Love Is In The Air, And So Is Raising Funds For Accessibility!
Love Is In The Air, And So Is Raising Funds For Accessibility!
Everyone in the world has been affected by accessibility advancement, though some more than others. That’s where Dreamscape Foundation comes in! As our very first Stream Team fundraiser of 2022 kicks-off, we wanted to introduce everyone to our hand-picked Charity Streamers this week!
Jessyabeb Draws Attention To Disability Awareness
Jessy, aka Jessyabeb, is a former mental health nurse turned freelance digital artist and variety streamer. She is someone who has personal experience streaming for charity in the past like the b-present foundation which works to help educate and support young adults with cancer, along with “It Gets Better“, an organization that works to uplift, empower and connect with LGBTQ+ youth all around the world.
Jessy is selfless enough to help raise funds with Dreamscape Foundation because she finds herself an adult living with a disability. Knowing the experience first-hand, Jessy wants to help in any way she can. Viewers can expect a lot of art streams during the event, along with some Spelunky 2. “I will have some art up as donation incentives! I’ll also be doing some more viewer interactive stuff like marbles and some other games.” Jessy explains.
TheSaffronMan Raids For Accessibility
Meet Saff, also known as TheSaffronMan! Saff has had a lot of experience volunteering, ever since he was young. Things like summer camps and charity volunteer work to name a few. Where does all this inspiration to do good come from? In our interview with Saff, he mentioned that his late grandmother who had Parkinson’s was a massive role model for him, and continues to motivate him to this day!
For our Charity Stream with TheSaffronMan, the plans are to play a variety of games during the week; from Raid: Shadow legends, Halo Infinite, and GeoGuessr. The fun to be experienced is limitless! Saff also intends to mix it up with music and interact with his community by chatting on any relevant topics. Saff wanted to extend his support and that is how we met HWZ67!
HWZ67 Lends A Helping Hand
Coming in later to the Stream Team is Kofi or HWZ67! Kofi is known throughout his chatroom as a Teacher and a Musician, especially for his interest in creating meme music. His streaming journey began at the end of 2020 as he wanted to connect with more people in the Raid Shadow Legends community.
As an Elementary School teacher, HWZ has constant exposure to fundraising at his school, as well as some volunteer work with an organization called “Hosea Helps” who help families with a wide range of services, based out of Atlanta, GA. When asked why he wanted to join in this Valentine’s Day event, HWZ told us that ” I genuinely enjoy helping others! My fiancé and I are always talking about charity work so I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity. She was very happy when I told her.”
JohnKozlov Blasts Off For Charity
Now introducing.. John Kozlov! John happens to be a full-time programmer, while also working as a part-time content creator. During our interview, Kozlov mentioned that he sees himself as a perfectionist who likes to do everything to the next level. Our new streamer friend is known to have a deep passion for simulation games, especially the Star Citizen universe which became one of his favorite games.
John Kozlov started streaming as a way to find like-minded people with whom he can share common values and ideas. After all said and done, Twitch streaming ended up as one of his greatest passions. Kozlov mentions that “It helped me evolve and express myself better.” We are very happy that he joined our week-long charity, and even though this is his first charity stream, we are happy to have him a part of our growing Valentine’s Day event Stream Team!
Sarcastickelly Welcomes Donations For Dreamscape
Meet Kelly, another friendly streamer we found on Twitch, where she is known as SarcastiKelly; A name her chatroom said fitted her perfectly – due to the fact that her sense of humor is very silly and ironic! As a self-described introvert, she always seems to make sure everyone feels included. According to Kelly, she is very reserved and quiet with people she hasn’t met before.
Although this will be the first Charity Event for Kelly, we can tell that she is very excited to lend her support! As she described in our interview, “This is something that I have always wanted to do and it’s just always been a question of when or how?” She explained ”I have always wanted to get into raising money for charities, there have just been so many questions and not knowing where to start. Once I got in contact with Dreamscape Foundation and got a good understanding of what they do and trying to achieve, I realized it’s something I wanted to be a part of.”
“Mental illness is something I’m way too familiar with, both myself and in my family, and I’ve always felt like it’s rarely taken seriously. I think that’s why I’ve grown to be so passionate and empathetic about wanting to help people, whether it’s to help someone move, or just be there if someone wants to talk, or just cheer someone up to make them forget about something that’s bringing them down if only for a moment.”
