Awesome Foundation - Projects

Gloucester, MA – Beeman School After School Floor Hockey Program

2018-03-30T00:00:00Z

The after school Floor Hockey program is run by the Beeman gym teacher ( Mr. Connerty) independent of regular school activities . This program has been bringing the Beeman community together for 15+ years, is open to 3rd-5th graders and is loved by all participants past and present. The program promotes a healthy active lifestyle as well as leadership skills and teamwork. There are eight teams with about eight players on each. They play 1-3 games a week. Each team has a captain that also acts as coach. Children interested in being a captain must write and present a speech explaining why they want to be captain and their approach to running a team. After the captains are chosen they run a draft, choose their teammates and the fun begins.

Piqua, OH (Inactive) – Taste of the Arts Piqua OH Event

2018-03-29T00:00:00Z

We at the Indian Nation Station would like to provide the community with an experience of a lifetime. We would like to have a booth set up at the Taste of the Arts event in May to be able to have T-shirts with our logo to sell to raise money for the Piqua High School Media Department. At this event we will have a booth set up so community members are able to come up and get their picture taken or have a video taken in front of a green screen. We will be able to place them anywhere they would like to be placed. We will then post these pictures and videos onto our social media pages for people to share and get the pictures or videos straight onto their phones. We want to show the community what our capabilities are at the Indian Nation Station. We would also like to get more notoriety as a Public Access Television Station to the community of Piqua and t let them know that we have changed since the station moved from WOTVC at Edison State to the new Indian Nation Station at Piqua City Schools. This event will help us get the word to the community about what the students of Piqua City Schools are learning and are able to accomplish working side by side with me and the Media Instructor to learn about how film, edit, direct, etc content suitable for cable television.

Piqua, OH (Inactive) – Shawnee Earth Day

2018-03-29T00:00:00Z

I am planning a Earth Day event for the Shawnee Community. I have meet with the ward commissioner and talked plans with him. He has in turn has meet with the city manager and the idea has been blessed off on. I am going to move forward with planning portion. I would appreciate your support with the event. I will be hosting the event on 21 Apr 2018..

Sydney – Heart and Soul Story's S.T.E.P

2018-03-29T00:00:00Z

PROB: Mental health epidemics at the opposite ends of life. An epidemic of increasing YOUTH mental health issues, coinciding with an epidemic of increasing loneliness and depression in our Elderly. A National Mental Health Commision reported Kids Helpline counsellors now making more than twice as many emergency calls than two years ago. Health Minister Wyatt lamented in Oct 17 that UP TO 40% OF RESIDENTS IN AGED CARE GET NO VISITORS. Solution: I have been working pro bono to design and implement a program bringing together Teens and Elders in Aged Care in a Story Sharing program, S.T.E.P ( Seniors and Teens Empathy Program). After volunteering with my own children at our local facility and seeing how few volunteers the residents receive, I knew I had to do something about it I approached Kids Giving Back to allow me to utilise their website to recruit the teens; then managed all stakeholder relationships within the Aged Care facility( staff & residents) and parents/ teens leading up to and including during and post the pilot. My website and FB page outline a lot of detail about the incredible community connection a program like STEP is enabling .. an example is a summary below of what some of the Teens and Elders have had to say about the program Some of the Teens have described their experience over the past 6 weeks as "interesting, fun and informative " others as " exciting, interesting and joyful". One went so far as to call it "sublime". Their Elder partners described a "joy and happiness" to have the Teens visit each week. "I'm just happy they are here !" When Teens were surveyed as to how likely they would be to recommend STEP to friends -50% indicated 10/10 - 25% 9/10 - 25% 7/10

New York City, NY – Pedestrian Wanderlust

2018-03-28T00:00:00Z

_Pedestrian Wanderlust is a movement of improvised dance in public spaces aimed at creating a global community that celebrates freedom of expression and a diversity of people, places, and creative movement._ _We have an ongoing video portrait series which has already featured over 300 dancers of all different ages, cultures, and walks of life. We have filmed in New York, Los Angeles, Wisconsin, Colorado, Florida, Puerto Rico, and Spain and wish to keep traveling and capturing more people dancing all over the world._ _In our hometown of New York we host monthly dance jams in public parks where we gather live musicians and offer free dance classes for all levels._ _Our newest series is the blind date duet series where we bring two people of different backgrounds together and have them improvise together and form a relationship through movement before ever exchanging a word._ _It is our belief that everyone is a dancer and we wish to inspire people to get moving creatively and exploring their bodies in new ways while bringing people together._ **AwesomeNYC is excited to be able to support Pedestrian Wanderlust's 2018 season of dance jams!** Watch [this video](https://pedestrianwanderlust.com/blogs/community/join-the-movement) to learn more about the movement and some of their upcoming events.

Washington, DC – Good In Our Neighborhood Film Festival

2018-03-28T00:00:00Z

The majority of our students at Washington Global Public Charter School are from Southwest and Southeast, DC. Since they realize no matter which ward they reside in there is so much good in their neighborhoods, students collaborated with their teacher to test concepts for showing other DC residents (as well as the entire DMV community) the good that makes their neighborhoods unique and beautiful. Students also decided a film festival displaying both their talents as well as the great things in their communities would be one of the best ways to give back to the communities they love. Therefore, their goal is to create a series of documentary, short films, and animations that highlight exciting residential and commercial areas of both Southeast and Southwest as well as the residents and rich history in both areas of DC. It is their hope that creating a series of positive documentaries, short films and animations about the Southwest and Southeast communities will bring those communities together and show everyone who attends the good in their neighborhoods.

Tallahassee, FL (Inactive) – C.A.N! - "College Added Necessities"

2018-03-27T00:00:00Z

When it comes to purchasing basic items for health and hygiene, from shampoo to toothpaste to deodorant to toilet tissue for a typical family in the same household can be a challenge to most middle to low-income residence. Often households are out of luck on being stocked with pertinent necessities. Then to add a positive upward life opportunity for a disadvantage youth to attend college/vocational and potentially leave home for college life/apartment/dorm further can detrimental impact the financial capacity of the family/student/individual. Here’s where C.A.N. (College Added Necessities), a pilot program and a brain child of a James S. Rickards alumnus and James S. Rickards High School Alumni Board Member – Sheila Thompson Williams. The program softly launched in 2017 and provided a few graduating high school seniors who were college bound with hygiene kits and dorm room items in plastic laundry baskets. The C.A.N. baskets will be handed out with coordination with high schools and verification that the student has been accepted into higher educational pursuit will be required. A standard C.A.N. Basics kit may include a pair of clean socks, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, deodorant, wet wipes, a first aid kit, toilet tissue and feminine or male hygiene products, computer jump drive, school folders, paper and more. These can be adjusted for adjusted for different users' needs. The intent is to, at least begin purchasing items with distribution to begin April 2018/May 2018 for twenty-five (25) or more disadvantage youth. This will be an on-going yearly endeavor with the intent to sprawl city and countywide one day.

Melbourne (Inactive) – Wheelie Good Greenhouse

2018-03-27T00:00:00Z

We are determined to create a Wheelie Good Greenhouse: a mobile infrastructure project where community gardening groups across Melbourne can have temporary access to a greenhouse on wheels. We have designed a greenhouse attached to a trailer which can be easily moved between community gardens so that they can run seed raising workshops, save money by growing their own seedlings and engage more of the local community through greenhouse education events. One of the problems that community groups face when trying to start and maintain a community garden is the prohibitive cost of providing things like plants. We’ve seen this first hand while working with community groups to build gardens across Melbourne - nearly none of which have access to a permanent greenhouse. There is a huge demand for access to a greenhouse - and this is the idea that can deliver. This grant could support the construction and use of the Wheelie Good Greenhouse: providing funding to help us build our design. Once complete it will have multiple uses including for garden builds, planting days, workshops, educational sessions, fundraisers and events across Melbourne.

