Awesome Foundation - Projects

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Lots of Love Detroit – A mobile tool lending libra

2014-05-14T00:00:00Z

With more than 100,000 vacant lots and equally as many abandoned homes, Detroit claims unparalleled amounts of underutilized land. As such, many neighbors and community groups have rallied together to build tree nurseries, community gardens, hubs for public art and more. Yet, many others are left behind without access to the tools or transportation needed to transform these eyesores into vibrant community spaces. All too often, volunteer groups from area universities and local businesses turn out in force to help with community projects, only to find there aren’t enough tools to go around. That’s why we created Lots of Love—a free tool library on wheels. Residents, block clubs and other community organizations can borrow all the tools they need to complete their community improvement projects, for free! We’ll even deliver them to the project sites (in our awesome tool truck), ensuring no need for residents to personally transport large equipment (like lawn mowers). Lots of Love breaks down barriers and builds capacity for Detroiters across the city by offering residents with the tools needed to define and design their own neighborhoods. We’ve always known there’s “lots of love” in Detroit; now it’s time to show just how much we really “love our lots.”

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Paper Doll Parties in the Park

2014-05-14T00:00:00Z

I'd love to load up my car with a friend or two in tow, and host four paper doll parties at northern California public parks this summer. Pre-assembled packets, with an 1880s paper doll pattern (and clothes) to cut out and color, along with a printed card about the history of paper dolls and a blank sheet to write on, would be distributed to attendees -- basically, anyone who cares to join in the fun. Children and adults would be encouraged to create paper dolls in their own likenesses and to write a personal narrative about who they are or who they'd like to become. It's a wonderful hands-on bonding activity. This is the same workshop I conducted at the museum, except we'd be outdoors, sitting on the grass or seated at picnic tables. I'd promote the parties on my website, through local paper doll clubs and distribute flyers at each event so people could check the website for the next date and location.

Tel Aviv - קרן בקטנה (Inactive) – עמותת "באשר תלכי"

2014-05-13T00:00:00Z

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Critter Bitters

2014-05-12T00:00:00Z

Critter Bitters are handcrafted cocktail bitters made with toasted crickets. There are four flavors in the product line: vanilla cricket, cacao cricket, toasted almond cricket, and -- for the most adventurous -- pure cricket. Each flavor yields a unique, multifaceted taste profile and can be readily mixed into cocktails or consumed with soda water. The corresponding coasters serve to elevate bitters from a hidden cocktail ingredient to the piece de resistance. The UN FAO 2013 Report titled, “Edible Insects: Future Prospects for Food and Feed Security,” inspired Lucy Knops and me to find a way to introduce insects to American culture. The report cited a need to overcome “the disgust factor” in order for western society to willingly consume insects. With the insight that distillation, fermentation, and mixology are among the most creative industries and people are naturally more open-minded and experimental when they are drinking, it seemed most natural to normalize entomophagy through alcohol. From scorpion vodka to cochineal made from beetles to mezcal with a worm, there is a precedent for insects in alcohol. Critter Bitters is a nod to an age-old tradition and a leap into the future. In addition to food design and product design, Critter Bitters is also experience design. Guests at the unveiling of Critter Bitters enjoyed cocktails crafted by a professional bartender. While they may have thought they were uncomfortable consuming insects, the guests loved the drinks. Through a design process of distillation, we were able to remove the ick factor. Critter Bitters have been featured on Food & Wine and Epicurious.

Tel Aviv - קרן בקטנה (Inactive) – Gila's project for Trans* empowermrnt

2014-05-12T00:00:00Z

Project Gila is the movement for transgender empowerment in Israel. It began in 2011 from within the transgender community and for its benefit. Gila is a group of activists working to better the living conditions of the non-gender-conforming community. Gila emphasizes self-empowerment, the exercise of legal rights, and access to resources and opportunities. The project currently includes several areas: housing, legal aid and Social welfare. all the activists in Gila's project volunteer.

Liverpool – Urban Wildlife Haven.

2014-05-07T00:00:00Z

In order to attract more wildlife and people to use this green space we have several projects we would like to implement. Firstly we are aiming to sow a large bed of poppy seeds in the circular planting bed (see photos) to commemorate the centenary of the start of WW1. We intend to involve the local school children/cubs & brownies in the sowing & growing of this commemorative display. Around the surrounding wooded areas we intend to plant 1000-2000 Bluebell bulbs to create a mini Bluebell wood. Bluebells are consistently voted the nations favourite flower and this will hopefully encourage people into the green to see their own mini Bluebell Wood, whilst also attracting bees & butterflies. In the same area Buddleia unfortunately had to be cut back as its spread was causing damage to the surrounding roofs & chimney stacks. We have decided to replace the Buddleia with Lilacs as they will also attract the vast array of butterflies that appeared last year. Dotted in between the Bluebells and Lilacs will be Snowdrops thereby ensuring that from February to September there will be blooms for many years to come! Several other surrounding areas of the green had been left to grow semi wild in order to encourage insects, bees & butterflies. This worked so well that we intend to attract even more by scattering wild flower seeds into these areas. Hedgehog compounds have already been constructed in these areas (see photo) so the wild flowers should attract even more insects into these compounds. The green attracts a wide range of birds from three resident crows to gold finches, blue/grey tits, robins, sparrows, wood pidgeons, magpies, blackbirds, starlings & wagtails. In order to encourage them further we would like to put several nesting boxes in place as there will be an abundance of insects for them to eat in the spring/summer months. All the projects mentioned, once implemented, will be self sustaining thereby ensuring an abundance of wildlife for years to come.

Atlanta, GA – Buford Hwy Area Little Free Library Project

2014-05-07T00:00:00Z

For the past two years, I've dreamed of applying the proven "Little Free Library" concept (see littlefreelibrary.org) to target early readers in our English as a Second Language populations of Cross Keys. The idea is to deploy Little Free Library units around playgrounds, schools, and apartment complexes where our low income children congregate already. The libraries would be supported by volunteers who maintain the libraries with a regular supply of age-appropriate reading materials. This would provide the kids with unlimited reading opportunities even when school is out of session. Our team has jump-started this program with three sites so far with the support of the Atlanta Braves Foundation. We have a donated storage unit from Brookhaven Storage for warehousing books, we have lead volunteers for book drives, a home builder committed to installing all units, site stewardship volunteers, and the program is attracting a lot of attention from the community and the media for simply being effective. We've distributed over 400 books directly to children in our first month of operation. See: http://bravesgive.mlblogs.com/2014/02/06/the-braves-foundation-celebrates-the-unveiling-of-the-briarwood-park-little-free-library/

Yerevan – ticcson bikes

2014-05-07T00:00:00Z

The traffic is over loaded in Yerevan. This fact has become the motivation of my project. The idea is to construct a kind of bicycle and contribute the development of that culture of changing cars into bicycles. My greatest dream is the realization of this project and making “Ticcson” one of the advanced brands in this field. “Ticcson” bicycles have several advantages which will turn cycling into a pleasure. It will be made of mainly wood (fanera) and will provide the designers with plenty of opportunities to find different creative solutions. The company will accept individual orders as a result of the designers and costumers cooperative discussions. It will be possible to change the wooden construction and redesign it according to costumer’s wish. Երևանում երթևեկությունը գերծանրաբեռնված է: Հենց դա է իմ մտահաղացման մոտիվացիան՝ ստեղծել նման հեծանիվ ու նպաստել հեծանվով երթևեկելու մշակույթի զարգացմանը: Մեծագույն երազանք ունեմ, որ մտահղացումս հաջողությամբ իրագործվի, և «ticcson»-ը թույն բրենդ դառնա հեծանիվների ոլորտում: «ticcson» հեծանիվները ունեն յուրահատկություններ, որոնց շնորհիվ մարդկանց մեջ ցանկություն կառաջանա երթևեկել հեծանվով. այն պատրաստված է լինելու հիմնականում փայտանյութից (ֆաներա), ունենալու է դիզայներական անսահմանափակ լուծումների հնարավորություն, իրականացվելու են անհատական պատվերներ՝ պատվիրատուի և դիզայների համատեղ քննարկման արդյունքում, հնարավոր է լինելու հեշտությամբ փոխել դիզայնի փայտե կառուցվածքն՝ ըստ տրամադրության:

