The Octavia Project

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The Octavia Project

We use science fiction and fantasy to get into science, tech, art and writing. Our workshops mix science, technology, art, and writing.

At the Octavia Project, we believe in the power of writing and community to dream up new realities, different worlds, and better possibilities for our lives and our communities. We use science-fiction/fantasy stories we write—and science-fiction/fantasy stories we love—to make games, inspire drawings, construct maps and models of imaginary cities, build pieces of made-up technology that have real electronics, and a lot more! Our namesake is ground breaking science fiction author Octavia E. Butler (Kindred, Lilith's Brood). We are inspired by her visions of possible futures and commitment to social justice. We run free summer programming for young women, trans, and nonbinary youth in high school and middle school in New York City. An Octavia Project participant will finish the program armed with:

*An online multi-media portfolio of their work that can be used for college, job, or internship applications.

*Strengthened skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) as well as digital-media, art, and writing.

*Access to a network of professional women and opportunities for internships in their chosen field. Interested in bolding going where you haven't gone before? Check out our website for application information!

09/10/2026

Our Institute Fellows came together in early July to get ready to welcome their peers. They shared their personal goals with each other and ways to build our community throughout the summer.

As part of their orientation, Fellows created this year's banner, where all participants sign and agree to the community agreements they collectively set. This summer's theme: ☄️space soup🍜 — a speculative melting pot of everyone's creativity and humor.

As participants start the 2026-27 school, they bring their summer learnings with them to their school communities.

09/08/2026

⏰ 2 days to go! ⏰

More school-year programming. More chances for alumni to connect. More ways for young women and trans and nonbinary youth to build the skills, networks, and confidence to achieve their dreams.

These are all things that our community has been asking for, and we’re committed to delivering them. But we need your help.

Will you help us raise $6K by 9/10 to make these plans a reality? We’ve raised over $4,500 so far, and your gift—whether it’s $10, $25, or $50—gets us closer to the finish line.

Donate now! https://f.mtr.cool/rj6u3pbgqj

09/03/2026

What is the scientific method to a world builder?🧪🤓

Camp participants employed the scientific method to learn more about water. They drew hypotheses, made observations, and interpreted results on two experiments —one on the density of various liquids and the other on taste of tap and bottled water. Creatively, they developed strategies for sharing their findings, and they raised questions for further experimentation.

Understanding the world around us gives us the tools to build a more equitable world.

09/01/2026

We need to raise $6K by 9/10 to expand our STEM and arts-centered programs for young women and trans and nonbinary youth in NYC.

But we’re still short of our goal.

Can you help us close the gap?

Your gift—whether it’s $5, $10, $50, or more—funds initiatives like our new afterschool program and mentorship opportunities for alumni.

With only 10 days left, we need your support to reach our goal. Make a gift now! https://f.mtr.cool/qlsxtnohow

08/28/2026

Throughout the summer, Institute participants code narrative games that combine aspects of our multidisciplinary workshops. Each game uniquely integrates their personal interests with new ideas, building worlds that are at times magical 🔮, dark 😱 , or humorous 🤣 (and sometimes all three!).

Whether you're looking for a jaunt or a long adventure, their stories will have you guessing what happens next. You can play their games here: https://f.mtr.cool/bmqkrsbim4

08/25/2026

✨ Help us create new pathways for alumni! ✨

We’re dedicated to providing our alums with opportunities for mentorship, skills-building, and community connection. Our alumni initiatives include:

🟣 Our Youth Advisory Board: The YAB includes alums from across our 10+ years of programming who help shape our school-year programs, organize networking events, and develop career resources for alumni.

🟣 Constellations: This mentorship program pairs professionally published authors from the Brooklyn Speculative Fiction Writers with OP alumni. Mentees receive 1-on-1 feedback on their writing while working with mentors to refine a single piece of fiction with the end goal of publication.

🟣 Teaching Fellowships: Our Teaching Fellows receive trainings and paid positions in our summer programs, where they assist Lead Teachers, design and facilitate workshops, and increase their experience as educators.

To expand what we can offer alums, we need to raise $6K by 9/10. We’re over halfway to our goal—can you help us reach it?

Donate now! https://f.mtr.cool/qb8w8y9dm3

08/21/2026

Summer might be ending--but Octavia Project is going back to school! For the first time in our 12-year history, we're expanding our innovative arts and STEM programming with free afterschool programming for grades seven through nine.

To do so, we need to raise $6,000 by Sept. 10. Help us continue to support young women and trans and nonbinary youth in NYC by visiting octaviaproject.org/donate.

08/20/2026

🎉Last week, we celebrated the end of our summer programs at our Summer Showcase hosted by the Center for Art, Research, and Alliances🎉

Participants across our Summer Camp and Summer Institute shared character images, spooky stories, researched presentations, and poems about personal resilience.

As we reach the last days of summer, and participants bring their learnings into their worlds outside of OP, they do so with increased confidence, new skills, and exposure to new career paths!

08/18/2026

We’re bringing the Octavia Project’s unique STEM and arts-driven curricula to even more students this fall! Our new multiweek workshop series for grades 7–9 will provide additional paths for participants to explore creative writing, science, urban planning, and more.

Can you donate now to support this program launch and other upcoming initiatives? With your help, we can reach our goal of raising $6K by 9/10 to create more pathways for young women and nonbinary and trans youth in NYC.

Make a gift today! https://f.mtr.cool/vapxrvgcgo

08/13/2026

We’re celebrating another successful summer of programs!

And we’re focused on what comes next: creating more pathways for our participants, alumni, and organization to thrive.

Here's how we're expanding what we can offer to young women and trans and nonbinary youth in NYC:

⏩ Launching an afterschool program for grades 7–9 this fall

⏩ Hiring a Program Coordinator to help run our free, year-round programming

⏩ Developing new opportunities for alumni to receive mentorship and support throughout their college and career journeys

⏩ Turning our first-ever office space into a hub for professional development, partnership meetings, and community connection

These steps forward require increased resources—more staff time, more tech and infrastructure for our office, and more materials and supplies for our workshops.

We need to raise $6K by 9/10 to make these pathways possible. Can you help us get there? Donate now! https://f.mtr.cool/yywwptgxbp

Address

New York, NY
11238

Website

http://octaviaproject.org/

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