Author: Meghan McNamara

2024 was a momentous year for the Octavia Project. We marked 10 years of free summer programming in Brooklyn, ran our first after-school program, and continued growing our reach.All that we achieved this year, and over the past decade, is thanks to you, our incredible community. From our participants to our supporters, teachers, and volunteers, thank you for … Continue reading Making our mark in 2024

Cover designed by OP Institute Fellow, Kiley Jackson 2024 marked another incredible summer of the Octavia Project Summer Institute–our 10th! Participants imagined solutions to our city’s problems inspired by biomimicry, expanded their notions of the human body through architecture, and coded interactive choose-your-own-adventure Twine computer games.  We are so excited to share this year’s edition … Continue reading Announcing: Positive Obsessions 2024

We're celebrating 10 years of Octavia Project on Nov. 14, and we want you there with us! Join us to reflect back on the last decade and usher in the next one. We'll be gathering at Van Alen Institute in Gowanus, Brooklyn starting at 7pm. Registration is free, but space is limited, so reserve your spot today.Help … Continue reading Be part of the celebration—save your spot!

We're thrilled to invite you to our 10th Anniversary Celebration, in honor of the Octavia Project's ten years of service, on Thursday, Nov. 14, at 7pm. This evening will be a time to reflect on all we’ve achieved and to find inspiration in what lies ahead.For the past decade, we’ve dedicated ourselves to empowering Brooklyn teens to become … Continue reading A Decade Worth Celebrating

Thank you for joining us in celebrating the hard work participants put into this summer. Every year, we host a Summer Showcase, and year after year, we witness the creativity, ingenuity, and vulnerability of the next generation of leaders. In just five weeks, they acquired new skills and used them to create inspiring projects.  These … Continue reading Thank you for another incredible summer (our 10th!)

Play these games written and developed by our summer 2024 participants! The Apple of My Eye, by Megan The Sting of My Eye, by Rhea Frog Therapy, by Kiley and Roselyn

In just two days, we'll wrap up our tenth summer together! As we look back over these amazing ten years, beyond the 1000+ hours of programming and 300+ workshops, what truly stands out is the incredible confidence our participants have gained. We've created an environment where teens can experience radical joy, imagination, and empowerment. Because … Continue reading Celebrate Our 10th Summer at the OP Summer Showcase!

That’s a wrap for our Summer Camp participants! In just four weeks, participants have created a portfolio of multimedia projects, gained access to a network of STEM and art professionals, and strengthened their confidence in STEM, art, and writing. As they consider the opportunities their new skills unlock, our Summer Institute participants continue journeying into new worlds. … Continue reading Diving Deeper Into New Worlds

We may be known for our interdisciplinary approach, blending STEM, Art, Science Fiction, and Writing, but our unique teaching style sets us apart. As our Lead Teacher, Aarushi, says, “We gamify part of the process of learning STEM in a way that asks students to lead with curiosity… It’s less about what we have to teach … Continue reading How We Lead with Curiosity

We're thrilled to announce the start of our 10th summer of programming! Over the past decade, we've dedicated ourselves to using STEM, science fiction, and art to empower girls and trans and nonbinary youth to envision and create a better world. This summer, we're continuing to empower Brooklyn youth to pursue their dreams, drive change, and emerge … Continue reading Kicking off Summer Programming