budgets of local nonprofit organizations and individuals. In order to be truly sustainable, it was a central principle that food delivery would be done by bicycle and bike trailer whenever possible. One of the main ways folks find out about BFR is by seeing our signs on our trailers as volunteers bike food around town; the signs and trailers are very important! Our organization now picks up seven days a week, 12 times per day from 30 different food vendors, and delivers this nutritious produce to 33 different organizations that serve homeless and low-income populations every week. We have rescued over 800,000 pounds of food to date, 87% of which has been by bicycle and bicycle trailer!

Sarnia (Inactive) – Tree Stump Carving

2015-06-21T00:00:00Z

I am a teacher at Lansdowne school and I am applying for the grant to complete an" Awesome" tree carving at our school. Last year due to branches falling, and a safety concern, we had to remove a huge oak tree from our property. At the time I thought that it would be awesome to carve the stump of the tree into an art piece, so I had the tree removal company leave the base of the tree. The stump is located within our school garden area, which currently houses a native plant garden, an outside learning area, and a vegetable garden to grow produce for our students to try. The carving would be a center piece to this outdoor learning area that would last for years to come. As ideas have progressed, and I received quotes as to the cost, we quickly realized that it would be difficult to raise the funds needed to complete a project such as this. My class has run a few hot lunches at the school to fundraise for the project, but are still quite short of our monetary goal. A thousand dollar grant would possibly push us to our goal of $2000, enough to book a carver to come and complete the project this fall. I have been in contact with a carver out of London who completed some of the work in Sarnia's Centennial Park. This is his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MikeWinia?fref=ts. He is currently travelling to represent Canada at the World Carving Championships. How awesome would it be to get world class carver to come do the project??? In summary, this project is awesome for many reasons: It is a legacy project for the school and the garden area we have been working to complete. Students and families in the community will be involved in the designing of the carving, and would be invited to the school to watch the carving take place. That is why you awesome people, should choose this awesome project for your grant this month.

Newmarket – Spotlight on Youth Wellness

2015-06-21T00:00:00Z

Arts Spotlight Theatre Company Inc's Awesome Project is an event entitled Spotlight on Youth Wellness. A project intended to collaborate arts, culture,community and health, to bring attention to the issues affecting youth in today's society, their well being, their family, school environment and community. In dealing with youth in the community during the past 30 years, we have seen how the arts has helped children and teens find their voice and confidence. Over the years, young performers have overcome shyness, dealt with anxiety, eating disorders, grief, bullying, learning disabilities and being newcomers to Canada, being able to gain confidence, speak up for themselves, seek assistance, express themselves and aim towards a goal. Arts Spotlight has always included opportunities to bring attention and focus to issues that affect young people. For the past 30 years we have performed at schools & community events to bring awareness to: Diversity, Bullying, Healthy Living, Aids Epidemic in Africa, Vandalism and Autism acceptance, through projects with YRP, YR District School Board,TVO, Dancers for Autism. SPOTLIGHT ON YOUTH WELLNESS will include: entertainment, interactive programs and a symposium of speakers and professionals. Our Company's board of directors, volunteers and performers would host a one day event with several stages and booths: ENTERTAINMENT : Children's stage- interactive entertainment, encourages children to feel confident, happy and witness conflict resolutions. Pre teen stage with related theme shows encouraging individuality and critical thinking Teen open mic talent: performing, spoken word, poetry, music, dance, theatre BOOTHS: Various community interests groups which deal with programs and outreach for youth wellness. (Yoga, art therapy, therapy dogs, fitness, nutrition, (rented booths for $25.00 to $35.00) SPEAKERS: Allotted times for experts and professionals and agencies to speak on the various topics related to the event.

Connecticut (Inactive) – The Trail Angel Project Part 2

2015-06-19T00:00:00Z

Hello, last year I had the privilege of meeting Michelle who got a grant for The Trail Angel Project last year which was for the many hikers who make the trek from Georgia to Maine/Maine to Georgia on the Appalachian Trail in the Kent to Salisbury areas. She and I discussed me trying for a grant this year to continue the much needed 'trail magic' for the weary hikers as they travel thorough our area. It is my desire to be able to continue this tradition and to maybe encourage others to apply next year and maybe even have The Trail Angel Project Part 3 etc.... I became an accidental trail angel the summer of 2013. I work in the town of Salisbury near a trail head and started to learn about the amazing journey that about 2,000 hikers begin each year. I, myself, am not a hiker, I am a sidewalk girl but I became intrigued by their tenacity and sheer drive to finish. I recently moved back to this area of Connecticut to be with my elderly mother and it has become a joy to help the hikers each summer, we often invite them into our home, offer them showers and even do their laundry. We have had the privilege of meeting some extraordinary individuals and have made lasting friendships. I have a hiker who stayed with us last year coming to visit in this summer to help spread the trail magic along! (the pics I included are from me and Michelle last year) Thank you for your consideration.