During the Charity Event, we can expect lots of fun, goofiness, and nothing but great time. Sarcastikelly adds “Not only will there be giveaways, but there will also be donations that’ll trigger certain actions that change the way I play whether it’s being blindfolded or choose what build/weapon to use, but you could also decide a future cosplay or a game to play and much more.”
How You Can Help Share The Dream:
We appreciate what these amazing streamers are doing as a part of giving back to Dreamscape’s disabled community. This Charity event will be filled with fun and passion from different people all around the globe. Let us all gather and unite to raise $5,000 in the spirit of Accessibility and Valentine’s Day.
All week long, February 7th to February 14th, 2022 we will be LIVE on Twitch and Tilitfy raising awareness of Dreamscape Foundation’s cause. Depending on an individual’s amount donated, donors will be eligible to win a variety of prizes, from multiple redeemable steam keys, to Dreamscape merchandise like T-Shirts, Magnets & Drawstring Backpacks. If you have anything to give, this is an amazing cause. Help us Share the Dream!
« PreviousNext »A Small Girl with a Big Heart, Xsharls to Host Dreamscape’s Next Charity Stream
A Small Girl with a Big Heart, Xsharls to Host Dreamscape’s Next Charity Stream
Dreamscape Foundation is happy to introduce our first Charity streamer for 2022! Meet Sharls, also referred to by her twitch community as “xsharls”. Described as a small girl with a big heart. She may seem chaotic and never fails to fail streamer as she always tries to make people laugh and entertain others through her antics on stream, but everyone knows that she is a fighter, someone who does not give up easily despite the challenges life throws at her and is always about spreading love and kindness to one another.
Some Dreams Come True
As a bubbly teenager, she had always dreamed of being a content creator. Early in her endeavors, Sharls started filming YouTube vlogs as well as live stream using Bigolive to interact and make more friends online. Due to lack of time and switching her priorities towards studying, she was unable to continue those ventures. After which, an online friend named spadefanatic insinuated the idea about streaming on Facebook Gaming. Spade also shared the same dream about being a full-time streamer; thus, encouraging her to do the same.
After the friendly encouragement, xsharls founds a goldmine of time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It didn’t take her long to take the idea into action and embark on her first streaming journey through Facebook. With a few months of streaming experience under her belt, Sharls made the move to Twitch, which allowed her to grow her community.
“I never once regretted my decision to stream, as it has been so awesome so far! In my streams, we celebrate being our authentic selves – we celebrate being unique and weird, as I am as transparent and open to my community. I treat my stream as a safe haven – where anyone can come by to share and be open about themselves, as it is all about love!” – xsharls
First Time Charity Streamer!
This may be her first time doing a charity stream, but xsharls is not new in helping those around and in her community. From local volunteering to personal donations, we are very honored that she decided to have her first charity stream with Dreamscape Foundation. According to Sharls, she was elated to do a charity stream with Dreamscape as it resonates with her hopes that with everyone’s help, anyone could have a better future.
“What resonated with me is that Dreamscape believes in offering hope and that knowing is not enough. Hope is understanding that we can do better for the future, and we have a role to play in making that future a reality. I am a strong believer that we should take action and do our part to continue spreading awareness, in order for us to grow as a society. I impart this vision through my mental health podcasts that I do bi-weekly, which places emphasis on continuing to have these difficult conversations, as it gets better as we continue to talk about it. I felt that my vision was in line with dreamscape, therefore it was a no-brainer for me!” – xsharls
What to Expect During the Charity Stream
One thing that she will surely bring for her stream is “FUN” as she tries to make it an exciting experience for everyone! Participants will be able to use their donations to trigger certain actions on stream such as drinking her least fav drink – matcha, or to make her play a horror game, just to name a few.
When & Where Can I Donate?
Xsharls will be raising funds for Dreamscape Foundation’s mission on her Twitch channel on Friday, January 28, 2022, at 8:30am EST. Her hope is to raise $200 for our disabled community by the end of the stream. Depending on the amount given, donors will be eligible to win a variety of prizes, from redeemable random steam keys to Dreamscape branded physical gifts like T-shirts, Magnets & Backpacks. If you have anything to give, this is an amazing cause. Help us Share the Dream!
