Awesome Foundation - Projects

San Francisco, CA – Another brief History of the Sunset

2017-06-08T00:00:00Z

The Golden Gate National Recreation area (which Ocean Beach is part of) is home to more endangered species than all of Yosemite. It is also home to an expanding human population. The energy and influx the area is receiving can either be used to make it stronger, more vibrant and diverse place— or else its popularity will take a toll on existing diversity. My installation at Irving Street Projects explores the interplay of native species endemic to the Outer Sunset and the non-native species that have made it home. This residency gave me a chance to focus on ideas that I have been working on over the 5 years since I moved my art space to the Outer Sunset and learned that it had been the stage for the first butterfly extinction in North America. The butterfly’s fate became a metaphor in my work for talking about gentrification (a topic too hot at that time to discuss directly). The Awesome Foundation would allow us to produce a “Field Guide” that will encapsulate this project/research in a way that is sharable and will live beyond the residency. A sharable art project that communicates about the needs of various species that call Ocean Beach home to help visitors become better neighbors. The Field Guide, while educating about the native species of Ocean Beach, will also evoke and complicating conceptions of gentrification, colonialism, and the subsequent problems of dividing into "native" and "non-native”— to get people thinking more deeply about the world around them.

Oakland, CA (Inactive) – Lightning Bolt Community Safety Trainings

2017-06-08T00:00:00Z

Lightning Bolt supports communities preparing for natural and political disasters. In our Community Safety Trainings for local businesses, we convene expert trainers and local small-business workers and owners to build skills in 5 key areas of community safety: 1) De-escalation and alternatives to calling the police 2) Know your rights if ICE attempts to enter your business 3) Basic medic skills for treating gunshot wounds, stab wounds, & tear gas 4) Gender-neutral restrooms and transgender-friendly spaces 5) Accessibility and disability justice beyond the ADA Trainers in each area of safety come from esteemed local organizations, and trainers are directly impacted by the area of safety in which they teach. Trainers have included teachers from: + Sins Invalid + Transgender & Intersex Justice Project + People's Community Medics + Instituto Familiar de la Raza + Oakland Power Projects As of this writing we have completed our first training cohort of individuals from 6 small, People-of-Color-owned businesses in Oakland, and are working on convening our second cohort. Our goal is to train people from 50 Bay Area businesses by the end of 2017. OUR FIRST COHORT: Miss Ollie's Red Bay Coffee Reem's Arab Bakery Tamales La Oaxaqueña Cafe Gabriela Akat Cafe Kalli As Lightning Bolt collective members coordinating this project, we span multiple communities — Black, disabled, immigrant, and queer — working for peace and justice. We have seen how concrete safety trainings can empower our friends, neighbors, and ourselves in the face of escalating systemic violence and everyday crises. We believe that compassion in action, guided by people directly impacted amidst today’s political disasters, is critical for moving beyond symbolic sanctuary into real, nonviolent protection. We believe that local businesses can become vital hubs in a network of compassionate grassroots defense. On a personal level, disaster preparedness helps us move from fear, into love, toward action.

San Francisco, CA – Q-Finder: A view into the possible

2017-06-08T00:00:00Z

Nuts and bolts: I want to take pictures of the LGBTQ community during SF Pride 2017 and put the pictures into viewfinder keychains to send to LGBTQ youth who feel isolated or need support. Pride, particularly in San Francisco, is the height of LGBTQ(QIA+) love and celebration within the community. We view ourselves as one big family, and Pride is our family reunion :) I want to share images of this community with its hair down -- in the middle of the fun, excitement, love, support, and safety of a celebration of our identity. These images will offer solace, encouragement, and positive reinforcement to people who may not have access to a supportive queer community. The viewfinder only reveals its image to someone who is close enough to hold it up to their eye. In other words, it is a discreet way to carry around a whole world in your pocket without outing yourself. These keychains will be available to order online, though a safe distribution system (no outing with packaging, etc) and will be completely free of charge. To begin with, we will offer them through the www.everyoneisgay.com web store.("Everyone Is Gay works to improve the lives of LGBTQIA youth"). Eventually we may branch out and become our own entity with a website (I have someone who works at Wix.com who is willing to donate a domain and site to the cause). I would also like to reach out to agencies that work with queer foster youth for distribution. ** There can be some risqué costumery (or lack thereof) and behavior during Pride weekend, but my images will be safe for consumption by minors, and will feature the theme of wholesome fun and supportive community. This idea was born out of my own response to the attack on Pulse. I heavily debated attending Pride last year, but when I did, I felt the true support of my community - not just fellow queers, but from the city of SF at large. I still look at photos from Pride 2016 when I need to be reassured of positivity and love in the world

Tilburg (Inactive) – Kleur de stad.

2017-06-07T00:00:00Z

In elke wijk in Tilburg een muurschildering (streetart) maken. Kijkend naar de geschiedenis van wat er zich heeft afgespeeld in de wijk of naar de naam van de wijk een passend werk maken op een prominente plek in de desbetreffende wijk. Afbeeldingen die of de geschiedenis van Tilburg of belangrijke personen of gebeurtenissen uit die wijk als eerbetoon belichten. Mvg. Erik

Annapolis, NS (Inactive) – Bear River Community RIde

2017-06-07T00:00:00Z

We're a re-cycle bicycle shop operating out of the Oakdene Center in Bear River N.S. We refurbish old bicycles for sale and offer servicing and tune-ups, parts and accessories new and used. We're interested in rescuing old bicycles and their bits from the land fill and empowering individuals to get back in the saddle as a way to make healthy lifestyle choices and as a way to be less dependent on fossil fuels. We're in our first year of operation. We are going to start a community ride within the village to get the neighborhood rolling together. The rides will happen on a monthly basis and travel through some of the simpler and less challenging loops within the village, perhaps climbing in difficulty level as the season progresses and as the group develops. We will be printing t-shirts, and classic style merino wool jerseys for the participants and for sale in our bike shop before and after the rides. The jerseys will feature our shop logo and the name of the village. The support of the awesome foundation means that we can offer the ride free of charge as a community event open to everyone.

Ann Arbor, MI – Futel

2017-06-06T00:00:00Z

Futel is a free telephone company and 501(c)(3) organization. We offer domestic calls, messaging, human interaction, connections to services, and interactive audio art. All services are free of charge. Some features are accessed from free payphones which we install in public places, and some are accessed from an incoming phone number. Futel is a cross between a public service and a city-spanning art installation. We are inspired by public kiosks, shared experiences, the re-use of discarded technology, and unconventional interactions hidden behind ordinary exteriors. While Futel will always provide a straightforward and easily usable service, we also appreciate how art is formed by constraints, by roundabout paths or unexpected juxtapositions. We currently have three public phones, the first of which was installed in 2014. Our phones are armored, weatherproof, and low-maintenance, they just need internet access and a solid place to attach them. We also provide free telephone service to Right To Dream Too, a rest area, shelter, and houseless advocacy organization in downtown Portland. By the end of 2016, over 750 free outgoing calls were initiated per month from Futel phones, and over 50 interactive operator calls were logged throughout the year.

Ann Arbor, MI – Changing The Norm

2017-06-06T00:00:00Z

We The People Growers Association (WTPGA) has recently signed a land lease agreement for 1.5 acres to create a community-based farm with the goal to employ men and women returning home from incarceration. Currently, we have tilled 8,000 sq. ft. and have created, thus far, twelve 50 ft. x 3 ft. vegetable beds which will soon be filled with organic compost and lots of organic transplants, primarily culinary herbs. As our awesome project develops, one of our immediate needs is infrastructure development. We The People Growers Association has the opportunity to partner with Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley (HHHV) to meet a critical infrastructural need. This need consists of a tool shed for storage as well as a place for employees and volunteers to rest and re-hydrate. This tool shed will allow WTPGA to safely and securely store on-site resources. In addition, the rest/re-hydration station will be an indispensable gesture to show that WTPGA cares about people. WTPGA strives to be intentional in demonstrating its values of kindness, care, and compassion for others.