Connecticut (Inactive) – Musical Intervention Through Downtown Open Mics

2015-06-19T00:00:00Z

Musical Intervention is an inclusion program offering individuals and groups of special needs to take part in the transformational power of creating original songs. We, provide the outlet and assistance to help individuals transcend themselves though creating and developing expressive songwriting and music videos. Individuals are exposed to the technological and educational uses of music and audio-visual recording to help inspire positive coping skills. We have established Open Mics (more like community open jams) at 82 Crown Street in downtown New Haven, and we want them to continue over the summer. A range of instruments is set up on a professional-quality stage, and performances include vocal and instrumental blends as well as spoken word and a capella songs, mostly original. The landlord has indicated that a contribution towards the utilities is required, and right now the group itself has no such resources. If this series is allowed to lapse we will lose ground gathering the racially and economically mixed crowd that represent a uniquely supportive audience for musicians spanning three generations. Going on hiatus during the City's most traditionally dangerous and violent months would be harmful to the already-challenged people who have come to count on singing, performing and enjoying fellowship with one another weekly. Moreover, "taking a break" as suggested presents us with the problem of a steep, uphill battle to cultivate renewed awareness and attendance, if a weekly slot even still remains available down the road.

Antigonish, NS (Inactive) – Fire starters (shredded paper fire logs)

2015-06-18T00:00:00Z

This is Jeff Teasdale from the CACL Antigonish on behalf of Brian Cameron and Garry Kell. The boys have launched their own business making shredded paper fire logs with shredded paper and wood chips from the CACL Antigonish. The boys have outgrown us and are going out on their own. We have secured a place to make these logs. They have a venue to sell them as well. So far they have sold all that they have made! Gary and Brian are taking on the challenge of starting their own business. So far they have the raw materials accessed (these waste products are being reused instead of landing in landfills). They have access to a customer base (farmers market and other local business for example Main St Irving). They now have a location that they can work out of seasonally and hopefully one day year round.

Beaverton & Beyond, OR (Inactive) – Tuesday Night TEEN Market

2015-06-18T00:00:00Z

Hillsboro Tuesday Night Teen Market offers AWESOME High school students the opportunity to learn how to be entrepreneurs. Partnering with the Hillsboro Chamber School to Work program and the Hillsboro School District, students have been creating art and crafts, culinary treats and services to present and sell at the market. During the project, they design and create art and craft items, or research, source and cook local in season produce. They are also learning product development, budgeting, marketing, visual display, customer service, communication and sales. The project gets them credit towards graduation and to use as their senior project. There is a huge benefit for the students and the community as we encourage and mentor students to be creative and confident future business owners. In turn we believe that it will also encourage their peers and friends to participate more in our local markets and learn about the process of creating, producing, buying and selling their own products so we may continue to grow our wonderful local markets. There will be up to 10 table spaces available for the teens during ten of the Tuesday Markets this summer. We plan to grow the Teen Market over the years as more students participate and our own market expands. We hope to encourage them to take a more active role in the planning of the event with leadership and board positions. The funds will be placed into a start-up fund and students can apply for loans to use for needed supplies and equipment to start their business. For example, some students will need signage or a cash box, some might need a table or display items. The students are expected to pay back the loan if sales at the Tuesday Market allow them to do so. They will also be encouraged to 'pay it forward', on the items that can be re-used or re-purposed, to future students. I am the manager for and represent the Hillsboro Tuesday Night Market. An awesome community festival and Market. Over the years I have noticed how many teens like to 'hang' at the Market but there has never really been much for them to do. Rather than turn them away for loitering or hanging in large 'gangs' we have been implementing programs that appeal to that age group with great success. We love our teens. They are our future shoppers, builders, creators and artists! The Tuesday Night Teen Market will be an annual event the continues through the summer each Tuesday night at the Market. Our first of ten teen markets this year is June 23rd We are already encouraged by the participation this first market has received and we will measure its success by the number of students who continue to participate each week and from the feed back from the Schools and the leaders in the program. We can also measure the success with our annual surveys and visual monitoring of the event and the people who participate, shop, look, talk and encourage the students. Want to help? The Hillsboro Chamber School to Work program is looking for community members who will encourage and mentor students to be creative and confident future business owners. The Tuesday Night Market is looking for assistance at the market to ensure the student's success. Contact: Lesley Wise - Tuesday Night Market - manager(at)HillsboroTuesdayNight(dot)org - (503) 601-0478 - www.tuesdaymarketplace.org/marketplace/teens/ Hillsboro Chamber School to Work - http://hillsborochamberor.com/stw.html