Portland, OR – Finders Creatures

2018-03-27T00:00:00Z

Finders Creatures is public art piece based around a treasure hunt. I have been hand-sculpting small beasties that I have begun casting in resin-- right now I have made molds of the unicorn and the wolf, but I have several more creatures in the works I'd like to add to the lineup. I plan to cast 200 pieces in a range of colors and finishes and hide them throughout the city for people to find and keep. Each one has a seal on the bottom, identifying the project and inviting finders into the larger experience. In addition, I'm building a progressive web app as the hub of the hunt. It is accessible from computer, tablet or phone, and can be downloaded on to devices the same as a native app an, but without the middleman of the App Store. Within the app, participants can: -See progress and behind the scenes details in the Beast Factory blog section -See the current hunts and their clues -Comment on hunts and clues -Be alerted with push notifications when a new hunt is live -Submit pictures of their finds -See locations of clues and creatures on the live map -Support the project through Patreon -Adopt a beast of their own through the online shop I've done public treasure hunt projects before, but have always had to rely on Instagram for clues and communication. I'm so excited to build one that has its own app as a home base I can customize and use to really draw players in. I'm a firm believer that we need to create space for magic and play in our lives. Finders Creatures is designed to allow me to do just that and also share it with others... I mean, really, who doesn't love a good treasure hunt? Especially when you are rewarded with unicorns?

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Offering GIRLS CREATE SUMMER CAMPS to the Deaf/HOH

2018-03-26T00:00:00Z

Athena Project strengthens the local Denver Colorado artistic community by empowering women and girls to embrace their place as leaders in the arts. It does this by producing an annual women’s art festival that embraces diversity through the celebration of dance, music, theatre, fashion and visual art. Furthermore, Athena Project works to support and encourage future generations of female artistic leaders through summer camp offerings specifically for girls going into 6th-10th grades. Athena Project’s GIRLS CREATE SUMMER CAMPS, taught by professional artists, focus on playwriting, fashion design, improvisation and visual art. Each camp culminates with a public showcase of the student’s artwork. This year, Athena Project is excited to include a camp accessible to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community (Deaf/HOH) in its GIRLS CREATE SUMMER CAMPS offerings. The accessibility of this camp provides a unique opportunity for young women in the Deaf/HOH community to work with established professional artists and receive mentorship in their artistic discipline. The camp, available to young women in both the Deal/HOH community and the hearing community, also strives to break down barriers that lead to audism. Athena Project has an established relationship with the Deaf/HOH community in the Denver Metro Area. Ruthie Jordan, a Deaf/HOH community activist, artist, and teaching artist will be our teacher for the week as we have worked with her on other performances throughout our year. We have also successfully partnered with FLOW Interpreting to provide American Sign Language interpreters for various events during the annual Athena Project Arts Festival. Both FLOW and Ms. Jordan have been instrumental in working with Athena Project to find ways to further engage the Deaf/HOH community. An accessible GIRLS CREATE SUMMER CAMP is one manifestation of this.

Alaska (Inactive) – Books for BOB the Bookmobile!

2018-03-25T00:00:00Z

BOB (Books on Board) the Bookmobile was purchased by the Friends of the Homer Library (FHL) to promote reading, lifelong learning, and the services offered at the Homer Public Library. The primary focus of BOB is youth who do not use library services. During the summer, volunteers take BOB to playgrounds where kids and families are invited to borrow books and learn about library services. In the fall, BOB visits area elementary schools where books are loaned to teachers and each student also selects a book of their own to keep. So far, all of the books distributed through BOB have been donated through book drives at area schools and the Homer Public Library. The schools in the Russian villages Voznesenka and Razdolna do not have school libraries. For them, the chance to have a portable library visit is not only exciting, but a valuable enrichment opportunity. When FHL planned the first BOB visit, a teacher asked us: “What books can you bring?” Our response was: “What books do you need?” It quickly became apparent that the donated collection was not sufficient. English is a second language for many of the students in the Russian villages, and it is misguided to assume that the students have the same interests and passions as kids at larger schools in Homer. Recently, FHL volunteers culled BOB of severely worn out books. While FHL will continue to make use of donated books, it’s evident that FHL needs to curate a collection that fits the needs and interests of those FHL seeks to reach. FHL has invited representatives from area schools to attend a brunch at the library where they can give feedback regarding the kinds of books their students love, and the types of books they wish their students had more access to. With their recommendations, along with guidance from library staff, FHL will purchase new and gently-used books for our bookmobile collection, which will then be loaned to kids during BOB’s summer and fall outreach programs.

San Francisco, CA – Liquid Loom

2018-03-24T00:00:00Z

Liquid Loom is a retrospective into the scientific foundations of digital flat-screen technology, revealing electro-kinetic behavior of liquid crystal media in-between two pieces of polarized glass. This exhibit lifts the mysterious veil of complex electronics and reveals the inherent beauty of liquid crystals, a liquid media on which most modern video flat screens are based. This work reaches back into the landfills of anthropocene waste, upcycling otherwise discarded LCD technology, in hopes to subvert our western ideals of pixel precision and offer an alternative to the dominant paradigm of perfection, transcending our beliefs around what is materially valuable and revealing the true analog inner nature and unique beauty of the liquid crystals, themselves. The natural kinetic response of liquid crystals to surrounding ambient voltage offers a macroscale window into the sublte world of electron flow. Electron movement is easily witnessed on a human scale through the LCDs natural response to ambient electrostatic fields, as free ions find a path to ground through finger contact with conductive edge pins. Beautiful “glitch” style patterns reminiscent of subconscious surrealist art emerge through experimental play with liquid crystals, offering insight into the underlying physical behavior of LC technology.

Milano (Inactive) – questa città non è un albergo

2018-03-23T00:00:00Z

Milano possiede oltre 135870 punti luce led disposti sul suo territorio. Il consumo di questi è circa di 55.000.000 Kwh. L'accensione e lo spegnimento di questi avviene a orari prefissati che cambiano 3 volte al mese di circa 10 minuti.( in realtà varia a seconda del periodo dell'anno) Il problema è che spesso le condizioni di visibilità e quindi la necessità o meno di luce varia a seconda delle effettive condizioni ambientali. Quello che vogliamo fare è semplicemente utilizzare sensori luminosi posti al di sopra dei lampioni per misurare l'effettiva necessità di accendere o spegnere quel preciso lampione.Questo unito a uno switcher posto la livello di cablaggio alla base del lampione gestirà l'accensione/spegnimento della luce. Oltre hai vantaggi in termini di sicurezza stradale di avere sempre le strade correttamente illuminate prevediamo un notevole risparmio. Supponendo anche giusti gli aggiustamenti a dieci giorni di dieci minuti abbiamo uno spreco cumulativo di 1 minuto al giorno fino al 9 giorno in cui vengono risparmiati 9 minuti. Per un sistemo che consuma 55 milioni di kilowatt all'ora non è poco. Circa 135 minuti al mese pari a più di 123 milioni di kilowatt. Non abbiamo ancora considerato gli orari di spegnimento che meriterebbero uno studio a parte. Progettando il sistema tramite una semplice componentistica di arduino il tempo di installazione e messa in funzione del sistema è davvero irrisorio rispetto ai vantaggi che può fornire. .

Yerevan – ՆորՇենԼաբ - 2՝ «Ճանաչի՛ր մարմինդ»

2018-03-22T00:00:00Z

Վա՜խ, կողքս ցավում է...: Էստեղ ո՞ր օրգանն է՝ կույրաղի՞ք, լյա՞րդ, լեղապա՞րկ: Դե իհարկե՝ այդպես էլ հստակ չգիտենք, որովհետև դպրոցում լավ չեն սովորեցրել ու միշտ հարցնում ենք մեծերին, բայց էլի մոռանում: Մեծերն էլ իրենց հերթին սովորում են օրգանների ճիշտ տեղը, երբ խնդիր են ունենում: Կրթության մեջ ևս մեկ նորարարություն անելու և օրգանների դիրքի ուսուցումն ավելի տպավորիչ ու արդյունավետ դարձնելու համար կստեղծենք մարդու մակետ, որն ամբողջությամբ թափանցիկ կլինի և ներսի օրգանները հստակ կերևան: Օրգաններից յուրաքանչյուրի մեջ կտեղադրվի լույս, մակետի կողքին կլինի վահանակ, որտեղ կլինեն բազմաթիվ սեղմակներ՝ յուրաքանչյուրի կողքին համապատասխան օրգանի անունը: Սեղմակը սեղմելիս օրգանը մակետի վրա կլուսավորվի, որը կդարձնի օրգանի տեղը տեսանելի և տպավորիչ: Մակետը տեղադրված կլինի բոլորին հասանելի վայրում և յուրաքանչյուր աշակերտ անգամ դասամիջոցին հնարավորություն կունենա օգտվել այս հետաքրքիր և խաղային մեթոդով իր մարմինը ճանաչելու հնարավորությունից: Գաղափարի իրականացումը կօգնի ոչ միայն անձնակազմին ճանաչել սեփական մարմինը, այլև հետաքրքիր կդարձնի անատոմիայի դասընթացները: Իսկ պատրաստման ամբողջ գործընթացը կիրականացնենք մենք՝ աշակերտներս, որի ընթացքում էլ կկատարելագործենք մեր ֆիզիկայի, մոդելավորման և ծրագրավորման գործնական գիտելիքները և այն կդառնա մեր դպրոցում գործող «Արմաթ» ինժեներական լաբորատորիայի հերթական ձեռքբերումը, ինչպես նաև դետալների մի մասը կպատրաստենք մեր լաբորատորիայի հաստոցներով:

