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This program creates embroidered fabric tags with braille, alphabet lettering and symbols. These revolutionary tags enable the visually impaired, including those who are colorblind, the opportunity to feel the color of their clothes. With these tags, the visually impaired will be able to separate their clothes, organize their clothes and match their clothes, helping them be more confident, self-reliant and socially independent. Feel the Color was awarded $25,000 in seed funding at KERNEL LIVE! 2019.

Tarrant County Furniture Bank is seeking to develop a centralized location for furniture that social services agencies can turn to as a resource when assisting those transitioning out of homelessness. The organization provides an innovative way to address a gap in homeless services by securing furniture donations and developing strong relationships with distribution partners. While federal funding can be used to house the homeless, it cannot be used for furniture. Thus, many homeless individuals start out without a bed, sofa or table. Tarrant County Furniture Bank was awarded $15,000 in seed funding at KERNEL LIVE! 2019.

This program will meet a need for affordable housing and supportive community for individuals overcoming homelessness and/or domestic violence; low-income families who are unable to afford market rent; and elderly homeowners struggling with living costs on fixed incomes. Shared Housing Program’s vision is to attract and leverage social impact investments to create sustainable co-share rental housing and supportive shared housing communities in high-need neighborhoods. By using social impact bonds to fund the future purchase and rehabilitation of properties in high-need neighborhoods, Shared Worth will be able to create safe and welcoming housing while keeping rents affordable and stable for low-income households and individuals experiencing homelessness. Shared Worth was awarded $10,000 in seed funding at KERNEL LIVE! 2019.

The Welman Project is taking the problem of excess commercial waste and turning it into a solution for the second problem – the lack of resources in schools.  The organization picks up surplus materials from businesses and delivers them to classrooms free of charge while working one-on-one with teachers to provide creative reuse and repair alternatives to purchasing new supplies. The Welman Project was awarded $25,000 in seed funding at KERNEL LIVE! 2018.

This program makes wellness and prevention accessible to the high-risk cancer population of Latina women by training them on the topics of nutrition, physical activity, emotional health and positive thinking. The program fits into the organization’s education model, “The Rojo Way,” and is shared in Spanish through on-site workshops, one-on-one support sessions, an ambassadors program, conferences, support groups, digital platforms and downloadable guides. Rosa Es Rojo was awarded $15,000 in seed funding at KERNEL LIVE! 2018.

Taste Community Restaurant is the first project of the Taste Project organization designed to help feed, educate and serve Tarrant County’s food-insecure population.  The solution is a fresh and healthy pay-what-you-can restaurant where everyone in the community regardless of financial means can enjoy a healthy, high-quality meal. The restaurant has been serving lunch for some time, but the seed funding will now allow them to add a breakfast option. Taste Project was awarded $10,000 at KERNEL LIVE! 2018.