San Francisco, CA – Musical Peddles

2014-05-06T00:00:00Z

Shape Up, The Radicand Lab & Avio Collective are working together to design, build & install a human-powered musical kinetic sculpture at UN Plaza. The concept includes twelve freestanding "saddles" with bicycle-style peddles in the shape of musical notes. The peddles on each saddle power an enclosed fan blowing air through an organ pipe, which produces a unique tone. Each musical saddle can produce three tones & are controlled by LED integrated buttons on the seat. This installation will require participants to collaborate & work together in order to play a coherent piece of music. These saddles communicate to each other using simple Arduino computers with sensors to figure out how many peddles are being used & pick out a suitable piece of music. The more people powering the saddles, the richer & more complex the harmonies of the song. A unique feature of our installation is that it does not require an external source of power. All the energy needed to create the tones & power the internal electronics are created by participants. A fraction of the energy produced in each saddle will be used to power a visual LED display, battery pack, microcomputer, & interactive button panel. The enclosed microcomputers can use this power to automatically play a coordinated song, submitted by local composers & musicians, as part of a daily performance piece. Our piece is ultimately a musical instrument that requires twelve musicians to come together, work together, & play music. We will also launch a website in conjunction with the installation that will allow local musicians & composers to submit MIDI files that will be uploaded to the musical saddles for performance. Participants are encouraged to collaborate to play pieces together in an unscripted context. Groups are also welcome to use the piece for planned musical performances. The interactive illuminating buttons on each seat will help to guide participants through a song together. This large scale public instrument where people to work together and play music will promote social change, a slow process. Our project invites strangers from all walks of life who happens to cross paths at one particular moment in time and allow them to bond and make music. Neither age, sex, race, class, culture nor language is relevant. There are pedals; you know what to do. There are buttons that light up; you push them. You feel vibrating pipes attached to your saddle and hear a sound. But wait, listen closer. You hear your neighbor making sounds too! It's at this moment that you realize that your sound together with your neighbor's sound strikes a harmonious chord and plays a piece of music. You look at your neighbor and you smile. They smile back. Six saddles = six smiles and smiles are contagious. Little ripples makes big waves. A small smile might just bring us all together.

Melbourne (Inactive) – Electrical Wiring Pilot Program for Women in Nepal

2014-05-05T00:00:00Z

As part our ongoing work with one of our international partners, the Women’s Foundation of Nepal (WFN), GWP is currently in the first phase of a pilot program designed to provide Nepalese women with the necessary skills to carry out basic electrical wiring in local homes and businesses. The practical 6-week course, developed by leading industry specialists in partnership with GWP and WFN, teaches participants basic electrical wiring skills as well as addresses safety issues, basic first aid, quoting, book keeping and customer service. Our research has shown us that electrical wiring is currently of a poor standard in Nepal, with much of the labour for this industry being sourced from outside Nepal. This means that in addition to providing the participants with new vocational skills, the program is also addressing a major skills gap in the local economy. But perhaps the most exciting part is that it challenges gender boundaries by giving women skills and access to a market that is traditionally the domain of men. We have just completed the 6-week technical course component of the program. Reports from the women clearly demonstrate an increase in self-confidence, skills and excitement at the possibilities. Initial discussions also indicate that the community is receptive to and supportive of women undertaking these roles. The challenges we currently face relate to the number of barriers to women finding ongoing work (e.g. reputation and experience, availability, transport, communication). This is where we really need to invest our time and funding now.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Hot Bread Kitchen

2014-05-05T00:00:00Z

Hot Bread Kitchen was founded in 2008 by former United Nations policy analyst and trained bread baker, Jessamyn Rodriguez. Our flagship program, Project Launch, is an on-the-job baking training program designed to capitalize on immigrant women’s baking skills and meet customers’ demand for authentic ethnic breads. Women enrolled in Project Launch receive paid training in commercial baking, classes in English as a second language, and professional skills to help them overcome barriers to fair wage employment. After a year in the program, women are placed in management track positions in the food manufacturing industry or can apply to the HBK Incubates program and launch their own business. To date, Project Launch has supported the professional development of 50 women from 17 different countries and now produces a line of over 40 breads representing 12 different cultures that are distributed throughout the country. HBK Incubates, Hot Bread Kitchen’s second program started in 2011, is a newer initiative poised to have an even larger economic impact on the local economy and food-scape. While we make it a priority to recruit females, minorities, and immigrants, HBK Incubates welcomes members of all backgrounds who have a promising food business. The program provides comprehensive business support to entrepreneurs who are at the early stage of business growth. In the other half of our commercial bakery, we offer affordable licensed kitchen rental at subsidized rates with flexible scheduling, as well as hands-on culinary support, financial advising, and workshops tailored to the specific needs of food businesses. Like Project Launch, HBK Incubates has its own revenue-generating component; incubator members’ payments for kitchen rental time help to cover overall operating costs of the space and the program offerings. Since its launch in 2011, HBK Incubates has supported the growth of 63 businesses and graduated 5 businesses.

Sarnia (Inactive) – Cinderella Story of Sarnia Lambton

2014-05-02T00:00:00Z

In 2009, I started the Cinderella Story. It came from a friend needing a prom dress for their daughter. I made a few phone calls and voila, she attended her prom and looked like a princess. I believe every young lady has the right to experience this regardless of income or social status. We collect donations of prom dress all year long and once a year, for 2 days, we hold a Prom Dress Boutique. A shopping spree for free! Girls register and are assigned a volunteer personal shopper. Together they find a beautiful dress, they can get a mini makeover, have their photos done by a professional photographer and attend their year-end celebrations as an equal among their peers. There are a few ladies from 2010 and 2011 who still email me and keep me updated on their lives reminding me of what a difference we made to them. I remind them, what an impact they have had on our lives as well. They don't see it, but all our volunteers do.

Oahu, HI – A Visit With Man Ray: Memoir and Photo Book

2014-05-01T00:00:00Z

After people see the photograph of me and Man Ray together, they always ask, “How did you meet Man Ray?” I’ve told the story many times. Now I would like to use Awesome Project funds to produce a small, elegant book about this special meeting so that it can be enjoyed by many others. The book will include 18 black and white photographs and a short memoir that I wrote about “MY DAY WITH RAY”. Back in 1972 I was on Christmas break from Tyler School of Art in Rome. One my of my dreams was to meet an artist I admired greatly, and I was lucky enough to be invited to visit renowned artist/photographer Man Ray at his studio in Paris. I had my trusty Pentax around my neck, and Man Ray suggested I take some photographs. So with a young man’s enthusiasm and innocence, I got off 18 shots, including a portrait of the two of us with a self timer. When I came back to the United States, I wrote up my memories of that magical day and put together a homemade book which I sent to Man Ray. Months later he sent me a thank you note on a postcard. I’ve shared the little homemade book with friends throughout the years, and they’ve always encouraged me to publish it. More than 40 years later, I am ready to do it. I have everything in place to start the project except for funding. I have partnered with an Oahu-based project manager and chosen a local printer capable of turning out a museum-quality edition. The book will be around 32 pages and priced affordably at around $15.00. It will include correspondence I had with Man Ray’s wife Juliette Man Ray after Man Ray’s death, and a forward by prominent Man Ray scholar Francis Naumann. Last summer in NYC, I showed my memoir and photographs to book buyers at the Museum of Modern Art and the International Photography Center. Both felt that, if made into a book, it would be a good seller in their stores. Man Ray is one of the most important artists of the 20th century and interest in him continues to grow.

Tel Aviv - קרן בקטנה (Inactive) – ELI - Israel Association for Child Protection

2014-05-01T00:00:00Z

ELI works tirelessly to increase awareness of child abuse by educating the public at large, by training professionals, by lobbying policy decision makers, and by providing vital information to potential victims and parents – all to enhance ELI’s ability to provide assistance to those children and families in need.