Chicago, IL – World's Fair 2018

2018-03-22T00:00:00Z

The World’s Fair 2018 is a six-month fair to build utopia that culminates in a week-long Utopia Expo in June. Artists, activists, teachers, musicians, and people of all kinds have been invited to submit an awesome proposal for a project that builds community for a free world. The applications are rolling, and we’ve already accepted several proposals. The World’s Fair is the third festival we’ve organized around the hashtag #NoMoneyNoBorders. The first festival, PERFORM/TRANSFORM took place in various locations around Chicago over two days and included art workshops, musical performances, open mics, health workshops, guided yoga, and meditation, among other activities. The second, PERFORM/TRANSFORM 2, took place on a community garden called the Cooperation Operation in Pullman and included a similar range of activities, but centered around community gardening and food access in Chicago. Each festival seeks to combine community organizing with art. In addition to the Utopia Expo in June, the World’s Fair has several ongoing initiatives, including a network for music venues seeking to prevent sexual violence and an initiative to support ten new community gardens with an arts focus. As the World’s Fair looks to a more fair and free future, it also looks back at the history of the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. While that fair was largely about displaying an urban utopia, it excluded African-Americans from the planning committees and put people from non-Western places, such as Egypt and Turkey, on display as exhibits. Through the fair website, we explore that history and ask what a more inclusive fair can look like. So far the fair has been supporting itself through donations from the community and the proceeds from benefit events. However, as we get closer to the June Utopia Expo, we’ll need more funds for space rentals and marketing. We intend to hold most of the Expo events in Hyde Park, where the 1893 fair took place.

Buffalo, NY (Inactive) – Solar Sprouts

2018-03-22T00:00:00Z

Engineers for a Sustainable World at University at Buffalo (ESW-UB) is partnering with the Centers Health Care - Buffalo Center, which provides a range of therapy and other medical services for both short and long-term residents serving predominantly low-income populations. To support the Center's mission of growth and rehabilitation, our team is designing a sustainable tabletop garden with both bench and wheelchair-accessible seating. The tabletop garden will have an irrigation system and will collect rainfall from the table cover supported by a solar panel that will power an irrigation water pump. Our project educates the community on sustainable practices and technologies and allows recovering residents to participate in therapeutic gardening. By creating an accessible, low-maintenance garden on center grounds, we wanted to encourage sustainable gardening to people with disabilities who would have otherwise been unable to participate in outdoor activities.

Newmarket – STAIR Group for Teens

2018-03-22T00:00:00Z

STAIR Group for Teens (STAIR: Skills Training in Affect and Interpersonal Regulation) Teen STAIR Group is an adapted, evidence based curriculum that is designed to help reduce PTSD symptoms, and problems in emotion regulation and social and relationship functioning in youth who have experienced childhood abuse-related trauma. The Teen Stair Group’s goal is to help youth participants to become informed about the impact of trauma on emotion regulation and social (interpersonal) functioning. Content includes, but is not limited to, increasing emotional awareness, developing strategies to improve emotional regulation, learning strategies for effective assertiveness behaviours and increasing flexibility in interpersonal expectations and behaviours. This group is an important part of service for youth who are participating in individual intensive trauma-specific therapy related to their experience of childhood interpersonal trauma because it provides them with the opportunity to learn and practice skills that are not only foundational to success in therapy, but to the navigation of daily life and interpersonal relationships. Cedar Centre is the only organization in Canada with permission from the author to offer this special group curriculum. To date, the adult version of the curriculum has been offered to participants in the Adult Program for over three year and has been monitored and researched by McGill University. The results of McGill’s study show significant reduction in PTSD symptoms for participants, post Group. It is the Centre’s expectation that the adapted version for youth will show similar, valuable outcomes for its teen participants. Newmarket youth comprise the majority of our clients at 33%, though participants do join us from elsewhere in the Region.

Orlando, FL – AQUAdance- A Modern Dance Water Ballet

2018-03-22T00:00:00Z

My AWESOME project is AQUAdance, an original modern dance water ballet taking place during the Orlando Fringe Festival, May 2018. This very personal fusion of modern dance and water ballet is inspired by the “aqua musical” films of the 1940s and ‘50s with synchronized swimming and made popular by Esther Williams. An experienced artistic director with a track record of successful performances at Orlando Fringe since its inception, my creative take on water ballet satisfies a longtime and simmering inspiration. I’ll direct, choreograph and design the performances, working with the professional dancers of Voci Dance to create the movement. And we will have the bragging rights as the first water ballet at Orlando Fringe! Already accepted into this year’s Fringe as a “site-specific” performance, AQUAdance will be performed from May 15-29 at seven ticketed shows at a private pool in a historic home near Loch Haven Park and about 15 FREE PUBLIC POP-UP PERFORMANCES IN PORTABLE BABY POOLS on the Fringe Lawn and at Kids Fringe. Discounts will be given to seniors, veterans, volunteers, artists and Esther Williams lookalikes! The free pop-up performances will be open to EVERYONE and will be promoted by Fringe in addition to my network, so the word will spread far. I LOVE the challenge of choreographing site-specific work and my AWESOME family of dancers LOVE to work collaboratively to develop the characters in my stories. In my mind, I create a “playground” for my dancers – and this time, the pools and props will make the playground unique. AQUAdance will be as much FUN for the dancers to perform as it will be for the audiences to watch! Voci Dance has a reputation that brings out audiences to see what they have created, and AQUAdance will be no different. Audiences will be struck by the cinematic shapes created by the dancers in the water, the chorus of water dancers, the pathways, the poolside poses – the kitsch! Expect a few dying swans and giant flamingo floats!

Adelaide – Support these talented kids

2018-03-21T00:00:00Z

Hi, I currently coach the Under 16's junior soccer team at Ingle Farm Junior Soccer Club. Three years ago when I volunteered to coach my step daughter's soccer team I noticed a couple of really talented boys that would come join one of my team players in training. So I approached Cung and Lian and asked if they would like to join my team as I needed more players. They both had great potential and you can easily see their passion for the sport but however they both replied by saying they couldn't join as their families would be unable to pay the fees. Cung and Lian are cousins from Burma both were 13 years old at the time. I didn't want to give up on them as I could tell they wanted to play. I felt bad and told them that they could join my team training if they liked and that they were able to play in the pre season friendlies I had lined up for my team. My team at the time was low on players I could have used their help. The club president at the first friendly game noticed them and told me to sign them up and we would work out the fees later. With the help & donations of family and friends I was able to pay for their first and second year. I also was able to obtain warm winter clothing and new soccer boots. A new season is now fast approaching and I'm trying to find new funds for them to get them through the year. Please help me in supporting Cung and Lian so that they can continue to enjoy their passion. I've had the pleasure of spending two years with both of them and they are such humble, polite and very talented young boys and I would hate to see that go to waste. They've helped the team in so many different ways. Lian won M.V.P award last season and Cung' s leadership guided the team to fourth spot from bottom two years ago. Thank you

