On Monday, January 20th, 2025, i.c.stars Chicago hosted their annual “Hack the Dream” event at the Bronzeville co-working space “Hatch 41.” Just under 100 attendees gathered together on one of the historically coldest days of the year to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Our mission for the day was simple – to collaborate with community-based organizations in the Chicagoland area on how technology can support better access to healthcare. In collaboration, we had the Metropolitan Chicago Chapter of the YMCA, Illinois Fatherhood Initiative, Peer Plus, The University of Chicago – Cancer Center, Women in Medicine, and the National Society of Black Engineers.
The morning kicked off with a spoken word artist, Wisdom Speaks. A small group of our current program participants presented their winning solution for the current project sponsor, Thresholds, and demonstrated through this solution the tech they have learned so far in our 16-week program. After hearing a few case studies from UChicago, Thresholds, and Wintrust, our attendees jumped right into problem solving mode for each CBO. Each table was hosted by one of the previously mentioned CBOs, who presented a hurdle that was currently impacting the people they serve (in relation to healthcare), and tables collaborated on how to best solve this issue while using technology. While our “adult” attendees ideated and worked to solve these problems, our “younger attendees” (read: children) partnered with the Society of Black Engineers to learn “The Art & Science of Hand Sanitizer”. At the close of the program, each table presented their problem, and innovative solutions, where a panel of judges voted on the “best.” The day closed with the children presenting marketing pitches for their various hand sanitizer solutions and remarks from our CEO, Karin Norington-Reaves.While it was a quick four-hour morning event, many lasting impressions were felt in new and old connections.
