Awesome Foundation - Projects

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Tap Dance Map of NYC

2016-08-19T00:00:00Z

New York City has always been a nexus for dance. From classical to vernacular, the city has attracted and birthed some of the greatest dancers and most popular dances. New York has also been a city of change, with an active cycle of demolition and building. As the city's landscape changes many of the physical reminders of the where dance used to happen are removed. This is a particular challenge to the history of tap dance that has little institutional support. Normally the memory of the places remain with the people who experienced them, and only those they choose to share them with. We want to change that. Thanks to the advent of augmented reality (think, Pokemon Go) we can create a virtual map of important places in New York City that will illuminate the history of tap dance. Imagine being able to explore New York City and discover where tap dance used to live - the jazz clubs, rehearsal halls, and theaters. Users will be notified and delivered content (text, photographs, and videos) as they walk by historical locations. With this technology we can turn the entire city into a walking museum. The Tap Legacy Foundation already has a partnership with Traces, an augmented reality platform and mobile app, but we need to build the map. Instead of chasing Pokemon, we can be discovering, our history.

Tallahassee, FL (Inactive) – Finance Education - Empowerment for Low-Income

2016-08-17T00:00:00Z

The Beyond Limits Community Development Corporation in partnership with the Leon County Family Literacy Services Program will conduct a six-week finance education series for the empowerment of low-income individuals in our community. This six-weeks financial skills development program will address many of the social and economic problems that low-income individuals face due to having bad credit, high debt, and making poor financial choices that cause them to be more vulnerable to sudden economic shocks such as health emergencies or unexpected job loss. This program offers assistance in identifying and correcting poor spending habits that hinder the economic growth of their families. Proper financial habits not only benefit families but the communities they live in. All participants will receive personal hands-on learning experiences in the following topics: • Identifying wants versus needs • Creating a personal spending plan • Managing debt • Understanding the use of credit cards and debit cards • Understanding the industry FICO Score Chart • Review their credit report and how to fix it and increase their FICO score • Financial institutions versus high-cost check cashing companies • Creating family wealth for the next generation What we have found alarming is that many of the individuals that we have taught personal finance education to were doing everything right, except did not track where the money that they were spending. Therefore, they ended up in financial stress which started an emotional roller coaster that consumed the entire family in a negative way. Improper financial habits not corrected are passed on to the next generation. This is a tradition we are working to minimize for a better financial tomorrow.

Gloucester, MA – GHS/RHS Reviving Girls Hockey

2016-08-16T00:00:00Z

Cass Clay – Ainsley's Angels in the Red River Valley: Granted

2016-08-15T00:00:00Z

Ainsley's Angels in the Red River Valley is a local chapter of a national nonprofit organization, Ainsley's Angels of America. Our mission is to ensure that children and adults with disabilities/special needs can experience local endurance events. Basically, we pair individuals with disabilities who cannot run a race on their own (for whatever reason) with volunteer runners. Using adaptive running chairs, the runners and riders participate as a team in anything from 5Ks to marathons. We believe that everyone deserves to experience the freedom of running and mobility and that everyone deserves to be includes. We also aim to build awareness about America's special needs community through education, advocacy, and by participating as active members in our local community. Our Red River Valley chapter just started up late last summer, and we're trying very hard to get the word out to people who are interested and can benefit. We are continually working on raising funds to buy the equipment needed so that everyone who wants to can (as we put it) "Roll With the Wind". Our local chapter is responsible for all of our operation cost and equipment purchases. There is never any cost for our disabled athletes to participate. Ainsley's Angels is so awesome because we are all about inclusion, positivity, kindness, and teamwork and fun!

Pittsburgh, PA – Community-Sourced Mixtape Project

2016-08-15T00:00:00Z

Imagine that you’re listening to a podcast full of stories from everyone in a neighborhood, now imagine that those stories are set to dope beats, and now imagine that they’re full of poetry, singing, and rapping. Plus, it comes along with a zine full of lyrics, artwork, and pictures. Something like Storycorps, but you can jam to it. That’s the Community Sourced Mixtape Project. We harness the power of media and technology-based arts education to amplify the individual and collective stories of marginalized communities. For the past two years professional educators Jess Gold and Amos Levy have piloted this project at the Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, working with youth (and sometimes moms) who have experienced domestic violence in their homes. The project was so successful that we’re eager to bring our media-making workshops to other communities, creating a larger platform for others to share their stories. Our workshops consist of poetry writing, beat making, zine creation, song recording, blogging and podcasting. All of the writing and zine making, facilitated by Jess Gold, centers around personal narrative storytelling. Beatmaking and recording is facilitated by Amos Levy, who helps craft the stories into finished songs. Once we have a collection of songs ready, we share them with the world through podcasts and zines. We’re also planning to present all of this work as an art show that features work from sites that we work with all over the city. Although we focus on youth, we’re excited about the potential for bringing this program to other marginalized communities. This summer, we’ll be leading a mixtape camp for youth at Assemble, a community space for art and technology in Garfield, Pittsburgh. Our goals are empowerment through creative expression and the development of media technology communication skills. We help communities realize the potential of 21st century music making and DIY publishing technologies to create their own content,

Boulder, CO (Inactive) – Adaptive Winter Sports’ Junior Instructor Program

2016-08-15T00:00:00Z

Ignite’s very existence is based upon the belief that everyone should be able to enjoy winter sports regardless of ability level. Our purpose is to promote a healthy active lifestyle and a positive outlook for people with disabilities. Each season our volunteers donate around 15,000 hours of their time and energy to provide more than 1000 lessons to more than 200 people living with disabilities in Colorado. This includes wounded military veterans served through a US Paralympic Military Program Ignite developed, in collaboration with the U.S. Olympic Committee. The Junior Instructor program is designed for high school students, ages 16 and 17. It is a unique opportunity to participate in Ignite training, right alongside adult volunteers. When lessons begin on Dec. 31st, the junior instructors are assigned to assist with lessons and learn from the more experienced instructors. With each lesson, the junior instructor is filling his/her “toolkit” with experiences that helps them take the lead on a lesson once they turn 18 years of age. Our senior instructors LOVE having a junior assigned to their lessons. These high schoolers are typically strong, enthusiastic, and fun. And, our students really love having a teenager on the lesson to help. For the student (Jr volunteers, this is a really meaningful volunteer experience that shows very well on college applications and in job interviews. They attend 1 all day classroom training session, as well as 2 on snow clinics and they have meetings throughout the year as well as just fun get-togethers. Two of the returning Jr.’s take a leadership role in recruitment, retention and communications to the group. (one from Fairview High School and one from Boulder High school) Most of our Jr’s volunteer 3-6 days a season (that is about 21-42 hours a season, + another 14-20 training and other volunteer actives generally,35-65 hours a year with Ignite). There are 2 adult volunteer leaders who oversee the program.

Chicago, IL – Project Onward Artist Book

2016-08-15T00:00:00Z

The artists at Project Onward, a makerspace in Bridgeport for artists with cognitive disabilities or mental illnesses, are trying to make an artist book but needs the Awesome Foundations to make our hard work into a reality! Project Onward offers studio space, quality supplies, professional guidance and gallery representation to 45 artists. Many of the artists are Chicago natives and come from all over the city to work in Bridgeport. Their work ranges in medium and style, from bright dotted paintings to realistic cardboard models. The truly exhilarating part about Project Onward is the community support that the artists offer each other. This camaraderie and the makerspace environment lends itself to collaborative projects, yet funding large endeavors such as an artist book is difficult. To gather our ideas and view examples, we are working with the SAIC Joan Flasch special collections library. Then the book team will pick a theme, layout a format and make/draw/write for the book. Any artist who wishes to be involved with the collaborative project will have a voice in every step from the design to the binding. The book project will act as a catalyst to push each of the artists styles and subject matter because studio can often become repetitious. Our goal is to share our studio community experiences, range of technical styles and diverse voices with the greater Chicagoland area.

