#microsoftinnovationcenter

[dacreativegenius]

Hello #SurfacePro4. Let's do this! #ArtLifeAllDay #surfaces #surfaceArt Big ups to our sponsor @microsoft @surface #microsoftinnovationcenter #ATL #DTM #mangastudio #creativecloud (at Microsoft Innovation Center At Flatiron City)

[spinfantastic]

The Microsoft Team was gracious and provided me a Raspberry Pii and an Arduino. Guess who's building hardware too! #RaspberryPii #Audruino #MicrosoftInnovationCenter #VentureHive #IntoxicatingVR (at Venture Hive)

[nicoleazzi]

Not Nice - Necessary

Every time there is a new visitor at Venture Hive, the founder Susan Amat gives a tour of the space and talks about her vision for the organization. While there are always tours, this week seemed especially busy - which I loved! By far my favorite part of her tour is when she enters the room where I work (and I promise it's not my favorite just because it's the part of the tour I hear the most). She explains with enthusiasm how this room will soon become the first U.S.-based Microsoft Innovation Center (MIC).

The first time I heard this I didn't know exactly what it meant but I knew it was something to be excited about based on her smile. Other things were starting to build up the anticipation. We received a shipment of a few dozen computers and I saw coworkers eagerly begin to arrange them in the room.

Before:

After:

Eventually I couldn't contain my curiosity and I had to look up this mysterious MIC. Think of a place that provides a variety of services, programs, and resources to anyone interested so that the community as a whole can thrive.  More specifically, the Miami location is going to focus on developing four areas: academia, startups, government, and the Latin American community.

The more I read, the more I became interested. After asking a co-worker, I found out in addition to the countless training programs Microsoft will offer, the hope is that other organizations will reach out, partner up, and use the space for other events or educational opportunities.

I love working in this room because it is a constant reminder that I need to step back and look at the bigger picture. This space in Venture Hive would not have as much potential if it did not have a partnership with Microsoft. Likewise, in order to take my leadership to the next level, I must develop my own partnerships with people who share my vision.

This lesson of partnering is not some brand new revelation to me, but in full disclosure it seems I have amnesia. The second school starts back up again, it's as if my classroom becomes my world. My daily decisions are centered around the 100 or so students I teach. While this focus can be good, I know I can have an even greater impact if I find partners that my students can learn from and vice versa.

This internship has strengthened my resolve to look outside my classroom's four walls and see how I can connect with the community. Partnerships are not simply "nice," they are necessary.