Orlando, FL – Sing-Song, String-Along

2014-05-01T00:00:00Z

12.8% of Orange County students are enrolled in Preschool or Kindergarten programs. (source: city-data.com). These years have a measurable and lasting impact on the developing child, with a direct influence on future performance in higher education or a career environment. An increasing number of researchers and child psychologists suggest that instilling strong cultural values at these early ages can vastly improve the quality of life later on, by forming interpersonal skills and cultivating talent. Music education programs are specifically indicated to provide one of the strongest influences in student development. To answer these challenges, Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra (FSYO) created “Sing-Song, String-Along” (SSSA) a program, which is an immersive music education program specifically intended for students of pre-school and kindergarten age, along with their families. This innovative program brings the parent into the student’s music study to ensure that learning is achieved. Using a proven “Whole-Child” approach, students learn to be well-rounded in every aspect of their lives. Each class proceeds for an hour on Sunday afternoons, but the lessons learned through this method will endure. Each lesson combines music engagement with literacy development. Children learn musical skills in an encouraging environment, while parents actively participate, to continue empowering their little learners at home. Several essential features of the SSSA program work together to ensure that all children can develop musical ability, just as all children learn their native language. FSYO’s commitment aligns to or exceeds tenets of creative innovation, character development, and human compassion. SSSA exposes preschoolers to hands-on experience and musical training with real musical instruments.

London, ON (Inactive) – New Green Renewable Energy System

2014-05-01T00:00:00Z

We would like to develop a new alternative green and renewable energy generation source. The objective is to develop a more affordable source of energy that protects the environment and make it available to the masses. Because of constant outages in his country of origins, Ismail has been working for many years on a new concept that, when proven, would increase access to electricity in places where infrastructure for electricity generation is lacking (remote places, Third World countries). The project aims to build a prototype model to validate a proof of concept. The concept is based on Faraday Law of Magnetic Flux Variation. Our concept respects the Law of Faraday but it uses a magnetic flux variation process that differs from current Electric Generation Models built using the same Law (Alternators, Electric generators).

Pittsburgh, PA – Farm Truck Foods

2014-04-30T00:00:00Z

Did you know that there are a total of seven Food Deserts in Pittsburgh? A Food Desert is defined by the USDA as a “urban-neighborhoods and rural towns without ready access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food.” Farm Truck Foods has the solution to solve this problem! My teams business idea consists of a mobile food market that would target low-income communities and food deserts through buying and selling local, nutritionally dense, farm fresh foods. My group won the Passion Profit Slam competition,& were then asked by the Idea Foundry to apply for their Accelerator Program, which transitions an idea into a real business plan through entrepreneur mentoring and $10,000. We were accepted into this program in June of 2013, completed it by September 2013, and aim to be up & running by May of 2014. Farm Truck Foods goal is to help bridge the gap between farmers and community members ages 1-101 throughout the Greater Pittsburgh area. We aim to take our mobile food truck with wholesome local produce, which will include fruits, vegetables, protein, dairy, eggs, and canned goods to the doorstep of low-income community members at a price that they can afford. We will serve and empower the people we serve to place nutritious foods on their tables so that they can live happy, healthy lives. Farm Truck Foods is also committed to forming relationships with communities and their residents in order to meet the needs of our customers. We will help decrease the obesity rate while bridging the nutritional gap that lacks within our own city. We will be accepting WIC and SNAP to help accommodate everyone. Our education strategy will include a variety of materials that range from nutritional information, learning activities for kids, healthy recipes and demonstrations that show case preparation through clean up of our products being sold. Farm Truck Foods will be accessible through making planned stops at places like community centers, YMCAs, and residential complexes.

Austin, TX – Spoiler Alert: This Is How My Life Ends

2014-04-30T00:00:00Z

"Spoiler Alert: This Is How My Life Ends" is a solo variety show featuring monologues with songs, puppetry and animation documenting growing up queer in a fundamentalist household and finding my way out of the many societal and self-imposed closets. The impetus for the show came after recalling details of being molested as a boy and the secrecy surrounding all things sexual in my upbringing. Coming out was a difficult task, particularly after having my journal read by college dorm mates. Spoiler Alert is a celebration of a life that cannot be squelched by sexual trauma or peer pressure. Whether reenacting an early experience with the Diana Ross drag queen in Cher’s 1980 Las Vegas show or getting a less than enthusiastic response to singing the Ado Annie signature song from Oklahoma! in the fifth grade talent contest, it’s obvious this is a life that was going to be lived to the fullest no matter what anyone thought. At the Bedpost Confessions monthly series, an early reading of my story about being molested made me realize that people who have dealt with similar issues find comfort and strength in hearing my story. It became clear that by diving into painful memories I was not only purging my own demons but was also offering hope to others making their ways toward recollection and recovery. Spoiler Alert centers around four monologues with songs; puppetry and animation are used to illustrate briefer memories deemed too embarrassing or graphic (i.e., equating first orgasm with a religious experience; trying to “learn” how to ejaculate; fear of becoming a child molester). Some of the material is as dark as the closet it forced me into (contemplating suicide after my coming out journal was read), but the humor and spirited style of storytelling allows all audience members, regardless of sexuality or past traumas, easy access to the story of a larger-than-life personality who refuses to be silenced or closeted. –Jay Byrd

Boston, MA (Inactive) – Untitled Sign Installations

2014-04-30T00:00:00Z

I started putting up the signs a few years ago as an extension of my art practice, and as a maturation of the graffiti and "illegal" public art I grew up with. I wanted to put signs in places that I felt needed attention to be drawn to or where something should be said that wasn't. I rely on humor to get the point across and help make the message accessible, although there is usually a social or political message below. It's work that exists for a temporary time, however long it lasts, without having to be considered "art" and force that conversation. To use a quote from Lexi Lee Sullivan, assistant curator at the deCordova, describing the project, which she can do much better then I'm capable of - "Although seemingly playful and lighthearted, Pat Falco’s drawings and pithy texts evoke subtle yet provocative truths. The artist inscribes placards with witty declarations by hand, excluding visual embellishment, and places them as signposts on public ground. These works point to noticeable facts and obvious truths about the physical location of the signs while simultaneously satirizing both art world politics and larger social realities. These text-based pieces also signal the metaphorical location of Falco’s own work, which stands at the intersection of art and everyday life."

Boston, MA (Inactive) – Keytar Bear Fundraiser

2014-04-30T00:00:00Z

Keytar Bear was attacked in two separate incidents on the streets of Boston. Keytar Bear brings joy and happiness to Bostonians on the streets with his cheerful songs and amazing talent. As Bostonians, we are responsible for putting a smile back on his face. I'm hosting this fundraiser, not only to help out Keytar Bear with his bills, but also to show him what he means to the city of Boston. Tickets here: http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=4233024&pl=mideastrestaurant If you can't make it to the event, please consider donating here! https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/keytar-bear-fundraiser/x/7307382#home/share https://www.facebook.com/events/1410100395933232

Boulder, CO (Inactive) – Mountain Flower Urban Goat Dairy

2014-04-29T00:00:00Z

Mountain Flower Goat Dairy is a sustainable agricultural project in downtown Boulder, Colorado. We are a demonstration and working goat dairy that brings goats to people and people to goats. In addition to producing goat milk, our goal is to get a lot of work done while offering young people and adults the opportunity to learn the skills that it takes to run an urban farm business. We seek to reconnect people with the source of whole foods, thereby providing them with the tools to improve health and wellness; while simultaneously demonstrating that urban agriculture is an effective land use tool for protecting critical urban open spaces. Through Mountain Flower’s current experiential education programs, students learn to see themselves not only as consumers, but as important land stewards who are essential to ecological and animal health and wellness. Each student engages in the basics of goat care – feeding alfalfa and grain, providing clean water, cleaning pens and composting waste. We also teach necessary skills for clean food production and each student gets an opportunity to taste fresh milk or try some farmstead cheese. Connecting “hands to hooves” helps address a root cause of ecological degradation and habitat loss: disinterest. Today’s youth need experiences that establish in them a preference for outdoor activities over the seductive ease of TV and video games. We are seeing that the experience of connecting with farm animals fills a longing in children and ignites in them a desire to engage further in urban agriculture. The unexpected level of interest from young children in our docent program as well as the overwhelming response to our public visiting hours confirm for us the value of these offerings to Boulder’s youth and families. Mountain Flower Urban Goat Dairy is sustainable agricultural project of the Living GREEN Foundation, a 501(c)(3)