New York City, NY – Murals for a Queens Supportive Housing Facility

2016-08-12T00:00:00Z

AwesomeNYC is pleased to support artist Laini Nemett's mural project in a new supportive housing facility for Transitional Services New York (TSINY) in Jamaica, Queens, designed by Amie Gross Architects (AGA). In the artist's own words: The discussion with AGA began when Amie walked into my studio during LIC Arts Open 2015. As my work is based on collaged imagery from my own photographs and drawings of places in various stages of construction, this collaboration was a no-brainer. I will track the progress of the building and create models and drawings that will culminate in two 8 x 10 ft paintings installed in the first floor of the building: one will show depictions of the site under construction and the other representing it as a finished building including hints of the stained glass works featured in the same lobby. My hope is that these immersive paintings of imagery personal to the residents will foster a sense of creative inspiration and healing for them, and serve as an accessible entry-point into fine art for the community. While our grant will fund the creation of the paintings on the first floor, the entire building has been created with art in mind, with 18 "art niches" designed into the structure's 7 floors. Once the building has been completed, local and resident artists will have the opportunity to exhibit throughout the building, with receptions preceding each opening giving the residents a chance to connect with artists living in their community. While rising rents have forced many artists out of New York City, this project goes to show that there are plenty of creative opportunities for the arts to be integrated into our daily lives, and we are excited to see where this project, and projects like it, can go in the future.

San Jose, CA – DTSJ Sidewalk Chalk Art - Temporary Wayfinding

2016-08-12T00:00:00Z

Downtown San Jose has many awesome, fun areas -- SoFA, Cesar Chavez Plaza and surrounding cultural institutions, the Paseo de San Antonio, and San Pedro Square neighborhoods to name a few. Unfortunately, for people who aren't familiar with Downtown, navigating between these parts of town is hard. A group of urbanists from the American Leadership Forum, myself included, want to test out wayfinding solutions through chalk art that leads people to and from various parts of downtown. We propose specifically to start with the SJ Jazz Festival (8/12-8/14) and/or Viva CalleSJ (9/18), using stencils and art to liven up area sidewalks and get people exciting about exploring "off the beaten path." We have been inspired by San Jose's own Luna Park Chalk Festival, chalk art / information done for the 2014 Pop-Up Project, and Housing 2.0 Summit, and other sidewalk wayfinding and art from around the world. See the following links for images and examples: - http://tinyurl.com/Luna-Park-Chalk-Art - http://www.nicklewis.com.au/#/summersalt-festival-2015/ - http://p-and-w.blogspot.com/2011_02_01_archive.html - https://www.pinterest.com/pin/46443439885386135/

Edmonton, AB (Inactive) – Secret Alley Gallery

2016-08-12T00:00:00Z

The concept takes a residual urban space and creates a unique and discoverable alley art gallery themed: Eyes on the Street. This one time delivery of small scale artwork will be viewable from a short distance (<4'). A clean gallery wall surface on one side with the rough parkade wall on the other side, the gallery is open on both ends, and is positioned to allow accidental discovery flowing from a street to the alley in the back. Lighting and art will condition the space, and create a powerful juxtaposition between forgotten space and intentional use.

Whangarei (Inactive) – Whangarei-n Works

2016-08-11T00:00:00Z

I want to bring a little rainy-day art from my previous home in Washington State/British Columbia to my new home in Whangarei. Rainworks is a Seattle based company that makes biodegradable and affordable art that only appears when it rains. These positive messages and images are meant to be uplifting, whimsical, or just fun. (Please check out the website.) I would like to hold a contest with the local youth in cooperation with the Te Kowhai Print Trust to come up with approximately 3 graphic images (with or without text) in addition to 4 local artist contributions that would be turned into stencils at the Print Trust for placement in a total of 7 downtown and town basin locations. Decisions for the final product would be decided by consensus of three local community members. (Myself, a print trust representative, and member of 116 bank street collective.) All images and locations will obviously need to be approved by the council. As the Northern hemisphere gets progressively less rain and we get more, this can become an enjoyable way to remember to smile on a rainy day and engage in our community through the winter and spingtime months. It can be a positive way to engage youth, get their interest in the community and the Print Trust and have them contribute in a meaningful way they can show their friends. It also encourages people to linger outside....even in the rain. Dates (proposed): Contest would open in late May and conclude in late June. Final products announced for Matariki Festival! Stencils would be made in the following weeks. Installation completed by the end of July (with a recorded reveal with the artists! and links sent to rainworks so we can join their map!) Installation will biodegrade naturally within 2-4 months. (I will clean whatever has not gone by then.) Please contact me with any questions.

Whangarei (Inactive) – Milk and Honey - By Company of Giants

2016-08-11T00:00:00Z

As part of the community celebration and activity that Company of Giants has been instigating at 116 Bank Street in the last 8 months, we will create another theatrical extravaganza for and with the people of Whangarei called Milk and Honey. This piece will be based on work we developed in collaboration with Quarry Nights last September. We will develop this into a theatre piece to be presented to Whangarei audiences in a two week public season at ONEONESIX in November. M & H will be like a night circus, both alluring and alarming, nimble and on the edge. It is a family vaudeville show of sorts – its cast includes a diverse range of people from our community – both professional performers and non-professional performers, fathers, daughters, little sisters and older brothers. There is no set – the actors, like travelers who have left their homes, carry everything they need – suitcases, bikes, lamps, desks, boxes, buckets, violins, balloons, bubbles and guitars. These rogue humans are anthropomorphic and starkly dressed. A vaudevillian family show about loneliness and the search for the land of milk and honey, using Noahʼs Ark as a starting point. We will use the power of a huge group being continually stopped in action, frozen in space, weaving a narrative of lonely characters looking for a land of hope. The show is a series of introductions - through song, narration, music and magic. As usual we will embrace the acute musical talent we have in our group and community pulling in original harmony, acapella song, music boxes and megaphones. This work is visually extreme and highly theatrical. We plan to make a big splash in town with strong imagery, roaming performers and lots of use of the outdoor public spaces around ONEONESIX. Everyone will know about us!

Adelaide – Digital Storytelling for Social Change

2016-08-09T00:00:00Z

Digital literacy is often considered to be lacking in Aboriginal communities, yet even on the most remote communities smartphones can be seen everywhere. Additionally, arts centres often have laptops, iPads and cameras available for community use which is often only hampered by a lack of skills and confidence in those wanting to use them. Storytelling is seen as being at the heart of social change and yet despite the recent increase in solidarity for Aboriginal communities under threat of closure, most Australians still have no idea what it’s like to live on country with very few having had the privilege of visiting in person. This project aims to bring these two strands together, utilising the technology that you carry in your pocket (or whatever is readily to hand) to build a legacy of strong Aboriginal digital storytellers for social change. Using the reallybigroadtrip bus, homeJames, we will travel to ten regional and remote Aboriginal communities over a four month period, April-August 2016. At each community we will begin by screening social change films such as “Talking Straight Out”, a short documentary about the Kupa Piti Kungka Tjuta women from communities near Coober Pedy who fought - and won - a campaign against uranium waste dumps between 1998-2004. Then, at each of our ten locations, we will run a week of free digital storytelling workshops/production processes leading to at least one screening per community of the films they have made locally. Alongside these production processes we will run digital literacy (social media, blogging, privacy etc) and grassroots organising workshops. The most enthusiastic producers from each location will be invited to come to the next location to help run the program. Anticipated outcomes: * ten communities better equipped in digital literacy, digital storytelling and grassroots campaigning; * increased networking between Aboriginal communities; * short films for international distribution.

Adelaide – FROM UNDER THE RUBBLE

2016-08-09T00:00:00Z

FROM UNDER THE RUBBLE is a documentary we have in development that is a powerful story that puts a human face to war and gives voice to the civilian perspective. The overwhelming majority of collateral damage in conflict zones are dead and wounded women and children who far outnumber the casualties incurred on the combatants. We live in a time when women and children have limited protection under international law. The documentary focusses on Zeenat Samouni and her seven children who have now lived through 3 wars in Gaza and who saw 48 members of their extended family perish in once incident during the 2009 conflict in Gaza. The 4 minute trailer for the work-in-progress of the documentary can be viewed on this link... vimeo.com/132212314 We also have a crowdfunding campaign registered with Documentary Australia Foundation where you can watch the trailer, read the synopsis and get additional information... https://www.documentaryaustralia.com.au/films/2880/from-under-the-rubble---a-story-from-gaza We as filmmakers decided to take on this project because of our deep concern that women and children have become targets in conflict zones around the world and make up the majority of the collateral damage.

