Author: Meghan McNamara

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 … Continue reading Blooming in spring and beaming towards summer

Thank you for answering the call and amplifying voices of the future! Together, our community surpassed our fundraising goal, raising $66,191! Through your donations and support, you have shown your commitment to the young creators who are building the future every day. Your generosity gives young women and trans and nonbinary youth the chance to use … Continue reading The future speaks and we answer

When the future speaks, you answer.  That’s why you support the young creators in Brooklyn who come to the Octavia Project to code their first games. The emerging writers who explore worldbuilding with award-winning novelists. The aspiring scientists and architects who map out possibilities for cities and ecosystems with workshops and field trips. Through our … Continue reading The future is speaking—are you listening?

Thank you for another amazing summer! Because of your support, a new group of Camp and Institute participants are ready to take the skills in STEM, art, and storytelling they developed at the Octavia Project out into the world. At our Summer Showcase, we celebrated the dedication and imagination our participants brought to the workshops this summer. … Continue reading Thank you for another successful summer!

We’re sending a new generation of Octavia Project alumni into the world with the close of our summer programs. As we look toward the future, we’re bringing alumni from across our eleven years of programming into our planning processes and recognizing the expertise and leadership they can provide as our organization grows.  This fall, we’re launching our … Continue reading Donate today to build our Youth Advisory Board!

Play these games written and developed by our 2025 Summer Institute participants! Adhya's "______ in Wonderland"Ameerah's "Tell Me Lies"Aneesa's "untitled"Begum's "untitled"Cinder's "Fanganrompa: Twin Peaks"Destiny's "The Lost Cat"Eden G's "untitled"Eden L's "Fight"Fariza's "untitled"Gilliana's "Frogtopia: Shady Side"Imani's "Felitale"Isabella's "Up in Flames"Jada's "The Story About the Little Doll"Kiley's "Sleeping With Da Fishes"Kris's "Spooky Adventure: REVAMPED"Marsha's "HEH…"Onyx's "The Presence … Continue reading Play our Twine Games from Summer 2025

We can’t believe the Summer Institute only has one week left to go! Our participants are preparing to show off their work—from art to poems to stories to games—at our showcase on August 14. If you’re in or around NYC, RSVP to join us in celebrating their creations at CARA!  We’ve been imagining cities of the future … Continue reading Building worlds with N. K. Jemisin

It's full STEAM ahead for our summer of creative learning! Our Camp for grades 6–8 wrapped up last week, while our Institute for ages 14–19 continues through August 14.  During the last two weeks of Camp, our guest teachers in architecture and urban planning helped students explore the everyday magic found in their communities with generative mapping exercises, … Continue reading Discovering the magic in our communities

Join us on Thursday, August 14 for the Octavia Project's annual Summer Showcase, hosted at the Center for Art, Research & Alliances for the third year! 5:30pm | Open Gallery6pm | Performances Begin RSVP encouraged Whether you're a returning guest or joining for the first time, the Summer Showcase promises to leave you encouraged, inspired, and excited for the … Continue reading RSVP to our Summer Showcase!

Camp is in session! With the guidance of our Lead Teacher and Teaching Fellows, our Camp participants are building a vibrant community where creativity and collaboration can thrive. Check out these highlights from the first two weeks of Camp! We’re exploring two major themes at Camp this year: accepting yourself fully and supporting your community. … Continue reading Exploring new worlds at Camp