i.c.stars

We're aiming to raise $52,000 this holiday season to support Cycle 52 starting in January. Your gift will equip our program participants with laptops, leadership workshops, and 16 weeks of transformational technology training.

Thanks to a generous donation, you have the chance to win your choice of (2) roundtrip Business Class tickets or (4) roundtrip Economy Class tickets to anywhere in the United States (with the exception of Hawaii and Alaska)! To be entered into this raffle, you can do either of the following prior to 12/23: Donate $500 or more or set up a minimum $25 recurring monthly donation!

A special thanks to Villa-Tech, Inc. for being our holiday-giving match sponsor and setting us up for success this holiday season. Thank you for seeing stars and helping i.c.stars reach new heights! Donate here: ww.classy.org/campaign/holiday-giving-2022-chicago/c448856

When you support i.c.stars this , you support the development of future community-minded technology leaders. Every donation up to $7,500 will be matched 1:1 today! Donate now: https://www.classy.org/give/448856/ #!/donation/checkout

Tickets are on sale now for TechBash 2022! Don’t miss out on this lively networking event bringing together Chicago’s top technology executives, sponsors, and i.c.stars alumni to make connections, have fun, and raise funds for i.c.stars!

https://www.icstars.org/event/techbash-2022/

We are super excited for this event!

Stop by and chat with our Recruitment Manager, Fredrick Kendricks.

Comcast RISE – Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment – was created to help underrepresented small businesses thrive. Small businesses in Cook County owned by women and people of color can apply for $10,000 grants from the Comcast RISE Investment Fund from October 3-16. Click below to learn more about the program and apply.

(http://www.ComcastRISE.com)

Desire a Career in Tech but don’t know how to make it happen?
Want to be paid to Learn Code and find your Tech career?

Our next 16-week PAID training begins January 9, 2023.

Apply Today And Learn More On Our Website: icstars.org/program

Basic Requirements:
- Demonstrate Financial Need
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a High School Diploma or GED
- Have 6 months of full time work experience
- Be able to attend full days of training Monday through Friday 8am until 8pm (for a 4 month period)
- Agree to a strict on-time and no absences policy
- Partial to no college preferred
- Be available Monday through Friday from 8am to 8pm (12 hour/day program--must be able to work remotely or in-person)
- Motivated for change

Reach out if you have any questions to: [email protected]

Not an opportunity for you? No problemo! Share the wealth with a friend or family member.

Cycle 43 Commencement Night. Commencement is always a special night filled proud family members, proud friends, proud staff members, proud alumni, and of course, proud interns who officially become i.c.stars alums.

Tonight we will be celebrating the commencement of the 50th cycle of i.c.stars. We are so PROUD of these stars and are so excited to watch them shine. Congratulations Cycle 50!

We unlocked a match, which means your gift now has 2x the impact on our technology training program! Red Foundry will generously be matching all donations 1:1 until we reach $15,000 raised!

As a reminder, when you donate or fundraise $50 or more between now and 8/31, you will receive the commemorative 50 cycles of i.c.stars magnet!

Summer Giving 2022 - Chicago In honor of i.c.stars |* Chicago reaching the 50th cycle milestone, we are shooting for the stars this summer!  Help us raise $50,000 as we take a look back on the past 50 cycles, and set our sights high for the next 50 cycles!

If you’ve been to our studio, you may have seen this funky i.c.stars heirloom on the wall. When our founding VP of Technology and Operations, Eric Lannert, retired from i.c.stars we also retired his keyboard!

Eric is an integral part of the i.c.stars story and we would not be without the work he did in some of our most vital years. This keyboard is a way to honor his legacy and his 16 years of dedication to our stars!

Check out this event recap video from the 2009 iOpener Innovation Conference! Several alums from Cycles 18 & 19 were in attendance as they networked with CIOs and entrepreneurs on the topic of fostering a Culture of Innovation within an IT organization.

The 2022 iOpener Innovation Conference on Friday, August 26th will explore the topics of NFTs, Blockchain, and E-Commerce, and feature a presentation from Cycle 50’s winning team! Save the date and purchase a single conference pass here: https://www.icstars.org/event/iopener-innovation-conference-2022/

2009 iOpener Culture of Innovation The annual i.c. stars iOpener conference brings together CIOs, entrepreneurs, students, alumni of the i.c.stars program and vendors to explore a technology-d...

to when C50 hosted Guest Dr. Aaron J. McLeod, Esq. of McLeod Legal Services.