Singapore – Planting 240,500 Trees to Improve the Environment

2017-06-06T00:00:00Z

The Lampageu Area, Aceh Province, Indonesia, is still struggling the after effects of the 2004 tsunami. All of the mangroves were lost, resulting in the loss of habitat for small fish, which in turn has reduced food and income for the villagers. There is no shade from trees for locals and seawater now comes onto the land making it impossible to grow crops. There are some main considerations why ours intervention is needed: (1) More than 1000 hectares of Lampageu Area territories have turned to sea as the result of tsunami disaster since the last twelve years. The mangroves cannot longer be found at the nearer of Lampageu areas and causes 87% of the villagers lose their source of income. (2) There are 2038 heads of household who work as farmers and 2473 villager women are no longer able to catch oyster, shrimp, conch, shell, crab, and small fish, meaning that they have lost their livelihood. (3) The intrusion of seawater to the land happens continually. (4) nowadays, there is a dramatic increase of indoor air temperature and it reaches 29°C – 42°C. (5) There are many cases of infant mortality because of dehydration, high temperature, and heat of the sun. Ours intervention aims to address some of these issues to improving the sustainable livelihoods by reforestation mangrove on 53,6 hectares of land (about 536,600 square meters) with 238.900 of mangrove seedlings and 1600 fruit tree planting in the Lampageu Area, which is preserved well. There are 40 people will be trained by an expert in mangrove establishment and care, and will in turn supervise 320 families involved in the project. The community has offered up their own private lands in tidal areas to become community land planted with mangroves. Further inland, fruit trees will be planted as a source of income for women villagers. Singaporeans, please take a vacation here 5 years later to enjoy the mangrove forest, and we are happy to entertain you unpaid in the shade of mangroves.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Conchservation - Conch Gone

2017-06-05T00:00:00Z

The Conchservation Campaign is a national effort to create a sustainable Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) fishery in The Bahamas. An action plan was designed to target, reduce and even eliminate, in some cases, the threats to the Bahamian conch. The threats are "those things" causing the Conch decline in the wild. Building awareness that there was indeed and issue was needed and a series of outreach tools were created. While these helped, the messaging and information were targeted to the "converted audience". We needed to reach the "unconverted". Music and the arts play a huge role in the learning environment from learning the alphabet to Bible versus. We decided to merge Conchservation with the arts to help make a bigger impact throughout The Bahamas. We engaged several Bahamian artists to help seamlessly merge messaging with Bahamian music. The resultant song and music video is titled "Conch Gone" and was launched on New Providence in January and Grand Bahama this April. As a non profit charitable organization in The Bahamas mandated to protect National Parks, we did not have funding to produce the Conchservation music video. We contracted Conchboy Films producer, Lavado Stubbs, to help. Lavado agreed to produce the video at a significantly reduced cost ($5,000 for a $25,000 product) but the BNT agreed to continue to fundraise for the video. If we were successful, we were to pay Conchboy Films additional funds. The video is available at https://youtu.be/IYCsTSjc4N8.

Sarnia (Inactive) – Youth Volunteer Expo

2017-06-05T00:00:00Z

I propose a Youth Volunteer Expo. A trade show-like event where charities, non-profits, community groups, and businesses can showcase their volunteering opportunities to the youth of Sarnia. It will be held on Saturday September 23, 2017, at Lambton Mall. Here's what to expect: * The mall full of exhibitors - every charity, community group, non-profit organization, nursing/retirement home, community event planner, and business who rely on volunteers to make their organization or event successful. All offering youth volunteering opportunities ** Also on hand, high school guidance counselors, the health unit, and police services, all offering information and guidance on how to fill out forms, get police checks or required vaccinations (nursing homes require TB testing) *** Swag bags, prizes, the mall full of people who want to make our community better. **** An active, well-maintained website devoted to student volunteer opportunities only. This will be ongoing - similar to a job posting board for students looking for event, programs, fundraising, or regular student volunteers. ***** Ongoing support to community organizations to create more youth volunteer opportunities

Liverpool (Inactive) – Wigzee Wool - Creates with love

2017-06-05T00:00:00Z

The Wigzee Wool project is were children's wigs are handmade and donated to local children undergoing hospital treatments. This is a concept I discovered on an American website. The response from the children and their families inspired me to make wigs for children locally here in Liverpool. Children's scalps are too sensitive and it is difficult for them to find a traditional wig that does not irritate or cause them discomfort. I use gentle, comfy, warm and soft natural yarn that does not cause any of the other problems associated with traditional wigs. The handmade wigs I make are embellished with sparklies to give a little girl a sense of magic and princess about her. Not only are wigs designed for comfort but they also give hours of playful magical fairytale fun to little princesses and princes who are poorly. I am at present talking with Alder Hey Children's hospital in Liverpool with regards to making them for the children attending the Onocolgy Clinic. I am making princess wigs for little girls and prince hats for boys. The children are able to play and have fun with the wigs whilst they are going through a tough time. The wigs are machine washable and able to endure hours of playful times. They are gift wrapped with a hand written personal card. My aim is to create wigs and create wig-making workshops where people from Liverpool can come together to volunteer their time and love to create magic for our local children. The wigs are handmade to a high standard complying with government labelling guidelines. There are different sizes to suit all age groups. The children will be able to choose from a variety of styles and can even design their own. I have made and funded 25 wigs already and realise this is a tiny proportion of wigs compared to the amount of children who would benefit from them. I hope your organisation can help with this project and together we can put a smile on a child's face.

Detroit, MI – From The Curb Up

2017-06-04T00:00:00Z

We will be cleaning out the alleys in our community to have them repurposed for to a bike trail. In doing this it will create healthy activities for the children in the community to enjoy themselves. This will also help to unite the community and help to spur civic engagement.

Portland, OR – Curious Ear

2017-06-03T00:00:00Z

Curious Ear is an empathy-building project where you can share what's on your mind with someone you may never otherwise meet. The idea is to bridge divides and break down barriers between demographically disparate groups: Young and old. Black and white. Red and blue. Homeowners and the homeless. With more understanding and compassion for each other, more people get to know, understand and lend an ear (and a hand!) when others need it most. Right now we have two 7-foot tall installations: a giant ear and a giant mouth. The ear "listens" and the mouth "speaks." Our animator created a slick visual way of showing how this all works, and our team of developers created custom apps for each. Record into the ear (a story, wish or secret based on a prompt provided, like "What do you wish you would have told them?"). And someone across the city can listen at the mouth. We've been working with and reaching out to local organizations, like Resolutions Northwest, Human Solutions, Fred Sly, head of the Rose City Nonviolent Communication program--which extends through the Oregon Prison system and youth correctional facilities (we are working on Ear/Mouth pairings here). Plus, assisted living and K-12 pairings are in the planning stages (Friendship Health Center and Grout Elementary). We recently unveiled both installations working together at Spaceness (spaceness.com) and collected over 100 awesome stories. We have some featured on our website, and are working to have all available there. We'd like to build more of these installations (about $490 ea), and have more ideas based on our collaborations so far--eg creating more permanent pairings, smaller units that can be placed on walls or passed around classrooms, and events where we can get local artists to help build these structures—events featuring local artisans and talent that the community can get to know better. Our goal is to have at least 2 week-long pairings a month (though we can do more with your help!)