Adelaide – Bell tent for dance and women's circles

2018-03-21T00:00:00Z

I am looking for funding to buy a beautiful Emperor Bell Tent from Breathe Tents in Sydney to do all sorts of wonderful female empowerment activities and performances in. http://www.belltent.com.au/product/emperor-6mdiameterbelltent/ I am a dancer and choreographer and am creating a new dance work, Femme, which will take place in the tent: "From the catwalks of Paris, to the sacred Wudang Mountain in China, FEMME is a new dance-theatre work by Adelaide dancer and performer, Erin Fowler. Drawing on her experiences as a model at the age of 18, to her international pilgrimage to train in Kung Fu and Tai Chi, Through FEMME Erin takes back control and definition of her body to explore femininity, power and what it is to find your voice as a female in today’s society." I am also a qualified Qoya teacher - an amazing moment practice for women. I would love to run Qoya workshops in the tent - alongside the Femme dance work. There are only about 5 of us trained in Australia to teach Qoya. Qoya blends yoga with dance, feminine movement, ceremony and sisterhood. Qoya says "Through movement we remember. We remember ourselves as wild, wise and free. There is no way you can do it wrong and the way you know you're doing it right is that it feels good."It is powerful work for women and I think the tent would be the perfect site to run Qoya movement classes. www.qoya.love And lastly, I also intend to run women's circles in the tent. In the past, women would gather in tents once a month (often when menstruating) to meditate, share their experiences and channel wisdom for themselves, each other and the wider community. A place where they could feel nurtured and supported. I love the idea of creating a modern day "women's tent". www.katinasacredarts.com

Rockport, MA – Anaerobic Digester for Greenhouse

2018-03-21T00:00:00Z

We want to build an anaerobic digester for the school greenhouse, so that we can heat the inside of the greenhouse using feedstock from the school cafeteria. and grass clippings from the school fields. You can refer to the attached PowerPoint for the requirements and benefits for the finished product.

Utrecht – Hangmatfestival

2018-03-20T00:00:00Z

De stad is vol en de terrassen puilen uit, er zijn nog weinig plekken waar je in alle rust een boekje kunt lezen zonder gestoord te worden. Tot je een heerlijke hangmat ziet hangen, op de Maliebaan, boven de gracht. Een lekker hangplek om te chillen. Met mijn "hangmatfestival" trek ik deze zomer elk weekend (met goed weer) de stad in om op bijzondere locaties een hangmatparadijs te creëren. Een pop up rustmoment, waar iedereen voor een paar uur gebruik van mag maken. Door bijzondere en onbekende locaties te kiezen leren we Utrecht van binnen en buiten kennen. Denk aan het Domplein, de randen van de singel boven de bloemen van Rein, boven de grachten, het Majellapark, Camminghaplantsoen en de Maliebaan. Telkens een andere plek. De gemeente is enthousiast, Fred Nuwenhuis is enthousiast en het weer gaat ook meewerken. Ik wil met dit project mensen met elkaar op zeer laagdrempelig niveau in contact brengen, voor een chill moment en goed gesprek. Een relatief ongebruikte chill manier aan de stad toevoegen. Met als uiteindelijk doel de gemeente zo ver te krijgen dat zij permanente hangmatplekken in de stad introduceren. In andere wereldsteden is dit soort hangmatplekken al een feit. Een chille stad als Utrecht kan en mag hierin niet achterop lopen. En ik ga het startsein geven.

Santa Fe, NM (Inactive) – Girls on the Run Santa Fe, Inc.

2018-03-19T00:00:00Z

We are a local non profit offering an after school program to girls in third through fifth grade. Our program is curriculum based and runs for 10 weeks and we finish our program with participation in a local 5 kilometer (3.1 miles) running event. Each program is staffed by two to four coaches and is offered to 15-18 girls per season. We charge a nominal fee but at many of our schools most of the girls are on full scholarship. We fund raise through out the community to be able to do this. We never turn a girl down because she cannot meet our modest registration fee. A program that runs 10 weeks allows for the development of relationships with the girls, their peers and with the coaches. We are connected to a national organization and there are longitudinal studies that show that girls that participate in Girls on the Run develop a strong sense of character, confidence, compassion, caring and connection. The studies have also shown that the life skills learned through our curriculum were sustained after the completion of the program. To set and reach a goal with the completion of a running race the girls in this program show increased confidence. We have had a greater than 95% completion of the 5 kilometer race of the girls that come to the final event. On the local level we are a small organization. We are our own independent council and have formed our own 501(c)3. We would love to have you purchase our required race day t shirts. Our program begins in March and culminates with the Santa Fe Striders Run Around which occurs on the Historic Santa Fe Plaza. Each girl receives a race t shirt and a race medal. We have a strong relationship with the local running club and they do not charge us an entry fee for the race. We would choose to have you supply the race day t shirts for the girls.

San Jose, CA – Folklorico skirts for my Title 1 school students!

2018-03-19T00:00:00Z

My awesome project is a request to help me fund colorful Mexican folklorico skirts that I can use to teach free folklorico dance classes for students at the elementary school where I work in after school enrichment classes! I am a general education middle school teacher at Christopher Elementary, a public K-8 school in San Jose, CA. I have been teaching for 12 years. This is my 2nd year at this Title 1 school, which means most of my students receive free or reduced school breakfast/lunch and we receive more state funding based on our English Language learner population. Our primary ethnic population at the school is Latino, and I have been sharing my knowledge of Mexican folklorico dance with my students through the means of dance. I dance and teach children in a professional San Jose dance company, Grupo Folkorico Los Laureles, outside of public school. My school principal has encouraged me to bring folklorico dance enrichment classes to our school in the form of free, after school enrichment classes. I taught a class last year, and will be starting another class this year in March. My hope is to have folklorico skirts this year that they can use to dance and perform with in our May cultural dance exposition. I am a professional dance teacher and have been dancing folklorico or years, but I do not have the resources (skirts) to allow me to teach the Mexican dance regions at my elementary school. At the last school I worked at, I successfully got a friend to sew 20 folklorico skirts that the PTA funded. I used the skirts biweekly for multiple years, and put on performances for the school. At my current school, we do not have an involved parent group and we have no financial assistance other than our own fundraising. I am not able to fundraise for this project at school because I spend the entire year fundraising at least $20,000 for our students to attend Outdoor Science School.

Kingston – Local STEM kids go to worlds

2018-03-19T00:00:00Z

Did you know that while you wait for your shower to heat up you waste 1500L of water, per family, per year . By using a motion sensor which detects when your in the washroom, machine learning which learns your showering habits, and a recirculation pump which pumps the cold water in the pipes back to the hot water tank we provide homeowners with instant hot water that saves them time, money and water. Unlike typical solutions that waste energy and money.

Pittsburgh, PA – Jumping Jack Theater presents CITYSCAPE

2018-03-19T00:00:00Z

Hi there! My name is Claire and I am on the Jumping Jack Theater team. Together we create original works for individuals that benefit from sensory and autism-friendly strategies. This is different than adapting an already existing production to become sensory-friendly because we begin our process and create with this audience at the forefront of our minds. Jumping Jack's sensory-friendly approach to education not only gives students tools to engage with their world but also provides a safe space for creative self-expression. Students build communication skills and social interaction through dramatic play, creative movement, and music experiences with our skilled teaching artists. Students receive a behind-the-scenes look into creating live theatre and directly contribute to our brainstorming process as we develop new shows. Feedback from students ensures we create theatrical experiences that best accommodate our audiences. It can seem abstract on paper, so check out this video! https://www.jumpingjacktheater.org/classroom-residencies We have completed one mainstage production (THE LIGHT PRINCESS) which we performed as a part of the Three Rivers Arts Festival. We are currently in the process of rehearsing for our first touring production, CITYSCAPE, our travelling box show built for the classroom. This show is especially exciting because it features a nonverbal character, and intends to teach life skills such as crossing the street. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust will premiere the show later this month and then we hope to hit the road and tour the community.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Equippo

2018-03-19T00:00:00Z

Living in poverty is stressful because you can never be certain if you're going to be able to afford food and other basic necessities the next day. For kids, living under this uncertainty can affect their cognitive skills on the long run. Enter Equippo, an improv program for kids and teens in slums. Through improv, young people can learn coping mechanisms and life skills such as creativity, communication, focus and critical thinking through fun exercises. They can also be able to create a voice of their own without an adult telling them what to do. We believe that regardless of income, every kid should be able to be the best version of themselves. Boys and girls need safe spaces where they can do just that. Where they feel welcomed and not judged. Where they interact with other kids and feel supported. With the support of an improv teacher that has worked the scene in San Diego ( Spanish is native to her, don't worry), we will bring weekly sessions to a slum in Jalisco, Mexico. Once the group feels ready to perform in public, we will bring the show to various spaces -including public spaces- where they will be able to show the community their skills and, most importantly, that a lack of income does not have to be a limitation for shining on. We will get written permission from their parents or legal guardians. All proceedings from the shows will be used to keep the program running and pay for school fees so they can finish their formal education.