« PreviousNext »Stream Team Knights Of The Order raises funds for Disability Awareness
Stream Team Knights Of The Order raises funds for Disability Awareness
We at Dreamscape know a thing or two about Charity Streaming. It’s an enormous task for an individual to raise funds all while maintaining an entertaining persona for hours on end. Dreamscape is happy to announce our collaboration with, not only one streamer, but a group from a recently created Stream Team! They’re called The Knights Of The Order, and at the helm of the ship is Twitch Partner TheOrderOfDylan. We sat down and got to know Dylan, and we’re excited to share his story.
A Pandemic Metamorphosis
As the pandemic began, many of us have been working at home now under lots of different circumstances. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dylan started as a moderator and video editor for Twitch Partner / Solar Stream CEO Lowco. At the moment, our streamer friend is taking on new, exciting projects. Some of which include streaming and creating a stream team!
As Told By Dylan
Dylan started his Twitch journey as AsToldByDylan (a reference to the Nickelodeon show As Told By Ginger). But when he settled into Star Wars content, Dylan opted to change his name to reflect the name of his community: The Order of Dylan!
His channel specializes in carefree gameplay with a highly interactive, engaging chat. The content he provides includes talks about life, food, Marvel, and everything in between, all while playing games with all of his viewers. He also takes viewers on IRL stream adventures to Disney World every now and then.
Surpassing The Odds
Dylan’s father suffered from complete renal failure and was told he may not make it past dialysis. Four years later, he received a kidney transplant and has lived a healthy life ever since. His story, and the story of other achievers, motivate Dylan to push past the difficult challenges in life and persevere.
Dylan believes everyone, regardless of circumstance, deserves the opportunity to be successful and have the tools they need to succeed. Dylan added, “I lived with a visually impaired friend in college who struggled to find the right equipment to get through many of his digital technology classes. An organization like Dreamscape spoke to me personally and is a cause I couldn’t wait to get behind.”
Knights Of The Order Event Details
Our campaign will begin with TheOrderOfDylan on December 11, 2021, at 12:00 pm, followed by _, _ and _. They will be playing Knockout City, a fun, fast-paced multiplayer game, along with viewers from the community! From there, the following Knights members will be streaming everything from Art, to Halo Infinite, and more! All with their own unique incentives!
Dylan added, “I am excited to work with Dreamscape to help provide the disabled community with the accessibility and access to tools they need to build a better tomorrow for themselves and the world!”
You can follow our Twitter & Facebook accounts to stay up to date with all the event details, as we lead up to our Charity Stream with Knights Of The Order.
« PreviousNext »DamnitKid Shares The Dream During 2021 Giving Season
DamnitKid Shares The Dream During 2021 Giving Season
The 2021 Giving Season is upon us, and that means more fundraisers! As a new holiday season begins, new faces will emerge to help spread awareness of Dreamscape Foundation’s cause. We’re happy to announce that on December 14th, Dreamscape is collaborating with a brand new Twitch streamer, and we’re excited to share his story with you.
A Streamers Humble Beginnings
Meet Conor Dennis, or as his chat more commonly knows him, Damnitkid. Conor came up with his username when he was 18, after being called “The Kid” at a brewery he used to work at. Dennis explained to us that whenever he made a mistake a work, his peers would always say “Damnit, Kid”. Conor decided to keep that banter label to this day and uses “Damnitkid” as his handle across all online community platforms.
When meeting someone new, we find it extremely telling of who a person is by how their friends describe them. Let’s just say, Damnitkid’s online friends stood up to the plate and didn’t hold back:
Black_Frost22: “A very kindhearted person, who when allowed will do everything in his power to achieve a goal. Always looking out for everyone he knows. Determined, strong, caring, giving puts other before himself! Gives good advice and a very helpful attitude always out to do well!”
Full Tryhard: “Conor is the kind of person you meet late in life and wish you’d met sooner. He’s classy and sophisticated without being stuffy or condescending. He brings joy to those fortunate enough to know him. His charisma lands him naturally into leadership roles where those around him don’t feel a sense of devoir, rather, a desire to follow his lead. His friends are loyal and quick to come to his defense. He doesn’t make his happiness anyone else’s responsibility, nor does he appear to allow anyone to get under his skin. In colloquial terms, the sun shines out his a** and he’s an absolute Chad.”