Nairobi (Inactive) – New Dance Piece Creation

2014-04-29T00:00:00Z

This project is an exciting dance choreography that explores relationships between people with disabilities and fully-able people. The piece will be developed and choreographed by Dalmas Otieno who is a person with disability having lost one leg at the hip. According to Dalmas, everybody wants to love and be loved right back, be it with family or friends. As someone who has grown with disabilities, he constantly experiences the tensions and even stigma that emerges when a disabled person enters into a romantic relationship with a fully-able person. The greater majority of people with disabilities fear expressing themselves romantically to able bodied" people for obvious reason: fear of rejection. On the other hand, "able bodied" people also have the same fear of loving people living with disabilities with the biggest fear not being rejection but the reaction they will receive from family and friends. In this dance piece, four dancers (2 with disability and 2 able bodied) will narrate a story of love that is too hard to confess but after realizing that there is nothing to lose they decide to give it a try. In this piece, wheelchair dance will dominate the stage and having dancers who have used wheelchairs all their life and thus they bring out their story in an elaborate manner that will leave the audience stunned and thrilled. Dalmas is 28 years old male person living with disabilities. He has been a contemporary dance artist for the last seven years with Pamoja Dance Group and even performed at international stages in France and Australia. He is also a truly versatile individual being a swimmer for the Kenya Paralympics team, a footballer playing for Nairobi Amputee Football Club and Kenya National Amputee Team, He is also a cyclist and a motivational speaker. Other arrators/dancers Peris njeri Carol Wanjira/ Beatrice Wambui Billy

Philadelphia, PA – BioBots

2014-04-29T00:00:00Z

3D printing is a technique used to translate 3D models, developed using CAD software, into physical objects. It offers the prospect of rapid prototyping, replacing labor and time-intensive machine shop-based prototyping. Furthermore, 3D printing is already being used in manufacturing processes and has found applications in the aerospace, construction, and architecture industries. While 3D printing is now also being used for device development in the biomedical field, there are currently no 3D printers on the market which are capable of producing products in a sterile environment at a cost effective price, that’s where BioBots comes in. The framework of our printer consists of a stainless steel frame and polyactide plastic parts. The plastic parts hold the smooth rods along which bearings slide to allow the extruder to move in two dimensions and the base in one dimension to allow 3D control. The motors, pulleys and belts have been mounted. A motherboard is also mounted on the printer that allows control over the extruder, motor, and hotbed. The material that is being printed is ejected onto the printing surface using a unique extruder to which syringes of different volumes and gauges can be attached. Additionally, the printer will have the flexibility in the future to use 4 extruders, giving researches the ability to print with different materials and different cell types. The printing surface and the extruder will be enclosed using clear plexiglass sheets and the atmosphere inside will be purified using a High-Efficiency Particulate Air filter similar to those currently used in medical facilities and biological safety cabinets in research labs. We will create a flow environment by placing a large cost-effective fan on top over the filter. Maintaining a sterile printing environment will allow users to transfer tissues directly to in vivo experiments at a cost-effective price; a significant step towards the production of artificial tissues. vimeo.com/89889925

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – tea+purpose

2014-04-28T00:00:00Z

In a world that was incredibly connected, I felt disconnected. In a city that was large and full of possibility, I felt alone. In a world that values quick-hits and constant updates, I wanted to have deep human connections, provide value, and take action. Despite positive advancements in technology, I noticed that the emotional landscape of people, especially women, was not moving forward. It seemed that there wasn’t a place for people to be truly vulnerable, grow together, and take action to better themselves. So, I created it. tea+purpose is a gathering for twenty and thirty-something women that inspires authentic, action-oriented conversations over tea to create a community of people who live purposefully. We have six core pillars that guide us: compassion, mindfulness, simplicity, action, you are enough, and every woman is welcome. These pillars allow us to create an open environment that has two-fold purpose: providing a community focused on vulnerability and developing consciousness in professionally-driven women, and cultivating a social-impact driven group that focuses on outcomes in women’s lives. Sharing a hot cup of tea with others is a classic comforting, convivial, connecting, and conversational experience; our gatherings add purpose to sharing tea. We launched in December 2013 and host monthly gatherings in NYC focusing on topic areas such as mindfulness, intention setting, setting your life philosophy, and dissecting fear. At the start of each gathering, each attendee signs the tea+purpose "realness contract:" a vow to bring her true self, including her vulnerabilities and compassion, to the gathering. After the discussion, we pledge to take a particular action in our own lives that week, either separately or together, and report back via email. After 4 months of operation, we have 85 women in our NYC Meetup group and have run 3 gatherings in NYC, 1 in San Francisco, and have several more planned in NYC and Chicago in spring and summer 2014.

New Orleans, LA (Inactive) – Freedom Summer and Beyond: A Commemoration

2014-04-28T00:00:00Z

Fifty years after the Freedom Summer projects throughout Louisiana, 51 years after the brutal repression of civil rights activism in Plaquemine almost took the life of James Farmer and others, and 53 years after a cadre of young people from New Orleans joined the Freedom Rides and trained others in nonviolence, it is clear some progress has been made. Just as clear, however, is that many problems remain. As the 50th anniversary of Freedom Summer nears, a group of former CORE workers in the movement in Louisiana have come together to put on an event: Freedom Summer and Beyond: A Commemoration. The event will commemorate not only the summer of 1964, but all of the activism in Louisiana from 1960-1965. And, most importantly, it will examine what we can and should be doing to address the many contemporary problems in Louisiana and in the nation. Many people know the story of Freedom Summer in Mississippi, but that's just part of the story. Not many people, even locally, know the history of Freedom Summer in New Orleans. This Awesome Grant will be used for a documentation project that will play a pivotal role in the commemoration: it will record and collect the stories of those who lived, worked, and fought for freedom as members of Freedom Summer here in New Orleans and across Louisiana. This summer will be an amazing opportunity to collect stories, with so many veterans of the movement gathered together. Video, audio, and photo documentation will take place as part of the project. Interviewers will collect audio and video oral histories, and produce digital video shorts from interviews with former CORE members, New Orleans Freedom Riders, and other Civil Rights veterans. Videographers will also record all the events of the commemorative weekend. The resulting interviews and video shorts will be placed in an online archive dedicated to the work of Freedom Summer participants from New Orleans.

New Orleans, LA (Inactive) – LGBTQ Pregnancy and Parenting Resource Project

2014-04-28T00:00:00Z

As birth workers, we often interact with LGBTQ families struggling to find support in forging their path to parenthood. Obstetricians, hospitals, and birth support organizations usually lack the necessary information to assist these families. We came together to devise a plan to increase access to information on quality conception, pregnancy, and parenting resources for LGBTQ families. Our goals are: 1) To create a Resource Directory of LGBTQ-friendly conception, pregnancy, and parenting resources in New Orleans. We plan to spark this process with a listening session/focus group with 5-8 families who have gone through the birth or adoption process. We will then supplement this with community surveys, existing lists, and organizational connections. We plan to print several hundred copies of the directory and to distribute it electronically, making the resource freely available. 2) To create Doula Continuing Education Workshops to develop a better system of support for LGBTQ families in the path to parenthood. This will consist of a three-part training on a) Legal Issues in Adoption/Parenting for LGBTQ Families, b) Conception/Fertility Options for LGBTQ Families, and c) Doula Support for LGBTQ Families. In this, we plan to center the experiences of families of color. 3) To create a Doula Training Addendum. This will synthesize key points from the Directory and workshop process and incorporate them into future doula trainings in the region. Our immediate next step: As mentioned, we plan to conduct – this May – a listening session with a small group of 5-8 LGBTQ families who are conceiving, pregnant, or parenting. This will be a chance for us to learn about the resources that were helpful to them and to identify the support they wished they had. We are also in conversation with a number of local organizations, including NO/AIDS, Planned Parenthood, the LGBT Center, the Women’s Health and Justice Initiative, BreakOUT, and NOLA Baby Parenting.