Newcastle – The Authentic Child

2017-06-01T00:00:00Z

Nicole is a child and family counsellor who, for many years has counselled teenagers who have lost their way. Many times it is due to them making bad choices while not dealing well with life's ups and downs, family breakups, and handling their anxieties, emotions or being bullied The Authentic Child PLANTS the SEEDS for emotional wellness. Most children haven't got strategies when life is hard, but resort to alcohol and drugs as a means to emotionally survive. In 2015 the suicide rate of under 15s increased by 92% !!!- that doesn't include those who wanted to kill themselves, OR tried to, but weren't successful. It's heart breaking. Nicole believe that if we, as parents and adults teach our children from a very young age (from 3 years) to be comfortable with discussing and understanding their emotions, this is the key to our children living their BEST lives. Almost 25% of Australians battle with some form of mental illness in our lives-and anxiety is the highest percentage. The Authentic Child teaches children from 3-12years, ways of dealing with life: ups and downs. They remind children that being their authentic selves is the key to happiness and to make the best of their personalities and own individual strengths is more fulfilling than striving to be like someone else. They teach public speaking and debating-as this has proven to be one of the biggest obstacles for our children in school (these start from kinder) They do this by using several fun mediums such as drama and scaffold learning techniques, and introduce them to different ways to handle stress and handle their anxieties yoga, mindfulness ,meditation. The Authentic Child has hundreds of costumes, props, microphones, resilient building games and a place to discuss their worries is a safe and loving environment.

Chicago, IL – OPEN STUDIO: A CELEBRATION OF CHICAGO'S DRAG SCENE

2017-06-01T00:00:00Z

OPEN STUDIO: A CELEBRATION OF CHICAGO'S QUEER NIGHTLIFE & DRAG SCENE On June 11 at Mana Contemporary, Full Spectrum Features presents the spectacle of a drag show in a totally new light -- as a work of art to be explored and intimately appreciated. Visitors can walk around the stage and sets, and interact with drag performers in full/partial costume who will be featured throughout the event in "durational performances." This exhibition will be an interactive installation, taking place in a hand-crafted movie set. The elaborate set piece will evoke a "heaven-and-hell" themed nightclub, including a church confessional, a stage with a neon sign that reads “Church,” as well as other details inspired by religious iconography. We will paint backdrops to reenact tableaux of famous paintings, and have extras and performers in themed costumes such as "Adam and Eve" and "nuns and priests." All of the performers are queer, trans, people of color, and other marginalized people who are largely underrepresented in films, and who have historically been excluded from mainstream religion. The characters have non-hetero/mainstream relationships, such as Dominant and submissive (D/s) and other kinky relationships. This project sheds a positive light and representation on these often shamed and taboo consensual relationships and draws comparison to religious and spiritual practices and BDSM. BACKGROUND NOTE: This open studio exhibit will be the culminating event of a week-long film shoot. The film is written by Molly Hewitt, a local writer/director/performer/drag artist, and tells the story of Trinity, a queer girl from Chicago, who attends a life-changing drag show called “CHURCH”. This drag show explores sexuality and spirituality, two of the primary themes of the film.

Alaska (Inactive) – FCM Outdoor Playground

2017-06-01T00:00:00Z

The Fairbanks Children’s Museum, a non-profit family community resource, provides nearly 40,000 annual visitors a space where education and play coexist to spark creativity. The museum has created an indoor environment for young children and families to explore and create together in the former Woolworth building in downtown Fairbanks. The mission of the FCM is to connect and inspire families through discovery and the power of play. Playing allows children to interact with others, learn, explore, and communicate. The staff of the FCM hopes to repurpose an ugly and dangerous alley into a creative space for outdoor recreational activities to take place. We have a stretch of concrete that includes the width of three lanes, the length of our building, utility boxes, and a long rock-strip between the curbed pavement and a small wall. This alley has also served as our main entrance since the children’s museum opened in January of 2015. Until recently, drivers have been able to use the alley as a short-cut, posing a danger to families entering and leaving the museum. The City of Fairbanks has granted us several concrete planters as traffic barriers to help create a safe zone for this enclosure. While it does address the safety issue, we would like to create a vibrant and colorful outdoor location for our guests and summer campers to freely play. Our hope is to turn the rock-strip into an interactive natural river rock playground, where children can practice climbing, building, and balancing. We will be adding additional materials and outdoor exhibits that will welcome families to pause and play outside, whether or not they intend to visit the museum that day. By painting the existing concrete for running, skipping, and racing prompts, children will interact with each other in a creative outdoor playground. With painted concrete, additional play materials, and an interactive rock river playground, FCM will be able to provide a simple and interactive community area.

Atlanta, GA (Inactive) – Project Walk A Mile In My Shoes

2017-06-01T00:00:00Z

Project Walk A Mile in My Shoes which is a charity shoe drive that raises new & slightly used women, men, and children shoes and sneakers for the homeless & inner city youth in need. As of today, we have collected over 10,000 pairs of shoes since our start in December of 2007! We have made donations to Hosea Feed the hungry, The Boys & Girls Club, Its Cool To Be Smart, My Sister's House (an organization that helps abused women) The Covenant House (a shelter for homeless teens) and a number of local schools whose students were in need!

Libraries (Inactive) – ETC: All Abilities Lending Collection

2017-05-31T00:00:00Z

The Saline District Library (MI) is compiling a collection of gadgets and equipment available for check out by patrons called the All Abilities Collection. The purpose of the collection is to allow parents/teachers/caregivers of special needs children and teens a chance to try out some of the many tools available for sensory integration and social skill development. Since children of all abilities respond differently to toys and equipment, it is often a challenge for parents of children with disabilities to know if any particular item is one that will work for their specific child. The lending nature of the collection will allow patrons to try these items out at home or school, allowing for a natural experience for the child and caregiver. It will also help the library serve their special needs community by showing that the library is inclusive and open to all. The special needs community is often underserved by or may feel excluded from traditional library programming. The library will be collaborating with local educators and an occupational therapist to select items that will offer a full spectrum of interests and needs, in addition to creating instructional guides that explain the operations of individual items as well as the therapeutic value they can offer. What our grantee has to say: “Wow! This grant is indeed AWESOME! We are putting together a collection of gadgets and equipment for parents/teachers/caregivers of special needs children and teens to try various tools available for sensory integration and social skill development. This collection will help patrons try these items at home or school allowing for a natural experience with the item. We will be providing an amazing, much needed, and helpful service to a patron base that is often under-served and who experience significant financial hardships. - Katie Mitchell, Teen Librarian, Saline Public Library Often libraries are not viewed as places that would be supportive of special needs populations. To combat this, we need to provide services that speak directly to the needs of the community and to do the outreach so the intended patrons know these services and collections exist. By providing items that encourage inclusion, we are able to expand the role the library can play in the lives of more and varied patrons.” What our trustees have to say: “It is all encompassing in that it involves all stakeholders (educators, occupational therapists, care givers and parents) in its quest to provide suitable services to different types of inabilities.” “The project is meant to assist all children with various types of special needs. It is all encompassing in that it involves all stakeholders (educators, occupational therapists, care givers and parents) in its quest to provide suitable services to different types of inabilities. The project is also run by someone with extensive experience in dealing with a child with severe disabilities. It’s passion-driven and highly likely to succeed. It is all inclusive in its approach.” “The idea of a lending special collection for children of all abilities is a good reach out project for this community.” “This project would fund gadgets and tools for differently abled patrons & their families. It seems well thought out, as they plan to work with an occupational therapist to select items.“ “Centering the library as a point of first exposure for resources of all types, this project could provide an excellent outreach opportunity and a reminder that the library is for everyone.” “This project remains one that I continue to believe meets a specific need in the community with an inclusive approach that addresses differences in socioeconomic levels as well as the differences in needs of special needs children.”

