Technology

Leading change makers and industry experts join The Possible Zone Board of Directors

Published

2 years ago

February 4, 2025

BOSTON, Feb. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Possible Zone (TPZ), an innovative, hands-on entrepreneurship program where young people in Boston prepare for life-long learning and careers of the future, is proud to announce four leading change makers and experts in their industries have joined its Board of Directors: Brian Aquart, Esq., Vice President, Workforce & Community Education at Northwell Health’s Center for Learning & Innovation; Kyle Hartung, Ed.D., Associate Vice President in Jobs for the Future’s (JFF) Education Practice; J.D. LaRock, J.D., Ed.D., President & CEO of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE); and Peter Prodromou, Founder and CEO of global marketing, communications and digital services companies.

“Here at The Possible Zone, we’ve redefined learning experiences for young people, with our unique competency-based experiential program that enables self-development, skill building, and college and career exploration,” said Becky Levin, TPZ Executive Director and Co-founder. “I’m grateful to Brian, Kyle, J.D., and Peter for their commitment to our mission and for generously sharing their invaluable insights and influence. We are well positioned, with their contributions to our leadership and governance, to expand our reach and strengthen our impact as we continue to provide innovative educational opportunities and pathways to careers of the future.”

Hundreds of high school students each year, and a cohort of young adult associates immersed in early career exploration, thrive as they develop entrepreneurial spirit, build 21st Century skills, and explore changing STEAM technologies in TPZ’s state-of-the-art Innovation Center in Boston. The four new Board Directors are helping to deepen the organization’s strategy, thought leadership, and networks with education, industry, and policy partners across the country.

Brian Aquart, Esq., is the Vice President, Workforce & Community Education, at Northwell Health in the Center for Learning & Innovation, where he leads Northwell’s relationship with NYC Public Schools to create pathways to economic success for underserved communities through initiatives such as the Northwell School of Health Sciences and FutureReadyNYC. He also leads the MedVoyage program, which provides immersive healthcare experiences to students in Long Island. A passionate advocate for advancing learning, innovation and workforce development, he fosters partnerships with organizations like NYC Public Schools and Bloomberg Philanthropies, to redefine healthcare education. Brian is also the host of Why I Left, a podcast that explores personal stories of career transitions and the evolving world of work. With a background in law, strategy, and education, he is dedicated to driving positive change for a better tomorrow.

Over the last 25 years, Kyle Hartung, Ed.D., has worked as a teacher, leader, consultant, and researcher in public K–12 systems and higher-education settings. He currently serves as an associate vice president in Jobs for the Future’s (JFF) Education Practice where he leads strategy and initiatives, including the Pathways to Prosperity Network, with federal, state, and regional leaders and organizations to design, strengthen, and scale equitable solutions that reimagine the ways in which people experience and move through education and workforce development systems. He is a co-author of The Big Blur and a regular participant in the ongoing conversation about equity, education, and the future of work in the media and at events around the country. Prior to joining JFF, Kyle worked as a researcher with Learning Innovations Laboratory (LILa) at Harvard’s Project Zero, with Envision Schools in the San Francisco Bay Area, and at Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School in the Bronx, NY, where he began his career as a teacher.

J.D. LaRock, J.D., Ed.D., is the President & CEO of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), a global nonprofit organization that provides high-quality entrepreneurship education to middle school, high school, and young adult students from under-resourced communities. Previously, J.D. was the President and CEO of the Commonwealth Corporation, Massachusetts’ state authority for workforce development; a member of Northeastern University’s senior leadership team; and an education policymaker at the federal and state levels. At Commonwealth Corporation, J.D led the $55 million organization to advance Massachusetts’ economic leadership through signature partnerships with employers, employees, educational institutions, and community-based organizations. Additionally, J.D. chaired Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s Commission on Digital Innovation and Lifelong Learning and was a member of the Aspen Institute’s Job Quality Fellowship Class of 2017-18. As Senior Education Advisor to the late U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy, J.D. helped lead the 2008 reauthorization of the federal Higher Education Act and the 2007 passage of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act.

Peter Prodromou is a global leader, seasoned CEO, board member, practitioner, and strategist, and is currently Chief Marketing Officer of Arch and Paintzen. Part of the founding team of Racepoint Group, he went on to serve as global president and CEO of Racepoint Global, a merger of Racepoint Group and Digital Influence Group; he later served as CEO of Boston Digital and as a founder at Boathouse Group. Peter has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, fundraising, and liquidity events, and he has advised founders and CEOs seeking liquidity, capital, and market expansion strategies. An expert on the implications of reputation, issues management, public policy and social responsibility, he has advised elected officials and candidates on policy and communications initiatives, and brings extensive for-profit and nonprofit board experience. Peter’s clients have included AT&T, Huawei, Samsung, IBM, Kaiser Permanente, Dassault Systemes, ARM, Panasonic, John Deere, Kingdom of Jordan, Republic of Rwanda, Carrier Corporation, and Project Liberty.

Reinforced by a network of key educational and industry partners in a supportive ecosystem, bolstered by work-based learning opportunities, and guided by The Possible Zone’s college and career advisors, TPZ students become equipped and ready to shape their futures and pursue innovative careers. The TPZ team is committed to helping students find their passions; cultivate essential skills, mindsets, and assets; and shape their futures so that they can experience upward economic mobility in their chosen paths. Learn more at possiblezone.org.

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SOURCE The Possible Zone

Technology

Why We Still Appreciate Bada Shanren’s Works Today

Published

6 minutes ago

October 19, 2026

NANCHANG, China, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A report from Jiangxi International Communication Center (JXICC): The year 2026 marks the 400th anniversary of the birth of Bada Shanren. He was an outstanding master of Chinese calligraphy and painting. His works are treasures of traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting, embodying profound Chinese aesthetics and humanistic heritage, and exerting a far-reaching influence on international art.

Recently, the Event for the 400th Birth Anniversary of Bada Shanren “The Cosmos as Inner Heart: International Youth Step Into Bada Shanren’s World of Art” was held in Qingyunpu District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province— the hometown of Bada Shanren. Chinese and foreign youth representatives and guests from 19 countries and regions including the United States, Russia, Morocco, Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea participated.

Brushstrokes Without Borders: A Cross-Cultural Art Dialogue

Four hundred years of ink transcends borders. Even with different cultural backgrounds and languages, people can transcend cultural differences and feel the resonance brought by art. Khollii, a Tajik student studying in Jiangxi, was captivated by the distinctive charm of Bada Shanren’s artworks and shared her story about brushstrokes, “This powerful personal expression aligns closely with the pursuit of individuality in Western modern art.”

Bada Shanren’s 400-Year-Old Inner Story Unfolds to Twin Students

Mexican twin international students Luis and Erick are studying in Jiangxi. At first, they were confused by Bada Shanren’s paintings, depicting fish and birds with upturned eyes amid expansive blank spaces. After learning about the artist’s life, they sensed the unyielding emotion in his brushwork. They hope to act as a cultural bridge, sharing the timeless charm of this Jiangxi master’s art with global audiences.

Why We Still Appreciate Bada Shanren’s Works Today

Why do we still appreciate Bada Shanren’s works today? As a foreigner, Mickie from Panama has her answer. To understand Bada Shanren’s works do not need mastery of classical Chinese, thorough knowledge of the complex history of the Ming Dynasty, or deep research into every detail of his life. “Simply feeling the emotions conveyed in his paintings can spark a spiritual dialogue across hundreds of years.”

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SOURCE Jiangxi International Communication Center(JXICC)