Author: Meghan McNamara

This year we have the honor of our summer showcase being hosted by the Center for Art, Research and Alliances (CARA). Our showcase will be part of their bloom how you must, wild until we are free exhibition. Join us Thursday, August 3rd at 5:30 PM and learn first-hand how this summer has impacted our participants. This past week our campers … Continue reading Mark your calendars

The OP Institute and Camp are off to an electrifying start. Summer is for exploring, and our participants are doing just that. In the first three days of programming, our teens have delved into circuitry, creative practices, botany and started their book clubs. For more details on our first days of programming, continue reading, and follow … Continue reading Starting Summer with a Spark

We did it! Your support has made another summer of Octavia Project possible. In our programs, participants challenge and support each other to grow their artmaking, writing, and STEM skills while developing as leaders and changemakers. Whether you supported us by contributing to our annual campaign or spreading the word about our work, we want … Continue reading When community comes together…

Autumn, left, with Co-Teaching Fellow Cheyann Dear Octavia Project Community, I am writing to you as an Octavia Project alum and Teaching Fellow. This program has challenged me in ways I never expected. Entering the program as a cynical and soft-spoken tenth grader, I was prepared to keep to myself and explore the arts & … Continue reading A letter from OP alum & Teaching Fellow Autumn

Last weekend, an intimate group of alumni, volunteers, and community members gathered together for a cozy OP Community Chat. We talked with OP alumni Cheyann and Xylon about their experiences in our programs, what inspires them as creators, and what we can do to improve STEM education opportunities. You can catch the recording here. We … Continue reading Starting the new year with community!

Are you an experienced program administrator who’s passionate about working with young folks to build new worlds through STEM, art & writing? Come work with us! We're looking for a Program Manager to join our small team and lead our high school summer program. This is a year-round, part-time position, with increased hours over the … Continue reading We are hiring! 📢

2022 was a busy year at the Octavia Project! Our Summer Institute returned to in-person, we grew our Summer Camp, and we added programs to better support our alumni. Before the year ends, we want to pause, reflect, and thank all of you who make the Octavia Project possible—our participants and their families, our teachers, volunteers, and supporters. As a small … Continue reading Making Strides in 2022 💥

It's finally here! We're delighted to share with you volume three of the Octavia Project Zine, Positive Obsessions 2022. This year's zine is a compelling collection of digital artwork, poetry, paintings, games, comics, and more from our incredible Octavia Project Summer Institute Class of 2022. The pieces in this collection deal with belonging, inequity, love, … Continue reading We’re obsessed! Octavia Project Zine Vol. 3 📖

That’s a wrap on another spectacular summer! Our Summer Institute concluded this month with a vibrant celebration of art, writing, tech, and imagination, marking our first in-person Summer Showcase since 2019! Read on for highlights from the event. After a rundown of the many varied workshops and projects from this summer, Institute lead teachers Natyna Bean Osborne and … Continue reading A celebration of art, writing, tech & imagination 🎉

We can’t believe the summer’s nearly over! After four amazing weeks of exploring, creating, and learning together, we said a bittersweet goodbye to Camp. But don’t worry, the fun’s not over yet—our Summer Showcase is just two days away! In their last two weeks, campers had a book club visit from Artie and the Wolf Moon author Oliva Stephens, … Continue reading Using science to inspire art 🔬