I.c.stars Kansas City

03/08/2026

02/22/2026

Innovation you use every day often starts with someone the world didn't spotlight.

This Black History Month, we're honoring James E. West, whose microphone design shaped modern audio, and Dr. Gladys West, whose calculations made GPS accurate enough to guide the world.
Their work sits inside our phones, our navigation, and our communication.

Visit our website to read their stories and meet the rest of this year's featured innovators.

https://www.icstars.org/10-black-innovators-who-have-transformed-the-tech-world-2026/

02/12/2026

Poetry Meets Innovation at Hack the Dream! We're that Glenn North, designated poet laureate of the famous 18th and Vine Jazz District in Kansas City is returning to the Hack the Dream stage. Glenn's powerful words and moving perspective on equity, culture, and technology is captivating and this year promises to be even more inspiring.

Join us as we explore AI's social and cultural impact, connect with changemakers, and celebrate creativity that drives real-world solutions.
February 26, 2026 | 9AM-Noon
Central Library, 14 W. 10th Street, KCMO

Seats are limited, don't wait! Purchase your tickets today. https://www.icstars.org/event/hack-the-dream-kc-2026/?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=facebook_page&utm_medium=I.c.stars%20Kansas%20City%20

12/22/2025

HACK THE DREAM
02.26.2026

12/16/2025

Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not.
For one of our interns, that truth was personal.

She grew up believing her choices were limited: college or a dead-end job. She wanted to make her family proud, but after enrolling into university, she struggled. She felt isolated, uncertain, and eventually made the decision to leave. It all felt like failure.

Then she discovered i.c.stars.
From the moment she walked through our doors, she felt something different: energy, challenge, possibility. At i.c.stars, she didn't just learn coding and technology; she learned resilience, collaboration, and how to actually solve problems instead of just memorizing tasks.

Through i.c.stars, she was able to build a future of her own design.
In 2019, she completed the i.c.stars program in Milwaukee and landed her first tech role immediately.
Today, she is a Senior Software Engineer.

From intern to technologist to leader… this is what opportunity can do and why your gift matters.
Take a moment today and give the gift of opportunity.
Make your gift: https://giving.classy.org/campaign/747178/donate?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=facebook_page&utm_medium=I.c.stars%20Kansas%20City%20

12/03/2025

Unlock Opportunity This Giving Tuesday
Talented individuals are ready to transform their futures. They just need a chance.

i.c.stars provides intensive training, mentorship, and leadership development; launching resilient individuals into high-wage tech careers. Additionally, our program provides wrap-around supports, including a participant stipend to help cover their general expenses.
When you make a gift on Giving Tuesday, here's what you make possible:

-Alumni salaries increase 220% over pre-program wages
-25% of alumni become homeowners
-Graduates persist in employment at higher rates than non-participants

This year, we've increased program participant stipends to make our program even more accessible, and we need your help to fund this expansion. Make your gift today: https://giving.classy.org/campaign/747141/donate?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=facebook_page&utm_medium=I.c.stars%20Kansas%20City%20

11/05/2025

BIG THINGS COMING SOON!

10/24/2025

At EdTechWeek 2025, our CEO Karin Norington-Reaves joined innovators and education leaders for the panel "Future Proof: Building Talent for an AI-Driven Economy."

As AI reshapes the workforce, the advantage won't go to those with the most technical skills, it will go to those with the most human intelligence. The panel explored how education and workforce development must evolve to cultivate critical thinking, adaptability, and intellectual resilience; skills that help learners thrive amid ambiguity and change.

At i.c.stars, we see this truth every day. When individuals develop both technical expertise and leadership capacity, they become the tech leaders of tomorrow who will drive innovation and build more equitable communities.

hashtag

10/15/2025

Cycle 05 Geek Week is in the books! Congratulations to our incredibly driven, resilient interns that survived a challenging week of learning, coding & testing! You did it!!!! ⭐️

09/25/2025

Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation awarded a Capacity Building Grant for a collaborative and innovative partnership with the Center for Practical Bioethics and i.c.stars Kansas City! We are so grateful and so excited for the incredible learning opportunities this will afford.
Having the opportunity to learn under the leadership of Lindsey Jarrett will be an immeasurable opportunity!

09/19/2025

WOW! What a powerful morning. iOpener was a great success — thanks to everyone who showed up, spoke up, and shared the vision. Your support means everything!