Adelaide – Earth to Major Tom. (working title)

2016-08-09T00:00:00Z

I want to work close to home, with the people who are neighbours, and those who live nearby. We all live in public housing so most of us are disadvantaged with resultant poor health and chronic conditions. I inspired myself by planting 1000 sunflowers in a plot of earth which my neighbour was responsible for. He let me till the earth (my brother has a tilling machine) and I grew a magnificent patch of flowers. Ive planted winter vegetables now and they all look great. I also developed my back yard into flower, vegetable and herb plots by using whatever was available, developing the soil, purchasing planting tubs and purchasing soil in tubs as I needed it. I added my own compost and mulch i found in the street near my sister's house. I want to find ways to encourage and advise and support my neighbours to grow more plants especially ones which will produce food and sustenance. I have to find ways to do this which respect people's desire to privacy but encourage them to accept some help to get started. I want to find ways to do this so that people can experience the simple joy of growing something to eat or something which flowers and brings bees to the garden. In our climate, succulents thrive so they are popular. My community of neighbours do not have much money. I want them to find that they can grow food without too much difficulty. Once established, just add water and viola!!! Food joy. Some research has said that soil, our very earth, contains natural antidepressants. Many of my neighbours suffer depression. I want them to get their hands into soil. This project could have lasting value for people here. Everyone is fearful of the future and their ability to put food on the table in a bleak economy. I want them to be empowered to use what they have to create something real, organic and joyful.

Adelaide – Nonsense Festival

2016-08-09T00:00:00Z

Nonsense Festival is an outdoor, interactive arts festival for children and families taking place in Belair National Park, South Australia on the 15th October 2016. It is an enchanting place where art, music and literature are entwined in a marvelous landscape. You will never know what is behind the next tree – music, theatre, circus, dance, workshops and installations! Children and their families will be surrounded by ways to explore and unleash their creativity. Families will delight in this spellbinding one-day festival. This is Nonsense's inaugural festival. Creative Producer Georgi Paech has worked on many festivals within South Australia and overseas, and found that there is a gap within the festival landscape of Adelaide of events for children, particularly ones that engage their creativity and their senses in and outdoor environment. Nonsense Festival will engage between 40 to 50 local artists, performers and arts organisations to create a magical place for children to explore and engage with. Nonsense Festival also has a strong ethos regarding sustainability, and plans to create a sustainable festival. For example, 90% of Nonsense's design is being sourced from recycled or repurposed materials. A child’s imagination is a powerful thing, and they can bring amazing and mindboggling ideas to the arts. Nonsense aims to not only provide children with high quality performers and artists, but an environment that allows children to unleash their imaginations. Nonsense aims to give children a safe place to run wild, skip, jump and climb, with unbridled curiosity. The festival will provide moments of wonder and excitement that stay with children long after the Festival.

Adelaide – Portable Dance Party

2016-08-09T00:00:00Z

During the SALA Festival throughout August this year I am staging a new performance work that extends my current performance art practice into exciting territory. For this work I will have a portable dance floor which can be quickly and easily moved around and set up in any number of public locations. There are a number of venues who have agreed to host my dance floor, including Adelaide Festival Centre and Victoria Square, among others. I also plan to stage impromptu performances, outside these organised times, in other public spaces around Adelaide too. I have enlisted the help of Steven Cybulka, a licensed builder, carpenter and artist, to design and construct the dance floor with me, including built-in lights and sound. He has experience in the area and has offered to sponsor part of the labour costs in kind. I see this project as an exciting extension of my previous work, taking my dancing work firmly into the public realm, engaging with a larger number of complete strangers. While I have previously had individual works operate short term in public spaces, I have not had something that sustains this public engagement repeatedly and over the course of a month. The possibility of repeated encounters for people and the associated potential for challenges of perceptions and behaviour is an integral part of my practice. I want to challenge the way we relate to people and the world around us. New connections bring new points of view and new possibilities. My hope is that witnessing or participating in this work will give people the opportunity to step outside their comfort zone temporarily. It may jolt us out of autopilot that we all find ourselves in so easily, going about our days like we always do and have done. My personal experience is that a new context for the shared activation of space provides opportunity to reconsider the way I relate to people and the world around me. Shared experiences breed empathy which I believe will make the world a better place.

Adelaide – Nightlife First Aid

2016-08-09T00:00:00Z

My awesome project is a business, here's the story... At 17, after volunteering as a St. John Ambulance cadet for 5 years and reaching high ranks and incredible achievements, every party I went to as a young man trying to enjoy himself I ended up helping an injured or overly intoxicated youth back to health or travelling with their family to a hospital. I was asked to work as a first aider at my own formal after party, this sparked my business idea. I began what is now 'Nightlife First Aid', a first aid service dedicated to all events but specialising around the party scene of Adelaide especially amongst today's youth and alcohol. A year and a half has passed, I am now 18 and am still successfully running the business. After 6 months of operation we ran into some despicable, immature and poor behaviour from St. John Abulance but with passion and hard work we were able to get passed that obstacle and are proud of what we have become today!

Liverpool – Cartoonopolis

2016-08-08T00:00:00Z

Cartoonopolis is a one-man show about my brother who has Autism and an American accent. I play 27 characters including, many well-known characters such as; Bane, Batman, Porky Pig and if you look closely enough you may even see a De'Niro... but mostly the ones of Jacks creation in his magical imaginary world. the play is about how Jack learns to deal with autism and how our family learns to live and thrive well. I wrote this play for my mum, because I wanted her to know that, when the day does come that she won't be here anymore. Jack will be looked after and for her not be scared anymore. because i have got his back. It had a sellout run at the Liverpool Playhouse studio in 2015 It was picked up by various, shows on the BBC, and even got a spot on the BBC Breakfast show. here are some of the links to reviews that we received. Liverpool Echo http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/review-cartoonopolis-liverpool-playhouse-studio-8611704 The Skinny http://www.theskinny.co.uk/theatre/shows/reviews/cartoonopolis-liverpool-playhouse-studio It's vital to me to change the stigma of autism, to something positive. and i believe this show really packs that punch. now i want to take it around the country and create a community of positive people that understand autism in a different way.

Singapore (Inactive) – Kodrah Kristang: Awakening Kristang in Singapore

2016-08-08T00:00:00Z

Kristang is an endangered Portuguese-Malay contact language spoken by less than 1,000 people in Melaka and Singapore. It is the heritage language of the Portuguese-Eurasian community, and an integral part of our cultural heritage, tradition and history. In Singapore, the language is critically endangered, with less than 100 people thought to still speak the language. There are no official statistics on Kristang speakers, no children are known to be learning Kristang, and it is not taught in schools, seen on the media, or spoken in the streets. Most Singaporeans are barely aware Kristang even exists. Kodrah Kristang and I hope to change this by bringing Kristang back to life over a 30-year long-term revitalisation initiative, such that by 2045 children are learning the language again in schools, families are using it at home, and literature, art and music are once more being developed in it. I am a linguistics undergraduate of Portuguese Eurasian descent and began the project in March 2015 with a class for adult learners, which now meets regularly on the National University of Singapore campus and is the core of revitalisation efforts. I also developed a audio course (Kontah Kristang) and a Memrise app-based vocabulary course (Kriseh Kristang) for elderly and disapora learners. We are further expanding rapidly into a new phase: I have developed a full Revitalisation Plan for Kristang in Singapore that will be published on July 14 on the website, and plans for the first Kristang Language Festival in Singapore in May 2017. I'm also writing the first textbook for Kristang (2019). All our materials are developed from scratch and are free of charge and completely accessible to the community. The initiative has official support from the Eurasian Association and has been covered by local news media; I have also been nominated for the 2017 Linguistic Society of America Excellence in Community Linguistics Award for my work.

Adelaide – Adelaide Dodgeball

2016-08-08T00:00:00Z

Have you heard of the 5 D's of Dodgeball? Dodge, Dip, Duck, Dive and Dodge! The backstory to the sport: Don't stress if you haven't heard it as we are a fairly new sport. Dodgeball is game of high ability and strong teamwork. Originating from North America as a primary and high school game, it has had many references in western popular culture over the last 30 years. In the last 10 of those years Dodgeball has grown internationally as a highly competitive sport for not only children, but also adults. This year Australia won their first Gold medal at the World Dodgeball Cup in Manchester (https://youtu.be/JwOR_KBCgzU?t=2m51s) and secured two bronze medals as well (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWII-zlVZI4). Adelaide Dodgeball is the first official adult Dodgeball league in South Australia. We are looking to grow the sport in both professional and social aspects. It's a great way to have fun, be a part of a community and stay fit!