Miami, FL – Colony1 Design Charrette

2014-04-26T00:00:00Z

Now we are moving forward with a bigger version of our Midtown 34th Street project called Colony1. We have been awarded a 50 year land lease in Wynwood to build a sustainability center for Miami. The center will provide opportunities for residents to learn to grow food, receive a permaculture education, eat and buy locally produced goods, engage in sustainable water, energy and architectural design systems. The center will also host an art and science residency program where an artist and scientist will be paired to produce programming that will heighten environmental awareness through contemporary art. The center is in Wynwood, but straddles Overtown and Allapattah, two of the most underserved areas in Miami. Our goal is to be a bridge between these communities and facilitate community connectivity to bring Miami towards resiliency in the face of climate change, economics and gentrification.

London (Inactive) – Makerble

2014-04-25T00:00:00Z

Makerble is a new way of giving to charity that overcomes the growing skepticism people have about what charities actually do with their donations. The charities we work with log the stories, variety and quantity of people helped through their projects each month. We turn that data into a personalised newsfeed for each donor on Makerble so that they get to see the difference their donations are making to the causes they care about. Makerble is a digital service available online and we are building mobile apps. We believe we can turn the tide on charity skepticism. Research by New Philanthropy Capital shows that the amount of money that current donors would give extra to charity each year if they believed that their donations would be effective, is £665million. That's the annual income of half the charities in the UK. Research by the Cabinet Office shows that 5.5million non-donors would become donors if they believed that their donations would be effective. We have 60 charities registering to use Makerble in the run up to our public launch. Research by Charities Aid Foundation shows that 1 in 6 charities are at risk of closure due to financial constraints. Data from the Charity Commission shows that 70% of charitable donations go to the largest 1% of charities. Charities see Makerble as a cost-efficient way to reach donors they would be unable to reach otherwise. Makerble is free for charities to use, we earn a commission on donations. Makerble is the only donations platform in the world that enables all charities to log the stories and quantity of people helped by their projects. UKTI have flown us to New York and Singapore to explore future expansion opportunities and pitch to the UN (we came 2nd!). Media agencies like PHD with clients including Warner Brothers are keen to promote Makerble as a way to make CSR campaigns more interactive. Organisations that might have been seen as competitors want to use our software e.g. JustGiving and GlobalGiving.

Miami, FL – Miami Laughfest (Laughter Yoga in Miami)

2014-04-24T00:00:00Z

I would like to conduct a laughter yoga workshop in Miami. There are many benefits of laughter including reducing stress, heart disease and increasing overall mood. As a comedian its my job to make people laugh, with the Awesome Foundation help I would like to put on this amazing event to greatly benefit the Miami community.

Calgary, AB (Inactive) – Acts of Fabulousness

2014-04-24T00:00:00Z

Chronicling the individual stories of gender and sexual minority youth throughout Calgary. This is a new project that leverages an existing organization I founded called Acts of Greatness. Acts of Greatness is a non-profit on a mission to raise awareness and funds to support the development of more gender and sexual minority specific awards in Calgary's secondary schools. This project and this organization are aligned in their focus on empowering our next generation of gender and sexual minority leaders. Through artistic expression and “as-told-to” interviews in the participant’s own voices, “Acts of Fabulousness” captures the incredible diversity and uniqueness amongst Calgary's gender and sexual minority youth population. We’re capturing portraits to tell stories, raise awareness, and help create a more inclusive conversation around gender and sexual minorities. This project leverages my existing relationships with key stakeholder groups across Canada. I have previously served as a Youth Advisor for Parks Canada and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). I’m currently on the Advisory Board of Zaypo, am a Voting Member with Greenpeace Canada, and am a Local Organizer with Amnesty International. I have access to many groups who can help support this project, and bring further notice to Awesome Foundation Calgary.

London (Inactive) – FLY: disable dancers project

2014-04-23T00:00:00Z

I work with disabled people who wish to be more than their disabled bodies. Many with spinal cord injuries or paralysis have strong upper bodies and are able to dance in the air when they can barely stand on the ground. Blind people who cannot dance across the floor can feel their way around a trapeze and dance in the air. One paralympic competitor I worked with improved her performance because she was able to go upside down for the first time in 15 years and lengthen her spine. One of my dancers is learning to walk again because her spine is lengthening and her upper body is strengthening. The benefit to their families (pain free, they use less medication, no drug fogs, adrenaline fueled joy) is obvious, as is the benefit to their communities who no longer have the burden of caring for depressed, physically incapable people. The project I am developing is to bring my students together to create a performance troupe that can travel with a freestanding aerial rig to schools and disability conventions so they can show that just because you can't walk, you can fly, just because you are disabled doesn't mean you can't soar, and they can tell their stories of how they are being productive, inspiring members of the world despite the challenges handed to them. The show includes aerial and acrobatic work as well as spoken word. it is inclusive of disabilities including an autistic composer and autistic company photographer, we have visual and hearing impaired dancers, dancers missing limbs, dancers with cerebral palsy and hyper mobile joints -- all benefit from strength training and joy! My personal site is nimblearts.org and the school I founded is the New England Center for Circus Arts. I travel from the United States to work with these dancers as I live in a small rural community where there are few disabled dancers to be inspired by and create with. We have a community of supporters in Newbury, England. London is within easy public transport for the disabled.

Melbourne (Inactive) – EDDIES BACKPACKS

2014-04-23T00:00:00Z

Eddies Backpacks began less than a year ago after meeting with the FCAV. Kids going into foster care arrive with nothing and with placements happening quickly, foster carers don't have time to arrange personal things. WE DECIDED THINGS NEED TO CHANGE We produced 70 backpacks with items including toothbrushes, photo frames, towels and books. The contents came through meetings with foster carers and kids. Having personal items can make a huge difference to the traumatic time being experienced by the kids. We have feedback from kids who still carry the bags and carers as well as Mackillop Family Services and FCAV and now include a survey with each backpack to continually improve the project. Each backpack costs around $25 and while we funded the original phase we are aiming to target businesses for donations. Our plan in the next 12 months is to partner with two primary schools and four secondary schools. We are also working with Bahay Tuluyan (a not for profit working with Australian schools) to promote our project at their upcoming social justice conferences. We also want to promote foster care. With declining numbers of carers (and growing numbers of kids) in foster care in Victoria we are working to promote the concept of foster care to parents at schools. We reach a milestone next month when Mackillop Family Services will present to parents at Parade College Parent Teacher night to talk about foster care. We want the project operating in 30 schools within 5 years. With our contacts this is possible. Bernie Geary. the Commisioner for Children and Young People, spoke to us when we were invited to State Parliament in 2013. He was impressed and has offered his support to our project. We think its an awesome project because it can change kids lives. We started this from nothing a year ago and we need help to make this massive. Every time we produce a backpack another kid goes home and talks about foster care. This can change lives!

Delhi (Inactive) – History -Monuments

2014-04-22T00:00:00Z

I am working with multiple dimensions on paper which is an extension of the previous, experimenting over surface and media with the theme being history and monuments. The places or monuments in my works may refer to recognizable and popular sites. But I use them only as reference signs to bring about certain experiences and specific instants. The architecture and the city spaces can also be seen as enclosures bounding the self without allowing its social interaction. In that way they are disciplinary mechanisms in play within the picture frame. Also the dark colors and layered textures try to bring about the gloomy and layered intermingling of situations and emotions. They are shown in such a way that one always sees the scene with some obstructions or screens. No scene or image is done in a clear manner. I feel this is what characterizes our situation, where every information reaches us only after passing through several screens

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Mikst Me-di-an

2014-04-22T00:00:00Z

MIXED MEDIAN: “I went looking for a reflection of myself in a Museum, couldn’t find any--so I decided to hang here.” Mixed; /mikst/ Adjective ~ Consisting of different qualities or elements. Median; me·di·an /ˈmedean/ Noun ~ the median value of a range of values, noting or pertaining to a plane dividing something into two equal parts. _______________________________ I have been photographing Mixed Race People, from Eastern NY to the San Francisco Bay, Northern Buffalo to Southern Texas. I set up shop, for 2-7 days in any given city. Work 9-12 hr days. Then on the heels of each PHOTO session, I walk the individual over to a pre-lit area, and ask them questions for the VIDEO portion. I am aiming to capture, reflect and catalog the varied scope and subjective life experiences of Mixed Race People, from all economic stratas/Aged 4-100/Women/Men/LGBTQ. I have been working on this project in between directing film/tv gigs, personally funding it. After culling a wide range of PHOTOS & VIDEO footage, I intend for the exhibit to tour statewide. Ultimately, I will donate the elements to a University Library or archival Museum as contemporary commentary on Mixed Race People, in America.

