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Doing Good, Better with The August Project

Reworking how philanthropy operates globally, The August Project engages in storytelling and strategic partnerships to do good, better.

$660
pledged of$500,000 goal
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Project Description

THE MISSION
The mission of The August Project is to create better do-gooders and memorialize our existence. We are a 501C3 organization that facilitates intergenerational exchanges and storytelling because we believe that this effort at building community will encourage stronger relationships, leave behind better understanding of our culture and objectively immortalize our lives. Our strategic partnerships create one of a kind products that fuse different intelligences to contribute to the alleviation of poverty for the people on the ground in Haiti. These partnerships will contribute to a literacy program in Haiti that, ultimately, lead to poverty alleviation. The goal is to alleviate poverty in underdeveloped communities and countries worldwide. 

THE RESULTS
An example of our partnerships is our co-creation with Nike. We designed and manufactured a sneaker with Nike based on the Haitian Revolution. Having sold out in four days, we used half of the profit to fund community led programming in Haiti and strengthened operations. We hosted innovation workshops to help participants understand how "giving" technically works, gave them tips on how to responsibly donate and brainstormed potential solutions to poverty in Haiti. We also launched a monthly storytelling series in 2022, where people from all backgrounds share their stories in an effort to better understand why our parents are the way they are, why we are the way we are and why those generations that come after us feel the way they feel. We have worked with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Verizon, Lyft, Fete de Fleurs, Bonbon Lakay, and the Flatbush Development Corp. Additionally, we have been featured in over a dozen publications including The Haitian Times, L'Union Suite, Her Neck of the Woods, Rare Maven Media, Ticket Mag and Le Floridien's print newspaper for our successes.

Close up of the Uprising, Nike sneaker designed after the Haitian Revolution.

THE PROBLEM
We are solving the problem of poverty--a pretty huge problem. In 2015, 10% of the world (734 million people) lived on less than $1.90 a day (World Bank). Given the COVID-19 pandemic and its disproportionate impact on the economically vulnerable, this number will likely go up. 

THE SOLUTION
The August Project engages in storytelling and strategic partnerships to do good, creatively. Though many have goodwill, they're not equipped with the technical expertise to "do good" in a systematic and effective way. Storytelling equips our community with how to engage in development work properly by providing an anecdotal lens, while strategic partnerships fund programs on the ground. The August Project addresses poverty from two very important angles but mostly that of the stakeholders who pay the consequence of our decisions. 

Inaugural Innovation Workshop
Inaugural Innovation Workshop

 

 


THE FOUNDER
Ruth Jean-Marie is the founder and Executive Director of The August Project. She was raised being able to vacation in her parents' homeland of Haiti where she got to witness firsthand the joy and beauty of the Caribbean country. This motivated her desire to reframe how poverty is treated and looked upon. In 2014, she graduated from NYU where she received her Master of Science degree in Global Affairs with a concentration in human rights and international law. Four years later, she founded The August Project after seeing the need for change in the philanthropy world.

Founder, Ruth Jean-Marie
Founder, Ruth Jean-Marie

THE TEAM

  • Stephanie Baril, Volunteer Coordinator. Stephanie seeks and manages the do gooders who help with the functioning of the organization.
  • Julian Harrison, Esq., Legal Consultant. Julian advises on matters related to The August Project.
  • Junior Duplessis, Project Manager. Junior liaises with our people on the ground in Haiti and ensures that progress is ongoing. 

The August Project has four advisors who work in public relations, business development, marketing operations. 

HOW TO SUPPORT US
Of course we're looking for donations to further our impact! All funding will be used to jumpstart the projects that were underway pre-covid. This includes our coffee table book featuring the people of Haiti which aims to humanize locals, our conversational salons where we share the stories who have made us who we are and focus on strengthening community within our culture, our merchandise that features economically vulnerable populations with the goal of creating an income for them and, of course, operations costs. 

You can also share our campaign via social media: @theaugustprjct (Instagram) or follow us to keep up to date on our progress. Join our newsletter by emailing [email protected].

Thank you for your time and your donations! We appreciate you. Pleeeeease reach out with any questions or advice. We love to engage. You can reach us at [email protected]

 

Updates

The Campaign FAQs

Does The August Project solely focus on Haiti?
No. Though, at the moment, The August Project primarily runs programs in NYC and Haiti, our long term goal is to focus on underdeveloped countries that continue to experience the remnants of slavery and colonialism. Haiti has been one of the primary foci due to the founder's close proximity and research. We are currently operating out of NYC. 

How long are innovation workshops?
Innovation workshops are up to two hours long including refreshments, networking, content and reception. Digitally, it will take up to 1.25 hours.

How does one effectively alleviate poverty?
The alleviation of poverty focus on five pillars that are intertwined. Positioning communities to address these pillars while also informing those in "developed" countries why these problems persist create sustainable change. 

How can we find out more information?
Please email us at [email protected] or reach out to us via social media: @theaugustprjct on Instagram and @prjctaugust on Twitter. We've also been featured in a considerable amount of press.