Alaska (Inactive) – Hoonah Imagination Library

2017-05-31T00:00:00Z

My awesome project is to establish the Hoonah Imagination Library for Hoonah children from birth to age 5. Each child will be mailed an age-appropriate book every month during the first five years of life. The Association for the Education of Young Children Southeast has agreed to serve as our fiscal agent. We will compile each child's information and submit them for enrollment in Imagination Library. We expect to enroll between 50 and 60 children each year, depending upon the local population. Every child in Hoonah within the eligible age group will be enrolled in the Hoonah Imagination Library.

Tallahassee, FL (Inactive) – Black Women Empowering Black Women Summit

2017-05-31T00:00:00Z

Our awesome project allows for 50 local black womxn, ages 18 to 35, to experience peer-to-peer advising, networking and mentorship free of charge. We hope to increase the short-and-long term wellbeing of black womxn in the Big Bend area through five key areas: health, economy, education, culture, and relationships. The 2nd Annual BWEBW Summit will allow for attendees to personally connect and learn from our guest panelists - a group of experienced, black community leaders from diverse industries - to not only celebrate their accomplishments, but to provide attendees with advice and materials on how to further succeed. After the panel discussion, attendees must choose workshops they can participate in that address one of the five key areas, not limited to: successful entrepreneurship for black womxn, the importance of mental and physical wellbeing as a black womxn in America, and the positive impacts on a community which stem from healthy relationships and stable, family dynamics. Our project also allows for black-owned, womxn businesses to establish their presence and build patron relationships, which addresses the need for support and growth in one of the five key areas, our Tallahassee economy and the role minorities must play in it. After attending our Summit, we will provide attendees with follow up services and programs that we offer to assure they’ve succeeded in at least one of the five key areas. We have our book clubs; “Power Chat” events with community leaders to motivate and influence; series workshops and Sister Circle meetings that are structured to help address and support the goals of the modern black womxn. We seek to increase our target audience by 50% each year. We also plan to monitor and evaluate the incremental success of our 50 attendees from one of the five key areas with surveys after they’ve participated in our follow up programs.

Austin, TX – A New Kiln, and a Fresh Start

2017-05-31T00:00:00Z

Adam Yoo, aka Earth Drum, has been glassblowing artist for 18 years. In 2014, his glassblowing studio went out of business, and he became homeless. This year, Earth Drum found a new home at Community First! Village, a unique supportive housing community for the disabled and chronically homeless. Community First! has a market where residents can sell their wares, and has asked Earth Drum to make items like wine glasses and hummingbird feeders. The Austin Awesome Foundation is pleased make this possible by awarding Earth Drum a $1000 grant to purchase a new glassblowing kiln of his own.

New York City, NY – 1 Minute Meal: A Documentary Portrait of NYC

2017-05-31T00:00:00Z

1 Minute Meal uses short documentaries about food to create a more representative picture of people in New York City. Each 60-second story is an intimate glimpse into a food, cook, business, or community in the five boroughs. Following themes of ownership, adaptation, local legacies, and unseen forces, these stories go beyond the consumption-oriented focus of mainstream food media. Among the project's 60 subjects are a Buddhist monk who cooks for his temple as a way to reduce the killing of animals, a Bronx restaurant owner who must shut down and reopen her business across town after a 300% rent increase, a group of street vendors who protest at City Hall for the right to work, and a coffee shop that sparks a fierce debate over the idea of “self-gentrification.” 1 Minute Meals has established an exciting partnership with the Museum of Food and Drink (MOFAD) in Brooklyn. MOFAD is a nonprofit dedicated to advancing public understanding of the culture, history, science, production, and commerce of food and drink, working toward building the world's first large-scale museum with exhibits you can eat. 1 Minute Meal will be their first ever pop-up exhibit and will be kicking off with a special opening night exhibit on July 27th that brings together cooks, community members, and patrons for a curated screening, discussion, and tasting. Through this exhibit and its opening night programming, 1 Minute Meal will give New Yorkers an affordable and tangible way to meet the people behind the stories, learn more about their success and struggles, and engage with the subject of food in a way that builds human connection. Visit the 1 Minute Meal website to view the films, check out MOFAD.org, and mark your calendars for the opening night exhibit.

Disability – Huertomanias

2017-05-31T00:00:00Z

Huertomanías is an organic urban garden cooperative in Quito (Ecuador) that seeks to create a space where people with severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, can exercise their right to work, generate income, and partake in a participatory democracy. Our goal is to create an autonomous and sustainable microenterprise where all members participate in the planning, decision-making, production, and marketing of high-quality organic produce and value-added products. We seek to promote an inclusive work environment that challenges typical models of production. This awesome idea was born in 2014 during an assembly of users of a community mental health service, their family members, and professionals. The most common concern raised at the assembly was the worry of dependency. The stigma surrounding disabilities and the varying needs make it difficult to enter the labor market. The assembly resolved to create Huertomanías, and in 2016, we were fortunate to access an 800㎡ plot of land located in a town within Quito. At Huertomanías we hold monthly assemblies where we discuss our points of view, make compromises, and reach decisions. Exercising the right to a voice and vote is part of developing autonomy. One of the topics discussed was how to organize our labor system. We wanted a system that accommodated our varying needs, yet was also fair and encouraged participation. Thus, we created a structure where members earn points based on the effort and time they put into performing a variety of activities. The more points gained, the more income earned. However, if someone has a rough month and doesn’t attend labor hours they aren’t penalized. We currently are made up of seven members, but our goal is to extend our community to twelve by the end of the year. Moreover, we want to serve the community at large by creating a model that can be replicated for other initiatives that revolve around labor inclusion for marginalized populations. What our trustees are saying: "I voted for Huertomanias because gardens are awesome and the project's aim is to be self-sustaining. It's important to support the work of organizations that provide economic opportunities where the leadership and decision-making are in the hands of disabled people." What our grantee is saying: "Receiving the Awesome Award was like a breath of fresh air. We were so excited to see that people around the world are noticing our efforts and we are not alone in our fight for our rights."

North Minneapolis, MN – We Care Performing Arts Summer Camp

2017-05-31T00:00:00Z

Each summer at our neighborhood park, Farwell, community members observed children hanging out at the park without parent supervision and an increase drug activity. So in 2010 I decided to create enriching park programming for the children who frequented the park daily throughout the summer and the We Care Performing Arts Program was born. In creating this program it was important to meet neighborhood youth where they are. Based my observations of and interactions with neighborhood youth, I realized that they knew little about their own culture's history and lacked the self-confidence needed to succeed in life. To address this situation I created a free performing arts program at Farwell Park. I chose performing arts programming for two reasons. First the performing arts are an effective tool to highlight and showcase the roles, achievements, and contributions African Americans have made to American and world culture. Second, participation in the performing arts increases a child's self confidence as well as his/her ability to self regulate, cooperate with others, express him/herself both honestly and peacefully, and be disciplined. Immediately I found support from neighbors who live directly around the park and the Homewood Development Council. That first summer We Care Performing Arts ran solely on community support. Each summer since 2010 the program has grown both in scope and partnerships. Over the years partnering organizations have included the Pohlad Foundation, Black Story Tellers Alliance, Hired, Homewood Studios, Minneapolis Parks and Recreation, Minneapolis Public Schools, Minnesota Dance Alliance, North Commons Park, NRRC, Perpich Center for the Arts, Step Up, and UROC. This summer We Care Performing Arts is again excited to provide youth with a free performing arts program at Farwell Park culminating in a student performance at National Night Out.