Portland, OR – Barter Market

2016-08-06T00:00:00Z

The Barter Market mimics a conventional street market, but one where transactions are done purely through exchanging goods and services. Vendors list goods or services they desire in exchange for what they have on offer. Some will be posted online in advance of the event but attendees can also negotiate with individual vendors. Any offer of money will be immediately refused. Barter Market is a social initiative to connect local makers and skilled individuals and to encourage a radical way of thinking – where money ceases to be currency and trade happens through interpersonal connections and communication. In a society largely governed by capitalist ideals, Barter Market aims to show the implied status of money as a man-made social construct. It affirms the idea that each individual has desirable skills that should not have to be pegged to a dollar value. Portland has a huge community of makers who may not the opportunity or desire to price and sell their wares, and others who do, but have a deeper appreciation for the values behind this concept. Barter Market provides a novel platform for such makers to share their goods with a larger audience and an efficient means of directly acquiring desired products or services in return, cutting out ‘cash’ as the middle man. Barter Market aims to reduce waste – the old maxim ‘one man’s trash is another’s treasure’ comes to mind. People can trade what they have in abundance/do not need for things or services that they do. Further, one may be rich in skills but not necessarily cash. Trading is a means of giving them purchasing parity without money. This has actually already been piloted in Singapore (by Indigoism) - one of the world's most capitalist countries - to great success. A friend who was part of it connected me with the founder, and we believe that its awesomeness could be exponentially multiplied if it was held in cities around the world, under the same branding, instead of just a recurring event in Singapore.

Oakland, CA (Inactive) – Fleet Farming Oakland Expansion

2016-08-05T00:00:00Z

Fleet Farming Oakland is a non-profit bicycle-powered urban farming program that replaces homeowners lawns with small productive farms (we call them farmlettes). We construct, operate and maintain the farms for free, sharecropping 5-10% of the harvest with the homeowner. The remaining crops are then biked over to our partnering restaurants (Miss Ollie's, Cook and Her Farmer, Flora, Parlour, DESCO, and Hen House). These revenues are used to employ youth in West Oakland and subsidize the expansion of Fleet Farming to additional homes. Additionally, on a bi-weekly basis, we host a moving workshop called the Swarm! It's during the Swarm that folks from inside and outside the community join us for a bicycle powered urban farming experience, going from farmlette to farmlette, learning how to seed, tend to beds, manage pests organically, and sometimes even convert lawns to farmlettes! Some say we farm farmers! Fleet Farming Oakland is only 4 months old with 3 farmlettes and 1 part-time employee but we've managed to grow over 500 lbs of produce since our inception! We've managed to partner with Clif Bar Foundation to get us started and are well on our way to have 4-5 farmlettes by the end of Summer 2016. Boom! It's worth noting, there are over 40 million acres of lawns in the U.S. - to add 30-50% of the average U.S. municipalities water goes towards watering the lawn. To add, the average plate of food in the U.S. traveled 1,500 miles before getting to the table... our people, planet, nor economy can afford this wasteful use of space. Thus, we're on a mission to flip the scrip, growing FOOD not LAWNS! Note: Fleet Farming Oakland is a local branch of the Fleet Farming program at-large. (www.fleetfarming.com) 1 - http://www.cuesa.org/learn/how-far-does-your-food-travel-get-your-plate 2 - http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/pdf/10.1146/annurev-environ-020411-130608 3,4,5 - http://scienceline.org/2011/07/lawns-vs-crops-in-the-continental-u-s/

North Minneapolis, MN – Winds of Change Pin Wheel Project

2016-08-05T00:00:00Z

The Winds of Change Pinwheels were inspired by observing nature. I noticed a gentle wind move leaves gently on an old big tree in my neighbor's backyard. Later the wind would become a storm that made large branches wave and leaves fall. Later these winds shifted into a storm strong enough to damage houses and uproot trees. I thought about North Minneapolis. Residents are scared and traumatized from so much violence, killings and all other disparities. I wanted to show I am angry and concerned too. I wanted to show solidarity and share the burden. I wanted a way for those who are silent, don't know what to do but who wanted to DO some act, express themselves, and have a space to share feelings, ideas, pain. I thought of the power of spoken words/prayers. I thought what if prayers/affirmations blew through the Northside. A wind that could move what's not life affirming. A wind that circulated what was needed, love, peace, social justice. I got 20 pinwheels, went to the Mississippi River and prayed over them. I placed them in northside residents' yards and gave them to people in the streets, Jamar Clark and put it on Plymouth Ave where he died. Responses were: "Thank you. Can I have one more for my neighbor? I'm taking mine to church. Here's a dollar so you can make one more." I invited 7 mothers, a teen and a 9 year old to come discuss their feelings and do art/words on Pinwheels to put on their blocks. 50 Pinwheels will be given away at Flow (July 30, 11-5 at the Capri) to get people talking to each other, to have a symbol that keeps fallen loved ones alive in our hearts. (YO MAMA event) I have been asked to do this with Nuns and youth, at the United Theological Seminary, and .GAIA School. I was gifted with 50 Pinwheels. One silver Pinwheel for Philando Castile is at the Governor's Mansion. I create Pinwheels for Terrell Mayes and Birdie Beeks. Sadly, I can't customize anymore. Too many people are dying.

Annapolis, NS (Inactive) – Poolside, colouring book & calendar

2016-08-04T00:00:00Z

We are using our $1000 to purchase a piece of equipment that will be instrumental in cleaning the beautiful Annapolis Pool. On top of that, we're drawing on resources in the community and organizing and overseeing the production and sale of a colouring book/calendar featuring images of the area and of activities at the pool. We think this idea is awesome because we are able to pay it forward by providing these calendars to Awesome Annapolis to award to another group and raise money for their project and ask them to do the same and pass it on. This will become a yearly calendar going forward with a different group benefitting each year while it draws attention to our Awesome area.

Louisville, KY (Inactive) – Stimming book

2016-08-03T00:00:00Z

Being autistic, I have always stimmed. Stimming, or self-stimulating behavior, is something found in all people, especially people with developmental disabilities and most commonly autistic people. Some examples of stimming are: making noises, repetitive movements, (rocking, tapping, hand flapping, etc.) rubbing hands on fabrics, and staring at something visually stimulating such as sparkles or swirls. Stimming helps us release energy. It's fun, feels good, and is something autistic people typically like doing. I’m mostly a visual and auditory stimmer, but I like to pace and occasionally rock as a stim. I have come up with an idea for a stim book. The book would have pages made of fabric full of different textures, patterns, and colors. The pages would come alive in 2-D with touchable characters and backgrounds. The two main types of stims I would use are visual and sensory stims, lots of stimulating things to touch and look at. Autistic readers could stim by touching the book and/or staring at visually stimulating materials while reading the story, or having it read to them. Individuals who cannot read can experience books in an entirely new way. Most of the characters in my books will be autistic/display autistic traits. I want people with developmental disabilities to have characters that they understand and relate to. I want my characters to be there when autistic children feel lonely. I want my books to be a source of comfort and safety. My books would be great for people of all ages with developmental disabilities, and even children who are not neurotypical; meaning no atypical thought patterns or behaviors, would also enjoy these colorful books with a lot of different textures. My books will find homes in schools, libraries, waiting rooms, and therapists offices. They would be perfect for learning, bedtime, and travel. They would be a distraction from overwhelming situations like riding on a plane or going to the doctor.

San Francisco, CA – The Period Party

2016-08-03T00:00:00Z

Can you imagine what it would be like not to have a bathroom, or even anywhere to store your hygiene products? Over 2,000 women in San Francisco are homeless and it is safe to assume that the majority of them have their periods: many shelters provide clothing and food but not feminine hygiene products, leading to lack of dignity and diminished health. Simply the Basics would like to host a “Period Party” with the goal of raising awareness regarding basic hygiene needs for the homeless women in a fun event and collecting products that will support these homeless women. The admission for the event will be a box of tampons, pad, or menstrual cups, and we will have fun activities throughout the event where people can “purchase” additional hygiene products to participate: even the drinks will be bought with hygiene products! The event will do more than just provide thousands of products for homeless women and support the Bay Area, it will make talking about periods de-stigmatized and even fun! A huge reason why feminine hygiene is not donated is because of stigma, we want to put periods at the top of the list when considering needs for every human.