See press below: 
Nike Releases Uprising, A Haitian Revolution Inspired Limited Edition Sneaker
Ruth Jean-Marie Designs Limited Edition Nike Sneaker that Encapsulates the Haitian Revolution
The August Project Discusses Innovation, Development and Progress in Haiti
Black History Untold: Ruth Jean-Marie

For additional inquiries, please email [email protected]. We will add questions as we receive them!

 

 

 

A. Jackson
05/03/2023
Uprising Tee
$100
Geri
03/12/2023
Monetary Contribution
$500
CC
02/26/2023
Revolutionary Tee Shirt
$60
50.00 USD
Monetary Contribution

Just Because I Care and want to see the mission manifested.

1 Supporter
Select this reward
100.00 USD
Uprising Tee

Be stylish and revolutionary with a long sleeve white "Uprising" tee featuring a Haitian revolutionary on the back. This tee will be available, at minimum, within four weeks upon the completion of the crowdfunding campaign.  Please share your size and your mailing address. It will be mailed to you and the revolutionary will be chosen by the founder.

62 Left
1 Supporter
Select this reward
1,000.00 USD
Exclusive Photo Print

As we are gearing up to create a coffee table book, we will be traveling the country of Haiti to collect portraits and narratives of locals. Folks who donate at this amount, will receive an exclusive 9"x 12" print not available to the public. Those featured in the print will also receive compensation.

Includes: 

  • Uprising tee
  • Sticker pack
  • Admittance to storytelling salon
  • Social media shout out
25 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
35.00 USD
Sticker Pack

This sticker pack includes four revolutionaries (Toussaint L'Ouverture, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Sanite Belair and Catherine Flon), information cards on the revolutionaries and two logo stickers. These are great to decorate notebooks, laptops and mirrors. 

27 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
25.00 USD
Monthly Storytelling Salon Admittance

Get first dibs to one of our monthly salon series where we do a deep dive into issues of Black liberation, Black identity world-wide in relationship to ourselves and our stories. We exchange details of our upbringing as a means to memorialize our existence.

This selection earns you admittance to one salon. 

104 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
350.00 USD
Consult with the Founder

Consult with Founder Ruth Jean-Marie for 90 minutes. During this consultation, Ruth will break down the technical basics of doing good, including how to donate to organizations that have maximum impact, what common pitfalls organizations fall into when attempting to do good, and how to begin building a non profit or social good business. 

15 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
15.00 USD
Twitter + Newsletter Shout Out

Get a shout out in our newsletter and on twitter with this reward!

0 Supporters
Select this reward
60.00 USD
Revolutionary Tee Shirt

Be stylish and revolutionary with a short sleeve white "Uprising" tee featuring a Haitian revolutionary on the back. This tee will be available, at minimum, within four weeks upon the completion of the crowdfunding campaign.  Please share your size and your mailing address. It will be mailed to you and the revolutionary will be chosen by the founder.

98 Left
1 Supporter
Select this reward

About the Entrepreneur

Brooklyn, NY
Created 2 Campaigns
Social Good

Rewards

50.00 USD
Monetary Contribution

Just Because I Care and want to see the mission manifested.

1 Supporter
Select this reward
100.00 USD
Uprising Tee

Be stylish and revolutionary with a long sleeve white "Uprising" tee featuring a Haitian revolutionary on the back. This tee will be available, at minimum, within four weeks upon the completion of the crowdfunding campaign.  Please share your size and your mailing address. It will be mailed to you and the revolutionary will be chosen by the founder.

62 Left
1 Supporter
Select this reward
1,000.00 USD
Exclusive Photo Print

As we are gearing up to create a coffee table book, we will be traveling the country of Haiti to collect portraits and narratives of locals. Folks who donate at this amount, will receive an exclusive 9"x 12" print not available to the public. Those featured in the print will also receive compensation.

Includes: 

  • Uprising tee
  • Sticker pack
  • Admittance to storytelling salon
  • Social media shout out
25 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
35.00 USD
Sticker Pack

This sticker pack includes four revolutionaries (Toussaint L'Ouverture, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Sanite Belair and Catherine Flon), information cards on the revolutionaries and two logo stickers. These are great to decorate notebooks, laptops and mirrors. 

27 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
25.00 USD
Monthly Storytelling Salon Admittance

Get first dibs to one of our monthly salon series where we do a deep dive into issues of Black liberation, Black identity world-wide in relationship to ourselves and our stories. We exchange details of our upbringing as a means to memorialize our existence.

This selection earns you admittance to one salon. 

104 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
350.00 USD
Consult with the Founder

Consult with Founder Ruth Jean-Marie for 90 minutes. During this consultation, Ruth will break down the technical basics of doing good, including how to donate to organizations that have maximum impact, what common pitfalls organizations fall into when attempting to do good, and how to begin building a non profit or social good business. 

15 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
15.00 USD
Twitter + Newsletter Shout Out

Get a shout out in our newsletter and on twitter with this reward!

0 Supporters
Select this reward
60.00 USD
Revolutionary Tee Shirt

Be stylish and revolutionary with a short sleeve white "Uprising" tee featuring a Haitian revolutionary on the back. This tee will be available, at minimum, within four weeks upon the completion of the crowdfunding campaign.  Please share your size and your mailing address. It will be mailed to you and the revolutionary will be chosen by the founder.

98 Left
1 Supporter
Select this reward