Gloucester, MA – Judith Sargent Murray Comes Alive!

2014-04-22T00:00:00Z

We feel called to resurrect the great plays of Judith Sargent Murray, and awaken a new audience to her theatrical work. We strongly believe that a fully staged production of her first play - a comedy - The Medium, or Virtue Triumphant (1795), could put Judith Sargent Murray back on the national map. In turn, this will draw new attention and interest to her work as a writer and to her historical significance as a founding mother of our nation. We also believe that this production will positively impact interest in our community partner the Sargent House Museum as a cultural tourist destination. The Medium has not been seen on a stage since 1795, has never before been performed in Gloucester, and was the first play to be legitimately produced in Boston (Federal Theater)- and quite possibly America. Thus, it will be a historically significant event, and we expect it to receive not only regional, but national attention. We have invited the Sargent House Museum to join hands with us as a partner in doing the work it will take to fund and promote this monumental event. We are adding The Medium to our 2014 season to launch it in August, in the hopes that we will be able to stage it outdoors, on the lawn of the Sargent House itself.

Doha (Inactive) – Mokha Origin

2014-04-22T00:00:00Z

We're a group of Harvard students who met through the University's Innovation Lab. We would like to import and market Yemen's impressive Mokha coffee, thus encouraging the country's development and stability, Have you heard of Mokha? It's not only a Starbucks drink but the name of the port, Al Mokha, from which Yemen exported coffee 500 years ago. They were the first place in the world to cultivate and trade beans. Back in the day, Mokha was associated with Yemeni coffee, which is known for chocolate undertones. Times change, Mokha loses the Yemen connection but not that of chocolate. Thus, you have the misleading Starbucks beverage of today. This is where we need you! We have an idea, namely reclaim Mokha for the authentic product. But doing so is a large marketing challenge. At the moment, we are getting our coffee on the shelves of Whole Foods, a premium grocery store in the US. This will be our first store, and if we are successful at this, we will be ready to scale bigger. For this grocery story process, we are on track doing the paperwork. But we need funding to hone our marketing and create a product design that we can use for a national product. We have fortunately found a team of three designers from the Harvard School of Design who are doing this work for low cost. But once they are done, we need to custom print small runs of coffee bags and marketing material. This is where your funding would come in. Additionally, we will do tastings at Whole Foods to develop our brand and customers who shop at this Whole Foods Market River location. This process will be at a loss but part of building momentum. Tying into our larger goals, this first grocery store is the initial step to growing first regionally in Boston and then to 100 and then 1000 stores across the country. Then we will have a national product and be on track to see Yemen's coffee sector double in size in ten years. Accomplishing this means job opportunities supporting 650,000 people in Yemen.

San Antonio, TX – Alamo Forest Partnership/SiClovia September 2014

2014-04-21T00:00:00Z

AFP is best known for its annual “Jammin Jams Fruit Tree Adoptions” at the Pearl Farmers Market. This event is a public tree adoption event of 500-750 fruit and nut trees. Before an individual can adopt a tree they must first complete an education session to learn about the commitment of tree adoptions - proper placement, planting and maintenance. AFP is requesting $1000.00 from Awesome SA to expand its tree adoption event reach to the YMCA’s September 2014 SiClovia event. Síclovía is a free event that turns major city streets in to a safe place for people to exercise and play. Based on the previous four SiClovia events we expect over 65,000 participants. AFP has found this event to be a perfect opportunity to engage a large audience to learn the value trees bring to San Antonio and to take the pledge by adopting a tree. Each individual adopting a tree will be required to complete an education session on proper tree care. AFP with its matching funds of $1000.00 will commit to have at least 400 one-gallon trees adopted by San Antonio families.

Miami, FL – Borscht Nights

2014-04-20T00:00:00Z

For almost a decade, the Borscht Film Festival has increased the vibrancy of Miami by facilitating local artists to tell Miami stories through film, and providing a platform to share these films with the community at large. We screen and commission films that portray a wide diversity of stories about the city, empowering local citizens to define Miami’s cinematic identity for themselves. Up until this point the Borscht Film Festival has been held in large spaces in urban centers to accommodate the size of the audiences, but in our research we found many people travel from disparate communities to attend the festival. We are seeking funding to bring the films directly to some of the diverse communities that inspired them, creating a greater sense of civic pride and community engagement. The lack of reliable public transportation in Miami makes it difficult to have as diverse an audience as we would like, and we feel creating a monthly series of free popup film screenings in underused spaces located in underserved communities would be received very positively. Of all the art forms, cinema is one of the most accessible, and each screening would be curated to maximize the accessibility in these neighborhoods that receive less than their share of arts programming. For instance, we would play films that were made in or about the neighborhoods we are screening them in, as well as films that deal with themes that are predominant in that specific community. Local musicians or artists that complement the films could perform before them to give the screening a sense of being an event. We could also bring in filmmakers originally from the neighborhoods for an open Q and A. These events are projected to take place every month for the duration of the year and beyond, and will lead up to the Borscht Film Festival.

Liverpool – Shared Futures

2014-04-19T00:00:00Z

Manna Community Kitchen understands food & believes in its catalytic properties. Liverpool is home to a vibrant migrant & refugee community. Many have had to flee warzones, oppression & persecution and unfortunately their struggles do not always end there. Life as a refugee can be isolating and lonely, particularly for many women whose religious beliefs debar them from engaging with the wider community & integrating fully in society. These women are frequently unable to access the support networks which they are entitled to. Shared Futures is a women only cookery collective that provides a safe & socially acceptable forum for these women to socialise, form relationships & learn about what support is available to them & where they can access this help. Shared Futures is about making friends & regaining confidence. It is a warm and casual environment that is completely adaptable to the needs of each individual woman. At Manna Community Kitchen, we welcome everyone into the kitchen. Each workshop is led by local refugee & immigrant women & offers a true cultural exchange & the opportunity to learn, first hand, how to prepare speciality food from all over the world. All workshops are hands on & once the meal is prepared, everyone sits down together to enjoy the meal we have shared in preparing. Each workshop facilitates dialogue into the association of food and memory; aiding integration through the creation of a familiar, comforting meal in what is, for many, an unfamiliar setting. At every workshop, each woman will receive a menu card outlining the ingredients needed to recreate the dish elsewhere & the necessary information on costing & where exactly each product can be sourced in the city. This means that each participant leaves with a little taste of home.

Dubai (Inactive) – Bilbaal

2014-04-18T00:00:00Z

The UAE has a large population of skilled human capital from all nationalities that are sympathetic to the Palestinian struggle and want to get involved. However, many of those compassionate to the Palestinian cause are currently impassive due an extensive information gap. THey want to help and don't know how. Therefore, a friend and I are launching an online platform (“Bilbaal”) which will connect UAE-based professionals interested in donating their time and skills to Palestinian organizations that need them. We are optimistic that by matching needs to resources, and minimizing search time on behalf of users, civic engagement will increase. We are essentially doing all the homework on behalf of the user. We named our platform "Bilbaal" because it is means "on your mind" in Arabic, and highlights the need to keep the Palestine on our minds. Bilbaal will ultimately be a facilitator and primary information source for anyone in the UAE interested in helping the Palestinian cause. We believe Bilbaal will be able to: • Create a community that brings likeminded individuals and charitable organizations together • Facilitate engagement with and contribution to existing Palestinian initiatives globally • Organize information in a simple and interactive manner for individuals and organizations • Encourage collaboration and interconnect organizations dedicated to similar causes • Highlight ongoing activities through an events calendar per country Professionals will be able to create a profile and search the site for projects that fit their skills and personal interests. Additionally, there will be an events calendar outlining Palestinian related events around the world. Professionals will also be able to learn from other user experiences through a rating tool we will have in place and message other uses through a private messaging system.