Baltimore, MD (Inactive) – Mobile Bike Shop

2016-08-02T00:00:00Z

This summer, Bikemore is launching its Mobile Bike Shop. We are partnering with BYKE and employing volunteer bike mechanics to set up shop in neighborhoods that have a challenge accessing bike shops. Our mobile bike shop will provide free basic maintenance and give away items like helmets, bike lights, and tubes that make riding safer. BUT THAT'S NOT ALL! We are using the mobile bike shops as a tool to help connect residents in neighborhoods across the city to our advocacy work. Each mobile bike shop will be staffed with adult mechanics, youth mechanics and Bikemore staff that will engage residents and educate them about the importance of livable streets and upcoming infrastructure projects. This exchange will allow us to build relationships with more diverse constituents and conduct listening sessions to learn what improvements are top of mind. One of the challenges we have as an organization is connecting folks to our mission who may not use social media. This will allow us to meet folks where they are, provide a valuable service to ensure safe cycling, and let people know that we are here fighting for livable streets for all of Baltimore's neighborhoods.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Bio-Classic Cleaning Woman's Co-Op

2016-08-01T00:00:00Z

Bio Classic Cleaning is a women worker-owned cooperative business. We offer Eco-friendly cleaning to any type of homes, office and community spaces with non-toxic products. Bio Classic professional workers are trained in friendly environmental approaches and cooperativeness by the rigorous educational "Green Worker Academy." Our goal is to provide a humane and just work conditions and financial independence for our members. Furthermore, we hope to become the next generation of entrepreneurs with the tools to inspire women and young people as well as to create a non-toxic living and work spaces for all.

Atlanta, GA – STRIVE Job-Readiness Program for REAL Employment

2016-08-01T00:00:00Z

After thorough investigation of social service providers in the Atlanta area, New Hope founders identified a significant gap; few, if any, organizations were focused on helping at-risk individuals permanently break out of the cycle of poverty. A year of research revealed STRIVE International as a solid model for workforce development. Established over 30 years ago, STRIVE has affiliates in 16 US cities and three countries and a proven record of job training and placement for people in hardship. In 2009 New Hope Enterprises was granted non-profit status and became Atlanta’s STRIVE affiliate. Many people seeking employment have not been exposed to good work models and need assistance with soft skills before continuing with hard skills training. New Hope training is for men and women, ages 18-62, who are motivated to learn and want full employment, starting with ‘soft skills’ or ‘employability skills’ before hard-skills training. STRIVE focuses on participants’ lives and the decisions they made which impacted them negatively. They receive one-on-one coaching by highly trained leaders; several are themselves STRIVE graduates. New Hope’s emphasis on personal growth and accountability is critical to participants’ success. Participants know that they can be “fired” for not following the rules, including punctuality, professional attire and appropriate language, which mirror the expectations of employers. All participants are background-checked to clarify any job challenges. Thus, people with a criminal record cannot become State certified as a Nursing Assistant in Georgia. Some employers are willing to work with ex-offenders trained in other job skills. Following STRIVE graduation, all participants take two weeks of Digital Literacy Training. Additional hard skills training is optional: Certified Nurse Assistant, Microsoft Operations, Construction, Culinary Arts or Auto Mechanics. Our goal is to place 80% of our STRIVE graduates into jobs this year.

Minas Gerais (Inactive) – Lutando e Vencendo com o Jiu Jitsu

2016-08-01T00:00:00Z

Lutando e Vencendo com o Jiu Jitsu é um projeto que utiliza a arte do jiu jitsu como ferramenta de empoderamento e disciplina para crianças que vivem em situação de vulnerabilidade social. José Rodrigues de Araújo Filho, autor do projeto que vem sendo implantado desde 2013, viu no jiu jitsu uma oportunidade de aprender sobre disciplina e respeito, o que, segundo ele, foi o que viabilizou a realização de seu sonho de ser policial. José Rodrigues concluiu que essa mesma oportunidade poderia ser de grande valia para outras crianças de seu bairro, como um caminho inclusive para fugir da violência e do mundo do crime. Com essa motivação, movimentou esforços e, depois de anos de tentativas diversas, conseguiu algumas parcerias para abrir uma academia e adquirir os equipamentos, sendo que o custeio da academia parte mesmo do seu salário de Policial Militar. Novos recursos para o projeto seriam utilizados para a compra de quimonos para as crianças, inscrições em campeonatos e transporte. Segundo José Rodrigues, “falta muito a ser feito, mais espero que Deus possa me dar a alegria de ver essas crianças bem”. Segue relato do autor sobre o projeto: Fui nascido e criado em um bairro pobre e, como é normal nestes lugares, muitos amigos meus entraram para o mundo das drogas ou foram assassinados. Como eu era muito levado, minha mãe me colocou no Jiu-Jitsu; mesmo sem condições para pagar a mensalidade, meu professor me aceitou, o que me ensinou a ter disciplina ajudando assim a alcançar meu sonho que era ser policial, sonho este alcançado no de 2006. Muitos amigos meus e meu irmão mais novo se envolveram com o mundo do crime, sendo meu irmão assassinado aos 22 anos de idade no ano de 2008. Com a morte de meu irmão, minha mãe entrou em depressão eu acabei também sofrendo muito com essa perda, pois nossa família sempre lutou para que ele mudasse de vida, mas como diz o ditado " os dedos das mãos não são iguais aos dos pés". Como sofri e vi todo o sofrimento de minha família e das famílias de meus amigos de infância que estavam mortos ou presos, decidi então tentar mudar a história de meu bairro, foi então que procurei a Vereadora de meu bairro e apresentei a ela o projeto, mostrando quanto seria bom para as crianças e jovens da comunidade que não tinham um local de lazer para poderem usar. Infelizmente, a vereadora não deu crédito ao meu projeto e não me apoiou, o que me deixou muito triste, e me fez deixar um pouco de lado este sonho. No ano de 2010, voltei a treinar jiu-jitsu, agora na academia de um amigo que também tinha um Projeto Social e lá pude ver o quanto o jiu-jitsu ajudava as crianças carentes, assim como um dia me ajudou, o que reacendeu a minha vontade de implantar o projeto de jiu-jitsu em meu bairro, porém todos os materiais eram caros e não tínhamos local para iniciar os treinos. No ano de 2013, decidi iniciar o projeto mesmo com todos os obstáculos acima citados, arcando com parte do dinheiro, também pedi ajuda a empresários e amigos, conseguindo então comprar nosso tatame. Assim começa o nosso projeto Social Lutando e Vencendo com o Jiu Jitsu na Rua do Ouro."

Raleigh, NC (Inactive) – Raleigh City Subway

2016-07-31T00:00:00Z

Raleigh City Subway was a project that I began when I moved back to North Carolina from NYC. I had moved to New York City with the expectation of living there and starting a career, but a friend of mine invited me to help him start a company in Raleigh, and I couldn't turn the offer down. When I moved to Raleigh, I realized I would miss a couple of things about NYC, namely, the beautiful subway map. Whenever you need to go somewhere in NYC, you always refer to one map. Everyone knows it, and everyone recognizes it. So I thought: "I wish there was a map of Raleigh that everyone knew, recognized, and referred to. Even if it's fictional." I started designing a rough draft of a map of Raleigh, as if Raleigh had a subway system similar to NYC. My idea for this map is that it would make me feel like I'm in a big city, where lots of things are happening at each stop, and there are reasons to go to each station and explore. My hope is that after I moved back to Raleigh, I wouldn't miss anything that I'd gotten so used to in New York. The subway map that I designed borrows graphic elements from the New York City Subway System. It is also meant to spark public interest and awareness in public transit systems, something that Raleigh could deeply benefit from as it grows and changes over the next 5 years. My hope for this map is that venues, restaurants, offices, and co-working spaces across Raleigh will display this map and that it will serve as a visual and geographic reference guide to the people of Raleigh. I foresee people joking that they live close to the Trailwood stop on the 'A' line, or that they're taking the 'N' line to Atlantic Ave. This kind of geographic awareness serves a community by bringing people together around a common understanding of geography and culture. I foresee a decent amount of interest in these maps, but most of all, I'd like them to be on display in venues, restaurants, and offices in Raleigh.

Washington, DC – Anti-Bullying Movement

2016-07-31T00:00:00Z

This project will be a community workshop called The Anti-Bullying Movement. We expect over 100 teens and pre-teens to come out and have day of education through games, lectures, and role playing to name a few activities being held. Collaborating with multiple local business, we expect this workshop to make an impact in the local area by reducing bullying and reforming those who bully. The Anti-Bullying Movement was conceived by me, Tyler McClendon, a fourteen year old, and a rising tenth grader who experienced bullying throughout middle school. After researching and coming up with ways to overcome bullying in public school, I was determined to help pre-teens and teenagers combat bullying by educating them on: • Bullying prevention and intervention techniques • Types of bullying, and how to identify it • Ways to solve problems involving bullying. • How to report bullying to adults, and others • Methods to help victims of bullying • Ways bullies can reform and become better citizens. Below are the statistics the Anti-Bullying Campaign plans to reduce the following according to national reports: Those who’ve been bullied • 28% of U.S. students in grades 6–12 experienced bullying. • 20% of U.S. students in grades 9–12 experienced bullying. Those who bully others: • Approximately 30% of young people admit to bullying others in surveys. Those who’ve seen bullying • 70.6% of young people say they have seen bullying in their schools. • 70.4% of school staff have seen bullying. 62% witnessed bullying two or more times in the last month and 41% witness bullying once a week or more. Those who’ve been cyberbullied • 9% of students in grades 6–12 experienced cyberbullying. • 15% of high school students (grades 9–12) were electronically bullied in the past year.