Kingston – Made In...

2015-06-18T00:00:00Z

Immigrant Services Kingston and Area, in partnership with the Tett Centre, will be hosting a filmmaking summer camp for a group of 10 newcomer youth. Each youth will create a 3-minute video where they will talk about their immigration and life stories. Thanks to the Tett Centre's connections with different artists, youth will be empowered and assisted in creating their stories, they will learn about photography and filmmaking and will be responsible for editing their own video. The videos will be screened at an event at Tett Centre, which will be opened to different members of the community. This is a Digital Storytelling project that aims to educate the Kingston population on the struggles and successes newcomer youth have when immigrating to a new country. The project will also be a tool of expression, since immigrant and refugee youth will have the opportunity to express what is deep inside of them by creating their stories. Therefore, it is also a healing tool. Our goal is to help build a more welcoming and inclusive community. The videos will show the stories of people coming from different backgrounds and faiths, people with different skills and qualifications that could help build a better society, immigrants with different life stories we can learn from. We hope that the stories will be a way for the Kingston community to better understand the immigrant population.

Tallahassee, FL (Inactive) – Digging In at the iGrow South City Youth Farm

2015-06-17T00:00:00Z

An initiative of the Tallahassee Food Network, the iGrow Youth Farm program has its flagship location in Frenchtown. Established in 2011, iGrow is a youth empowerment and urban agriculture project, named and largely run by the youth themselves. Given the success of iGrow in Frenchtown, TFN has partnered with Whole Child Leon to open up a second iGrow in South City on 510 Orange Ave. We’ve chosen to replicate the Frenchtown iGrow model in South City due to similar demographics. We’ve already broken ground on the 26,073 sq. ft. lot and, on three designated work days, volunteers have been coming to the farm to set up raised beds and create mulch paths, among other tasks. The farm is composed of long raised beds for the youth and smaller plots for families in the area to tend and grow. We are actively recruiting middle and high school aged teenagers and families in South City to become involved in the iGrow program. The purpose of iGrow is to grow healthy food for the community, provide meaningful youth employment and grow youth leaders that are capable of teaching peers and the broader community the basics of raising food. At the core of iGrow is the Leadership Corps. These young people –with assistance from adult coordinators, youth and university volunteers—are responsible for managing the production, administration, outreach and team development associated with running the Youth Farm. In return, the youth receive biweekly stipends for their work. Not only the youth, but the entire family is engaged in the process, multiplying the potential impact for positive behavior and lifestyle changes.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Feminist Camp

2015-06-16T00:00:00Z

Feminist Camp is a week long immersion in feminism -- designed to "show" people what feminism looks like in real time -- beyond the theory. The camp is also an awesome career development opportunity. Students often debate between entering the for profit or not-for-profit sector, but they don't understand the vast range of jobs available in both sectors. Besides going deeper into our daily themes -- be it philanthropy or media or reproductive justice or sexual assault -- the camp is also a place for campers for develop their identities and to create a peer network that will likely stay with them forever. Camps consistently leave the experience and call it "life changing." As summed up by one camper: "I cannot begin to describe what a profound effect this trip had on me." The camp happens 3 times a year and takes place in New York City. Days are long -- 8 am to 8 pm and as most campers stay together in a door room in a youth hostel, the conversing often goes on long into the night. Days include meetings with leaders, mini-interships, cleaning up a park or other volunteering. The campers then take these lessons back to their communities and share with others what they have learned.