Detroit, MI (Inactive) – Urban Nation Radio

2014-04-18T00:00:00Z

The next two phases of our Urban Nation Radio project include 1) sustaining the station to assist youth with business acumen and assistance with college tuition and 2)the animation project for the station that will further our community education concerning behavior driving economic outcomes. The phase of sustaining the station includes research and development on the different revenue streams that a web radio station may generate for its sustainability. Youth will learn how to compare and contrast different radio formats, leverage social media and the internet, evaluate trends, develop advertising packages, and create a sustainability plan for the station and scholarship for youth. The youth will present ideas and proposals for sustainability projects by the close of April 2014. Urban Nation Radio plans to present annual scholarships with the first presented in 2015. The animation portion of the project is engaging the creativity and imagination of the teens and young adults who have talent in media arts, animation, storytelling, video editing and the like. The animation shorts will be designed as advertising and show break fillers that educate youth on today's topics such as bullying, obesity, sexual identity issues, local and global politics, economics, education and much more. The stories will be entertaining, humorous, informative and engaging. The youth are slated to present character ideas by the mid May 2014.

Kingston – Furnishing families, singles and youth

2014-04-17T00:00:00Z

OK, Working with homeless I have noticed many clients finally receive housing but do not have the furnishings to make their new place a home. It is well known that here in Kingston on April 30th there are many furnishings put to the curb as that is the day that Queens and St. Lawrence college students move out. Myself and a close friend/co-worker have been brainstorming how we can put these furnishings to use to the homeless population here in Kingston. We have come up with an idea to advertise throughout the University and College with posters, letters to the prof's and in the journal. We have also made sign up sheets to put in all the shelters of Kingston so any clients moving out will be able to sign up for needed furnishings. This idea can happen, we just need storage and Homebase housing has many properties but very little storage throughout these properties.

New York City, NY – Curbside Compost Messaging

2014-04-17T00:00:00Z

I have been collaboratively teaching Cafcu’s ARTS+ACTION Cafeteria Waste Reduction curriculum to over 4,000 K-8th graders in 14 schools, mostly located in low-income minority communities. Teaching the “why” before the “how,” we train students to be Cafeteria Rangers who oversee all sorting and recycling. I also teach “Make Change Messaging” lessons, which culminate in student designed campaigns, such as building giant puppets, to engage entire communities on the inextricably link between garbage and climate change. NYC recently launched a School Composting Program, which has expanded from 60 schools to almost 400, with plans to accommodate all 1,800 public schools. But the NYC school cafeteria lunch period is a unique situation within the school day, full of obstacles for achieving recycling, composting and proper sorting. Due to operational gaps, limited cafeteria staff, few educational components, and lack of kid-appealing signage, the contents of the compost bins (totes) often look identical to that of the trash bins. Additionally, curbside theft of the new totes is a growing problem. Our team has spent thousands of hours training students and school staff in cafeterias, primarily in underserved communities. We constantly pilot new ways of improving the cafeteria recycling procedure and sorting stations. We also seek new methods of engaging youth on the environmental injustice issues surrounding NYC’s 11,000 tons of garbage generated daily. Building upon the success of ARTS+ACTION, we will lead the Curbside Compost Messaging (C2m) project as an after school workshop with low-income minority youth from grades 3-5 in 2 Crown Heights -Brooklyn schools. Youth will co-design and paint 3 D murals directly onto the City’s new totes (there are 8 totes per school), transforming the dull brown totes with their visual messages of garbage reduction, beautifying Brooklyn, and composting, to inspire and educate their peers and neighboring communities.

Sydney – OpenLingo

2014-04-16T00:00:00Z

OpenLingo is an awesome project that aims to create Global Good through the creation of an opensource mobile application and cloud platform to ensure the protect and maintenance of endangered languages globally. OpenLingo is being built as an opensource platform that uses crowdcoding to create the platform and will also provide for crowdsourcing of languages. To date a lot of systems have been built globally but these projects have all worked in individually in silos. What we aim to do through OpenLingo is create a platform that delivers a system that will ensure the protect of languages globally and the creation of a platform that provide a global space where this most important data is stored and protected, and accessible. OpenLingo also aims to alleviate tech issues that groups may have with protecting their languages and allow them to concentrate the knowledge transfer of these languages. The most important part of protecting endangered languages. We are currently underway with stage one of the project which is to engage socially with people across the globe in preparation for the release of OpenLingo on crowdfunding platform kickstarter.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Morbid Anatomy Museum Live Stream

2014-04-14T00:00:00Z

Since 2009, Morbid Anatomy has presented hundreds of lectures by museum professionals, rogue scholars, and autodidacts at our base in Brooklyn, New York. These lectures--just a few of which have included Selfies At Funerals: Postmortem Photography and Cultural Taboos; The Dark Arts in the Dark Ages; Dracula, Degeneration and Syphilitic Births at the Fin de Siècle; Women Who Bite: Chastity Belts, Castration Anxiety and Feminism; Heavenly Bodies: Jeweled Sacred Skeletons of the 16th Century; and Viva la Muerte: The Mushrooming Cult of Saint Death--are often sold out, standing room only affairs, and have cultivated a passionate community of like minded people over the years. Since we began this series, our international audience has steadily grown; we now regularly hear from readers in places as diverse as Japan, Australia, Spain, France, Belgium, the UK, Sweden, South Africa and Mexico. Nearly every time we list a lecture on our Facebook page--which now has nearly 200,000 followers-- we receive at least one comment asking about the possibility of viewing these lectures remotely from those unable to make it to our (very small!) physical space in Brooklyn. We would use an Awesome Without Borders grant to purchase cameras and other equipment necessary to livecast and archive Youtube videos of our events so that the non-New York based Morbid Anatomy community can enjoy the awesomeness of these lectures, which are, at the moment, ephemeral affairs for locals only (and a severely limited number at that!). We are sure that livecasting and archiving the Morbid Anatomy lectures online will radically enhance our work and radically expand our reach. We have a very large and active social media following who will, in this way, finally be able to truly connect with our unique programming, to virtually join our community, and to meet the roster of fascinating and underrepresented scholars, artists, and autodidacts who make up the greater Morbid Anatomy community!

Ottawa – Good Art Shouldn't be Hard to Find

2014-04-14T00:00:00Z

April’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to Kristina Corre, to support an Easter egg hunt for original artwork hidden across the city. “I've always loved a good easter egg hunt,” says Kristina. “My favourite part of the hunt, of course, is being the one to hide the eggs. My awesome project is the chance for me to be that Easter bunny for Ottawa. But instead of leaving mystery chocolates that no one will want to eat off the streets, I'm going to leave some original, hand-painted, made-with-love art.” Kristina aims to use 10x10” wood panels, leaving five pieces of art in each of the city’s 23 wards. Some pieces she will produce herself, and others will be made by talented friends and artists she plans to recruit. Each piece will be accompanied by a note encouraging members of the public to take it home if they love it. Before being dispersed through the city, the art will be shown at the Chinatown Remixed festival. Kristina, who blogs at goodthingsottawa.ca, is an architecture graduate who has recently embraced her artistic talents. She invites other artists interested in producing a panel to contact her at goodthingsottawa@gmail.com. You can follow her progress at awesomearthunt.tumblr.com.