Stockholm (Inactive) – Café Cul de Sac

2017-05-31T00:00:00Z

We think Stockholm is awesome. However, as you know we want to make it more awesome. For that to happen we need more initiatives like this month's winner, Café Cul de Sac. They take an empty space and turns it into magic! Stockholm is full of small beautiful boat harbours. Connected to them there are often big gravel areas where boats are stored over winter (for non-swedes: the water freezes over winter). During summer they are all empty. Big areas often beautifully located next to the water. What a waste! Café Cul de Sac has taken advantage of one of these areas and turned it into a beautiful community space where you can grab a bite to eat, a drink or two and meet your fellow neighbours. A space to celebrate community! With the support from Awesome Foundation they'll take this initiative to the next level by creating an inspiring and fun play area for the kids in the neighbourhood. Simply awesome Café Cul de Sac!

Washington, DC – PrintShop at New Community ArtSpace

2017-05-29T00:00:00Z
I want to begin a traditional printshop at New Community ArtSpace, a community-based art program that I am the founder and artistic director of in the heart of the Shaw neighborhood of Washington DC. Printmaking fosters a unique method of artistic expression and provides great advantages to an artist in terms of being able to easily reproduce and distribute original artworks. Masters like Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse included printmaking in their artistic endeavors. The field of printmaking has used contemporary digital mediums to advance the extraordinary technical richness of traditional printmaking. It has the ability to reach a personal expression that no other medium can. At ArtSpace we have a number of resources for our students including a ceramic studio with 3 electric potter's wheels and a large electric kiln for all our clay and glass firings. We have a fully equipped b/w darkroom. We also have 6 weaving looms (4 floor looms and 2 table looms). We offer classes and workshops in those mediums but also in a number of other mediums like painting, collage, drawing, and printmaking. Adding a press to our collection of equipment would be an incredible resource to the community. The closest printshop accessible to the public is in Hyattsville, MD at Pyramid Atlantic. The press will be available to our open studio participants and in our printmaking classes and workshops. With a press we expect to have one 10-week class and 4 workshops this coming year. The average hourly rate for the use of the press will be $5. We expect to maintain this rate for our classes and workshops plus a supply fees (average hourly rates elsewhere are $25). The ArtSpace Exhibition Program increases the exposure of both emerging and established artists. Each year we curate 4-6 exhibits. 90 percent of our exhibiting artists live in Washington, DC. Prints made from the printshop will be a welcomed addition to our exhibition schedule.

Asheville, NC (Inactive) – Appalachian Medical Solidarity

2017-05-27T00:00:00Z
Myself and a friend are current EMTs with many years of experience and skills which we want to share with our community and especially people who cannot afford to go to typical classes to learn these skills. We are actively reaching out to the homeless of Asheville through advocates like BeLoved House, the Black & Hispanic communities through organizations and leaders like Green Opportunities and Black Lives Matter Asheville as well as street activists and political go-getters who typically don't have organizational support. We have, in fact, done classes for the homeless at BeLoved House already and two activist oriented classes in Asheville. This project is mainly about teaching marginalized people but also about being available for people when medical support is needed or likely to be needed. When possible, coaching students in these instances is the clincher for learning! This project is for the Health and Courage of all to live well in Asheville.

San Antonio, TX – #Adulting101

2017-05-26T00:00:00Z
The Hughes Mendez Foundation has found an absence of services for youth transitioning into young adulthood. Through the filter of being authentic and fierce, we facilitate groups to teach life skills. We utilize therapeutic art techniques, peer support, mediation and mindfulness training in our support groups to close the achievement gap.

Amsterdam (Inactive) – Refuge in culture (exodus)

2017-05-25T00:00:00Z
Amsterdam is awesome we know that! The reason Amsterdam is awesome is because of the people of Amsterdam: the 'Amsterdammers'. Amsterdammers are awesome, but not everybody who is living in Amsterdam knows this. Therefore we - the awesome people of Amsterdam - want to welcome the newest generation of Amsterdammers to show them how awesome we are. Let's spend a 1000 euros on tickets for the Stedelijk museum of Contemporary Art and give them away to the ¨vluchtelingen", the refugees that are currently living in Amsterdam, and still have to explore how awesome the city is.

South Bend, IN – Sew Loved Women's Center

2017-05-24T00:00:00Z
Sew Loved first launched in a local community center in late 2012 after two years of planning. The program has grown over the last 5 years. After obtaining its own charitable organization certifications the group moved into its own facility in January 2016. Sew Loved teaches sewing and quilting classes to underserved and marginalized women in the South Bend, Indiana area. As well our Center is open to any woman to join in our sessions to learn to sew or quilt, bring their own projects for help or just to work on, volunteer, etc. Our mission is to provide a positive "hands on" program for women to learn and practice a variety of life-enhancing skills, such as perseverance, patience and problem solving. Our program gives women the opportunity through quilting to explore personal creativity and to give back to the community. This program is nurturing each participant’s self-confidence and self-esteem by enhancing their success at living productively in their community, encouraging them to take their next step toward a full and meaningful life, adding valuable life skills, and helping each person discover their worth to God and the community. We desire each participant to be a part of developing a vibrant, safe and strong community with strong families. Sew Loved is now averaging from 120 – 150 woman-visits per month; ie, each time a woman comes in for a session counts as 1 visit. All programs are free of charge and participants have the use of all machines, tools, supplies and fabric. We ask for donations from those that are able to contribute; no woman is turned away because of inability to pay.

South Bend, IN – barba'koa Texas Kitchen

2017-05-24T00:00:00Z
We are trying to diversify the food options in South Bend, IN by introducing the first traditional Tex-Mex BBQ company to the area. We are currently working on securing a long term lease to be a vendor at the South Bend Farmers Market. In the meantime we are taking catering opportunities to build capital to take our movement on the road. We believe in a low and slow tradition. We use southern Texas influence in all of our recipes and tell our story through our food. Please see our website about our offerings.

South Bend, IN – South Bend Code School Augmented Reality Sandbox

2017-05-24T00:00:00Z
We would like to build an augmented reality sandbox as seen in the following link. http://hackaday.com/2015/08/22/augmented-reality-sandbox-using-a-kinect/ South Bend Code School students would build the sandbox using materials purchased with the grant and give the sandbox to the city as an attraction for kids at events or as an attraction on weekends. The system consists of a good computer, a Kinect, a projector, a sandbox, and sand. And that’s it! The University of California (UC Davis) has setup a few of these systems to teach children about geography, which is a really cool demonstration of both 3D scanning and projection mapping.

South Bend, IN – Urban Adventure Games

2017-05-24T00:00:00Z
The Urban Adventure Games is one of the most exciting and unique races taking place in Northwest Indiana! It is a thrilling, zany, action-packed, cit(ies)-wide exploratory race created to help showcase, in an engaging way, the communities of South Bend, Mishawaka and the Notre Dame area. We believe this exposure to the surrounding built environment, organizations/activities, and diverse culture enhances an individual’s sense of quality of place, causing them to become more positively engaged in their community. Since 2009, this race has challenged participants' minds and bodies as they utilize the streets, waterways, bicycle paths, and even some “top secret” modes of transportation – all while completing various challenges in order to move throughout the race. A fun and exciting adventure, the event also provides exercise opportunities for elite athletes and families alike. Not only does this unique, exploratory race provide participants with a new sense of everything our vibrant area has to offer, but it also gives local businesses a unique opportunity to connect with community members - and potential customers - in a fun and engaging way! Urban Adventure Games, Inc. is developing a new initiative, called the Peloton Partner Program, in efforts to eliminate barriers to entry threatening the diversification of our racers. WHY PELOTON? Since its inception, the Urban Adventure Games has been focused on making our community a better place. Through the Peloton Partner Program, we are creating professional connections and striving to develop healthy habits in our youth. Our goal is to use this program to expose younger, diverse groups to the great things taking place in our community, in efforts to ultimately increase their overall community engagement.