Washington, DC – Teen Food Action

2016-07-30T00:00:00Z

My co-founder, Julia Weckstein, and I have created a venture project that will eliminate a root cause of hunger: food waste. The project involves using underutilized school cafeterias to produce meals for the homeless community in D.C. and the surrounding areas. The program will take donated food from local businesses and cafeterias, such as Starbucks, Chipotle, Giant, and Safeway, and gather it in school cafeterias where it will be made into prepared meals by student volunteers. Both of our schools require community service hours to graduate and our venture will provide students at N.C.S. and Montgomery Blair with accessible community service hours after school while also developing their leadership skills and raising their awareness about food waste. After the students transform the donated food into healthy prepared meals, they will distribute the meals through either local churches and synagogues or through D.C. Central Kitchen’s existing distribution network. Our solution to the issue of hunger among the homeless population in D.C. is unique because it benefits multiple aspects of our community. On a smaller scale, the program impacts the daily lives of the students involved in the program by raising their awareness about sustainable eating habits and developing their leadership skills so they can make a difference in their community. On a larger scale, our venture feeds the hungry in our community and eliminates food waste. Our mission statement: To feed the hungry in the D.C. area, eliminate local food waste, and provide high school students with leadership opportunities to raise their awareness about sustainable food habits.

Orlando, FL – Art Is Moving Orlando

2016-07-29T00:00:00Z

One car (or more) of the SunRail would feature art by local artists: visual art exhibits (framed art, temporary seat covers, translucent window film, videos... ); as well as performance art; theatrical; musical, etc. I imagine this being an ongoing endeavor, maybe monthly, perhaps on 3rd Thursdays tying in with downtown Orlando's gallery hop,* or on 1st Thursdays coinciding with OMA's monthly evening event,* and/or other events in Orlando and surrounding communities along the SunRail's tri-county service area. (*Both examples are conveniently located near Orlando SunRail stops, which is awesome.) The SunRail's designated "art car" becomes a truly "moving" exhibit and pop-up traveling performance space. This not only gives creative individuals and organizations a new, well... "vehicle" for their creativity, it also entertains and enhances commuters' travel experience, potentially increasing ridership, and exposes SunRail commuters to arts, culture, and creative goings-on in our area. Local theaters and musical organizations could do short skits that are enticing previews of their upcoming shows, potentially increasing their attendance – a win/win/win proposal. In coordinating this I would make special efforts to be inclusive – extending creative opportunities to a wide and diverse range of people, especially those who may have fewer opportunities, such as kids & students, people of color, seniors, vets, and so on. While this awesome project is centered in Orlando, it's also meant to expose Orlandoans to art and cultural endeavors in other nearby communities beyond the city beautiful and vice versa, building partnerships between communities, which is even more awesome. I am thrilled that SunRail is finally here and am exited to build on its current momentum of bringing people together, giving people greater access to Central Florida's diverse offerings, and building community through public commuting.

Orlando, FL – CPNArts Breaks A Guinness World Record

2016-07-29T00:00:00Z

An all-community break a Guinness world record event. A volunteer professional event planner has been secured to work with CPNArts to gather 2,016 people to form a human saxophone to break the current (2014) Guinness record of 1660 people. http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-human-image-of-a-music-instrument Our aim is to secure the 2,016 people through a personal solicitation to individuals, groups, businesses, and local clubs, through our existing database, social media outlets and web site. Also, a story about the event will be advertised in the local community newspaper, and through one hundred posters placed in local stores. We will have a web platform for streamlining the registration process and a donation option for all those who would like to support the event. Volunteers will be utilized to inform the registrants of specific details related to the day of the event. The event is confirmed to take place at our local high school’s football field. Edgewater High School, 3100 Edgewater Drive, Orlando, Florida 32804-3798 on Saturday, September 10, 2016, between 8:00 AM and 12:00 NOON.

Newcastle – Survival Candle

2016-07-29T00:00:00Z

Recycling small/medium/large cans, cardboard and wax into a survival candle which can be used for cooking, warmth and light. These candles, once loaded can give off good reliable (non drip) heat and light in very unfavourable conditions. They can be lit and extinguished as many times as you like. Once used up, the can can simply be repacked and used again. These candles are incredibly portable and perfect for campers, or as Stephen recently discovered, the homeless.He finds people sleeping rough and offers these candles to them for comfort and survival. This Awesome grant will be used to purchase non-toxic wax (soy-based) so that Stephen can continue to make these up-cycled candles

Melbourne (Inactive) – Pumped for Parole

2016-07-29T00:00:00Z

When we asked our clients how they managed to stay out of trouble in prison long enough to be granted parole, their response is almost always something along the lines of "I just hit the gym, developed a strict daily routine, stayed off drugs and stayed out of the politics". For these people, when they eventually leave prison on a parole order, they often talk about the social anxiety associated with going to unfamiliar surroundings or public spaces, with comments such as "yeah i freak out a bit in shopping centres". Unfamiliar situations involving groups of people can traditionally be very dangerous for a prison inmate, and therefore understandably anxiety inducing when they get out... Parole for most people is one of life's major crossroads. "Beat parole" and get a second chance at life; "breach parole" and sink further into the systemic cycle of crime. The Pumped for Parole program has been designed to assist parolees overcome the psychological barriers of life on the outside through an exercise and group therapy program. Exercise is proven to be a more effective method of reducing both anxiety and depression than anti-depressants. But exercise alone wont solve the other major problem associated with parole - social isolation. Loneliness and social isolation also exacerbate depression and anxiety, and it is documented that the more frequently someone has a meaningful social interaction, the less likely the person is to experience uncontrollable anger - as part of the flight/fight response. The Program will therefore combine group exercise with a qualified personal trainer (also an ex-offender), followed by group therapy sessions to set goals and create a culture of accountability as well as individual counselling. Participants will be taught the physical and neurological benefits of socializing, exercise, education, diet and sleep. Together these elements will increase the likelihood of participants successfully completing parole and reduce recidivism.

Philadelphia, PA – Resilience&Trauma-Informed Ed at Summer Math Camp

2016-07-26T00:00:00Z

Trauma stabs at the lives of Philadelphia urban youth. According to the Center for Disease Control, 1 in 3 inner city youth suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from living in urban warzones. Learning is compromised when fear and despair lie unaddressed within a child. This summer, I want to fund a 16 lesson unit focused on resilience and trauma-informed education as part my summer math camp. Last July, my Math Corps Philadelphia raised the median scores of nineteen 6th/7th graders from F to B+ in 4 weeks. 1 hour/day for 4 weeks we taught Positive Psychology--lesson plans cobbled from informal practices. One Affirmation of the Day came from 6th grader Cai’Asia: “For every setback there is a comeback.” This summer I want to do better. In March, I earned a Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (C.A.P.P.). Presently Lisa Nwankwo of BRIDGE and I are creating a curriculum of 16 lessons whose foundation is her work--yoga and personal narrative as modalities to heal trauma. A 2014 study by Bessel Van der Kolk demonstrated the greater efficacy of yoga over talk therapy in treating PTS. Trauma resides in the body and deep in memory. Treat it first with a body intervention, and then use cognitive methods of personal story creation, signature strengths, growth mind set, and gratitude to learn resilience. All proven methods.

