Youth Program · Queens, NYC
B.O.S.S. Academy
Builders Of Systemic Solutions
"We don't teach kids to be users. We teach them to be builders."
— George Levasser, Founder
Systems thinking and multi-agent AI literacy for children ages 8–12 in Queens — the most linguistically diverse urban area on Earth. Free to all families. No experience required.
"There's enormous untapped potential across underserved communities —
kids who are authentically curious and poised for non-standard problems."— Po-Shen Loh, Carnegie Mellon University
"Don't just use the app. Be the BOSS of the system."
Community Endorsements
Founding Contributors
“George has been a patient of ours for 20 years and we are happy to see him offer this valuable program in our community. We are proud contributors to the B.O.S.S. Academy.”
Dr. Amr Nayel
Board-Certified Family Physician · Astoria Healthcare Associates
Founding Contributor
About the Program
B.O.S.S. Stands for
Builders Of Systemic Solutions
Your child is not a student in this program. They are a builder. B.O.S.S. Academy is an afterschool program where children learn two of the most important skills for the 21st century: how to think in systems and how to build with AI.
We teach children to see how the parts of the world connect — and then to build multi-agent AI tools that make those systems better. Every child who completes the program earns the title of B.O.S.S. Architect.
Choose Your Track
The Curriculum
Four Weeks. Eight Sessions. One Showcase.
Every week pairs one in-person session with one smartphone session. Children build on each week's concepts until they have a complete system — and a live project to present.
Week 01
Systems & Patterns
Children discover that the world is made of connected systems — and that systems leave data trails we can read. Through neighborhood mapping and photo challenges, students learn to spot patterns and make predictions.
Week 02
Loops & Learning
Students explore how actions loop back on themselves — and how AI tools use the same feedback mechanics to process information. A live roleplay simulation brings the concept to life before students train their first image classifier.
Week 03
Ethics & The Problem Lab
The program shifts from literacy to action. Students confront bias in AI systems, establish fairness rules, and form teams around a real Queens neighborhood problem they want to solve.
Week 04
Prototype & Showcase
All concepts converge. Teams build a storyboard prototype of their solution, audit it for fairness risks, and present their work live to families and community members at a final showcase.
The people behind the program
Instructors, Advisors & Mentors
B.O.S.S. Academy is led by experienced educators and supported by an advisory board of technologists, engineers, and academics committed to the program's mission.
Zeynep Özakat
Instructor
Zeynep Özakat is an educator with teaching experience at Syracuse University and ARALIA Education Technology. She brings strong problem-solving and organizational skills to her work, and now teaches at B.O.S.S. Academy, guiding students as they learn to direct AI tools and build real technology projects.
Alicia Ezat
Instructor
Alicia Ezat is a seasoned educator with over a decade of experience teaching young children in both public and private school systems. Throughout her career, Alicia has successfully designed and implemented student-centered curricula that foster both academic growth and social-emotional development. Her diverse background allows her to adapt to various learning needs, partnering closely with families to build a strong foundation for every child's lifelong education.
Chris Lanoue
Advisor & Mentor
Senior full-stack engineer and Sr. Principal Product Engineer at Mission Lane with deep expertise in Next.js, React, and Tailwind CSS. He holds two U.S. patents in data visualization and virtual reality, and mentors students through FIRST Robotics.
Michael Wehar, Ph.D.
Advisor & Mentor
Visiting Assistant Professor at Bryn Mawr College with a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from the University at Buffalo. His research spans automata, grammars, and expression matching. Known for exceptional mentorship of students at all levels.
Selina Armstrong
Advisor & Mentor
With 37 years of dedicated service in public primary and secondary education, Selina Armstrong has built a distinguished career rooted in an unwavering commitment to student success and academic excellence.
George Levasser
Founder
Founder of The Impending Bloom Project. Designed the B.O.S.S. Academy curriculum from the ground up — combining systems thinking, multi-agent AI literacy, and lateral thinking into a cohesive four-week program for children ages 8–12.
For Parents & Families
Additional Information
We designed B.O.S.S. Academy for the families of Queens. No cost. No prior experience. All backgrounds welcome.
Does it cost anything?
No. B.O.S.S. Academy is completely free for all families. The program is funded by grants, donations, and community partnerships. We believe cost should never be a barrier to your child's future.
Does my child need a computer?
No. We provide all devices and technology during sessions. Your child only needs to show up with curiosity. Some of the most creative problem-solvers come from homes without much technology.
We speak another language at home. Is that okay?
Absolutely. Queens is home to 160+ languages and we celebrate that. Materials are available in multiple languages, and your child's multilingual skills are a strength — they can carry what they build here to communities around the world.
What will my child actually learn?
Your child will learn to see how complex systems work — systems thinking — and to design and build multi-agent AI tools. They'll present a capstone project at Demo Day at the end of the program.
When and where does it meet?
The pilot runs for 4 weeks with two sessions per week — one weekday afternoon and one Saturday morning — at a community center in Queens. Exact details shared upon enrollment.
Is it safe? Who are the instructors?
All instructors are background-checked professionals with experience in education and technology. We maintain a 1:8 adult-to-child ratio. Family engagement sessions are held weekly.
B.O.S.S. Architect Patch
The B.O.S.S. Identity
Every Builder Earns Their Patch
Soberanía Intelectual — Intellectual Sovereignty
The B.O.S.S. Architect patch isn't a participation trophy. It's an earned identity. When your child completes the program, they don't just know about AI — they've built with it. The patch represents that transformation.
The motto — Intellectual Sovereignty — means your child owns their thinking. They don't passively consume technology created by others. They understand it, critique it, and create it themselves.
- ✓Worn on jackets & backpacks
- ✓Earned through capstone project
- ✓Symbol of builder community
- ✓Connects to global alumni network
Get Involved
B.O.S.S. Academy is free to all families and runs on grants and community sponsorship. Enroll your child, support the program, or partner with us to bring this to your community.