Pittsburgh, PA – The Pearl Club University

2015-06-15T00:00:00Z

Were you aware that only 17 percent of this year’s cohort of 39 students feel prepared to attend and succeed in college? Although the facts are startling, they demonstrate the need for skill-building, information and experiences to prepare them to succeed. Our programming, which focuses on developing an understanding of being college-ready and strengthening their ability to give presentations, manage their time and network to build relationships for their future gives students a chance to achieve success in their lives. At our core, we are a sisterhood based on college success. Through our programming, we strive to help young women develop character, become college-ready and enroll and graduate from a post-secondary institution. Our mission as a future focus: to help young women from disadvantaged backgrounds overcome poverty and contribute to society. To foster their awesomeness, we want young women to answer YES to the following: Do you feel prepared to attend and succeed in college? Do you know how to network and build relationships for your future? Do you know how to effectively manage your time? Do you know what it takes to succeed and graduate from college? Our program is awesome because it not only teaches young women valuable skills, we allow them to apply the skills to their lives during an authentic experience on a college campus. How can we expect awesome students to be successful in an environment they were not prepared for? With 77% of our young women being first generation college-goers, our programming aids in solving the problem of minority young women lacking skills and preparation to overcome the challenges on a college campus and graduate from a postsecondary institution, making Pittsburgh a more awesome place to build a future.

Minas Gerais (Inactive) – Torneio de Robótica Empreendescola

2015-06-15T00:00:00Z

O “Torneio de Robótica Empreendescola” é um projeto social que vamos realizar para os alunos de ensino médio das escolas públicas de Poços de Caldas. O intuito é mostrar aos alunos o quanto eles podem aprender, e deixá-los de olhos brilhando. Nunca houve um projeto do tipo na cidade e isso irá mostrar um mundo até então desconhecido por eles. No Empreendescola trabalhamos para mostrar novos futuros para os jovens, e acreditamos muito que o conhecimento de programação e robótica auxilia e muito no impacto do jovem. Ele pode descobrir algo que até então era inacessível e nem ele sabia que era tão impactante assim. É mostrar ao jovem que ele pode mudar a realidade de sua casa, seu bairro, de sua vida. Trabalhamos com alunos de 13 a 18 anos mais ou menos, e nesse semestre já atingimos 05 escolas, o que corresponde ha mais ou menos 1000 alunos. O torneio será ótimo para integrar os alunos de escolas diferentes e mostrar outros caminhos e despertar neles o protagonismo. Conseguimos um parceiro que arcará com os materiais para o torneio, mas praticamente utilizaremos o recurso do Awesome para o transporte do facilitador, um lanche para os alunos que participarão do torneio, pagar uma pessoa para criar a comunicação e arte do evento e também uma pequena divulgação local.

Chicago, IL – Literature Emitting Diodes

2015-06-14T00:00:00Z

Literature Emitting Diodes is an unconventional publishing project that is slated to run from July 2015 to July 2016, and hopefully continue on an annual cycle for years following this inaugural run. Literature Emitting Diodes presents poetry and prose by talented writers in commercial venues throughout Chicago. Every month, we will select a prose piece or a poem to be uploaded onto a scrolling LED display sign for about three weeks. The sign will be placed in the window of a local business chosen to coordinate with the piece. Sites will be chosen in consultation with the authors to help them reach a diverse and enthusiastic audience. We will open submissions for July on May 5th and accept work on a rolling basis from then on. The chosen works will also be published online and in an annual printed anthology. In storefronts, online, and in print, readers will be offered a rich variety of reading experiences for each piece. We will show that reading can be more than a solitary activity, that storefronts can be more than advertisements, and that publishing can reach people beyond the bookstore or library. In a society driven by consumption, people crave creativity and beauty. We will subvert the commercial practice that plays on people’s retinas. We will put literature back in the public sphere where advertising has the authority. We are simply seeking to restore a balance between culture and commerce. We are partnering with local businesses to show that businesses can be part of the solution, and that there are myriad ways to give back to the community. Not every businesses can host readings or open mic nights like a coffeehouse or bookstore, but there are many other ways to support the arts and we hope our unconventional approach will inspire others to try their own.