His love for playing games started when his older brother gave him his old Gameboy Color with a copy of the Pokémon Blue Version. In 2019, Conor discovered his now ‘go-to’ streaming game Escape from Tarkov, 2 years ago. He not only fell in love with the game but with the Tarkov Twitch online community as well.
Upon further inquiry, Damnitkid explained “The Tarkov Twitch community is full of incredibly helpful people that make the brutal nature of the game much easier to get through. These amazing people inspired me to start streaming and try to do something good of my own, while also playing a game that I fell in love with.”
Like Mother, Like Son
When you lose a loved one, especially a parent, it can be earth-shattering. In 2019, Conor lost his biggest motivator, his Mother, to Breast Cancer. He described her as someone who would put others before herself, no matter who you were. Going out of her way to make meals for the less fortunate during Thanksgiving, participating in Charity Walks, and giving out toys during Christmas to name a few examples. You could say that Conor’s Mom was an all-around Charity Allstar. In her memory, Conor strives to make her proud by participating in charity drives as often as he can!
A few months ago, an opportunity was presented to him when Dreamscape reached out for help. When asked about his interest in our disability charity, the streamer said “I don’t have a big twitch following, but that doesn’t seem to matter to them. They just want to do everything they can to help individuals with disabilities, and I am thankful for the opportunity to help in any way I can”. Conor added, “I have an odd work schedule which I know is not easy to work around, but they’ve been very patient, and I seriously appreciate that.”
During an earlier fundraiser this year, he was able to raise a bit over $1200 for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and while he still feels like it is not enough, it is a step up from the $50 he was able to raise last year.
Damnitkid Upcoming Event with Dreamscape & What to Expect!
During Damnitkid’s Tuesday stream on December 14th, he will be playing his favorite game Escape from Tarkov! Tarkov being as serious as it is, Conor will make sure it will be a fun time. Charity donations will mess with the game, doing stuff like making him throw grenades, or even closing the game entirely! Dennis will also have some donation milestones set up: Activities like painting his nails, having a pie thrown into his face, putting on a costume, drinking some extreme hot sauce, and even shaving a reverse mohawk into his head!
Together with Damnitkid, we invite you to watch our Charity Stream on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, at 4:00PM EST. Conor will be streaming for 12 hours straight and the event will be jam-packed with fun! We hope to see you there as we attempt to reach our $500 donation goal for our disabled community!
Damnitkid concluded our interview with, “I just want to thank Dreamscape again for this awesome opportunity. I want to make it as fun, as possible and hopefully, we can reach our goal! Dreamscape has also set up some amazing prizes for donors, so be sure to check it out!”
You can follow Dreamscape’s Twitter & Facebook accounts to stay up to date with all the event details, as we lead up to our Charity Stream with Damnitkid.
« PreviousNext »Sh0wtig3r Returns for Second Fundraiser Supporting Accessibility
Sh0wtig3r Returns for Second Fundraiser Supporting Accessibility
We are happy to announce that Sh0wtig3r continues to support Dreamscape Foundation and our cause to make life easier and more accessible for people with disabilities.
Sh0wtig3r is Back with Support!
You might remember Brianna Ritchie, better known to her Twitch community as Sh0wtig3r. She hosted a charity stream for Dreamscape Foundation this past May! Ritchie has been doing great in the past few months since we spoke to her. According to our updates, “Since the last time we spoke I have received a promotion at my office job which is helping my boyfriend and I get closer to our goal of moving back home to Vermont in Summer of 2022.” Brianna explains.
Brianna’s Favorite Holiday Traditions
As she gets ready for her first Giving Season fundraiser with us, we asked about her favorite parts of the holidays: “Since I am the youngest in my family, I was always peeking around during the holidays to find where my parents hid the gifts. It was always a blast brainstorming with my older siblings on where the new hiding place was and if the parents would catch us. In the end we never found where the gifts were hidden, probably because my parents knew we were looking for them, but it was always a good time just laughing.” We here at Dreamscape are guilty of gift hunts as well!
Round Two for Accessibility
Our good friend Brianna excitedly accepted our call for action due to our previous work and our mission statement. She quoted “I love working with Dreamscape not only because of the passion of the staff but also because of the mission statement. Dreamscape goes above and beyond to do everything they can to help get their message across including making great bonds with content creators by working together for a great cause. I enjoyed working with Dreamscape in the beginning of 2021 and I am excited to be working with them again with hopefully more to come in the future!”
