named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Spring Studio Lab
Weeklong workshop series for grades 6–8 in partnership with the Brooklyn Museum, exploring themes like light, circuits, and nature through art and science
Summer Camp
Four-week summer program for middle school youth (grades 6–8) focusing on hands-on workshops in science, tech, art, and writing; hosted at The Urban Assembly Unison School in Clinton Hill
Summer Institute
Five-week summer workshop for youth ages 14–19 that combines science fiction, creative writing, art, science, and technology; hosted by Pratt Institute’s Writing Department
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Hands-On STEM Education Programs 2 activities
- Hands-on science and technology projectsConducts science and tech workshops including building camera obscuras, creating wearable electronics, producing anthotypes with plant-based dyes, and exploring the connections between fiber arts and binary code.
- Youth programs integrating creative writing, art, science, and technologyOffers free programs for young women and gender non-conforming youth in Brooklyn, focusing on STEM, creative writing, and the arts to develop critical thinking, confidence, and technical skills through science fiction and community-based learning.
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Community Art Education Workshops 2 activities
- Spring Studio Lab for middle school youthRuns a week-long Spring Studio Lab program for young women and gender non-conforming youth in grades 6–8, focusing on themes such as light, pixel art coding, and worldbuilding.
- Summer Institute for youth ages 14–19Runs a five-week Summer Institute program for young women and gender non-conforming youth ages 14–19, meeting four days a week, with workshops in STEM, creative writing, and digital art.
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Game Design and Development Education 1 activity
- Digital storytelling and game creationSupports youth in writing and coding interactive narrative games using Twine, with participant-created games shared publicly across genres such as horror, magical realism, and science fiction.
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Youth Counselor-in-Training Programs 1 activity
- Fellowship Program for returning participantsOffers a Fellowship Program for returning participants aged 16 and up to take on leadership and mentoring roles within the Summer Institute.
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Youth-Led Student Publications 1 activity
- Publication of student-created zinesSupports and publishes student-created zines titled "Positive Obsessions," with volumes released annually from 2020 to 2024.
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Summer Day Camp Programs 1 activity
- Summer Camp for middle school studentsOperates a four-week Summer Camp program for middle school youth in grades 6–8, meeting four days a week, with activities in creative writing, art, and science.
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Alumni Leadership and Career Support Programs 1 activity
- Teaching Fellows program for alumniProvides a Teaching Fellows program that offers training and paid teaching positions in summer programs for alumni who have graduated high school.
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Project-Based Learning Programs 1 activity
- Urban planning and architectural modeling projectsEngages students in designing imaginary cities through urban planning, mapping, and architectural modeling, fostering creative visions for the future of Brooklyn.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Mixed media and speculative art projectsSupports youth in creating mixed media art, including personal medicine codexes, speculative product design, anti-surveillance makeup, and 3D modeling.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$174K
Contributions & grants$174K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$173K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$142K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$137K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$7K
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue +31.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEGHAN MCNAMARA | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 32 | $51K |
board members · 2
- CHINISHA SCOTT — DIRECTOR
- YAHAIRA GIL MAESTRO — DIRECTOR
relationships · 19
Who they work with
- Amélie Lamont Partner — Digital product designer who has shared expertise as a guest teacher.
- Ann VanderMeer Partner — Award-winning editor and anthologist who has contributed expertise as a guest teacher.
- Brooklyn Arts Council Funder — Provides Local Arts Support grant funding for the Summer Institute.
- Brooklyn Arts Council Funder — Provides a Local Arts Support grant that funds the Summer Institute program.
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden Partner — Site visit and inspiration source for poetry during the Spring Studio Lab.
- Brooklyn Museum Partner — Hosted the Octavia Project's Spring Studio Lab program.
- Brooklyn Org Funder — Provides a three-year general operating grant to support program growth and alumni services.
- Brooklyn Org Funder — Provides a three-year strategic general operating grant to support organizational growth and year-round programming.
- Center for Art, Research and Alliances (CARA) Partner — Hosts The Octavia Project's Summer Showcase event.
- Center for Art, Research and Alliances (CARA) Partner — Hosts the Octavia Project's annual Summer Showcase event.
- Daphne Lundi Partner — Urban planner who has contributed to the curriculum as a guest teacher.
- Guidestar Network — Profile listed on Guidestar, indicating participation in its nonprofit transparency network.
- Ibi Zoboi Partner — NY Times best-selling author who has participated as a guest teacher.
- Miatta Kawinzi Partner — Multi-disciplinary artist who has served as a guest teacher in the program.
- N.K. Jemisin Partner — Award-winning author who has served as a guest teacher in the program.
- OP Summer Institute Partner — Summer program through which participants create digital narrative games.
- Pratt Institute Partner — Hosts the Octavia Project's Summer Institute program through its Writing Department.
- The Urban Assembly Unison School Partner — Hosts The Octavia Project's summer program workshops in Clinton Hill.
- The Urban Assembly Unison School Partner — Hosts the Octavia Project's Summer Camp program in Clinton Hill.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Identity-Affirming, Gender-Inclusive Youth Empowermentmethodology: identity_affirming_educationBy centering gender-inclusive and identity-affirming practices in STEM and creative writing education, we build confidence and critical consciousness in young women of color and gender non-conforming youth, because seeing oneself reflected in learning increases engagement and personal transformation.
- Speculative Fiction and Interdisciplinary Learning for Equitymethodology: speculative_fiction_educationBy combining speculative fiction, science, technology, art, and writing in hands-on workshops, we engage youth—especially underserved girls and gender non-conforming youth—in critical thinking and STEM, because imagining just futures fosters agency, reduces bias toward STEM, and supports identity development.
- Speculative Worldbuilding as Critical Systems Literacymethodology: critical_worldbuildingBy teaching youth that social systems are human-made and changeable through speculative worldbuilding, we cultivate critical inquiry and a sense of agency to redesign inequitable systems, because imagining alternative futures enables youth to act as creators of justice.