Asheville, NC (Inactive) – Circus Arts for Personal Enrichment (CAPE)

2018-03-18T00:00:00Z

We wish to expand people's ideas of what their limitations are through our aerial school. We are developing an umbrella program for reaching parts of our community that may be unfamiliar with or have less access to our classes than others. The program, CAPE, will allow us to reach these underserved parts of the community (for example, behavioral or drug rehabilitation programs, victims of physical or sexual abuse, senior citizens) and offer aerial training programs to to empower these members of the community through building mental and physical strength. We currently have at least one contract with a behavioral rehabilitation program and would like to offer such programs to multiple populations who may think aerial arts are only for the young, the athletic, or the non-disabled, for example. We want to purchase a portable aerial rig that we can transport to local schools, retirement centers, day programs, and festivals to offer mini-lessons or programs. Not only will it spark interest from those who witness a class in action, but it will help people realize aerial arts could be a part of their personal growth journey.

Liverpool (Inactive) – Nasty Women Liverpool Exhibition

2018-03-16T00:00:00Z

Dear Sir/Madam, I am emailing to request a grant for a charity art exhibition fund raiser. The event is linked to the huge artistic movement Nasty Women which started in the US and has spread globally. Different cities around the world has set up their own Nasty Women event, a ripple effect response towards President Trump's views on women. I am a designer maker and illustrator which has had work in several Nasty Women exhibitions around the country and now I have decided to set up my own as Liverpool has not yet got involved. I shall be opening up submissions for artwork from female identifying artists. The work shall be sold for a charity named Wirral Women and Children's Aid. The exhibition shall be in the Baltic Triangle as it is an up and coming creative area. We shall also have a brilliant open night to draw in guests and potential buyers for the artwork. My team have been kind enough to volunteer their time to organise this event. Artists who have been involved with Nasty Women before will know that they are donating works and I shall make that clear on the entry application. But, unfortunately I can only get so far as I do not have the funding to move this project forward. This potentially could be a great event, as the open night will have live acts, amazing artworks and performing arts. I have also planned for a promotional video to be made for the event. The funding could really move this project in the right direction, and in return, a fantastic, memorable event, raising money and awareness for domestic abuse.

Liverpool (Inactive) – Scotties Gym (Boxing & Community)

2018-03-16T00:00:00Z

Hi!!!! Right so, I’ve been getting told by so many people how much you guys can help me & typically I haven’t found the time! I run a Boxing & Community gym (Scotties Gym) on Farriers Way Industrial Estate, Bootle, L30 4XL specialising in private coaching for individuals & groups of athletes & non athletes, ladies & gents, adults & youths. I train, motivate, coach & inspire such a diverse group from amateur boxers, professional boxers, individuals with disabilities, I am also trying to grow a ‘Kid Gloves’ class for children of all ages I suppose but mainly 5-14! I have never received any help or funding from anyone & equipped the facility & bought all equipment myself. Could you please advise me if there is anyway you can help me & what you would want me to do next please? Ofcourse I need to make a living for my family & I but I know I also give so much, working for free or as little as possible a lot of hours per week!. I have been open 1 year on the 3rd January! 🎂☺️ Thankyou Scottie 🥊

Miami, FL – RCS: Rocking Chair Sessions

2018-03-16T00:00:00Z

"RCS: Rocking Chair Sessions" are audio interviews with local artists by local artists. Recorded at the Bakehouse Art Complex, RCS podcasts are available to the public on Soundcloud. Created by the BABA Collective (Elysa D Batista and Maria Theresa Barbist) Rocking Chair Sessions is best described as a hybrid between an artist talk and a "therapy session". Guests are invited to discuss their lives and artistic work while sitting in a rocking chair. The goal of the show is to investigate how the personal experiences of Miami-based artists influenced their choice of materials, concepts, and their way of making a living. Through these recorded sessions we are building an inventory of audio resources for future generations of South Florida artists.

Birmingham, AL (Inactive) – Save the Finley Roundhouse

2018-03-16T00:00:00Z

I am the leader of a nonprofit group based on Birmingham. My name is Khari Marquette. I am the president of the Save The Finley Roundhouse organization and leader of the effort to rescue the most forgotten historic landmark in town: The Finley Roundhouse, which is located in the Acipco-Finley neighborhood. The Finley Roundhouse is among 3 of the last remaining railroad roundhouses in the State of Alabama, with just two remaining here in Birmingham, and it is also the largest remaining of its type anywhere in Alabama. It is the Holy Grail of grails of forgotten historic relics in Alabama. The Finley Roundhouse is over 100 years old and is a remaining vestige of what was one and important railroad and commerce hub in the area: the Southern Railway's Finley Yard. It has overseen stationary rest and repair of steam locomotives and its conversion into a cold storage warehouse made it a distribution point for the major grocery store chains in the Southeast. It is a testament to the city's heritage. Very few of Birmingham's denizens are not aware of it existence and not so much of the residents living there, because of its very remote location. The Finley Roundhouse was listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Herirage last year and was recognized as an endangered "Place In Peril" by the AL Historical Commission and the Trust For Historic Preservation in 2017. I have spearheded the mission since I was 13 years old and discovered the Roundhouse. I brought it to the attention of local history groups and the Acipco-Finley neighborhood, and then I created social media pages on Facebook and Twitter. They have gained a significant following of people interested in moving the city forward. Currently we are moving to acquire the Roundhouse and fund its restoration, and all of this takes a great deal of income and people have to get involved in my project. My nonprofit organization is an alliance of well-rounded and brilliant-minded individuals from the history groups.

Cass Clay – Radio: Finding Me/Multi-Ethnic Recording Project

2018-03-15T00:00:00Z

Two AWESOME projects, one great radio station. Nemo Siqueiros, a 23-year-old who is Mexican, transgender and autistic produces the Red River region’s only queer radio show called “Finding Me”. It’s focused on LGBTQ people and their issues and airs on 88.1 FM, KPPP-LP, Fargo-Moorhead’s newest non commercial low-power radio station. The Awesome gift will allow Nemo to expand his programming while fostering awareness, understanding, and compassion for LGBTQ people. 88.1 FM, KPPP-LP radio is also home to the “Multi-Ethnic Recording Project,” an initiative designed to produce multilingual radio programming that showcases the areas diversity. The funding will help train members, and provide community members support and equipment to produce programming. Both of these radio projects will encourage support of and a welcoming environment for marginalized people and their voices here in the F-M area.

Almere (Inactive) – The Common Grounds

2018-03-14T00:00:00Z

My long-term plan is to set up a sustainable plant-based cafe at the Floriade grounds in Almere. The Floriade will open up in 2022. My cafe will be called The Common Grounds. My short-term plan is to set up a pop-up cafe at the Floriade pavilion which is already open. I'll do this in cooperation with Urban Greeners, a cooperative group setting up several sustainable activities in the Floriade. The pop-up cafe will be a good exercise in seeing how people will respond to my initiatives and will be a lot of fun. We'll serve coffee and food as well offer a venue for music sessions, presentations, and discussions on a range of topics. The Common Grounds connects people by serving food and drinks that are prepared on a sustainable basis. We do this by making our products just as tasty and affordable as non-sustainable variants. If we would look back in ten years, to the launch of The Common Grounds, I hope that we can conclude that we have brought about a change in the acceptance of sustainable food. That, partly because of our ideas, sustainable and vegan food is no longer a niche, supported by a relatively small group but has become part of a more conscious diet by all consumers.