Dreamscape is counting down the days for our collaboration! Her cheerfulness and creativity are an inspiration to everyone she interacts with. One of Brianna’s favorite memories from her 1st charity stream with Dreamscape was having to draw a goatee using an eyeliner on her face, and wearing it for the remainder of the stream! She made this one of her higher incentives – and her community made sure that no matter what, she was going to look silly for charity.
This time around, she has a few returning ideas from her last charity stream, “…googly eyes and of course eyeliner facial hair, but I look forward to sharing some of my secrets that I have up my sleeve. We will be streaming for 12 hours on December 4th and it is going to be jam packed with fun!”
A Big Thank You To All
Sh0wtig3r concluded our interview with a heartfelt message: “I just want to thank everybody for taking the time out of their day to help support Dreamscape in any way that they can. With it being the holiday’s even if you cannot physically donate which is more than okay, spreading the word helps just as much!”
Together with Sh0wtig3r, we Invite you to watch our Charity Stream on Saturday December 4,2021 at 3PM to 3AM EST. We hope to see you there as we attempt to reach our $500 donation goal!
« PreviousNext »CombatNursing Targets Accessibility for Dreamscape’s Next Charity Stream
CombatNursing Targets Accessibility for Dreamscape’s Next Charity Stream
One glance at Twitch streamer CombatNursing’s handle, and you can likely guess its origins. The name reflects her past experience as a combat medic for the Army as well as her civilian career as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurse. However, this carefully chosen name means more to CombatNursing than just her resume. It also holds a deeply personal meaning to its owner.
“It’s about making sure that I always acknowledge where I came from,” she said. “The people who trained me, the people I worked with, my patients, they really taught me a lot… They can show you how to survive.”
As a NICU nurse, CombatNursing witnessed firsthand just how resilient humans can be, even in their earliest moments of life.
“Things that you wouldn’t expect a little tiny human like that to be able to handle, they handle it. Watching them leave the NICU, and then years down the line come back for a reunion really teaches you resilience; resilience as a person and an inner strength that you might not know you have. So it’s a very personal and very important tag for me.”
CombatNursing Promotes Awareness and Support for Individuals with Disabilities
Dreamscape Foundation’s mission to help improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities is one that hits close to home for CombatNursing. She knows firsthand the impact that physical disabilities and mental health struggles can have on day-to-day life, and she actively advocates for assistance and resources to help improve the lives of those who struggle with them.
“My father’s a Vietnam veteran and is also a disabled veteran,” she said. “He was wounded in combat. My husband was injured while serving in Iraq. He suffers from PTSD, but he also has injuries that made him disabled. So working with organizations that make it a point to highlight disabilities, and that work for accessibility for the disabled – that is a big part of what I feel is necessary. I love to do charities to raise awareness.”
In the past, CombatNursing conducted charity streams to support Wounded Warrior Project, an organization that not only addresses mental health impacts on soldiers, but also provides support for those who become physically disabled due to injuries sustained while on duty. It’s a cause she is passionate about supporting. However, when she heard about Dreamscape Foundation, she found it to be an opportunity to extend that mission beyond just service members.
“Wounded Warrior Project is the military side, but there’s also a need for the civilian side, and so I felt like [Dreamscape] would be a perfect fit.”
CombatNursing’s Week-long Charity Event Begins in November
CombatNursing’s charity event to support Dreamscape Foundation will be held from November 1 to November 5. She will stream each day from 9:00pm to 7:30am EST. During that time, she will be playing Destiny 2 and Call of Duty: Warzone. Her goal is to raise $1,200 for our organization.
“I would love to see if we could pass the $1,200 goal, but if not, it’s a worthy goal to go after,” she said. “Hopefully we have people from all over the world come out and show support.”
Those who tune in can use their donations to win prizes, as well as trigger incentives or on-stream antics. To tune in, simply go to CombatNursing’s Twitch channel during the appointed dates and time.
« PreviousNext »C.A.B.S. Autism: Inspiring Motivation-Led Growth
C.A.B.S. Autism: Inspiring Motivation-Led Growth
The World Health Organization reports an estimated one in every 160 children have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), though that number has the potential to be higher. Currently, the prevalence of ASD in low- and middle-income countries remains unknown.