South Bend, IN – West.SB Shirt Truck

2017-05-24T00:00:00Z
One and half years ago I started shooting photos of downtown South Bend and abandoned buildings with my iPhone under the Instagram name @West.SB. My purpose at the time was simply to practice my creative skills and show people a new perspective on the city we call home. In the Fall of 2016 I started to recognize that if I wanted to expand my impact and change our city's hearts and minds on a large scale, I needed to be more strategic with the distribution of my work. People frequently message me privately to express how my photographs have changed their mind about South Bend, but that interaction typically remained private. I began to consider how I could create content and product that would empower people to share the story of South Bend as they go about their daily life. This conviction led me to create two new components to my work - WestSB.com and a line of t-shirts, West.SB Cloth. Building the website enabled my work to reach a larger audience because the photographs were more easily shared on Facebook and email – my site's stories have now been read in all 50 states. The t-shirt line now empowers my audience to physically express their love for the city in a way that generates conversation as people ask about the design. My project is wholly aimed at empowering everyday people throughout South Bend with creative tools to share our city's evolving story. I am convicted that as downtown continues to go through historic development we must tell our story better.

Sydney – Musical Pool Noodle

2017-05-23T00:00:00Z
I work as a music therapist and come from a sound design background. In consultation with an OT we have designed a musical pool noodle however it is currently in its production stage. The noodles will be implemented into a movement to music activities across a variety of nursing homes in greater western Sydney to promote increased range of motion in elderly residents. It is also hoped that the noodle can be used in clinic situations for rehabilitation of movement for individuals with disabilities.

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Ask for Jane

2017-05-22T00:00:00Z
Ask for Jane will be the first ever narrative feature film about the Jane Collective. The Janes were a group of women who formed an underground abortion network in the years prior to Roe v. Wade. Operating like a spy network, they helped over 11,000 women obtain safe and illegal abortions before their arrest in 1972. The film is to be written and directed by the award-winning filmmaker Rachel Carey, and stars actor Cait Johnston who is also producing. An original member of the Jane Collective - Judith Arcana - is working with the team to ensure historical accuracy on this historical crime thriller.

Philadelphia, PA – Rusty's Patches!

2017-05-19T00:00:00Z
There's a little known endangered species right here in Philadelphia - the Rusty Patched Bumblebee! Along with other wild bee species, the Rusty is suffering from habitat loss. But - we have a chance to help the bees and make Philly a little bit more beautiful. Throughout the city there are sidewalk cuts meant for trees but are now just bare. Whether the trees intended for those squares died or were just unwanted, these unpaved squares collect trash, grow some weedy grass in the summer, and are basically unsightly dirt pits. But they don't have to be! I want to take these underused patches of dirt potential and plant natural grasses, pollinator flowers and provide burrowing holes for these cute little bumblers to reside in -- Rusty's Patches! Each patch will also provide some artistic signs providing a little awareness and an invitation for some citizen scientists to give involved documenting any sightings of the Rusty Patched Bumblebee. It's a small piece of a larger vision I have to work towards making Philadelphia a Natureful City. Tim Beatley of UVA promotes Natureful Cities - urban areas that try to incorporate nature in every space available. “We have co-evolved with the natural world, and so we have this deep need to affiliate with the natural world. We want it around us. We’re calmer, less stressed. We get lots of benefits from having nature nearby.” Integrating nature into our cities in small ways have a big impact on the wildlife that we've displaced and the people that live in those cities. Through this project I hope to show it is possible to make small changes, adding bits of nature here and there, that will subconsciously make people happier and healthier. Hopefully, people who notice these little bits of "naturification" around the city will be inspired to see other ways that they too can add splashes of nature throughout their neighborhood. And of course, in the process I hope to save a species - the Rusty Patched Bumblebee.

Kingston – "Kids Get Stressed Too!"

2017-05-19T00:00:00Z
"The Kids Get Stressed Too!" educates children about stress and teaches healthy coping strategies. Many people believe that stress is an experience unique to adulthood, however, the reality is that, children and youth are more vulnerable to stressors than adults. This vulnerability is due to a child's underdeveloped repertoire of coping skills.Resiliency is the ability to overcome and adapt to stress and adversity. The program allows children to develop competency, confidence, connection, character, contribution, coping and control."Kids Get Stressed Too!" program uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques to teach and reinforce coping strategies.The sessions include; Self-Regulation: ability to identify and manage feelings, thoughts and behaviours (critical to help children cope with stress);Belief & Feeling Good: ability to succeed, feel good about one's self and feeling valued by others (self-esteem, self-confidence); Optimism: promotes positive thoughts, elevated mood and healthy behaviours; Trust: fosters strong social support networks. The program objectives are to: * promote positive mental health in children * educate children about stress and coping * equip children with helathy coping skills to manage stress in their everyday lives * facilitate positive changes in kids' thoughts, feelings and behaviours Children repeatedly have described the program as "awesome"!

Newmarket – 13 Reasons Why and How to Promote Youth Resilience

2017-05-19T00:00:00Z
The Netflix series 13 Reasons Why is a cultural phenomenom. Amongst young people it is wildly popular but the adult population has had mixed response. Teachers are largely told not to discuss. The show addresses important issues around mental health, bullying, rape culture and suicide. Believe this is an opportunity to leverage the interest to create an Intergenerational Community Event where young people will have a prominent role. We already have a date - Tuesday June 13 at Riverwalk Commons from 6.30 to 9.30 pm. We have many groups already interested and committed: Bullyfree York, Pridefest and Gap-Gen and Harm Reduction Coalition of York Region. There are others. The plan is to have a Community event where we will first create a short Power Point of 13 Slides addressing the answer to the event's title. We also hope to have some performance elements - spoken word (have contacted YorkSlam), music, if relevant short video and we will have a panel made up of Young People, people who work in the field of youth mental health, youth programs. Youth related programming across York Region will be present either in person or in promotional material. There will be time for audience discussion. It is also the week of Pridefest and will be on their calendar.

Miami, FL – ForSisters

2017-05-18T00:00:00Z
ForSisters exists as cooperatives of migrant latinX women who are working to make a positive change in their lives. These women make delicious traditional fresh salsas that are ethically and locally sourced here in South Florida. Unfortunately these hardworking and passionate women have for the most part been defaulted into domestic work or unemployment here in South Florida. It is through ForSisters that we can engage with these often forgotten sectors of society and empower them to reclaim agency over their lives. We currently make 6 different kinds of Salsas. We also make handmade corn tortillas as well as SalsaKits and ChilaKits. We currently are selling at local grocery stores and local food/farmers markets. Our goal is to begin partnering with companies, organizations and foundations that are really working to make positive and lasting differences in our community. We feel the work we do at ForSisters is trying to engage with lived experiences and livelihood of individuals who go into making our products. From the packaging factories, the local farms and kitchens; we want to ensure that we are impacting lives at various stages. Our fundamental principle is to teach financial literacy and entrepreneurial engagement to immigrant latinx women to allow them to enter the socioeconomic fabric of the United States on their own terms and reclaim agency over their lives.