Seattle, WA – Virtual Assistant Movie

2015-06-14T00:00:00Z

Jobs are getting outsourced. But, can creativity be outsourced? And, if so, what would it look like? I am exploring this by outsourcing an entire short film through virtual online assistants in India. How? So far, I have 2 virtual assistants who, independently, are writing a script together one line at time. I give them prompts. But, the prompts are written by the other virtual assistant. So, while I am the middle person, the two virtual assistants are actually the ones providing each other with new prompts as they keep the script dialogue going with their writing. After they finish writing the outsourced script, I will then have virtual assistants film the dialogue that virtual assistants wrote. Maybe the final film will be horrible. Maybe it will be great. Either way, I feel this process is unprecedented and the results will be a unique and entertaining moment for film making. On a larger scale, I believe this will start conversation about creativity and the creative process. Details: I'm currently using Habiliss.com and AskSunday.com The 2 virtual assistants have been told that a client would like them to create natural and/or dialogue based on provided prompts. At the conclusion of the writing process, I will explain to both companies the bigger picture. I will ask for consent and approval to produce a short film based on their writing. Of course, I will credit the 2 separate virtual assistants with the complete writing credits. There has been some interest from experimental film festivals and Seattle International Film Festival to accept this unique film and its process.

Ottawa – Buddy Bench

2015-06-11T00:00:00Z

June’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to Jenny Guth, to support a “buddy bench” for Stittsville Public School. “For many students,” explains Jenny, “recess is often the best part of the school day. But for others, it can be a very lonely time. The buddy bench is an ordinary bench placed in the schoolyard. Children who are sad or looking for playmates can sit on the bench to signal they would like someone to come talk to them or ask them to play.” Buddy benches originated in Germany, and have been implemented in schools around the world. They are meant to be symbols of inclusion and kindness in the schoolyard, and are used to teach students about empathy and friendship for all. Jenny is the mother of a junior kindergarten student at Stittsville Public School. “When I was a little girl,” she says, “I was excluded at school — a lot. I eventually learned to stand up for myself and others,” says Jenny, “and am now a lawyer.”

San Francisco, CA – Tangible Possibility: playful speed dating

2015-06-11T00:00:00Z

Designed by Oakland artist and author Lea Redmond Tangible Possibility offers a wildly creative and fun way to meet new people. Engage in quirky, whimsical get-to-know-you activities and quickly get a sense of whether someone would be an awesome new romantic partner, friend, or colleague. An attendee of Tangible Possibility is greeted by a friendly, light-hearted structure designed to draw out the true self and reveal a little bit of it to everyone in the room. No one will have to fall back on boring default questions like “what do you do?” and “where are you from?” They’ll be too busy engaging in creative tactile experiences such as: Making and sharing their “dream” business cards, aka “life cards”. Interpreting Rorschach ink blots in pairs. Throwing paper airplanes that hold their school days memories. Making up histories for curious found objects. Writing “text messages” to each other in icing swirls on cookies. Spinning the Game of Life spinner and sharing a life memory with an emotional intensity level that corresponds to the number they spun. A Tangible Possibility speed dating session begins with a ceremonious confiscation of cell phones, and it ends with participants receiving their “matches” via real, physical mail a few days after the event. Their matches will arrive as a series of contact cards in a real paper “matchbox."

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Celebrating DC Women in Technology 2015

2015-06-08T00:00:00Z

Celebrating DC Women in Technology is an event that has stemmed from an article written about the many qualified and excelling--yet clearly under recognized--tech women in DC. After publication, the article went viral, highlighting the need for solidarity and connection among and between these women. The event came from that groundswell - a chance to celebrate all of these women across the area, as well as to merge other subgroups (such as Lesbians Who Tech, TechladyMafia) into one united front with a common goal: acknowledging women in technology and getting more women into the field. The goal of the event is to bring together the powerful and successful tech women in DC. The event is meant to build a stronger platform for these DC techies and to open up a space for communication and connection. So many women are doing incredible things in the world of technology, and recognition for their tireless work is long overdue.

San Antonio, TX – San Antonio Youth Code Jam

2015-06-08T00:00:00Z

More than 300 tweens, teens and their parents will learn to design their own computer games, code in a variety of programming languages and even hack a little at the third annual San Antonio Youth Code Jam, a free event to be held Saturday, September 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Rackspace Global HQ. Because why would you want to just play a game when you can learn to create your own? The San Antonio Youth Code Jam, a project of SASTEMIC, is a workforce development initiative to engage young students in technology by introducing them to a variety of coding activities and languages early on and by providing their parents a roadmap for the migration path from early coding to professional STEM careers. Designed to be a loosely structured, collaborative and creativity-inspiring experience for youth, students participate in a variety of hands-on stations in a plug-and-play kind of way. They have the opportunity to learn Java, Python, Minecraft, HTML/CSS, cyber security and Scratch. They are mentored by experts in the industry who volunteer their time to share their passion of programming. By requiring parents to stay with their children, we are building a deeper level of engagement and support for students to be inspired and pursue tech-related career paths.

