As we get closer to the end of the year, we wanted to take a look back and share some new reflections on the summer from our Summer Camp Intern and Institute Program Fellow. We’re also thrilled to share the latest issue of our OP zine, alongside some exciting updates from our Youth Advisory Board and our new afterschool program.
Peering back at the summer
We’re looking back at the summer from the perspectives of a few of the young people who helped make our summer programs happen.
Our Summer Camp Intern, Irina, shares a behind-the-scenes peek into our Summer Camp, offering a look at on how community building is woven into our workshops and leadership pathways. Meanwhile, our Summer Institute had support from one of our alums! You can read reflections on what being part of the Octavia Project has meant to Aneesa and how she’s grown with us over the past four years.
Obsessing over this year’s zine
Vol. 6 of our Summer Institute zine, Positive Obsessions, is finally here!
Our 2026 zine includes digital artwork, photography, personal essays, and more. The pieces reflect on themes of community, love, nature, the city, and resilience. The joy, humor, and earnestness reflected in these works is embodied in the cover—designed by 2026 Institute Fellow, Roselyn—the many textures and flavors of a speculative “space soup” coming together to represent our summer.
We hope you enjoy this year’s publication as much as we do.
Celebrating our Youth Advisory Board
The Youth Advisory Board continues to create opportunities for OP alumni to be in community with each other and support each other’s collective growth.
This October, the events subcommittee held a virtual screening of Twitches to celebrate the spooky season. They’re already planning future virtual and in-person opportunities for alumni ages 16+ to gather in a supportive peer-led environment.
The newsletter subcommittee has also been hard at work providing a monthly alumni newsletter full of opportunities, events, and other fun offerings for college-aged alumni. If you are an OP alum who wants to receive our Alumni Newsletter and stay up to date on our community events, let us know!
Dreaming up urban ecological spaces afterschool
Our afterschool program is in full swing! This pilot program, run in partnership with the Gowanus Canal Conservancy, focuses on the ways in which the ecology and design of the Gowanus canal has transformed over time and will continue to evolve. Young urban designers, in grades 8-10, are learning about the natural and urban ecosystems around the canal, how they’ve been impacted by industry, and how to design systems to better support human and nonhuman life in and around the waterway.
Look out for their ideas about the future of the greenspaces and salt marshes in the canal!
New funds for the future
We’re excited to share that we’ve recently received grant funding from Citizen’s Committee for New York City and Valentine Perry Snyder Fund.
Citizens Committee for New York City supports local leaders and neighborhood organizations who are working to make their communities stronger and healthier. Their grant will help fund our Spring Studio Lab and afterschool program, helping us give participants opportunities to opportunities for worldbuilding and community throughout the school year.
We’ve also been awarded funding from the Valentine Perry Snyder Fund in the form of a two-year general operating grant. The multi-year award will allow us to continue to strengthen our alumni supports and deepen our year round programs.
We can’t wait to share more developments with you as we close out another wonderful year of collective growth and transformation! In the meantime look out for information on our upcoming fall community event.