However, what we do know is that ASD presents itself in a myriad of ways, and that presentation varies tremendously from one individual to another. This diversity – or spectrum – makes every case unique. That’s Why CABS Autism and Behavioral Specialists provide individualized consultations and therapy services, whether it’s from home, at school, in a clinical setting, or even a community environment.
CABS uses Applied Behavioral Analysis, or ABA, in their one-on-one therapy sessions with their clients. In these sessions, they tune into what motivates the individual they’re working with to inspire engagement. By focusing on their client’s interests, they encourage communication and enriching interaction.
“Our approach is very child-led by their motivation,” said CABS’ Outreach and Development Coordinator Wendy Craven. “It’s not what we plan and set to do for the day necessarily. We identify what’s motivating them, and we go with that.”
CABS’ programs serve ASD clients ranging from the age of two to 26. While they create individualized goals catered to each individual, all treatment plans focus on creating a long-term quality of life while fostering a love for learning.
Led by a director who is a Board Certified Behavioral Analyst (BCBA), CABs prides itself on its strong foundation of qualifications and training. Each of their BCBAs possess an average of six years’ experience, and nearly half (43%) of their Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) are pursuing either their Master’s Degree or BCBA certification. That high level of talent is matched by its empathy and compassion.
“I always hear the staff supporting each other, helping each other or sharing ideas,” Craven said. “I hear the kids laughing and having fun. Nine times out of 10, our therapists typically will say the rewarding part of their jobs is who we work with. Seeing them learn and grow.”
CABs has locations and services available in Itasca, Illinois as well as two Georgia cities: Savannah and Rome.
ReAbility and the Necessity for Autism Resources Like CABS
CABs offers significant resources to those within the radius of their Illinois and Georgia locations. However, a medical study published in 2019 revealed sparse and uneven distribution of diagnostic resources for ASD within the U.S. The consequences of this leave many in need of services like CABS on lengthy waitlists or forces them to travel long distances to access the resources they need.
This challenge was brought to Dreamscape Foundation’s attention by Chris Myers, who is a parent of an autistic child. Together with him, we helped to create ReAbility, a search engine for individuals with disabilities that helps identify nearby resources, programs, and events based on their specific needs. While its reach is currently restricted to Tennessee, Dreamscape and Myers both aim to grow the website through partnerships with organizations like CABS in order to expand its usability across the U.S.
« PreviousNext »Dreamscape’s Mission Takes Shape at Hannibal YMCA
Dreamscape’s Mission Takes Shape at Hannibal YMCA
In 2018, Hannibal YMCA’s Group Fitness & Aquatics Coordinator reached out to Dreamscape Foundation seeking guidance and assistance on how to make their YMCA facility – and its programs – more accessible. The effort was inspired by one of their wheelchair-bound members, Audrey Pickett, who wanted to be more involved but was facing accessibility challenges at their facility.
Dreamscape Foundation immediately responded, and has since been providing advice on accessibility options and resources, as well as contributing funds to support the programs and equipment that would make accessibility possible.
The collaboration sparked a movement; one driven by Audrey’s determination to make the world more accessible for herself and others. She experienced firsthand how the fitness equipment and programs at the YMCA can improve her life, her personal strength, and her mobility.
Beyond that, she found a sense of community at the YMCA that accepted her, encouraged her, and offered opportunities to be involved with the organization. She wanted other individuals in her community with disabilities to have these same opportunities. Thus, Dreamscape Foundation remained in contact and continued to support her in these efforts.
Below is an update on her story.
From Student to Instructor: Audrey is an Invaluable Asset to the YMCA
In addition to her attending her physical training sessions, Audrey is now an instructor teaching Pound classes at the same YMCA that she helped evolve to accommodate accessibility needs. The class is a high energy cardio, conditioning, and strength training program that utilizes special drumsticks called “Ripstix.” The exercise uses these sticks to combine rhythmic beats with Pilates- and Yoga-inspired movements, and is easily modified to suit participant’s unique level of abilities.
“When I first started taking Pound two years ago, I didn’t ever think I was going to be teaching it,” Audrey confessed. “I didn’t even think I was going to last a class. But then I kept going back.”
When asked about how the last two years have impacted her, she said, “It’s made me a better person, and it’s made me stronger. I realized that I can do more than I thought I could do.”