Santa Fe, NM (Inactive) – The Horse Shelter Diaries

2015-06-06T00:00:00Z

“Mining The Gold: Horse Shelter Diaries” is a video project in conjunction with the Horse Shelter in Santa Fe aimed at making the public aware that there are healthy viable horses for adoption out at the Shelter. I began filming in April 2014 when 8 horse trainers chose 8 horses to take for 100 days and train them so they could compete against each other to show their training at the National Day of the Cowboy celebration in July. This celebration took place out on Hwy 14 at Clint Mortenson’s arena and was attended by over 1200 people. The horses were then auctioned to qualified bidders and went to their new homes. I have done this project as a volunteer. I am currently in post-production and would like to finish this film as professionally as possible so it can be shown and help educate the public about what a wonderful job the Horse Shelter is doing for the abused and abandoned horses in New Mexico. My previous film, “She had some horses,” was just shown in November 2014 at the Equus Film Festival in New York City. The website for that film is www.shehadsomehorsesdocumentary.com

New York City, NY – Lost & Found

2015-06-05T00:00:00Z

We want children to hear lost languages. We have songs in extinct languages that we would like children to experience. We are using cutting edge technology with century old musical instrument parts to do this. To give young children the opportunity to hear these lost languages we are creating Lost & Found, a multimedia sound sculpture. A number of extinct language recordings have been obtained from archives around the world. Using new technology such as the Raspberry Pi, a credit card-sized computer designed in the UK to promote the teaching of basic computer coding in schools, we will be able to bring the voices of the past to life. Wooden organ pipes, an instrument that contains a specific note of the musical scale, will now contain extinct languages from countries all over the world. As children walk around the pipes that range in height from 3-ft to 6-ft, a motion detector within the pipe will sense the viewer and the Raspberry Pi will begin to play the extinct language recording, making the wooden organ pipe speak to the children. The children may experience the artwork much like a puppet speaking. Children will also watch an animation about the language, on a display affixed to the pipe. The experience for them will be one of learning and understanding that these languages were once spoken, yet they are now lost. We hope to inspire children to think about their native languages and cultures, and to do this questions will be posed at the end of the animation, such as “What language does your grandmother speak?” and “What languages are spoken at home?” The child is the activating agent that orchestrates the work. As several children wander through the installation, a many-voiced acoustic event—a chance symphony of voices—will create an intercultural soundscape. The pipes will be painted in bright colors, creating a color playground of education and art. A take-home word search game has been created for children to extend their language experience. Why We Think This is Awesome This project has a whole lot of awesome wrapped up in a fascinating installation. It's a mix of old (salvaged organ pipes), lost (extinct languages), and the new (modern Raspberry Pi technology) to create an experience that reminds us all about native languages and culture. In a city as rich and diverse as New York, it is incredible to see lost languages unearthed and given new life through this project.

Lusaka (Inactive) – Recycled Charcoal Project

2015-06-03T00:00:00Z

This is a project to develop an environmentally responsible low cost fuel from wood charcoal waste, which can be used for cooking and heating on any type of charcoal stove both in-doors and out-doors. The proposed fuel is made from locally produced, easily accessible raw materials and costs marginally lower to produce compared to other solid bio fuels like wood charcoal and sawdust pellets, so it is more affordable. Our bio fuel also provides a consistent high combustion heat source as wood charcoal and produces less harmful emissions compared to firewood, so it less hazardous and more suitable for household use. Our target is to supply and deliver our innovative Low-Cost Fuel to more than 10,000 rural and urban households every month across Zambia by 2018. By providing energy consumers with a clean and cost-saving energy source for cooking and heating, the Recycled Charcoal Project will address the increasing need by consumers, to have clean and affordable energy options which do not put pressure on the environment and their health at risk, in emerging markets where the electric grid is less widespread, mainly due to its high cost. Recycled Charcoal could be used by consumers, especially households in urban and peri-urban areas, to give them an edge in meeting their day-to-day energy needs, while making it affordable and easy to use for the mass markets. The success of this social enterprise also means less trees are cut down for charcoal and more charcoal is produced per tree cut as a result of agricultural development and also reduction in emissions from deforestation and degradation to mitigate climate change, which will lead to improved quality of life for society. We hope, in the near future, to create both small- and large-scale charcoal recycling hubs in highly deforested rural areas and in major towns and cities that will give us easy access to our raw materials, and also enable us to create new decent jobs for youths in rural and peri-urban area

