The Interledger Community 🌱: Folawole

Folawole.com — Grant Report #2

Folawole — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 23:02:09 +0000

Final Report

“Deeply grateful to be a recipient of the Grant for the Web; it allowed me to integrate web monetization with my artistic and humanitarian pursuits in a bold manner. Trusting that the vision is always guided by intuition has been fruitful in my past artistic endeavors but now I see that to be true on a larger scale as my company expands. It is important to me to lead from a position of an unapologetic black perspective and I appreciate how that style of leadership influences future generations of black artists and entrepreneurs. If I was to stay in my old mindset I would work privately for another two years before allowing the public into my process, but now I’m offering space for those interested to see the active processes and hurdles along the way. I gladly accepted the Web monetization grant because it allows creatives to move forward with their visions with integrity and to expand their scope, while supporting a more equal place of development throughout the web.

Changing the web development team was one of our major hurdles. What we found was that it was not necessarily the strengths of resumes that mattered but a willingness to understand the vision and the ability to minimize unneeded complexities. We also valued the ability to simplify the tools involved to make the final product effective. This brought up conversations that helped us distinguish between collaborations being useful and when a leadership role is necessary to stay on a path more beneficial for the overall vision. At first glance this may seem like a task as easy as assigning clear roles, but in practice reinforcing these distinctions effectively only happens when there is a consistent, bold, and receptive understanding of what is needed and what is not allowed within the process. Allowing the team to change in the middle of the website creation brought delays to your timeline but the result far outweighs the setbacks.

The sections I have mapped out for the website are: an online space for black performing arts, a home for marginalized artists to seek refuge and resources against discrimination, a mentorship program, a research lab to offer healing and a thriving body, deversiviable business ventures that bring tiered levels of sustaiabilty to the arts, and a way for philanthropy to work in relation to mutual aid in order to serve gifted underepsented artists internationally. Each section of the website is able to grow individually using web monetization and simultaneously enhances other interests. “Dare to be moved” is currently our company's working motto. As a black artistic space our priority is to engage in ways that help society move away from a constant numbing of intuitive and health based faculties and reach deeper, with art, into all aspects of life to support the maturing of each individual. If only people continually dare to be moved. The goal is not to escape from or hinder the progress but to be moved without exaggeration. It is a humbling place of realization that we are all capable of endless growth. Since the allure of stagnation or retrogression is always close we must joyfully and continually dare to be moved.

One of the big accomplishments during this grant period has been to offer mutual aid beyond our target goal of 10 predominately black artists to 20 artists and cultural bearers. Allowing us to build an enterprise of artistic and humanitarian ventures that can be integrated with web monetization and a diversification of sustainable practices. This is the pathway to launching our company's first website in August of 2022. Finally, after several years of planning and research, the acquisition of tools that not only allows us to increase our companies production value online but also offers significant upgrades to our capacity to produce artistic content internationally, was a huge accomplishment. E.g. new computers, cameras, software, lighting, audio, and other much needed technological assets.

There has been substantial growth for Folawole inc. and great expansion of possibilities that will be long lasting due to the support of Grant for the Web.

Progress on objectives

Surpassed initial expectations by doubling the number of artists we wanted to support. Decided to postpone building a hub in Greece due to logistics posed by Covid 19 and instead reallocated funds to getting technological material needed. Website plans to launch in August of 2022, along with premiers of several web content. We have made the decision to relocate from San Francisco and are now actively looking for our next base for operation nationally and internationally.

Key activities

Communications and marketing

In mid August 2022 we are planning the official launch of Folawole.com with a full press release, media interviews, social media posts, and a well planned marketing strategy to gather attention towards our launch. Along with the media blitz we will be launching podcasts, tutorials, and webinars that are to be open to the public as content is developed and published.

What’s next?

Along with the lunch of Folawole.com and the distribution of fresh new contents in multiple web spaces we will kick off a campaign to raise $500k by the end of August 2023 to enhance our web monetization hub on the web and acquire land for the physical artistic home of Folawole Inc.

Community engagement

If any aspect of our works inspires the community of Grants for the Web , Web monetization and beyond please feel free to reach out to us. We are always interested to see how new tools in development can be utilized within our company to help us reach our goals.

We would also appreciate any of the following forms of assistance: tax deductible donations, equity redistributions, fundraising events support , grant writing expertise and in kind / wish list givings .

Relevant links/resources:

To get in touch: folawoleinc@gmail.com
Join our mailing list.
Check back for the premier of Folawole.com in August 2022

Folawole.com — Grant Report #1

Folawole — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 22:32:46 +0000

Project Update

The project is going very well and exceeding our expectations. It has been a great joy to distribute funds to artists , develop a plan to provide artists with wellness measures that mature the artistic community and map out what will soon be a web monetized hub for international artistic engagement. Giving funds to artists posed unexpected challenges as everyone had different obstacles and requirements to receive funds ; depending on their location , comfort using technology and other particularities. Regarding the timeline everything is going as needed with an emphasis on patience, organic development and consistent focus. Direct ongoing communication with members of web monetization communities has been invaluable.

Progress on objectives

Main objective to create a website that is integrated with web monetization and offers a sustainable platform for black leadership , guidance and wellness in the arts is developing rapidly. Artist whom received mutual aid grants are being introduced to the world of webmonitization from the stand point of “ how can web monetization support content creators and their particular hurdles ?”, in a solution driven approach.

Key activities

All funds to artist have been distributed. Web development is underway. Web developer and strategists are working diligently. Delays occurred regarding obtaining hardware and software needed. Funds need to be reallocated to acquire remaining hardware and software needed. It has become clear that our goals are driven by the need for honest quality content that empowers artist while serving to mature the artistic field and those inspired by the field. This means we are now focused more on the process more so than mass production for mass consumption of content.
Process are being revealed by artist honest engagement with wellness and sustainability practices and how that sets the foundation of their ability to create content. We believe content creation is inevitable but quality content creation centers wellness and a devotion to uncovering an artists “working vibe”. Between now and the final report we will be posting in community forums, contents that have been revealed through process driven work. The team within Folawole Inc will become more vocal on the web monetization forums.

Communications and marketing

Plans to share the project publicly are still underway. We have chosen to postpone major announcements until key developments have been achieved for artists and the team at Folawole Inc.

What’s next?

Next steps include acquisition of hardware and software to allow for greater production value regarding content creation. Public announcements regarding the project. Publication of contents that reveal pertinent processes and development.

What community support would benefit your project?

Community has been key in allowing us to understand the importance of simplicity and refinement within our projects. We have been able to connect with gems within the web monetization community in order to share ideas , simplify and mature ambitions and create viable networks.

Thank you Briana @creativelivingfordancers , Casey @casey_herd
Ballet Raising, Peter @peterbaro Cinnamon and Andrzej @end3r for all the in depth perspectives, guidance and advice so far.

Open to discussing and supporting ideas with more in the web monetization community. Would be valuable to see if some of the process driven practices in the arts can be translated to practices that benefit other establishments and individuals outside the artistic field. Which fields outside of the arts would value in-depth consultation from this wellness and process driven approach to improve company/ startup culture? What type of tangible collaborations can be created cross disciplines ?

Additional comments

We are interested in having a behind the scene look at current and past projects or one on one interaction with other projects and communities to see where they are at within their projects to build connections, solidarity and sustainable networks. Big shout out to Dees/ @cyberdees for introducing us with Masuma / Girlhood. Looking forward to nourishing connection. Deeply thankful for the warm and open aproach grants for the web team has curated. It contributes to a stress free environment that allows our team to focus on honest discoveries and challenges within our project. -->

Relevant links/resources

Folawole.com