Audrey has always enjoyed teaching and has desired to do so in some capacity. However, being a Pound instructor at the YMCA is an opportunity she never imagined would be a reality when this all began. She attributes her growth to both her dedicated practice and effort as well as the support of the people around her.
Beyond teaching, Audrey is also an active YMCA volunteer. Recently, she helped assemble food boxes for their USDA-funded food program called Meals On The Go. The program provides one week’s worth of food per box for youth ages 18 years and younger.
“I love this place,” Audrey said. “It’s my second home.”
Audrey continues to serve as a huge driver for accessibility at the YMCA. Her voice has led to several changes, including adapting the handicap restroom to be more accessible.
“Audrey mentioned that the stall was very tight, and she really couldn’t get in there, turn her chair and shut the door,” said Hannibal YMCA CEO Eric Abts. “And we appreciated that perspective. We moved on it pretty quickly, and got it switched over. Now it’s better for everyone.”
Looking forward, Audrey aspires to continue to grow, expanding her capabilities as a Pound instructor and possibly return to school to expand her education.
“I wanted to say we’re extremely thankful to Dreamscape Foundation for making this possible,” Eric said. “You guys have been wonderful. We’ve had this relationship with Dreamscape for well over a year now and it’s just been a blessing.”
« PreviousNext »Johan Yusof Reaches for the Stars in This 5-Day Charity Event
Johan Yusof Reaches for the Stars in This 5-Day Charity Event
Johan Yusof may have first graced the streaming community with his handsome voice and smooth dance moves in 2018, but when it comes to singing and dancing, he is a seasoned veteran. Yusof began performing on stage 21 years ago, planting his roots in theater before branching out as a Japanese pop (J-Pop) singer.
Before COVID-19, he could often be found performing at anime conventions across Malaysia and Singapore. However, the pandemic restricted live performances, spurring this multitalented artist to connect with his audience via a safer, digital venue: Twitch.
Johan Yusof Becomes a One Man Show on Stream
Like so many across the globe, COVID-19 had a significant impact on Yusof’s career and aspirations. As the world cocooned within the safety of their homes, he found himself pressed to find new avenues of income.
Thus, Yusof turned to Twitch, making it his new stage. He brings energy and entertainment as a one-man show on his channel, which consists of a mix of him dropping moves in Just Dance, playing video games, singing, doing impersonations, and even acting out dares posed by his viewers.
“I’m glad I had streaming to fall back onto,” Yusof confessed. “Even though it’s not very easy, I’m glad that at the very least, this is something that I could do at home and be able to make the best out of it.”
Although singing is his self-proclaimed first love, dancing also holds a special place for Yusof. His mother was a professional dancer whose career had her performing at festivals, on stage and even on television. Now that she is retired, he feels the need to take up the baton.
“Part of the reason I’m dancing a lot on stream is because I want to continue carrying on my mom’s legacy as a dancer,” he said.
For those who have never tuned into Yusof’s streams, they’re like a party with an open invitation. He dances in a room illuminated by colorful lights, and engages with an active chat in between songs and requests. The experience is, in many ways, more intimate than the concerts and shows he put on previously. It offers a two-way street that allows viewers to become a part of the experience rather than simply observing it.
“I enjoy connecting with people from all different walks of life, to have that kind of interaction, to be able to chat with a lot of people, and to get to know them,” he said. “Putting on a show at the same time is something I find something very, very, valuable to me. It’s something that I really enjoy and really cherish.”
To him, it’s not just about performing but making his viewers feel happy.
Johan Yusof’s “Five Days of Fireworks” Takes Flight in July
When Yusof first received the invitation to do a fundraiser for Dreamscape Foundation, he felt the need to dig deeper into the non-profit’s mission and the ways it uses its funds to help others. The more he learned about our mission, the more he felt compelled to support it.
“Dreamscape’s MO [modus operandi] is basically to help out those within the disabled community, and I feel that what I do streaming, or gaming, or even dancing or singing for that matter, is for everyone to be able to enjoy whether they able-bodied or not,” he said. “And if there are ways for the disabled community to do what they love to do, what they want to do, and what they’re passionate about doing, without having to be forced to conform to any sort of limitations, I would love to help them out in any possible way.”