Antigonish, NS (Inactive) – Jordon Myles Foundation

2017-05-18T00:00:00Z
"You Matter Care Kits" During a Mental Health crisis, a person faces many barriers; stigma, self-stigma, an overburdened system of help. People often arrive as an inpatient exhausted, hungry, feeling alone and perhaps helpless, and unprepared for a hospital stay. We hope to make that brave step an easier one with our 'You Matter Care Kits". The 'You Matter' care kits contain many personal & caring items to help support & comfort an individual at this time. Items such as, a blanket, soap, toothbrush, shampoo, toothpaste, deodrant, lip blam, lotion, a snack, coloring pages, socks, positive quotes, a book, markers, paint canvas, a bottle of water, and a personal letter reminding a struggling individual that they matter. All of these items are put inside a personal "You Matter" canvas bag. and is handed out to every person, admittted to the Mental Health Unit, in their time of need to provide a bit of comfort and support.

Boston, MA – The Hip Hop Transformation

2017-05-18T00:00:00Z
The Hip Hop Transformation program (THHT) helps urban youth aged 14 – 18 find their voice through hip hop. THHT uses music to spark conversations about relevant social issues, confront social inequalities, and create a public forum to form opinions. Through learning about, writing, recording, and performing their own hip hop music, our students have the opportunity to articulate their own perspectives on race, politics, and society. THHT fosters love for quality music and unlocks the potential of youth from diverse backgrounds to be musicians, performers, and agents of social change. The main objective of this program is to provide youth with knowledge and skills to promote pro-social behaviors and attitudes in an artistically relevant manner. Designed by Darrin Korte, passionate mentor and hip hop artist, the program begins with a history lesson. The group discusses how hip hop has been used as a form of self-expression and a refuge for those who are discriminated against in society, and how the art form has progressed over time. The students also engage in critical analysis of hip hop lyrics to deconstruct the underlying attitudes and messages of this popular style of music. Local professional musicians lead the students through writing and recording workshops. Youth create authentic hip hop in a state of the art studio, utilizing personal experiences and what they learned in the first portion of the program to advocate for positive social change. Not only do the participants share their message through recording their songs, they also perform at local venues, such as the Cambridge Public Library, City Hall and many other events throughout the year. These performances are outreach events designed to be a public forum for addressing social issues prevalent in mainstream hip hop such as racism, misogyny, and domestic abuse. Youth in the program will address these issues in a socially constructive way and spread these messages through their performances.

Adelaide – Harvest Fair - food for gender equity

2017-05-17T00:00:00Z
I am setting up a social enterprise which uses the power of good food to advance gender equity in Australia. Harvest Fair aims to provide flexible employment for women who struggle to find their place in mainstream employment due to their personal situation - they might be a family carer, a single parent, a refugee, or someone with a disability or chronic health/mental health condition that just requires some understanding and flexibility. These women will be employed as Culinary Creators - they have a love of food and cooking, and will prepare nutritious ready made meals that will be sold to participating workplaces around Adelaide for their employees to purchase - it will be a mini food court right within their office. The profits raised from the sale of the meals will go back into providing training, networking and development opportunities for our women to boost their confidence, skills and connections for ongoing career pathways. Harvest Fair wants to embrace an employment model that sees women's values and needs as assets rather than barriers to productivity. An outcome that we hope for is to increase women's participation in our workforce, and to set a precedent model for other businesses to adopt as action towards gender equality in Australia. We are well on our way - Harvest Fair was in incubation and testing phase for over a year and is now coming to life, and we expect to commence recruitment for our Culinary Creators in the next month.

Adelaide – Techfugees Adelaide Hackathon

2017-05-17T00:00:00Z
The Techfugees Adelaide Hackathon will bring together developers, designers, entrepreneurs, marketers, business minds and community members to develop creative tech solutions that focus on improving the lives of refugee families in Australia. Refugees who have newly arrived as well as those with settlement experience, will also be participating in this event to help teams deeply understand the problems and challenges faced by new arrivals. The format of the Hackathon will draw strongly on co-design principals and practices because people and outcomes matter. The Techfugees project was initiated by Mike Butcher from UK Tech Crunch as the tech community's response to meeting the needs of refugees. Since its inception, the initiative has spread worldwide and there have been four hackathons already hosted in Australia. Now it's Adelaide's turn! We are partnering with Red Cross, Life Without Barriers, Welcome Australia and the Australian Refugee Association. The Techfugees Adelaide Hackathon is complimentary to the objectives of these and other community organisations in terms of better understanding the needs of refugees in our community and equipping them with the social and business skills required to realize their ambitions. No funding is received from Techfugees International or Techfugees Australia. Each event is run independently but is supportive of each other. We rely solely on the generosity of government and business and individuals to bring Techfugees Hackathons to communities.

Ottawa – Rhythm Jumpers: A Skipping Party

2017-05-17T00:00:00Z
May’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to Zara Ansar and Ryan Mason to support a giant skipping party. “We want to gather everyone in Ottawa to attend the most epic double dutch skipping party there ever was,” says Zara. “There will be awesome music, popsicles, and tons of ropes for everyone to join in on the fun — think 80’s street party with lots of colour and lots of great 80’s and 90’s hits blaring.” The party will be free and open to all. “The goal,” Zara explains, “is to allow people to try something different or remember something they used to do as children.” It will take place June 3rd at Landsdowne Park as part of 100In1Day, a global initiative with the goal to inspire change in cities through innovative urban interventions. You can find out more about the skipping party here. Zara is a videographer by day and bicycle style blogger and event planner by night. Ryan is a manager at Lush and a local and international volunteer.

Plano, TX (Inactive) – Girls Care Initiative

2017-05-16T00:00:00Z
Girls Care Initiative project is aimed at providing free sanitary pad/ tampons to girls in schools/women in shelter and prison. Though it’s a crisis that has long been documented in developing countries, many don’t realize it’s also a problem closer to home. In the U.S., nearly one in five kids aged 12-17 live in poverty. At $4 to $10 a package, plus sales tax ,a month’s supply of something as simple as a box of pads or tampons can be one expense too many for low income families In many schools, girls already can get free sanitary products from the nurse’s office, the process isn’t always a smooth one- “a young girl will have to tell her teacher, tell her counselor, then be sent to the nurse’s office, to be given a pad.” These processes make them skip class work/lesson while in school. Recent interview/survey carried out in schools in Texas show as follow 15% of girl’s uses re-usable napkins, 30% uses toilet roll, 10% uses both pad and toilet roll and 45% uses sanitary pad. Most students said they only get to use pad during school week and uses toilet roll during weekends and holidays. Some students complained that asking the nurse for sanitary pad makes almost everyone aware that they are on their period and could be embarrassing when the male student become aware of it Infrequent changing of tampons or pads is unhealthy, unsanitary and unsafe. Not using one at all is unthinkable. Humanity Support USA tends to provide free sanitary pad to girls from low income homes. Women will be given supplies in shelters, for women living in prisons, where menstrual hygiene products are in scarce supply, the impact of the distribution may be even more essential. Specific measurable goals the project hopes to achieve :( 1) support girls to properly care for their bodies during their periods (2) this will supports their ability to learn (3) and assist low income families.

Plano, TX (Inactive) – May the Fork be With Us!

