i.c.stars in the news

The Stand + Together Foundation spent a day with i.c.stars: Recoding The Cycle Of Opportunity Through Tech-Focused Leadership Education

It’s a cold, gusty morning in downtown Chicago, where Rico Bryant shows up for work every day at a non-descript office building. He buzzes himself in under a small black awning, opens the door, and trots up two steps to press the elevator call button. There is nothing fancy about where he is headed—a third floor loft space on Dearborn Street, one block north of the House of Blues. But when he describes this place he lights up and says, “This is where the magic happens.” Read Article

In this episode broadcast live on November 22, 2019, host Melanie Adcock interviews staff members from i.c. Stars, a technology-based workforce development and leadership training program for low-income adults on their 20th anniversary. Featured guests were Paige Brown, Program Manager, Arely Dorsey, Workforce Manager, and Rico Bryant, Recruiter. Listen

Mikell is a high school dropout who learned to code at I.C. Stars, which she turned into a job as a software engineer at Accenture. She later taught coding at Dev Bootcamp. Five years ago, she and Kortney Ziegler launched ZaMLabs, an incubator focused on using tech for economic justice in marginalized communities.

The Illinois Technology Association (ITA) announced the 50 landmark industry leaders being recognized as finalists at The 20th Annual CityLIGHTS Awards. i.c.stars has been nominated for the Toast of Chicago Tech award - Presented to an individual or company who after winning an award at CityLIGHTS continued on to make an impact in the Chicago tech community through successfully led companies, development of a new or innovative service, championing for peers and the community as a whole.

How Solve helps bridge the gap between people and the resources they need

Meet Akia: Akia landed her dream job in the technology field and found housing by working with Solve’s partners, i.c.stars and the Chester David Group.

Akia was working as a call center representative when she first heard of i.c.stars. The program, a rigorous technology-based workforce development and leadership training curriculum, seemed like the perfect way for her to transition from a customer service job to a technology-focused career. Read Article

A Chicago-based organization that teaches technology skills to young adults who have overcome adversity says it plans to begin holding programs in Milwaukee.

Inner-City Computer Stars Foundation, or i.c. stars, says it plans to team up with companies in Milwaukee to place hundreds of young adults in jobs that require knowledge of computing concepts and expertise in software development. Read Article