That help will be taking the form of a multi-day fundraising event called “Five Days of Fireworks.” Scheduled to take place from July 1 to July 5, the schedule is as follows:
- Thursday, July 1, 2021:
- Just Dance 2021 (9AM – 1PM EST)
- Friday, July 2, 2021:
- Karaoke JOYSOUND for Nintendo Switch (9AM – 1PM EST)
- Just Dance 2021 (9PM – 1AM EST)
- Saturday, July 3, 2021:
- Either Mario Kart 8 Deluxe / Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (9AM – 1PM EST)
- Sunday, July 4, 2021:
- Just Dance 2021 (9AM – 1PM EST)
- Monday, July 5, 2021:
- Just Dance 2021 (9AM – 1PM EST)
To participate in this event, tune into Yusof’s Twitch channel, and donate by visiting the Tiltify Campaign.
« PreviousNext »VoidedMods Invite You to Join Family Game Night
VoidedMods Invite You to Join Family Game Night
Freckles and Farce, GranDaddySkulls, Legend of Layne, and ItsAMeWolfie were once moderators (aka “mods”) for the same Twitch streamer. During that time, they found chemistry and friendship beyond taming the Wild West that is a streamer’s live chat. But in 2020, those duties came to an abrupt end.
“Recently, the person we had been modding for decided to step away from Twitch and continue on their own path, and we looked at each other and went, ‘Well, we can’t just stop. We love this.’ So we decided to start our own stream,” Skulls explained.
The departure of the streamer they modded for triggered the birth of their own streaming channel on Twitch called VoidedMods.
The Streaming Quartet and Their Community
The streaming quartet may share a history as moderators, but each of them has their own personality.
Freckles “brings the weird” to their streams and community. She’s known for dropping random facts and bringing humor and levity to the conversation.
Layne delivers “high BS energy” and keeps the conversation flowing.
Skulls feeds off of Freckles’ humor, expanding on the inevitable odd fact and fueling the banter within the conversation. They are also the one that “goes after the money”, meaning they encourage opportunities for monetization within the stream to help fund the VoidedMods channel.
Wolfie, by contrast, is the grounded one. He serves as the anchor that brings this high-energy, fun-loving group back down to Earth.
Together, they create an atmosphere that draws in a diverse and inclusive community that is as much a part of the VoidedMods stream as the streamers themselves.
“I would consider us variety streamers, as we play a different game every time. But as a Twitch stream, I would say we’re very community based,” Layne said. “Everything we do, all the decisions we make, and the games that we play [are] for the people on our Discord server. It’s all based on what we hear from them.”
When VoidedMods aren’t engaging their viewers live on stream, they’re actively communicating and hanging out with them in their Discord server, The Lost Void, where they hold all kinds of activities, including movie nights and open mic nights.
VoidedMods Takes Pride in Creating an Inclusive Environment
One of the biggest things VoidedMods prides themselves on is the inclusiveness of their community. All of them are members of the LGBTQ+ community, and they actively speak out on their desire to create a place where people feel welcome and safe.
Periodically during their stream, viewers will see a message that says, “On this stream we, the VoidedMods, believe that black lives matter, black trans lives matter, women’s rights are human rights, we condemn anti-Asian violence and hate, we support the rights of disabled people, and we embrace the entire rainbow of the LGBTQ+. If you do not align with these beliefs, you are free to leave but please leave in peace.”
It’s this kind of message and motivation to create an inclusive environment that inspired them to support Dreamscape Foundations mission to bridge the accessibility gap.
“[Dreamscape Foundation] really goes along with our usual ‘charity wants,’” Skulls said. “We want equality, we want people to feel welcomed, and we want people to have the world to be accessible to them… We want people to come into our community and feel like they have equal rights and equal love and equal attention. A charity like this meshes so well with what we’re trying to put together for our own community.”
Join in on the Fun and Games in VoidedMods’ Charity Stream
On June 26, 2021, VoidedMods will put on a charity stream that aims to raise $600 for Dreamscape Foundation. The theme is Family Game Night.
“I kind of came up with this concept because we’ve always seen ourselves as a family,” Freckles said. “We’re going to be doing different games that are common for families to play [like] Monopoly and Uno. We might throw in Scribble It! because it’s kind of like Pictionary.”
Want to be a part of this fun-filled Family Game Night? You can tune in from anywhere. The charity stream will begin at 2:30pm EST on their Twitch channel and is scheduled to last for at least six hours.
« PreviousNext »