2017-05-16T00:00:00Z
BIND provides tools and a bridge of support to adult brain injury survivors so they can reconnect into life, the community and workplace. Our vision is to lead the DFW area in providing Member-driven services and will serve as the model from Brain Injury Clubhouses across the state of Texas. At BIND, Members are brain injury survivors who regain purpose, fuel hope and continue healing after discharge from medical care. This is accomplished by allowing the Members to plan and execute programming at BIND, giving them control, independence and opportunities to develop interpersonal skills in a team. Staff, volunteers and members work collaboratively to run all aspects of the program, from answering phones, developing the newsletter, and cleaning the facility. Members volunteer for tasks they wish to complete – thus focusing on their strengths and individual interests while restoring purpose and control over daily life. Physical disability, differences in cognition or memory, fatigue, and behavioral changes are recognized and supported allowing refinement of problem-solving skills, increased functional independence, and building confidence and endurance in preparation for living alone safely, returning to paid employment or finding community volunteer work. Compared to the traditional medical model, this setting is ideal for practicing skills that are both functional and practical. Our program serves 20 Members weekly and has amassed a waiting list of 42 potential Members. Because of our growth we are relocating the program from 1,650 square feet to 4,200 square feet. The new space includes a kitchen that will allow Members to practice meal preparation in a safe environment. Except for a refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker we're growing our kitchen 'from scratch.' Please help us get it organized and ready for simple meal preparation with the addition of small appliances and basic kitchen gadgets. May the fork be with us!

Plano, TX (Inactive) – DOLLS NextGen5K & Night of Worship

2017-05-16T00:00:00Z
The DOLLS NextGen5K & Night of Worship is our ministry's effort to establish a thriving fundraiser event that can generate the future income we need to keep our organization alive. This is our third year to host this 5K; this year with the addition of a worship concert FREE for the community. Our event is being held at Oak Point Amphitheater in Plano on Saturday, April 8th. Research shows that it takes an average of 3-5 years for an organization to begin profiting from hosting a 5K, which means we are still within our investment years and have to work very hard to break even. Although we haven't yet begun to see the financial rewards of our labor, the 5K has at least been extraordinarily helpful to raise awareness of our ministry and mission among those in our community. For example, last year’s event allowed us to connect with teenagers on 6 new public school campuses that we are now working with to start chapters of our organization in their schools. Our event this year will begin with a 5K & Fun Run, followed by awards & raffles. We have several food trucks slated to come out to feed our participants and then guests will be invited to tour our ministry fair where we will be featuring dozens of other area ministries who are also looking to make an introduction with this community. When the sun sets, we will have a night of worship that people from across DFW will be invited to come out to join us for completely free of charge. There are so many exciting elements happening within this one event. We think it truly qualifies as AWESOME!

Plano, TX (Inactive) – First Date For Lyme

2017-05-16T00:00:00Z
A friend and myself would like to put together a production of First Date The Musical to raise money for Lyme Disease research. By casting actors still in high school we hope to learn from fellow students, and teach them what we know. Theatre is something we feel can inspire, enlighten, or if nothing else entertain, so we decided we wanted to put on a performance entertaining a local audience while helping a cause much bigger than ourselves. The musical itself is very well written, and funny. We hope to use this comedy to affect the people who see the show in a positive way. The musical follows Casey and Aaron’s first date. Aaron is a "blind date virgin," while Casey has been on more than her fair share. When the two are set up by a mutual friend, craziness ensues. The night unfolds over the course of this couple’s hilarious first date, and it’s not without its share of surprises in the form of imaginary visits from Aaron’s ex-girlfriend, Casey’s uptight sister, the pair’s protective parents and even their future son! Google background checks, awkward pauses and bailouts are all there during this unforgettable first encounter between two romantics, who just might be perfect for each other. Lyme Disease is a sickness caused by a bacteria carried by Blacklegged Ticks. The symptoms can be fever, fatigue and a rash. After a long time untreated, the illness can spread to the nervous system, joints and heart. Awareness for Lyme is pretty low, many doctors don’t look to Lyme when a patient is sick. The condition of a victim of Lyme Disease worsens the longer the sickness goes untreated. Raising awareness would help people get diagnosed faster, and get them treated and cured with ease.

Gloucester, MA – Binoculars for gear loaning library and programs

2017-05-16T00:00:00Z
High quality binoculars are expensive for individuals to purchase, and yet are incredibly important gear for becoming literate about local wildlife. They allow close up observations of birds, turtles, and other wildlife. Best of all, binoculars can open up a new world after only about 10 minutes of instruction and practice. The binoculars we would like to purchase are high quality with good magnification and focus, and are suitable for adult adventurers, and are rugged enough for rough use and small enough for children's hands. The idea is to have one set of binoculars that will be a shared resource for many people, thus putting them within reach of anyone on Cape Ann. Our binoculars will be used by thousands of people, especially children, to develop their awareness of wildlife and naturalist skills. Most of these people will be residents of Cape Ann. The main purpose will be to have a set of binoculars on hand at the Get Outside Center in Gloucester to loan out to our members. Members can check out the binoculars for up to two weeks at a time, along with any of the hundreds of field guides in our resource library. Teachers who are members will be able to check out the entire set of binoculars to use with their class. The staff and volunteers who check out gear also provide instruction in its use. Our aim is to have a set of 24 binoculars that can be loaned out, and we will be applying to Toad Hall, the Dewing Foundation, Brookline Bird Club to raise the funds needed to complete our set. The binoculars, when not checked out, will also be used on our classroom and field programs, which serve over 2000 kids each year. At present, a normal sized class has to take turns using our set of binoculars. Having enough for every child in a class will give them many more opportunities to observe and become connected to wildlife. Update: We are projected to reach over 1500 students during this school year, plus at least another 500 during the summer.

Boulder, CO (Inactive) – HOWL: A GINSBERG BIRTHDAY PARTY FEAT. ANNE WALDMAN

2017-05-16T00:00:00Z
The Fox Theatre in Boulder reached out to me (a graduate student at Naropa) to organize an amazing poetry performance production event at the Fox. I was pretty baffled by this turn of events, but needless to say, I am very excited to committing myself to organizing this event. Naropa is teaming up with my student periodical, Beats, to host this event, which will also be promoted by the Boulder Weekly. We are creating a stellar lineup of poets, including Anne Waldman, to perform in this multimedia event. It has been years since Naropa hosted a reading at a large venue like this, and I think it's time to bring the community into what "poetry" is today! All performers will be backed up by live improvisational music, as well as lighting and sound design- potentially projections- so that HOWL is a big event not to be forgotten. Included below are the specs for the event! HOWL: A Ginsberg Birthday Party Featuring Anne Waldman with Fast-Speaking Music and their friends from the poetry community June 3rd, 2017 DOORS 8:30 PM / SHOW 9:00 PM Hosted by Beats Periodical, Naropa University, and the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics Presented at the Fox Theatre 1135 13TH ST. BOULDER, CO 80302 Proceeds to benefit the poetry community Tickets at foxtheatre.com / ticketfly.com For more information, visit: aplaceofurgency.org

Awesome Without Borders (Inactive) – Bring Soap to the Slums of Pune, India!

2017-05-15T00:00:00Z
Pune, India - a city of nearly 4 million with 40% of its residents living under the poverty line in crowded urban slums. A shocking 2008 study on the water, sanitation and hygiene revealed that out of the 256 government schools in Pune slums, not a single one had soap available. Lack of proper sanitation in these slums disproportionately affects children, causing diarrhea, cholera and typhoid. In India alone, 1,600 children under the age of five die every day from these illnesses. While they don’t have access to soap, gently used bar soaps are being thrown away by hotels nearby. That's where we come in. Sundara’s model is to hire local underprivileged women to recycle that soap waste, distribute the sanitized new soap bars to communities in need, and teach handwashing and hygiene education. Our Pune Soap Recycling operation will provide clean soap and hygiene education to 20 schools in the slums, serving 4000+ children. This program is inclusive to schools educating children with learning disabilities, who face an especially high need for basic hygiene products and health education.