Liverpool (Inactive) – Liverpool MakeFest

2015-06-02T00:00:00Z

A Festival like no other for Liverpool! Liverpool MakeFest is a FREE family friendly one day festival for all ages celebrating all things 'makey' in the north-west, showcasing things people have made, projects people are working on, inventions, gadgets and hands-on activities including, coding, hacking workshops and demonstrations. It's being held in Liverpool Central Library on Saturday 27th June from 9am-5pm and is entirely FREE to everyone! Early bird TICKETS are on Eventbrite here... goo.gl/uQebHc It's a place to see how science, technology, engineering, arts and crafts are shaping our world... a place to get you thinking and learning about cool stuff you could make yourself! As a result of everyone’s hard work and true maker spirit we have over 100 makers attending 60 stalls / activities / workshops / demos with everything from IoT to daleks, from textiles to robots, from minecraft to woodcraft… and a whole lot in between :) You can check out the full list of 'Who's Coming To Makefest' and what's going on our website, but here's a flavour... What's at MakeFest? You can expect to see robots, drones, wearable tech, 3D scanners, 3D printers, laser cutters & crafting in abundance and there'll be opportunities for you to; Take spy-tank and drone selfies Build and code robots 3D scan your own head 3D print or laser cut your own souvenir of the day Try your hand at podcasting Create your own arts and crafts Learn about sculpting Meet the Daleks Make your own music Test your skill with NERF guns Learn to code Get to grips with Raspberry Pi Explore virtual 3D worlds ...and much more. And as we said, best of all - entry is FREE! It's a place to come along and get in touch with your inner geek for a day and promises to be a fun, family-friendly event - so come along and ENJOY the geekery :)

New Orleans, LA (Inactive) – ECOHYBRIDITY: LOVE SONG FOR NOLA

2015-06-02T00:00:00Z

ECOHYBRIDITY: LOVE SONG FOR NOLA, a visual [black] opera in 5 movements is a collaborative production with New Orleans-based artists and organizers. The visual opera, a term coined by Gallery of the Streets founder and Artistic Director, Kai Barrow, features roving performances and site-specific installations marking the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Set in post-Katrina New Orleans, The plot follows a group of nomadic “SONGBIRDS” as they journey to recover, reclaim, and recreate home. The 10th anniversary offers an opportunity to look at our current national and international responses to anti-Black violence. The storm and its aftermath—disaster capitalism—has violent repercussions on the lives of Black New Orleanians. We hope the opera will provoke a dialogue about who we are and what we’re becoming in the new New Orleans. The large-scale production draws on the vision, memory, and skills of Black feminist artists and organizers—many of whom survived Katrina. Using the 10th anniversary to recall those who were invisibilized, neglected, and attacked during and after the storm, the visual opera will include site-specific installations, such as a “Tent City” for homeless New Orleanians, and a large-scale projection to recognize the prisoners at OPP. A Subversive Ball will feature costumes, a DJ Orchestra, and performances. Additionally, we are partnering with local social justice and arts organizations to collect community stories and to support other grassroots community-based calls to action. We will produce materials designed to support ongoing movement-building such as, an exhibition catalog featuring photographs and critical writing; a popular education curriculum and information bank of source materials and a documentary that posits Black feminist praxis as a movement-building tool. We aim to fuse public art and community engagement to confront power, encourage dialogue, and develop an intersectional cultural organizing praxis.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Unconventional Apology Project