Philadelphia, PA – Mosaic Pothole Installations

2016-07-26T00:00:00Z

3 years ago, Chicago-based mosaic artist, Jim Bachor got tired of his city’s pothole problem and started installing his beautiful mosaics in them, making them more than just axle savers. 3 successful Kickstarter's in, and he's become well-known nationally for these outdoor art installations. He's hit Chicago's list of the city's greatest public art. The first year his theme was flowers -- long stemmed vibrant roses, tulips, and lilies burst out of Chicago streets. The 2nd yr, the pothole installations were called 'Treats in the Streets'. A perfect name for the creamy white tiles bordering brightly colored popsicles seemingly tossed off a Good Humor truck -- that year Finland invited him to continue the series there. He creates mosaics that speak of modern things in an ancient voice. His work surprises the viewer while challenging long-held notions of what a mosaics should be -- just like our other mosaic rock star, Isaiah Zagar. Hundreds if not thousands of tiny, hand-cut pieces of Italian glass and marble comprise his work. We've been watching Jim's series since the beginning. The public loves him and the press (including The Inquirer, who called him up to see if he'd thought about bringing the project to Philadelphia). We're excited to say we've arranged to bring Jim's project to Philly in August! He'll to do a handful of installs with imagery synonymous to Philly, in selected neighborhoods. Not only will we fill a couple of car breakers, but what a delight and surprise it will be for people to look down and see these beautiful mosaics in a city that already has a bond to that artform. There will be fun interactive supplements to this project including an art scavenger hunt - residents can win fun signed art prints from Jim for finding the mosaics. An artist talk/ Q&A with Jim will take place at a local gallery so the community (families will be targeted for this fun chat) can learn more about the project and ask questions.

Kingston – Adventure Gear Stash

2016-07-26T00:00:00Z

The Kingston Outdoor Adventure Club began in August 2015, and has grown to 730+ members! The Club is free to join and asks for a $2 event fee (plus event costs) to cover liability insurance. One of the hurdles we've encountered is having members who would like to participate in events but who don't have the money for outdoor gear. We would like to create a stash of gear to help reduce the barriers for active participation in outdoor activities. Event something as simple as hiking can be a challenge without a quality backpack.

Newmarket – Commons Coffee and Catering

2016-07-26T00:00:00Z

Commons Coffee and Catering is a not for profit business. We have a booth at the Newmarket Farmer's market for 26 Saturdays (May-October) and for the past 3 years have been training adults with autism and developmental differences at our booth to learn various skills while working on a real job setting and being included in the community , showing their abilities. Our dedicated job coaches and volunteers provide the support We have started our 4th year of operation at the market. This year we have about 10-11 individuals working short shifts. We have been participating in all the events organized by the town of newmarket (i.e. Multicultural Festival, Buskerfest,, Winterfest, as well as Windfall Ecofestival, Caribbean Festival and Jazz festival. This year we have been receiving a number of requests for catering for meetings and smaller events. As our catering demands have increased (we have had 10 this year including Earth Day at the Regional Admin building our equipment needs updating and replacement. We also need some new equipment for our indoor catering requests. As well as replacing damaged tent from last year's Jazz festival storm.

Portland, OR – The Johnson Creek College

2016-07-26T00:00:00Z

The Johnson Creek College is an experimental school that offers classes in exchange for unique forms of payment and barter that aid in the awareness and restoration of Portland's Johnson Creek. Founded by artists Adam Carlin and Kristina Dutton, the Creek College fosters a shared positive vision and active community stewardship. Classes offer opportunities for community members to learn new skill sets, and restoration efforts create a healthier environment for a diversity of people represented along the 26 mile watershed. Our mission is to encourage the development of deeper relationships to nature, self, and community through mentorship, arts-based learning, and environmental education. The Creek College simultaneously addresses multiple needs; Climate change is already bringing warmer, drier summers, and higher intensity rainstorms, which negatively affect aquatic life. Stewardship and restoring actions will increase ecosystem resilience to climate change and ongoing development. The Creek College is an opportunity to increase interest in and awareness of these issues. It is also an opportunity for a natural setting to function as a classroom in a very broad sense; through art participation, as a place to cultivate new skills sets, a platform for environmental awareness education, and a bridge for diverse communities. The college originated in the form of a question; what do we, as artists, have in our toolkit to create the broadest impact in aiding restoration efforts? We decided to create an opportunity for local residents of all ages and backgrounds to work together over the course of multiple events, ensuring a sense of connection to each other, the project and the creek environment. The Creek College, in partnership with Johnson Creek Watershed Council, offers a chance for people of various backgrounds and interests to feel empowered in working together for the betterment of this vital and fragile ecosystem, as it weaves its way through our neighborhoods.

Jumbos (Inactive) – Child Sex Trafficking + Medical Education

2016-07-25T00:00:00Z

I first learned about child sex trafficking at Tufts University through the Love 146 club, and I was immediately moved to do something to combat this atrocity. I participated in advocacy and awareness initiatives while at Tufts and when I started medical school at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, I wanted to integrate my knowledge of human trafficking into my medical school experience. At Einstein, I met Dr. Kanani Titchen (another Tufts alum!), who has focused her career on human trafficking. Through her mentorship, I learned about child sex trafficking in the context of the medical profession. By a modest estimate, 100,000 – 300,000 international and domestic minors in the United States are at risk of being trafficked for sex each year, and previous research demonstrated that 50-88% of trafficking victims have contact with a healthcare provider, presenting an important opportunity for intervention. While healthcare providers are potentially able to identify and assist victims of sex trafficking, unfortunately, most trafficked patients are not assisted in these encounters. Why? Physicians don’t know how to recognize trafficked patients. Most medical schools lack formal training to teach students about the scope of sex trafficking, the methods to identify a patient who is trafficked, and the resources available to these patients. I propose to develop an evidence-based curriculum for medical students to learn how to identify children and young adults who are victims of sex trafficking. My goal is to make a workshop curriculum that is short, easy to learn, and replicable across medical schools so more medical students can feel confident in identifying and assisting trafficking victims as future physicians.

Alaska (Inactive) – Guys and Gals Read, Inc.

2016-07-25T00:00:00Z

The 11th year of the Fairbanks-created Alaska Guys and Gals Read programs will send teams of volunteer readers into all 18 local public elementary schools this coming school year (2016-17) to read the first parts of heavily-illustrated books to 4th grade boys and girls. They read each book one time for 20 minutes (all the time we have in one lunch period, but long enough to engage the kids' interest) and donate 3 copies of each book to the school libraries. The programs draws nearly 100% of all the kids, and the books become the most popular in school, across ages and sexes. The program is entirely volunteer-based, and raises all its funding through small local contributions. Guys Read has won two major national awards (2012 National Assn. of Counties Academic Achievement Award, and 2013 Public Library Association Innovations in Literacy Award. Libraries in Alaska (Nome, Barrow, Wasilla, Sitka) and the Lower 48 (2 library systems in Maryland) have adopted our approach, using the downloadable manual from our website.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – 826 Valencia Tenderloin Center

2016-07-25T00:00:00Z

826 Valencia is dedicated to supporting under-resourced students with their writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. We achieve this through unique, free programs that are fun, inspire imagination and wonder, and ignite a love of learning through special projects in the classroom, writing workshops, after-school & evening tutoring, field trips, and summer programs. After 13 years of free writing, tutoring, and publishing programs at our flagship site in San Francisco’s Mission District, we have expanded to the Tenderloin neighborhood, an area with the second-highest rate of food stamp use in the city and home to 3,000 children. The neighborhood has a bounty of services available, but none that specifically focus on writing. We've created a wondrous, magical space that inspires creativity and gives kids a safe place to learn. In classic 826 style, the center will be fronted by King Carl’s Emporium, a weird and whimsical store featuring souvenirs gathered by a traveling royal pufferfish. Through this community gateway, students will discover a place where they can build the writing skills that are fundamental to their success in school and beyond.

Miami, FL – Bee Brave Buddies Corporation

2016-07-24T00:00:00Z

I have designed 3 adorable beautifully bald dolls for children in treatment with cancer called Bee Brave Buddies. . Kids shouldn’t have to deal with Cancer or other life-threatening diseases, but they do! My dolls were created to make these children brave(R) than they should every have to be. There are three Bee Brave Buddies to chose from, Buddy Brave, our boy super hero doll, Bestie Brave, a best friend forever super hero for girls and Catie Cuddles, our fancy lacey girly doll. My dolls are created in my Miami Beach based studio. All fabrics are printed in the USA from my exclusive whimsical designs. I have personally gifted hundreds of dolls for the past 15 months and now proud to announce I have become a nonprofit 501(c)3 ”. Each doll is soft, colorful, cuddly and bald, showing children that they can still be beautiful and strong even without hair. Each doll comes with a matching hat or headband. The super heroes come with soft minky cape. The girl dolls have special words printed on their long leggings such as giggle, hope, brave, cuddle, snuggle, dream, hugs, smile, laugh, play. Each doll is available in a Caucasian or African-American version. Each doll has a big heart printed on the back of their bald head. Any family or friend who has a child with cancer can request a doll on our web site (nomination page) and we will send the doll as a gift from Bee Brave Buddies to that child. We also partner with any accredited pediatric cancer hospitals or clinics across the US to give boxes of dolls monthly to the children. Our mission is to provide support to children and young adults with cancer and other serious illnesses through gifting of our dolls, books and other gifts. Every week, I receive pictures of these children hugging their new Bee Brave Buddies. Their smiles are beautiful. I hope to be able to give these dolls to every child with cancer across the US. Your help would make a big difference!

