Awesome San Antonio, the local chapter of the Awesome Foundation, has selected three finalists for its $1,000 grant for the month of September. A winner will be announced during an informal ceremony Thursday at Taps Y Tapas, 1012 N. Flores St., starting at 6 p.m.
Every month since October 2011, Awesome SA has awarded the grant to individuals and/or organizations with ideas that simply make San Antonio more awesome. The Rivard Report is a founding media sponsor of Awesome SA.
UPDATE: San Antonio Fruit Tree Project received the $1,000 grant Thursday night. Read more about this project here: The San Antonio Fruit Tree Project’s Urban Bounty.
Applications can be filled out online. Below are the finalists’ applications in their own words, aside from minor style editing.
San Antonio Fruit Tree Project by Mary Minor
A little about me:
I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Trinity University in 2000 and am currently enrolled in the M-ARC 3 program at the University of Texas at San Antonio, the accredited Master of Architecture program which accommodates students with non-architecture undergraduate degrees. I am on target to graduate in May, 2015, with certificates in Historic Preservation as well as Regional and Urban Planning.
Here’s my idea:
The San Antonio Fruit Tree Project is an urban fruit tree harvest program. We harvest unwanted fruit from neighborhood trees, and donate it to food pantries that are in need. We primarily focus in the urban neighborhoods surrounding downtown.
Our goal is to help with the critical and growing need for access to fresh local organic fruit. These trees are mature and producing an abundant amount of fruit. We gather volunteers and venture door to door in these neighborhoods, speaking with tree owners about their fruit trees.
Since there is often unwanted fruit, tree owners gleefully consent to participating in our harvest program. We arrange a convenient time with the tree owner, and then we partake in a harvest event. Once we’ve gleaned the tree, we donate the pickings to the food bank. Our project revolves around a simple fundamental issue: No good fruit should be wasted.
How I will use the money:
The funds from this grant will aid in purchases of harvesting equipment and harvest announcement materials.
How will this make San Antonio more awesome?
Our project cultivates community and increase access to fresh fruits for many in San Antonio. The San Antonio Fruit Tree Project also advocates for urban agriculture, which aids San Antonio’s quest to be a more sustainable city. We are also proponents of food equity, equity which is integral to awesomeness.
Will the public be able to participate in this project or event?
The volunteer needs for this project are abundant. The San Antonio Fruit Tree Project will be sustainable only with the support of San Antonio citizens. Members of the community are encouraged to volunteer for harvesting, planting fruit trees, picking fruit, and spreading the joy that urban agriculture can bring to a neighborhood through new relationships.
San Antonio Youth Code Jam project by Debi Pfitzenmaier
A little about me:
Ten years ago, I started researching STEM-related opportunities in San Antonio for my son. I came up with a sum total of one summer robotics camp. As a few more came on board, I began a little blog to share the STEM love with other parents whose kids really weren’t into sports or art. At some point, during my son’s early middle school years, he began coding. I searched high and low for any camp or event that might help him learn. Couldn’t find anything. So he and I created one.
Here’s my idea:
More than 300 tweens, teens and their parents will learn to design their own computer games, code in a variety of programming languages and even hack a little at the third annual San Antonio Youth Code Jam, a free event to be held Saturday, September 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Rackspace Global HQ.
Because why would you want to just play a game when you can learn to create your own?
The San Antonio Youth Code Jam, a project of SASTEMIC, is a workforce development initiative to engage young students in technology by introducing them to a variety of coding activities and languages early on and by providing their parents a roadmap for the migration path from early coding to professional STEM careers.
Designed to be a loosely structured, collaborative and creativity-inspiring experience for youth, students participate in a variety of hands-on stations in a plug-and-play kind of way. They have the opportunity to learn Java, Python, Minecraft, HTML/CSS, cyber security and Scratch. They are mentored by experts in the industry who volunteer their time to share their passion of programming.
By requiring parents to stay with their children, we are building a deeper level of engagement and support for students to be inspired and pursue tech-related career paths.