“He was very informative on subjects of real estate, wills, and trusts! He's also passionate about education in marginalized communities and we enjoyed our time with him. Thank you, Aaron, for being our Guest!” – C50

Cycle 15 alumna Tiffany David-Samuel reflects on the impact i.c.stars has had on her, and how it has inspired her to impact others. One way YOU can make an impact is by donating to i.c.stars’ transformative technology training program today! When you donate or fundraise a total of $50 or more between now and August 31st, you'll receive a custom i.c.stars magnet! Donate here: https://give.classy.org/icstarsSummerGiving

Dare to Dream. At i.c.stars, interns are asked to envision their lives 20 years from now, and write an acceptance speech for an award their future self is receiving, also known as The Dream Speech. This milestone of the program provides valuable experience in writing, public speaking, and setting goals to accomplish your dreams. All-star volunteer, Jill Weininger, plays a key role in preparing interns for their speeches each cycle.

Check out this photo from Cycle 16’s Dream Speech night and a glimpse into DeSean Ward’s speech, where he envisioned accepting an award for innovation in science and technology!

Back in 2007, the Chicago Tribune featured i.c.stars in their “Charities That Make a Difference” column. At the time, we were operating out of our very first studio space at 212 W. Superior, housed by closerlook, inc.

The article features Cycle 7 alumna T’Wanna Walker, who went on to create her own consulting business, exemplifying the i.c.stars B.L.T. (Business, Leadership, and Technology)!

Desire a Career in Tech but don’t know how to make it happen?
Want to be paid to train in Tech and find your Tech career?

Our next 16-week PAID training begins August 8, 2022.
Apply Today And Learn More On Our Website: icstars.org/program

Requirements:
*18 years or older
*6 months of Full-time work experience (in any position)
*High school completion or GED recipient (No College Degrees, some college accepted)
*Availability Monday through Friday from 8am to 8pm (12 hour/day program--must be able to work remotely or in-person)
*Motivated for change
Reach out if you have any questions to [email protected]

Not an opportunity for you? No problemo, share the wealth with a friend or family member!

Cycle 50 recently hosted Guest, Diane Dahl Principal at Kuczmarski Innovation.

Most impactful quote from Tea: "[Diane] believes that every human deserves to be seen, heard, & valued."

C50 added, “We appreciate Diane’s sincerity, honesty and advocating spirit for Women in Tech!”

Do you remember the very first i.c.stars event? Back in 2001, this group of commercial real estate professionals hosted the first Supernova Event at the Adler Planetarium in support of i.c.stars. Over 1,000 brokers, architects, and designers were in attendance, and over $100,000 was raised to support the very beginnings of i.c.stars during the fallout of the dotcom bubble.

Check out this photo of the Supernova Event Team, who helped to pull it all off!

As we take a look back at the past 50 cycles, we want to start where it all began- Cycle 1!

Since graduating i.c.stars in 2000, Cycle 1 alum Mohammed Rafathullah has spent the past 22 years working in the tech industry at companies including Allstate Insurance & Press Ganey. He currently works at Amazon Web Services (AWS) as a Security Consultant and recently joined us as a speaker at Capitalize on Illinois 2022 on Cybersecurity.

Talk about a full-circle moment!

Join Protiviti for their Executive Leadership Summit on June 8th! Protiviti is pleased to be bringing back the Executive Leadership Summit in person this year in Chicago.

There will be panels and discussions with executive speakers from McDonald's, Gallagher, HARIBO of America, Inc., Microsoft, and more as they discuss industry-leading topics such as ESG, Organizational Change, and Quantum. More details and registration here! https://events.protiviti.com/ELS22

We are so proud to be celebrating the 50th cycle milestone at i.c.stars |* Chicago! Follow along this summer as we post photos, highlight our incredible alums, and look back at some of the most memorable moments.

In honor of 50 cycles, we hosted an alumni logo design competition. Congratulations to Cycle 47 alum Thomas Cooper for being selected as the design winner!

What’s been YOUR favorite i.c.stars memory over the last 50 cycles? Let us know in the comments!

It’s National Volunteer Week! Thank you so much to all our incredible volunteers who provide words of wisdom during High Tea, tips on improving resumes, guidance on how to answer tough interview questions, and more. The value you bring to our program is immeasurable.