Santa Fe, NM (Inactive) – Indoor Playroom Remodel

2016-07-23T00:00:00Z

Casa Familia is one of five residential facilities operated by St. Elizabeth Shelter. Last year, it served 339 people, providing them with 8,903 bed nights of shelter, 18,960 meals, 5,964 units of case management and, most importantly, successfully moved 247 of them -- 78% of those leaving the program -- into housing. Since studies have shown the less time families spend homeless, the less likely they will be homeless again, securing housing for these families and children is our ultimate goal. We want to remodel the indoor children's playroom at Casa Familia, our emergency shelter for homeless single women and families with children. It has 10 beds for women, 8 rooms for families and can accommodate up to 40 people. It is the only such facility in Santa Fe and all of Northern New Mexico, and one of 5 residential facilities operated by St. Elizabeth Shelter. Families now constitute 37.4% of the overall homeless population. Prior to its opening in 2009, there was only one room available to one family in Northern New Mexico. By contrast, Casa Familia housed 50 families with 98 children last year.. Numerous studies have documented the deleterious effects homelessness has on children -- more physical and mental health issues, more developmental issues, increased school absences, poorer academic performance, etc. At Casa Familia, our goal is to immediately stabilize these families in a safe and secure environment and then begin working with them on the issues leading to their becoming homeless. Children are assessed for healthcare issues and referred to our more specialized partnering agencies, if appropriate. They are enrolled in school with their attendance and academic performance monitored. Tutors are provided if needed. At Casa Familia, we want to provide the children with the ambiance and experiences similar to their non-homeless peers. For those who have been living in cars or shuttled among relatives, our playroom is the place to rest, relax and socialize with others while learning useful interpersonal skills. Families, too, finally will have the precious time and opportunity to laugh and learn together. The remodel will feature a redecorated room with playful simple murals, child-sized furniture and a cedar playhouse to inspire and promote healthy engaged play while reducing parental stress. It also will serve as an example to the parents for creating a similar space for their children in their own future home. We will use the funds to purchase a playhouse, children's table and chairs. We will fix minor problems with electrical wiring in the play area to make it safer. We will purchase a magnet wall, chalkboard wall and paint for the floor. Then we will use volunteers to install the wall, decorate the room with playful simple murals and paint a playscape onto the floor, sealing it so it will be durable.

San Jose, CA – Virtual Reality Painting Station

2016-07-23T00:00:00Z

Hello! My awesome project incorporates a virtual reality painting station for the public to use during our gallery showings! We have a mobile gallery that has done shows from California to Nevada, this month we will have shows in San Jose and end in Oregon, yet most of our shows are based in San Jose, we have continuously participate in First Fridays and SubZERO festivals for years. Our exhibitions feature art from emerging artist as well as offering a platform for theater and performances. We offer listening stations and a coloring decompression area for adults and children. We would love to incorporate a VR painting station into our gallery for the public to experience the awesomeness of virtual reality! But not just any old VR will do, we want to use VR with tactile response and a program that enables users to paint in 3D! Our virtual reality painting station would be like a listening station but outfitted with VR gear that is easy and intuitive to use. Once the gear is slipped on, a person is inside a virtual reality world with a set of brushes, tools, colors, and textures that can be used to create anything that person can think of. Imagine it like a blend of sculpting and painting in thin air, that's the type of wonder we want people in San Jose to experience! Yes, we want our gallery to feature a 3D Virtual Reality painting Station in order to explore new realms of creativity in three dimensions! it will be the first of its kind in San Jose available to the public. Imagine walking onto the hard wood floors of our gallery, then sliding on the 3D gear and having the ability to paint the space around you, the power to literally paint a cloud above you, the ground below you, and what ever your heart desires in front of you! This is the goal of our project, it will add to the experience of our mobile gallery and be enjoyed by thousands! With your help, we can make the joy of painting in virtual reality a reality! Thank you for your support.

Seattle, WA – Peacemaking Photo Project

2016-07-23T00:00:00Z

I am working with female photographers around the country to create a first-of-its-kind collection of images that breaks down negative stereotypes of Muslim women and decreases islamophobia by providing visual evidence of how much we have in common. The problem of islamophobia and the marginalization of Muslims in America is a problem everywhere, including the Puget Sound region. The threats against 2 local mosques just a couple of weeks ago is proof of that. I started this project 9 months ago when I felt the need to respond to this growing problem and unfortunately the need just keeps growing. I currently have 17 photographers in 7 states working on the project, although the majority of the photographers (including myself) are in the greater Seattle area. I also have nearly 100 women who have volunteered to be photographed, 70% of whom are Muslim. Each photographer has been tasked to create a set a photos - one of a Muslim woman and one of a non-Muslim woman - both engaged in a similar activity. So far we have photos of female politicians, activists, fashion designers, snowboarders, law enforcement officers, athletes, teachers, medical professionals, students and more. Once the collection is complete (I hope to have a minimum of 20 sets of images), we will host a series of gallery events to bring women together to view the images and engage in dialogue about both their differences and their similarities. Research says that personal interaction is the best way to combat prejudice, and this gallery will provide that. The first gallery event will take place in Bellevue in August. After that, I hope the gallery will travel around Washington State, and even around the country. I am also working on creating an online version of the gallery in order to expand the impact of the images. It's time to tell a different, more accurate, story about our Muslim neighbors...one that spreads love (and awesomeness), instead of hate. That is what I hope to do.

New York City, NY – ID Shop

2016-07-22T00:00:00Z

AwesomeNYC is pleased to support the 2016 edition of ID Shop, artist Sue Jeong Ka's project that operates as a liaison between art and public institutions to help homeless and immigrant youths apply for federally issued ID cards. Since 2014, ID Shop has offered letters of proof of residency and other legal documentation to these youths, including those struggling with residential and gender issues, through collaboration with organizations including the Art & Law Program at Fordham University, More Art, South Asian Women's Creative Collective, Sylvia Rivera Law Project, Sylvia’s Place, and the Queens Museum. The ID Shop’s purpose is twofold. The first is structural: textually triangulating relationships between nonprofits, participants, the artist, and individual supporters via legal contracts. The second is practical: providing the opportunity for marginalized participants to apply for IDs and gain legal recognition as persons by offering proof of residence in cooperation with art institutions. The art institution’s address legally serves as the recorded residence of the participants, exposing some of the loopholes in the process of establishing a legal identity and reimagining how art institutions interact with local communities. ID Shop is thus a performative platform, benefiting members of marginalized ethnic and gender groups, that re-examines the practice of hospitality within the legal structures of contemporary politically-defined territories. ID Shop will be collaborating in 2016 with the film/video collective WRRQ to run the WRRQShop in Brooklyn, and with Arts In the Woods, for a summer retreat version of the WRRQShop. As for the future, Sue tells us, "Beyond my collaboration with art institutions and homeless youth shelters, I plan to serve shelters that fell out the Department of Homeless Services system through my work and will attempt to change homeless and housing policies of both NYC and NYS." More about can found on the artist's website and Facebook page.

Tallahassee, FL (Inactive) – The 100 Hall of Fame Legacy Foundation, Inc.

2016-07-21T00:00:00Z

The 100 Hall of Fame Legacy Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit charitable musically based organization, certified in the State of Florida, that targets children age 7-17. Our mission is to provide positive events/activities for families of children in the lower income areas of our communities. The activities are designed to mentor/impart upon our children with opportunities other than their current environment can provide, (i.e., positive messaging, cookouts filled with fun and games with a message, encouragement to continue higher educational dreams, knowing the difference between right and wrong decision making and the consequences for both, self-worth, community respect,self respect, respect for authority, (teachers, parents, law enforcement officials, etc.). We also, when the time comes, sponsor high school students that have the required criteria to attend a college/university, in the area of music education, but not limited to, and do not the financial resources to attend. We hope to develop these young minds into productive adult citizens that will impact our community here in Tallahassee and other communities in a positive way.