ABOUT CHICAGO
Since 1999, i.c.stars has been identifying, training, and jump-starting technology careers for Chicago-area low-income young adults who, although lacking access to education and employment, demonstrate extraordinary potential for success in the business world and for impact in their communities.
OUR SUCCESS
i.c.stars works with a variety of partners in Chicago, including community based organizations such as Metropolitan Family Services, CPS – Office of Alternative Education, Austin Coming Together, Goodwill Englewood, and Juvenile Justice Center. Anchored in the tech industry, additional partners include SIM-Chicago (Society for Information Management), Lofty Ventures, Women Tech Founders, ARA (Attract Retain Advance Women in Technology), Chicago Innovation Awards, and corporate partners such as Accenture, Medline Industries, United Airlines, Ventas, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Paylocity, Salesforce among many others.
An i.c.stars Chicago graduate who works as a senior automation engineer at a Fortune 500 company described his i.c.stars experience as the reason for where he is today. “I’m going to VMWorld next week to present an open source PowerShell module. That would not have been possible without [i.c.stars project sponsor] TTX – the rigorous project not only required us to write our own database but also to write our own server side scripts as well as the front end stuff. My career in infrastructure is primarily because of that project.”
Learn to code. Launch a career.
We provide the training and tools to jumpstart a life-long profession.
Develop technical skills. Develop yourself.
Grow leadership and teamwork skills while working with tech industry leaders.
We’re more than a bootcamp.
We wrap you with two years of support and coaching to support career advancement.
My training through i.c.stars has changed my life in ways I never dreamed of.
READY TO LEARN MORE?
Read about our minimum Program Requirements or schedule an Information Session to start your journey. You may also complete our General Inquiry Form and we will contact you about joining i.c.stars.
EVENTS
i.c.stars |* iOpener Innovation Conference 2026 Wednesday, August 19th, 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower, Chicago, IL Secure the Future: Protecting Data, Privacy, and Compliance Listen to engaging keynote speakers, participate in CIO-led discussions, attend breakouts, and network with tech leaders and i.c.stars alumni. Speaker Lineup: (more to come in [...]
Buy Ticket Join i.c.stars for a morning breakfast tech symposium featuring networking, a powerful panel discussion and series of actionable breakout sessions. The event will bring together HR and tech leaders for a dynamic morning of conversation, exploring how organizations can prepare their teams for what’s next through intentional upskilling and [...]
PAST EVENTS
Get your Tickets! Save the Date! The end of year Celebration that you do not want to miss! Get ready for a night of fun, networking, and fundraising while supporting i.c.stars Milwaukee. What to Expect: Connect with i.c.stars interns, tech professionals, industry leaders and city officials. ~ Its a time to [...]
i.c.stars |* Milwaukee Starbash: Casino Royale 4:30-8:30PM Thursday, December 5th, 2024 The Garage at the Harley Davidson Museum Get ready for a night of fun, networking, and excitement while supporting i.c.stars Milwaukee. Get Your Tickets Now What to Expect: Network with i.c.stars interns, tech professionals, industry leaders and city [...]
Looking for ways to get involved? Check out our Get Engaged page for more information on volunteering!