Are you interested in volunteering with i.c.stars? Join our next volunteer orientation on Wednesday, April 27th from 4pm-5pm. Visit https://www.icstars.org/get-engaged/ to sign up now!

$1 million Google grant supports job training on South and West sides The money will help a collective of 16 organizations “shrink the wealth gap in Chicago.”

Sandee Kastrul, president and co-founder of i.c.stars, joined the Innovation and the Digital Enterprise Podcast to discuss leveraging untapped talent sources and developing leaders in Chicago. Tune in here: https://www.dragonspears.com/podcast/changing-perceptions-and-teaching-transformation-with-sandee-kastrul.

Changing Perceptions and Teaching Transformation with Sandee Kastrul Sandee Kastrul, president and co-founder of i.c.stars, talks about solving problems, building solutions, and developing leaders.

We had the pleasure of hosting, Megan McCann, CEO & Founder of McCann Partners during this week's .

Our intern, Gabriela Sanchez Miranda shared some takeaways:

"When you stop learning, you stop living."

"We all put on our pants the same way. One leg at a time"

Megan. thank you for sharing your time and wisdom with our interns!

Recruitment Manager - i.c.stars |* Chicago

ABOUT I.C.STARS

Using project-based learning and full immersion teaching, the Inner-City Computer Stars Foundation, also known as i.c.stars, provides opportunities to break the cycle of poverty that limits inner-city, underserved adults. Through training in technology, in leadership and in business skills, we prepare change-driven, future leaders to develop the skills for high-level careers in information technology and to become change agents in our communities.

Our behavior is guided by five simple values-

Stewards: We’re committed to creating opportunity for others.
Teachers: We know that to learn and lead is the greatest form of justice.
Agents to Change: We invest in change and innovation, not charity.
Resilient: We’re strong, courageous and capable of overcoming adversity.
Solution Finders: We shape our future by solving problems in and with the community.

Our values define who we are – how we act, how we work with each other and how we impact the communities we live in. They are the essence of what makes us stars.

THE POSITION:

The Recruitment Manager is responsible for recruiting potential interns, overseeing outreach activities, and coordinating and tracking outreach activities. The Recruitment Manager will also develop and maintain strategic partnerships with other nonprofits, community based organizations, and small businesses that can assist i.c.stars with fulfilling its mission, as well as educating and initiating i.c.stars constituents to potential community building opportunities.

POSITION SUCCESS FACTORS:

1. Recruit and hire 25 successful participants (each cycle) into the internship program
2. Provide support to participants/interns to ensure a minimum 80% retention in the program
3. Build strong relationships with community, business, and alumni partners

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Recruitment:

Recruit and refer candidates to i.c.stars and other workforce development programs.
Manage candidates through the recruiting process and report status to leadership.
Coordinate information sessions with alumni, staff and candidates.
Manage inbound calls and emails.
Assessment:

Review applications for internship program.
Distribute pre-assessment materials to potential candidates.
Schedule assessment interviews.
Compile assessment scores and report findings.
Maintain assessment files and score reports.

Community Relations:

Represent i.c.stars at community events and forums
Attend job fairs and youth programs
Provide input and support in development of publications and marketing materials
Serve on association boards with other community-based organizations.
Coordinate board/alumni community presentations.

Community Development:

Identify events and opportunities that provide stakeholders with the prospect of being agents of change within various communities.
Identify and acquire appropriate tools and resources for community-related programming.
Gather data on alumni activities in the community and progress towards developing community leaders.

EXPECTED BEHAVIOR:

Represent i.c.stars vision, values and capability with passion and integrity
Create a culture of program service excellence
Continuous dedication to creating the Community Leaders of tomorrow

PERSONAL SKILLS/ATTRIBUTES:

High school diploma with some post-high school education
2+ years experience in community recruitment or similar field
Experience in community development
Demonstrated use of social media channels
Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal and presentation skills
Proficient in productivity tools, such as Google Workplace, Breezy HR
Excellent time management and organizations skills and ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities
Ability to meet with partners and community leaders, via own transportation
Personable and outgoing who is trustworthy and dependable

WORKING CONDITIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Job Type: Full-time

COVID-19 considerations:
The health and safety of the staff is our priority, and we are taking extra precautions to ensure everyone's safety: all work is remote until/unless otherwise specified by leadership.

TO COMPLETE FULL APPLICATION: https://icstars.breezy.hr/p/a45419cf3f89-recruitment-manager