April 2024 Newsletter
April Deep Dives Made a Splash!
A few dozen TPZ students immersed themselves in special Deep Dive offerings during April Vacation Week. Here’s a quick snapshot of what took place at and near the Innovation Center:
Miles Baird, our new Computer Science and Multimedia Technician, led Podcast Like a Pro, a four-day exploration during which students planned and produced audio stories from the TPZ community. The high schoolers learned various tools and edited a professional-quality podcast.
Gus Halwani, Chief STEAM & Innovation Officer, led KnoPro Young Entrepeneurs Challenge during which students developed and submitted a video entry to the entrepreneurial competition. Students experienced the entire process of developing and delivering an entrepreneurial pitch—from brainstorming business ideas and refining a product/service concept to crafting and practicing delivering a pitch. The students filmed and edited a polished short video pitch for submission to the national pitch competition.
Maker-in-residence and mural artist Josh Sarantitis led a special Deep Dive supported by Janet Hollingsworth, VP of STEAM & Innovation, and Zach Fredin, Senior Machining & Electronics Education Technician, to Make a Mural for the Student Lounge. Students collaborated with one another throughout the process and moved from idea generation to digital designs. They tested various materials, pitched the proposal to a design committee, and began fabricating the individual parts of the mural. The team will work on finalizing fabrication and installation during Open Studio hours over the next weeks.
Jeff Branson, Senior Director of STEAM Education & Partnerships led a four-day intensive during which students encountered artificial intelligence (AI) as a generative tool and built applications for their own use. The group also examined the ethics and some of the regulations and legal considerations that might help keep AI in its most productive place in our society.
Twenty TPZ students took part in the College and Career Exploration Bootcamp during which students focused on pathways in Life Sciences and Fashion Design/Merchandising. Along with hearing insights from professionals working in the fields, the students met with staff and visited Reebok’s global headquarters, Framingham State University, and Northeastern University. Joanna Sanborn, Senior Director of Post-Secondary Pathways, and Stefana Soitos, Senior Director of College & Career Pathways, coordinated and facilitated the Bootcamp, with assistance from staff chaperones.
TPZ Insights Blog
Internships as Valuable Stepping Stones
“Watching our students move into and successfully through internship opportunities is central to our work-based learning team at TPZ,” shares Stefana Soitos, Senior Director of College & Career Pathways in our news blog post. “Students come to us looking for work experience; they are excited and motivated by the opportunity to submit an application, interview, and be accepted into what are often the first steps in their professional paths. As staff, we are lucky to be able to support our students as they move into the “I am” phase of our entrepreneurial student journey. By participating in internships, our students can proudly state: I am an intern. I am part of this work community. I am contributing meaningful work to an organization.” Read Stefana’s full article on our Insights Blog>
Robotics Exploration Builds Essential Skills
“Today, we are moving through the second decade of Industry 4.0–the Fourth Industrial Revolution–when intelligent digital technologies integrate into manufacturing and industrial processes,” Jeff Branson, Senior Director of STEAM Education & Partnerships, writes in a recent blog article. “Traditional work is shifting because of these changes. And at TPZ, we’re embracing these tools and technologies because we know how important it is for students in our program to develop skills that will prepare them to be ready for college and careers.” Read Jeff’s full article on our Insights Blog>
Alumni Corner
Pathways to Possible
A few dozen guests and alumni gathered at The Possible Zone’s (TPZ) Innovation Center on April 18, 2024, for Pathways to Possible: An evening for TPZ alumni to share their journeys, networks, and talent. Throughout the joyful event, guests networked, celebrated old friendships, and elevated voices of those who were students when the organization was known as The Possible Project.
Guests met with talented alumni-entrepreneurs who showcased and sold their products and services in the Marketplace, and they heard a recorded welcome message from the evening’s cater, restaurateur Chef Dave Welch. The inaugural Founding Associates in TPZ’s recently initiated Ventures program shared an overview and invitation to alumni to apply for the fall Launch program. The evening culminated with an enthusiastic panel of alumni who shared reflections about their own personal and professional journeys, answering questions from Cynthia Harmon, member of the TPZ Board of Directors.
Thank you to Cynthia; our alumni-panelists Jessika Pun, Joandy Jean Baptiste, Osin Ghimire, Sandro Lafontant, and Imtiyaz Hossain; and the alumni-vendors Bernice Brutus, Jaleel Davis, Sean Hargrove, and Yvernson Francois. Thank you to all who expressed interest in volunteering and staying more closely connected with TPZ!
uAspire Student Policy Fellowship Opportunity
uAspire, a national college affordability nonprofit that runs a paid Student Policy Fellowship, supports college students as they build advocacy skills. Alongside uAspire Policy Directors, these student fellows advocate for changes to make higher education more equitable and affordable. Applications for the fellowship program may be submitted through May 12; the program runs from September through December 2024. Visit the uAspire website for more information on the fellowship, including the application.
TPZ Launches a New Website: Visit Us!
The Possible Zone launched a dynamic and exciting new website reflecting the innovative, energetic, youth-focused work we undertake. Our Communications Team worked with an award-winning, Boston-based web design company for a custom site that has friendly navigation for visitors and ease of management on the backend. We invite you to visit the site, share any pages with colleagues or friends you think they may find interesting, and, of course, refer us to any Boston high school student you think may be interested in our programming. See you online—possiblezone.org!