Memorable Moments in Chicagoland Innovation

 

About This Series: The story of innovation in Chicago is best told through the experiences of accomplished local visionaries. All innovators are blessed with imagination, drive and at least a bit of serendipity. In this 10-part series, we will showcase how inspiration turns into execution and the creation of new systems. These stories are only the beginning.
 

Featured Chicago Innovator: Sandee Kastrul, President, i.c. stars

 

Sandee Kastrul of i.c. stars explains why the demand “for hungry innovators doesn’t change” despite the challenging economy.

 

Sandee Kastrul on Finding Truth in Science:

Innovation is an elemental component of education, says i.c. stars president Sandee Kastrul.
 

Over the last decade, i.c. stars has equipped more than 100 young adults from Chicago’s inner city with computer skills that serve as building blocks for more prosperous and imaginative careers. Kastrul was inspired to start the program after asking her students at Jobs For Youth how they thought they mattered.

 

“On the first day of class, every student was asked if they wanted to be a solid, liquid or gas for the semester,” Kastrul recalled. “The geeks chose gas, which gave them the most mobility and freedom to move wherever they wanted. For us, science is about finding our personal truth and our truth in society.”

 

Not content to build a program dedicated to graduating the next “bank tellers of IT”, Kastrul and her team have incorporated leadership and business lessons for the 19 and counting classes that have graduated from i.c. stars. Students that complete the demanding program see their annual earnings multiply to an average of approximately $35,000 per year. Navteq, Hewitt and Blue Cross Blue Shield have hired recent i.c. stars graduates.

 

Despite the shaky economy, i.c. stars grew 57 percent over the last year. The program is succeeding because it is providing the skills and points of view necessary to succeed in the 21st Century.

 

“There is no shortage of perseverance,” said Kastrul. “The demand for talented, resilient, hungry young innovators does not change.”
 

 

 

 

The "Innovation in Chicago" series features interviews and work by Brad Spirrison. Brad is a local technology writer and media creator. Each week he authors the “Tech Matters” column in the Chicago Sun-Times. He can be reached at brad@chicago.com.