Paris (Inactive) – CelebRo

2018-03-14T00:00:00Z

CelebRo combine la technologie avec l'histoire. 2018 c'est l'Année européenne du patrimoine culturel et le Centenaire de mon pays d'origine, la Roumanie. Je veux construire une application mobile qui présente «le Paris des Roumains» en géolocalisant les adresses par lesquelles sont passés les Roumains connus ou ceux qui devraient être davantage connus. Savez-vous qu'en 1860, environ 500 roumains étudiaient à Paris? Ils étaient probablement les étudiants étrangers les plus représentés dans les universités françaises. C'est juste un aspect qui témoigne de la relation de longue date entre les deux pays et des influences réciproques. Outre Ionesco, Brâncusi ou Anna de Noailles, d’autres personnalités mériteraient être mises en lumière. Le projet veut rendre un hommage aux oubliés de l’histoire, roumains ou français et préparer la saison culturelle entre la France et la Roumanie qui commencera fin novembre 2018 et finira le 14 juillet 2019. Le lancement en version Android est prévu pour le 9 mai 2018. CelebRo combines technology and history. 2018 is the European Year of Cultural Heritage, and the 100th Anniversary of my home-country, Romania. I want to build an app that presents “the Paris of Romanians”, by geolocalizing places that were frequented by famous or not enough known Romanians. Did you know that in 1860, about 500 Romanians were studying in Paris ? They probably were the largest group of foreign students in French universities. This is just one aspect of the long relationship and mutual influences between France and Romania. If Ionesco, Brâncusi or Anna de Noailles are well known, other figures deserve to be better discovered. This projet is a tribute to French and Romanian who have been overlooked by history, and prepares the French-Romanian Cultural Exchange Season that will take place from November 2018 to July 2019. The Android version of the app should be launched on May 9th, 2018.

Libraries (Inactive) – Progressionista

2018-03-13T00:00:00Z

Progressionista is a non-profit organization that introduces Detroit girls ages 8-12 to leisure reading through monthly book club meetings featuring women professionals. The speakers-- or progressionistas-- engage participants by sharing intimate stories about their careers and relating it to the group’s next book. Every meeting includes interactive activities that further entice participants to read over the next month. Progressionista aims to: Increase leisure reading for participants by 100%
Introduce participants to local women professionals
Build a sisterhood centered on books and women empowerment
Progessionista will use this grant to provide scholarships to support the growing demand for the program. Currently, the program has a waiting list of interested girls. With the support of the Awesome Libraries Chapter, the goal is to scale the program by creating another meeting group in a library in another underserved neighborhood in the city of Detroit. What our grantee has to say: "Progressionista brings girls ages 8-12 to the library once a month to expose them to the self-discovering power of books. By bringing exciting career women speakers and fun activities to our neighborhood library branch, we attract a new generation of patrons to the dynamic possibilities available at libraries." What our trustees have to say: "This project not only promotes literacy and learning, but it also exposes young girls to various different career tracks which they otherwise may not be exposed to. It's a wonderful project that seeks to empower through building community and a love for literacy." "By expanding this program into another neighborhood of Detroit, a whole new group of girls will be able to experience the book club and speakers. The project organizer clearly has a model that works, and knows that expanding it is the next necessary step. I think this program would work well scaling to additional communities beyond Detroit."

San Francisco, CA – Fresco Exchange

2018-03-13T00:00:00Z

Fresco Exchange is an “intercambio artistico” that promotes and connects artists from Latin America and the US through creative programs and artistic interventions. Our goal is to host gallery exhibits, urban art projects and community workshops across various cities in the US, and we’d love to include San Francisco in the mix! We believe art can serve as a tool to travel, learn and experience new cultures. Our resources help artists transcend socio-political boundaries, which can prevent individuals from traveling or bringing their artwork freely across nations. We help our diverse network of artists share their visions with broader audiences and expand their creative presence internationally. By hosting exhibitions and residencies for public art projects across countries, we can also inspire your communities with new ways of creative thinking. Fresco has organized 5 exhibits with 40+ artists, starting at the Cambridge Innovation Center in the US in 2016, and leading to the Ministry of Culture in Cali, Colombia in 2017. We’ve also hosted 3 artists in Colombia to participate in the Muro al Barrio project, an intervention to transform areas of Cali through urban art, research and community engagement. In Fall 2018, Colombian artists will visit the US to participate in local community projects, and we’re planning impactful public art projects and exhibitions in welcoming cities. We can show residents across demographics that urban art is not simply a means for decoration, but an educational, touching experience at no cost to the public. Through murals and art shows, we can enrich their culture, hope, and joy, while setting examples for your youth. We hope you’ll support our adventure! Learn more about our artists’ mission: http://FundacionCulata.com

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Shaheen I-Tech Lab

2018-03-12T00:00:00Z

In the rural regions of Pakistan, only 1.3% of houses have internet access. This combined with socio-economic and gender issues leave rural women the most isolated from internet access in the country. Social barriers constraint women and restrict them from mobility in the public space, limiting their opportunities for education, employment or general autonomy of women. The goal of our project is to give the women of Gilgit, Pakistan a safe space to utilize the internet for their networking, professional, or educational needs.. We want to create an environment exclusively for woman so they can get their work done in a productive environment and not have to worry about men dominating the space and making it uncomfortable. The reason we decided to utilize internet as a tool to empower women is because it has become crucial in a more connected world due to its unique ability to break down barriers of distance, and allow people to instantly exchange information and ideas that can transform their and others way of life. They are able to become involved in the social, economic, and political development of their countries, and the world at large. The tech lab is accessible to all women, disregarding their social status, age, or technical skills. It is located in a local all girls school that is easily accessible to students and teachers as well as all women of the community. Courses are offered at the lab to teach anyone interested basic computer skills as well as focused courses in different subjects.

Vegan (Inactive) – Plant Based Native

2018-03-12T00:00:00Z

The goal for the Plant Based Native cooking video project is help create the opportunity of healthy, vegan lifestyles by making new media aimed at the Navajo people (a Native American tribe). Since media in the Navajo language is highly looked upon on the Navajo reservation, the vegan cooking videos would be in “Diné bizaad/Navajo language,” with English subtitles so it would be accessible to a broader audience. –This would also be a fun way to help expand the global vegan community in a diverse way. A lot of people in the Navajo community are curious about vegan, healthy, organic food and how to prepare it (especially after the government has been offering the Navajo community food with no nutritional value for over a century). –Navajo community members are also curious about a vegan lifestyle for the health benefits, as diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol are an epidemic on the reservation (a 27, 413 square mile food desert with only 13 grocery stores that serve food with low nutritional value). The Plant Based Native cooking videos will give the Navajo community new media of food that is not commercials of fast food or meat driven restaurants. After the Navajo treaty of 1868 with the US government, Navajo were forced to live on a reservation where traditional foods, along with other cultural practices, were banned. Navajos were then forced to get their food through government commodity box programs and grocery stores that have unhealthy selections. Food-related diseases are currently common on the Navajo reservation because of the sudden change in diet over the past 150 years. This is why it is so important for the Navajo community to become more conscious of the modern food industry and to take initiative of their own eating habits. Producing new vegan media in the Navajo language and demonstrating traditional Navajo vegan dishes juxtaposed with modern vegan cooking videos will create community based media and vegan appeal to the Navajo community.

Minas Gerais (Inactive) – Crônicas pró-fessôra!

2018-03-10T00:00:00Z

O contexto escolar da rede pública poderia ser um lugar “mega manêro” para o adolescente ou o jovem estudante. Mas, na trajetória educacional, existem caminhos e descaminhos! Vou lhe contar uma história! O Brasil possui 54% da população que se declara negra (Censo 2014). Em sua grande maioria, os alunos de escola pública são negros. Porém, a grande maioria dos estudos e metodologias que são evocados em sala de aula, possui uma vertente eurocêntrica. Como se reconhecer num contexto escolar que não valoriza sua bagagem cultural ? Como trabalhar mudanças de realidade, sem o protagonismo de adolescentes e jovens a partir do pertencimento de suas histórias? Assim começa uma avalanche de desencontros que desemboca no analfabetismo, abandono escolar, baixas notas, etc! Ao longo dos anos, o movimento negro reivindicou políticas públicas educacionais que, implantasse a história e culturas afro-brasileiras e africanas nas escolas. Viva! A Lei 10.639 foi promulgada no ano de 1996! Agora sim, este aluno poderia se reconhecer no contexto escolar e nas práticas educativas, aprendendo com diversão e autoestima! Tudo certo? Nããããão! Infelizmente, esta lei não é fiscalizada e, a grande maioria dos professores não aplica essa filosofia educacional. Maaaaas, sempre há uma luz no fim do túnel! Certa vez, uma professora me contou que tinha vontade de aplicar a lei 10.639, mas, pelo fato de não ser negra, tinha receio de fazer alguma ação equivocada. A partir dessa conversa, penso que é legal dar aquela “mãozinha” ao professor(a) e instiga-los à práticas escolares dentro da filosofia afro-brasileira. A partir dessa ideia, penso em construir um canal de youtube trazendo aulas práticas para que estes professores possam ver o quão fácil e divertido podem ser as práticas escolares baseadas na lei 10.639. Creio que, com esse leque de formações, posso contribuir criando um canal criativo e educativo, trazendo muitas aulas práticas para a rede educacional atendendo ao território nacional.