2015-06-01T00:00:00Z

Unconventional Apology Project is a portrait and interview series focusing on female survivors of domestic violence. The Project was sparked by a domestic violence tragedy in my family compounded by the death of the offending abuser. My grandfather murdered my grandmother in 1975 in Compton, CA—two days after their divorce was final. Mableine Nelson Barlow was shot to death while running down the street with my father (1 of their 7 children together); both attempting to escape his drunken rage. She was 36. My father went unscathed, but held his dying mother in his arms while she took her last breath, suffering a lifetime of survivors' guilt. My grandfather eventually became sober and religious; allowing him to be accepted back into the family by his 7 children. Unfortunately, their acceptance led to the silence of my grandmother's life and death. She was never mentioned and her death a mystery to me until I turned 16 - the same age as my father when he witnessed his mother's murder. I, of course, was very conflicted and remained so through adulthood. My grandfather came to cherish his family involvement, and used photography to document our growth. He was obsessed with taking photographs with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. There are innumerable photos of him with us as we matured. His Trail of Existence will live on forever. My family refused to mention his cold-blooded crime, for their need to avoid the reality that their father ended their loving mother’s life. Our coping came at the expense of my grandmother’s memory, evidenced by my recent acquisition of the only two photos that show her distinct physical characteristics. I feel profoundly connected to the remnants of her memory. Upon his death, my grandfather left me his camera. This camera is being used as a tool to photograph women that have been impacted by abuse, and have been silenced. They deserve a Trail of Existence. They will not disappear. This is an Unconventional Apology.

Baltimore, MD – Oliver Community Farm & Pavillion

2015-06-01T00:00:00Z

The Oliver Community Farm & Pavilion is a 40,000 square foot community farm and gathering space on a lot that was previously a vacant trash dump and unmanaged lot in East Baltimore's Oliver neighborhood. It took several years to clear the lot of trash, debris, and hazardous materials and initiate the lot's transformation into a community asset in one of Maryland's most impoverished and underserved neighborhoods. In 2014, the Oliver Community Farm distributed close to 600 gallon bags of fresh produce to Oliver residents who experience food insecurity and lack access to healthy foods and we expect to more than double that in 2015. Also in 2014, the farm employed Oliver residents as seasonal or part-time employees and provided agricultural training. Five-hundred and eighty-eight volunteers worked 2,313 hours in 2014 and we are on pace to surpass those numbers significantly in 2015. In addition to food distribution, we also engage the community in nutritional education and healthy cooking classes. In addition to the nutritional benefit and that of employment and training, the farm is transforming into a vibrant community gathering space where children and families can recreate and learn. We plan to install benches, a covered pavilion, and a small play area. These recreational and community components that will augment the urban farm are the subject of this grant proposal.

Melbourne (Inactive) – Sunshine Children's Garden

2015-06-01T00:00:00Z

Sunshine Plaza is constructed near the site of the historical (and then revolutionary) industrial garden built for the workers at the Sunshine Harvester Works factory in the 1900s. We want to invite children to reimagine and rebuild this piece of local history in an unexpected space - a shopping centre. Local families will turn a vacant shop into ‘Sunshine Children’s Garden’ a flourishing and beautiful garden playscape, using recycled cardboard and plastic donated from retailers within and around Sunshine Plaza. We will work with Sunshine Historical Society to include large scale paste-ups cut out from historical photos of the gardens to act as a backdrop. Now-lost features of the industrial gardens, such as its conservatory, bandstand and Head Gardener's cottage, will be used as some of the creative prompts to help, inspire and educate children as they build. On the day we also wish to provide a take-away message to families by gifting each participant with a packet of chrysanthemum and dahlia seeds (two flowers for which the gardens were previously famous). The seed packet will be printed with information about Sunshine Children’s Garden and the historical significance of the industrial gardens. We also hope to inspire families to plant real-life gardens in their community using the seeds. When finished the final installation will create a unique shopfront display for the community to enjoy for a week after the event, before being disassembled and recycled. The event aims to strengthen local families’ sense of belonging to the community. Sunshine is an incredibly diverse area and many of its residents are immigrants who may not necessarily be aware of the history of the suburb. Sunshine's Children's Garden will also create an opportunity for children to reflect on the historical and cultural significance of Sunshine's history while providing an opportunity to capture and document their ideas for its future.

Atlanta, GA (Inactive) – Artists Making a Difference

2015-06-01T00:00:00Z

Artists Making a Difference is a community initiative that organizes and provides resources for the creation of murals at schools, community centers, and shelters around the Metro Atlanta area. The murals are created by selected local artists who want to give back to their community. The goal of the initiative is to inspire the kids at the participating schools, community centers, and shelters. The Awesome Atlanta grant would go toward producing two murals for the laundry area of the Gatewood Ronald McDonald House ("RMH"). The murals will practically serve as marker for the families staying at the RMH that cannot locate the laundry room in the garage. Spiritually, the murals will serve as source of inspiration, comfort, and uplifting for the parents who are staying there because their child is receiving life saving treatment at Emory Hospital.