As the weather warms up in Brooklyn, we’re taking stock of our spring accomplishments and looking forward to the summer. Applications for our high school Summer Institute and middle school Summer Camp are currently open! And, learn about some new initiatives that we’ve recently launched including our Spring Studio Lab and Alumni Newsletter.
This work cannot happen without your support. Together, our community surpassed our goal for our winter fundraising campaign! Thank you again for spreading the news about our work and generously donating.
In early April, we successfully launched our first Spring Studio Lab, hosted by the Brooklyn Museum! During our week-long program, 17 young women and trans and nonbinary youth learned about the art and science of light, coded pixel art, and built imagined worlds. They visited the Brooklyn Botanic Garden used phenology to inspire poems, and explored the Brooklyn Museum’s Seydou Keïta and Book of the Dead exhibitions to think about memory and history..
Many of our Spring Studio Lab participants were returning Campers! Whether they were returning participants or it was their first time joining OP, they all reported feeling comfortable being themselves in the program and learning something new by the end of our week together. And, the vast majority of participants shared that the hands-on workshops they took part in helped them with their art and creative writing.
We can’t wait to launch more opportunities for Octavia Project participants to come together throughout the year!
We’re currently accepting applications for our Summer Institute and Summer Camp!
Join us for our 12th Summer Institute, hosted by Pratt Institute’s Writing Department! This free summer workshop program for young women and trans, nonbinary, and/or gender non-conforming youth ages 14-19 bridges their love of science fiction, creative writing, art, science, and technology! Our five-week program will run from July 13 to Aug. 13, four days a week, Monday – Thursday, from 12-4pm. Apply today!
Our Summer Camp has a new home! We’re excited to share that this year’s Camp will be hosted by The Urban Assembly Unison School in Clinton Hill. Our Camp, for young women and trans, nonbinary, and/or gender non-conforming youth who will be in grades 6-8 next school year, is an opportunity to create, explore, build, and have fun! Join us for daily workshops that combine science, tech, art, and writing in a welcoming and affirming community. Our free four-week Camp will run July 6th – 30th, four days a week, Monday – Thursday, from 8:30am – 3pm. We’re accepting applications on a rolling basis through June 1!
Last month we launched our Alumni Newsletter, an initiative led by our Youth Advisory Board to share professional opportunities with their peers. In the Newsletter you can find upcoming job and internship opportunities, alumni events, and more. If you are an OP alum, sign up to receive this monthly resource!
We’re growing our programs and alumni supports to provide young people a space where they can learn about the world and bloom as leaders in their communities. We can’t wait to share what they will explore this summer!