How I will use the money:
We opened registration for this free event…and all the seats were gone in just 12 hours. Last week, San Antonio Independent School District contacted me asking if we could make space for a group of their students and parents. I couldn’t say no. And now, I need to find a way to fund those seats. Money from Awesome SA will go to provide this awesome opportunity for some awesome kids and their parents. Thanks for your consideration.
How will this make San Antonio more awesome?
More awesome on two fronts:
1. The kids will be more awesome. Because why would you want to play somebody else’s game when you can create your own? Coding is such a fun, enriching experience. And, who knows, it may lead to a career down the road.
2. The workforce will be more awesome. Code Jam has doubled in size every year – which speaks to the growing demand for opportunities to learn to code. By making these experiences available, we are offering early exposure to the types of skills and passions needed to fill the jobs of the future. San Antonio is a hub for the cyber security industry and is quickly making a name for itself as a technology center. Estimates show the U.S. will have more than 1.2 unfilled STEM jobs by 2018. Yet, nine out of ten schools don’t teach coding. Code Jam is not only filling that hole, but becoming an example of what other cities can do and that makes San Antonio even more awesome.
Will the public be able to participate in this project or event?
Yes. In fact, this year, we expect more than 300 people to attend. We actually have another 150 people on the waiting list. We also have opportunities for participation from individuals involved in the tech industry to serve as mentors.
Localoodle Local Goods Marketplace by Megan O’Kain Lotay
A little about me:
I have lived in San Antonio for three years. My day job is at USAA where I work in Marketing. On the side, I write for the Rivard Report (https://sanantonioreport.org/author/mokain/) and think about new business ideas. I dream of being an entrepreneur, but I like the stability of corporate life. I use my side projects as a creative outlet.
Here’s my idea:
Localoodle is an online marketplace for all things local. Any item that is manufactured, finished, created or handcrafted within 50 miles of San Antonio or Austin can be listed, but the main focus is San Antonio (since we live here). We started with arts and crafts to test the concept, because of existing connections to the local arts & crafts community.
The idea is to give individuals and small and local businesses exposure and an outlet to sell their products. Many of these businesses don’t have the marketing know-how or the resources to run their own e-commerce site.
The people behind the business are highlighted on their shop’s own page, which includes the producers’ photo, allowing shoppers to get to know from whom they are buying. Shopping doesn’t have to be between the consumer and a faceless, nameless big box retailer.
The site launched on July 6, and there has been strong interest.
How I will use the money:
The feedback we consistently receive is that we need more options and not just arts and crafts. The money will be used for the next “launch” of the site. On Sept. 16, we had a listing event at a local restaurant, Taps y Tapas. We had about 10 local producers there and took professional photos of items for listing, a picture of each artist and interviewed them for their bio. Remaining funds will be used for advertising and other marketing to increase traffic and sales.
How will this make San Antonio more awesome?
Shopping local goods is difficult here in San Antonio because we don’t have a strong organized Buy Local movement. This site can help bring awareness and additional business to local producers.
Local businesses spur innovation, create positive feedback loops so that dollars stay in local economy, and they build community. We can build a better San Antonio through local buying.
Will the public be able to participate in this project or event?
YES, YES, YES! I need more local producers to list. We can take more people at the August 16th listing event. From small businesses with a handful of employees to the individual deciding whether they want to take a stab at starting their own business, we’ll list any quality locally manufactured, finished, created or handcrafted item.
And, we absolutely need shoppers to make this project a success.
Featured/top image: Taps Y Tapas at 1012 N. Flores St. Courtesy photo.
Related Stories:
Awesome SA Finalists: Fruit, Roots, Seniors, and “S.O.M.E.”
UPDATED: Awesome SA July: $1,000 for Photography ‘Life Book’
Awesome SA Stays Golden with Music, Movies, and Math
Awesome SA Popping Up in Travis Park
Awesome SA Finalists: Adopt a Tree, Co-Creating Space, and Sun Safety