Ottawa – Airbnbeing John Malkovich

2018-03-10T00:00:00Z

March’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to Barcelona-based Kill Cooper to support a project he is calling Airbnbing John Malkovich – the craziest Airbnb experience ever. “Step inside a ten metre tall inflatable sculpture of John Malkovich’s head,” says Kill. “Here you’ll find a truly curious assortment of characters inhabiting the depths of his subconscious.” “Airbnbeing John Malkovich will offer a melting pot of creativity, artistry, and performance combined in a strangely familiar yet surreal environment. By day you’ll be treated to an intriguing selection of comedy, games, and mad-headed musicians. By night the head transforms into a glorious cinema, projecting the entire film career of John Malkovich on the back of his dome.” “A mouth-watering assortment of drinks and snacks will be served by waiters in 3D Malkovich masks. And there’s plenty to salve the psyche and enrich the soul. Ambient grooves. Spoken word performances. Acting and puppeteering workshops.” “This Malkovich pleasure dome even has a spiritual side for you to embrace. A meditation zone and a confession wall to sign. Stay the entire night if you desire, in a bed complete with matching Malkovich pillowcases.” “Expect the unexpected. Leave your inhibitions at the ear. Get involved. And Airbnbe John Malkovich.” Kill is an Ireland-born designer and copywriter, and co-founder of Hungry Castle, Cool Shit, and Juicy Food Porn. Recent projects include Laser Cat, a giant cat that toured Europe and North America projecting crowd-sourced art from lasers in its eyes, and Mr. Poopie, a giant inflatable poop emoji that makes ice cream. Kill has also built a giant inflatable sculpture of Lionel Richie’s head and put on an interactive show paying tribute to the 2002 web animation consisting of a dancing banana and the song “Peanut Butter Jelly Time.”

Singapore – Impressions by The Codette Project

2018-03-09T00:00:00Z

Inspired by Getty Images’ work with MuslimGirl.com, The Codette Project is looking to launch a similar photo series showing Singaporean minority women being our true, authentic selves while using technology. Link: http://mashable.com/2017/03/08/muslim-women-representation-getty-images/#0wAEffSSJkqd The Codette Project holds the belief that the narrative of success in Singapore is currently quite narrow and that the lack of representation in the space translates to a lack of role models for minority women. We believe that tackling the issue requires a mind-set change and one of the ways of effecting this change is to provide visual representation of minority women in the technology space for minority women to identify with. We want to use the power of imagery to change this impression of minority women. We are planning to hold a half day photoshoot by a hired professional photographer in different settings to produce quality stock photos of minority women using technology. The project will help Singaporeans and everyone else to see minority women as the progressive, modern, tech-savvy women we are and help debunk the outdated ideas and stereotypes of minority women apparent today.

Oakland, CA (Inactive) – Roots and Wings

2018-03-08T00:00:00Z

Roots and Wings is a space where people can anonymously share their immigration stories. Schools, community centers or galleries can apply to have this traveling art show installed at their site. The stories written by visitors are collected and displayed as part of the installation. As the Roots and Wings show travels, stories continue to be collected anonymously and archived on the website. So far, Roots and Wings has been installed at two different locations. We hope to have the show visit many more communities! CONCEPT: Our ancestors came from every corner of the Earth. They are our roots, our bones and our wings. We resist the notion of a homogeneous ideal. Diversity, migration and change are our strength and beauty. Our installation honors generations of immigrants and their relationship to the land they made their home. The Batik scarves carry quotes from our friends and family. The charcoal portraits are informed by these personal and ancestral stories, creating a dream-like atmosphere. What stories do you wear or carry with you? PROCESS: Quote Collection: Artists Emma Brown and Mara Lea Brown started this project by collecting quotes from family and friends. Twenty two quotes were made into Batik scarves for the installation. Batik Scarves: Emma uses a brush to write the quotes and decorate each scarf with a unique design using hot wax. After adding natural dyes to the cotton, the wax is removed with boiling water and a hot iron. Once the scarves dry, their edges are sewn by hand. Portraits: Mara uses the quotes collected for Roots and Wings as inspiration for her charcoal portraits. The drawings and other elements included in each installation are site specific. Installation: Emma and Mara work with each community during the installation of Roots and Wings, taking into account any site specific needs. The number of scarves, drawings and any additional visual elements vary from site to site.

Raleigh, NC (Inactive) – Neighbors of Raleigh Podcast

2018-03-08T00:00:00Z

I want to create a weekly podcast, interviewing people who call Raleigh home. Raleigh is a place of wonderful, quirky, hurting, inspired, creative individuals of all sorts of colors, beliefs, perspectives and backgrounds. Podcasting is way to build community by introducing people to each other and people outside their regular circles. Moreover, I believe that everyone has a meaningful story to tell- everyone. These unique stories have universal truths that inform and encourage. Community, at its best, is knowing each other’s stories and creating new shared stories; knowing and being known. Ideally, I’d love to inspire people to meet their own neighbors and be curious about the lives and stories of their coworkers, delivery man, and the old lady around the corner. Ideally, I'd like to represent the diversity that exists in Raleigh. For this reason, I have a small, mobile system. I think of my mission as Humans of New York meets Mr. Rodger's Neighborhood. I see lots of possible cross over with photography, podcast pop-ups at local libraries or BYON (Bring Your Own Neighbor) events.

Rotterdam – The neighbours of Rotterdam

2018-03-07T00:00:00Z

Rotterdam is one of the most diverse cities in the world, and yet at times people tend to forget that we are all part of the same community. My project ‘The neighbours of Rotterdam' wants to address exactly this issue. I will make 50 pictures to Rotterdammers of different ethic background who live in the same neighbourhood. This idea stems from a project I made in the street where I live in, Fahrenheitstraat a very long and diverse street in The Hague (I know, I should move to Rotterdam!). From the number 1 to the number 600, I have asked random people to be in my pictures and I have finally organized an exhibition at my home where I have invited all my neighbours. We were all part of Fahrenheitstraat and that made us feel a community and know people next door. Thanks to the financial contribution of the Awesome Foundation, I will not only shoot the 50 pictures, but I will also print them and will organize a public event in Rotterdam, which will be hopefully the first of many to follow. I strongly believe that this will bring people together, help them to understand that even in the big city we can create feeling of friendship and neighbourhood.

Newcastle – Surfing the Spectrum

2018-03-07T00:00:00Z

A diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder is usually associated with substantial lifetime costs to an individual, their family and the community. In a 2014 study in Western Australia the median family cost of ASD was estimated to be AUD $34,900 per annum with almost 90% of the sum ($29,200) due to loss of income from employment. Only a parent of a child with Autism or special needs can ever truly understand the struggles, the financial commitment of raising a child with Autism and while NDIS now offers some relief for the cost of therapeutic services, it is the lost wages, employment loss and the ongoing time and commitment of the parents that is something they cannot get back. Parents are now seeking alternatives, and they have been knocking at the door of the surf community in Newcastle for some time now, and we want to offer them the support they are looking for. We believe the solution is in a community run and lead surf therapy initiative. Aquatic programs offer necessary physical activity opportunities to children with disabilities and the benefits of aquatic activities are often more pronounced for children with disabilities than for their able-bodied peers. Adapted surfing programs can help to develop and enhance the children's strength, flexibility, range of motion, coordination, balance, and psychosocial development (such as social skills, communication skills and mental wellbeing). In Newcastle surfing has become a popular therapeutic tool used by the families of children with Autism, and the testimonials we have been receiving over the years from parents are currently the strongest evidence we could possible have.

