December 2023 News & Updates
TPZ Celebrates Our 2023 Partnerships
The Possible Zone celebrated our many collaborative relationships in 2023 and recognized four of our Partners during an Appreciation Reception in late November. Those highlighted were Estefany Benitez, Program Manager at the Sasaki Foundation; Converse; Life Science Cares; and Warren Williams, Executive Director of Three Squares Main Street.
Estefany Benitez has been instrumental in developing a partnership between TPZ’s work-based learning program, and the Sasaki Foundation’s high school internship program. This past summer, their SEED Internship Program hired two TPZ students as interns where they collaborated on a project while learning directly from Sasaki designers. Converse has been an exemplar partner that has sponsored Deep Dives over the past two summers during which students learned directly from Converse designers and marketers about apparel and sneaker design. Life Science Cares activates the financial and human capital of the life sciences industry and partners with nonprofits to disrupt the cycle of poverty and inequality in our communities. To date, they have donated $367,400 to TPZ and they continuously tap into their network to support our various needs including bringing volunteers from the community to us. Warren Williams has ensured that Three Square Main Streets stays closely connected to TPZ and recently connected our emerging TPZ Ventures team with the local business community.
Thank you to all our partners who made 2023 such a meaningful and transformative year for The Possible Zone!
[Pictured left to right above: Yvonne Spicer, Executive Director of Life Science Cares; Estefany Benitez; Warren Williams; and Riana Smith, Manager, Social & Community Impact at Converse.]
TPZ Explores the Digital Frontier
Jeff Branson, Senior Director for STEAM Education and Partnerships, and Sabrina Tirachen, Educator/Advisor II at The Possible Zone (TPZ), are working on building a program to give TPZ students a hands-on exploration into computational thinking.
The two shared insights in a recent Q&A blog article and hosted an interactive Pizza & Coding Workshop during Computer Science Education Week in early December. During the workshop, students were guided through a two-hour code journey using the Processing language and the Microbit microcontoller. Read the blog article online and see future e-newsletters for updates about the computational thinking program.
Alumni & Community Network & Explore at the Innovation Center
Last month, The Possible Zone (TPZ) hosted a Speed Resource & Networking Event for our alumni. Former students embraced the opportunity to receive feedback from TPZ mentors about their resumes, to explore career opportunities with them, and to practice pitching their expertise and business ideas. Our next Alumni Engagement event will be in early Spring 2024. Pictured to the right, Cynthia Harmon, TPZ Board Member, welcomes alumni and mentors to the event.
Two weeks ago, The Possible Zone (TPZ) held its inaugural Sip ‘n Create, an event that welcomed community neighbors and families of our students and staff for an evening of fun, hands-on STEAM activities at the Innovation Center. Guests shaped chocolate in molds created by our team, made custom button-pins, stamp-decorated wrapping paper and cards, and designed laser-cut wood ornaments and graphics for tote bags. The Community Engagement, Student & Family Support, and STEAM Teams are planning more such community events for 2024.