GOLD2023

Octavia Project Inc

aka Octavia Project   |   Brooklyn, NY   |  https://www.octaviaproject.org/

Mission

The Octavia Project uses the creative power of speculative fiction and community to envision new futures and greater possibilities for our world. We foster spaces of imagination and exploration for Brooklyn teens and tweens, blending creative writing, art, science, and technology to encourage critical thinking, build confidence, and develop skills in a myriad of subjects.

Ruling year info

2020

Executive Director

Meghan McNamara

Main address

PO Box 381031

Brooklyn, NY 11238 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

83-3975000

NTEE code info

Youth Development Programs (O50)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Blog

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

At Octavia Project, we work collaboratively to address the issues of marginalized youth feeling disconnected, disaffected, and unable to create change in their communities and institutions. We work to solve these issues by: 1) addressing summer learning loss, which can lead to decreased academic performance and which disparately impacts low-income students, 2) addressing the low self-esteem observed in young women of color and LGBTQ youth through community building and leadership, 3) increasing our participants’ confidence in STEM subjects and building valuable skills for their future. By centering the experiences and voices of young women of color and LGBTQ youth, we create community and individual empowerment with marginalized youth.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Octavia Project Summer Institute

At our free Summer Institute, young women and trans and nonbinary youth come together to muse on alternate histories and possible futures with award-winning authors; code interactive games based on their own stories; and attend interactive lectures in city planning and cellular biology. Guest teachers and artists knit their expertise into our world-building science fiction curriculum: architects, biologists, computer programmers, city planners, authors, and artists help create a totally unique program which allows for deep exposure to multiple disciplines and possible career paths. Through these interdisciplinary workshops, participants are able to inhabit their own science fiction and fantasy worlds. And they do this while creating community that is rooted in joy, compassion, encouragement, and self love.

Population(s) Served
Adolescents
Young women
Intersex people
Transgender people

Our free Summer Camp for young women and trans and nonbinary youth blends learning in science and tech with art and writing. Workshops cover a range of topics--biomimicry, music, architecture, botany, creative writing, game development, computer programming, visual art, urban planning and more--and we take field trips that explore art & STEM in NYC. Through our camp, participants gain skills and confidence in their voice.

Population(s) Served
Children
Girls
LGBTQ people

Our Fellowship Program gives returning participants, age 16 and up, the opportunity to take on leadership and mentoring roles within the community, in addition to gaining all the benefits of participating in our Summer Institute. Fellows lead exercises, advise program leaders, and mentor new participants. Once Fellows have graduated high school, they become eligible for paid Teaching Fellows positions.

Population(s) Served
Young women
Transgender people
Intersex people
Young women
Transgender people
Intersex people
Young adults

Where we work

Videos

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

Financials

Octavia Project Inc
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Octavia Project Inc

Board of directors
as of 04/11/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Andrea Gabbidon-Levene

CUNY Hostos Community College

Term: 2019 -

Jessica Wells-Hasan

Center for NYC Neighborhoods

Yahaira Gil Maestro

BierWax

Kirthana Ramisetti

Author

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 4/11/2023
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

Disability

Equity strategies

Last updated: 02/26/2023

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
Policies and processes
  • We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.