Asheville, NC (Inactive) – Earthy Summer Camps for Underserved Youth

2018-03-05T00:00:00Z

With our 501c3 Earth Path Education we listen to the Earth as our wisest mentor and offer Nature Connection experiences, wilderness rites of passage and many creative camps to strengthen connection to one's true nature, community and place. This summer we are offering camps for ages 6-18 and we'd love to see the $1000 grant go to support 1 participant in our week long overnight Nature based Rites of Passage camp for young women (ages 11-14) and 1 participant in our week long overnight Rites of Passage camp for young men (10-13.) We believe that with a strong connection to one intuition and inner voice, a deep connection with nature, committed mentors and a supportive group of peers, the teen years can be life giving and healthy. We devote our organization to the empowerment of our future leaders, in rooted connection to self, earth and community encouraging youth to shine their light though the long dark night into a sustainable and just future for all.

Ann Arbor, MI – Ward 1 Productions, Ypsi's Youth Creative Agency

2018-03-05T00:00:00Z

Ward 1 Productions is Ypsilanti's youth-driven creative agency. Our mission is to teach youth marketable skills in the new creative economy. We are supported in part through MichiganWorks! job training programs and the incredible support of our partner/ customers. Our Beliefs: We are a team of adult and youth coaches who share certain basic beliefs: We believe stories from seldom-heard communities have particular and extraordinary power; We believe the best stories come from within the story's own community; We are practical people who believe in the power of good jobs and see ever-growing demand for production expertise in the new media economy Our Work: We produce authentic, beautiful and prideful media content. Along the way, we also teach youth leadership and job skills through our project-based training program called the Ward 1 Productions System: Project Management, Budgeting, Documentary Writing, Storyboarding, Interviewing for Film, Videography, Lighting, Sound & Staging, Editing, Social Media Management, Event Planning Our Home: We are based in Ypsilanti Michigan's Ward 1, the traditionally African-American voting district in the heart of town. Our pride runs deep: Ward 1 was a major stop on the Underground Railroad where African-American churches organized the final leg into Canada - just a short river trip away During WW II, Ward 1 was home to African-Americans working at the nearby Willow Run bomber plant - a huge force in the Arsenal of Democracy. Today Ward 1 is still home to people who make things and make things happen. We are now all sorts of colors, ethnicities and races who live by the beautiful Huron River and work everyday to advance justice and find joy Our First Project; We started with a project for the Ypsilanti Housing Commission telling the story of the historic Parkridge neighborhood. Check it out on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=38Oy4M2aWEA

Ottawa – Jane’s Walk Ottawa-Gatineau: Jane’s Mob

2018-03-04T00:00:00Z

February’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to Leigh Thorpe and the 2018 Jane’s Walk committee to support a launch event for this year’s festival, which takes place the first weekend in May. “Inspired by the work of Jane Jacobs,” Leigh explains, “Jane’s Walk is a weekend of free walking tours led by locals who care passionately about where they live, work, and play. The walks allow people to tell stories about their communities, explore Ottawa and Gatineau, and connect with their neighbours.” Last year more than 50 free walking tours were offered, in both English and French. Leigh and the other volunteers are planning a special launch event for 2018, which will be supported by the Awesome Ottawa award. Their first ever “Jane’s Mob,” taking place Thursday, May 3rd, will be a takeover of the Parkdale Market neighbourhood and involve community leaders discussing the history of the area, setting the stage for the weekend. “The event will bring Ottawans together,” says Leigh, “and create vibrancy within the Parkdale Market.” “The 2018 Jane’s Walk committee,” Leigh continues, “is made up of a diverse group of women – young professionals, students, and retired community members – who are passionate about city building. Together we explore our own differing views of the city and how we can give residents of all backgrounds a voice. This festival is a volunteer-organized labour of love.” Leigh is a behavioural scientist working in human factors and a ten-year organizer of Jane’s Walk Ottawa-Gatineau.

Moscow (Inactive) – Семейный Приют для бездомных собак Гуд Дог.

2018-03-03T00:00:00Z

Вот уже 5 лет мы вдвоем с мужем Андреем Романовым занимаемся своим домашним Приютом. До этого мы были городскими волонтерами.В 2013 году купили 30 соток, построили дом и начали строить вольеры для бездомышей. Вылилось все в целый домашний Приют. Мы лечим, стерилизуем, прививаем,социализируем и раздаем всех спасенных нами животных.Некоторых отправляем за границу, кого то на месте пристроить удается, кто то едет по дальним городам нашей страны.Недавно наша воспитанница уехала в Липецк.А забрали мы ее из отлова на усыпление... Особенность наша в том, что мы круглые сутки тут живем вместе с нашими собаками. Это помогает и социализировать их и ориентировать на человека. Собаки все в закрытых вольерах, с хорошей будкой, с сеном. Некоторые в домашних условиях содержания. За это время у нас "накопилось" много непристраеваемых животных-старички, инвалиды-колясочники и с особенностями психики. В любом муниципальном приюте они были бы уже усыплены. У нас они живут полноценной жизнью до конца дней своих- наша особенная миссия) Много собак с ампутированной конечностью, слепых, раскоординированных после перенесенных заболеваний,после травм в дтп. Стараемся максимально восстановить здоровье. Есть собаки "бойцовых" пород. Вывозили рваных и покалеченых с боев. Востанавливаем и физическое здоровье и психику. Большинсво из них стали родными, остались с нами в доме - пристраивать уже нереально. Бойцы риск особый. Есть редкие породные животные, например Американская Акита. Тяжело больную вытащили из подвала многоэтажки. Сейчас полностью готова к пристройству. Собак раздаем бесплатно по договору отслеживания дальнейшей судьбы. Иногда нам возвращают обратно...Но те, кто оставил и прижился с питомцем- наши друзья навеки. Ссылка на группу проекта - https://www.facebook.com/groups/gooddoog/

Boston, MA – South Boston Youth Filmmaking & Fitness

2018-03-02T00:00:00Z

From fall 2017 to spring 2018, I am coordinating and teaching a free youth after-school filmmaking and fitness program (in partnership with Peter Welch’s Gym, the Joseph Nee South Boston Collaborative Center, and the Joseph M. Tierney Learning Center), engaging 10 youth participants. The teens, ages 13-17, gather footage during the exercise and nutrition program (visiting South Boston chefs, supermarket tours, and the health center nutritionist), tracking their fitness progress and creating a video journal. Participants learn documentary filmmaking skills, including cinematography and interview techniques. Youth will complete their group project during the spring, learning how to work as a team and build storytelling skills while editing. The finished video will be screened at the Joseph M. Tierney Learning Center for family, friends, and the public, and uploaded to social media. The screening will help to grow the teens’ public speaking skills as they field audience questions about their program experience and the film. This South Boston program is located in the Old Colony housing development, identified as high risk due to the frequency of overdose and community violence. Few youth arts activities are available in the development, and youth have expressed feelings of isolation. The community will benefit from this program by providing 10 youth a creative outlet, whereby they produce and edit a group video documenting their health, wellness, and fitness transformation from the fall through spring. Having taught youth since 2000 in the Old Colony development, I have seen many students without arts experience find video acts as a catalyst for new creative endeavors.

Yerevan – Congratulations! You recycled your plastic.

2018-03-01T00:00:00Z

Plastic pollution is becoming an increasingly huge topic of concern in Armenia as it's not only displeasing to an eye but also is detrimental to health. On the other hand, In the era of disruptive technologies, 3D printing is becoming more and more prevailing which is based on plastic usage. HUSK team has come up with an awesome project that addresses the urgent problem of pollution and uses it in disruptive technologies. Our idea is to produce wire that 3D printers use for printing plastic models, called filament, by recycling plastic bottles. For making this come true, we need a special machine which is portable, and we can take it with us to everywhere. The machine heats, presses and gives the desired form to plastic. By this, we will decrease the amount of plastic waste in Armenia by conducting special events in different areas, collecting plastic bottles and producing 3D printer filaments, which otherwise increase the amount of plastic waste by producing new plastic. Based on our estimations the product will be cost-efficient and with high quality; thus, we can export it to the international market. This project is even important for our economy as Armenian companies will stop importing the filaments from abroad (we have already talked to some companies who agreed to use our filament when it's ready), and exports will increase which is quite beneficial for a country like Armenia. As a first step of spreading the plastic recycling culture in Armenia, we are planning to organize a big public event (possible places: TUMO, malls, Moscow cinema). The aim is to visualize the recycling process by locating our machine there and do the recycling right there, where people can bring their plastic bottles, throw it in the recycling bin and try to fill the machine with beforehand cultivated plastic waste to see how it works. We are planning to conduct this event at the end of March. Recycling culture is not well developed in Armenia, and we decided to start from ourselves!