Portland, OR – Shrink Circuits Nomad Lab

2014-04-10T00:00:00Z

Shrink Circuits Uncanny Laboratory (SCUL) is a transportable workshop for teaching anyone the fundamentals of product design and solderless electrical circuits. I organize 1-3 hour project-based workshops that let participants create and build their own robots, synthesizers, board games, desk lamps, and other fun projects. We use shrink plastic as a main constructing substrate, because it easy to work with, can be readily changed to suit radically different project needs, and, once it has been baked and shrunken, is a permanent, water-proof, durable substance that can be used for practical, mechanical design applications. The project materials are all provided for participants, and utilize techniques that do not require advanced learning or previous experience. The idea is to empower participants in the experience of creating a functioning device of their own design, working to develop project specifications that suit particular uses that they imagine. Participants become acquainted with the "language" of design, even as they articulate their own vision in the unique shapes and forms their project takes. Because we emphasize accessible, safe methods and materials, participants learn to jump into the challenge of "making" or inventing without fear of failure. Things can repaired, processes can be redone, and SCUL lets participants experience the benefits from failures or mistakes during rapid iteration and prototyping. Some SCUL projects may end up departing entirely from the schematics, Arduino code or provided starting points of the project to arrive at some new invention - all the better! The SCUL begins with a group of 5-25 participants who are given materials, supplies, some helpful guidelines and the basic knowledge required to complete the project. At the end of every SCUL workshop, participants leave with a functioning electronic device that they made. We have taken SCUL to Maker Faires and MakerSpaces around the world, now we hit the streets of Portland!

Seattle, WA – Musical Trip Around the World

2014-04-10T00:00:00Z

My musical partner, Diego Coy from Colombia, South America and I from Japan will introduce our native music and encourage the audience to participate by joining them in singing in both Japanese and Spanish as well as body percussion. This program is designed to have children/youths understand different cultures and languages by introducing a new genre of music. Participants will have the opportunity to learn the names and histories of various instruments that are very rare to find in the States. This 45 minute program includes elements that appeal to audiences of all ages. Miho and Diego have found great joy in exploring and mastering the musical traditions of their own countries and feel it is a wonderful tool to stay connected to their roots even after leaving their homes. It is from this joy that the concept of this program is derived; to encourage participants, whether born in or outside of the United States, to begin to discover and explore their own heritage. The program aims to accomplish this goal by combining two of the most natural and powerful aspects of cultural identity, music and language.

Miami, FL – Sweatstock #5

2014-04-08T00:00:00Z

Sweatstock has become a local institution but is still overall a giant labor of love. This free, annual block party/pop-up music festival celebrates Sweat's anniversary, the international Record Store Day "holiday", and the Miami music scene as a whole. The main stage outside and the Churchill's stage next door feature almost entirely homegrown artists from a variety of genres. We don't repeat bands year to year to shake things up, and only artists whom we've seen putting the work in get selected. SSSHHHH (seriously) but this year's headliner is AJ Davila of San Juan, PR garage rockers Davila 666. His new solo album "Terror Amor" on Nacional Records has gotten blown up by NPR, Pitchfork, VICE, Spin, MTV Iggy, etc. and he'll be playing Sweatstock fresh off a handful of shows at SXSW. In addition to the tons of live music there is comedy, food trucks, DJs, film (the back patio stage at Churchill's is the "Borscht Lounge" this year), a bike valet, and more. 2014 is the 5th year of us putting on the festival. We get overwhelmingly great feedback from the event and loads of people say it's their favorite day of the year. It's also a living example of the amazing sense of community in Miami's arts'music/activism scenes. Walk around Sweatstock and you'll see people laughing, hugging, running into old friends and making new ones. People bring their kids, pets, lovers, band mates, parents, etc. Did we mention that the entire event is free to the public?? When does that ever happen...

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Jafflechutes: North America

2014-04-07T00:00:00Z

Jafflechutes is a Melbourne-born toasted sandwich parachute delivery service. Over the last nine months, myself and a small closely-knit team have been holding jaffle-parachuting events throughout Melbourne that work a bit like this: 1) Order a jaffle of your choice and elect a delivery time through a bespoke, mobile-friendly website 2) Travel to a pre-arranged location in the Melbourne CBD ('find the X!') 3) Catch your jaffle as it floats down from the sky All parachutes are hand-made, and all jaffles cooked with the greatest love and care. We strive to create an experience that is as entertaining and deliciously unique as possible. Any jafflechutes that get caught in trees / eaten by a ledges / whisked away by Wind Gods are immediately replaced, *free of charge*. Jafflechutes is not a money-making operation. All profits (if any) are re-invested in materials or donated to charity (Fr Bob Foundation, Lifeline). We are proudly Melbourne-based, and consider ourselves the beneficiaries of the city’s unique architecture, cultural industries and batman-crazy weather. To this date we have operated exclusively within Melbourne, but now we want to take Melbourne to North America (!!!!). At this stage, we are planning three Jafflechutes events throughout North America - New York City, Montreal and Vancouver. Each event will operate largely as they do back home, however the realities of working in unfamiliar spaces will in all probability significantly increase costs (and losses, *but not fun*).

Tel Aviv - קרן בקטנה (Inactive) – Medical Wigs for Children with Cancer

2014-04-07T00:00:00Z

This project produces and donates wigs for children suffering with cancer.

Yerevan – Ուշագրավ գիտություն

2014-04-07T00:00:00Z

Ծխի մետրանոց օղակներ, հայացքից հալվող մետաղյա գդալ (ճիշտ և ճիշտ Մատրիցի պես), անտեսանելի հեղուկ, անհետացող թանաք, երեխաներ պղպջակներում, մետրանոց կառավարելի երգող կայծակներ ու վայրկյանական փչվող ահռելի տոպրակներ, առանց լարի վառվող լամպեր ու ամպրոպ բանկայում։ Կառավարելի հրաբխեր, ակնթարթային սևացող թափանցիկ հեղուկ, կանաչ ու դեղին բոց, անհետացող մետաղական փշեր, օպտիկական խաբկանքներ ու վեր բարձրացող վզնոց։ Փշրվող թարմ ծաղիկներ ) Հակիրճ՝ անում ենք Երևանում, տարածում մարզերում ու դպրոցներում։ Բանից պարզվեց, որ ուշագրավ, անսպասելի արդյունքով գիտափորձերը կարող են զարմացնել անգամ աշխարհի լավագույն կենտրոնների մասնագետ շրջանավարտներին։ Այդ փորձերը մարդկանց մղում են շրջակա բնության ու միջավայրի մասին հարցեր տալու ու պատասխաններ փնտրելու։ Ի վերջո, պարզապես սիրուն են (տե՛ս կցված նկարները)։ Մենք ուսումնասիրել ենք ողջ ոլորտը և մեր պայմաններում, համեմատաբար պարզ գործողություններով, սարքերով ու նյութերով կարող ենք ցուցադրել մոտ 200 փորձ։ Սա նշանակում է, որ ամեն երեկո մեկ ժամանոց միջոցառման պարագայում անգամ (ուր կա մոտ 10-15 փորձ) կարող ենք մի ամիս ամեն օր էապես տարբեր ծրագրեր իրագործել։ Ավելին, բեմական խիստ ուշագրավ շոուին կհաջորդեն բաց տաղավարները՝ պակաս վտանգավոր, սակայն մասշտաբացվող փորձերով, որոնցից յուրաքանչյուր երեխա մի փոքրիկ փորձարարական հավաքածու կտանի տուն ու մի լավ կզվարճանա։ Սրանց կարելի է ավելացնել թեմատիկ workshop-եր (օր՝ 15 վայրկյանում ինքնուրույն պաղպաղակ պատրաստել ֆիզիկայի միջոցով)։ Ծրագիրը լայն է, ներառում է փորձեր գերսառը, գերտաք նյութերի հետ (այսինքն՝ մարդիկ կտեսնեն սառույց, մառախուղ, պայթյուններ, կրակ), մեխանիկական, օպտիկական, էլեկտրամագնիսական փորձեր։ Մշակված է նաև մի տասնյակ հարմար փորձ հեռուստատեսության համար։ Այսպիսով, միտքը հետևյալն է. ցուցադրել Երևանի կենտրոնում, հետո՝ հեռուստատեսությամբ, ապա, առաջացած բուռն հետաքրքրության ալիքի վրա տարածել մարզերով (մեքենան և ֆինանսավորումն արդեն կան), իսկ դրա հիման վրա էլ տարածել դպրոցներում (օրինակ՝ մի քանի տասնյակ դպրոցական ուսուցիչների պարզ վերապատրաստմամբ)։