Chicago Tech Connect event, hosted at Kennedy-King College and produced by City Colleges of Chicago, deemed a success with the public and students

CHICAGO — (July 23, 2026) – City Colleges of Chicago and Kennedy-King College successfully hosted Chicago Tech Connect last week in tandem with P33’s fifth annual Tech Chicago Week 2026.

“During Chicago Tech Connect we worked to bridge the gap between academic training, available to all at City Colleges, and real-world tech demand,” said Associate Vice Chancellor Ayoka Noelle Samuels, City Colleges of Chicago. “I think Chicago Tech Connect demystified AI and other emerging technologies as well as empowered our South Side communities to realize they can step into these roles and get the education and training they need right in their own neighborhood.”

Designed to unite and introduce technology, education, and economic opportunity to the public and City Colleges of Chicago students, the event provided people with an overview on direct pathways into Chicago’s booming tech sector.

The event featured the following break-out sessions:

• Innovation One Lab: Students engaged with advanced engineering equipment, experiencing how theoretical software concepts turn into hardware reality. They learned the core fundamentals of rapid prototyping, microcontrollers, and hardware automation.
• Tech Launchpad Lab Resource Expo: Positioned inside Kennedy-King’s specialized tech facility, this session connected participants directly with tech leaders, tech opportunities, and various Kennedy-King College and City College of Chicago resources.
• AWS PartyRock Makerspace Experience: Build the Future with AI: A hands-on workshop where individuals with no coding experience used Amazon’s no-code AI builder, PartyRock to create their own app.
• Innovation One AI Experience with Google: In partnership with industry experts, this session demystified machine learning models. Individuals practiced basic prompt engineering and learned how to earn localized Google AI credentials directly through City Colleges.
• Tech Immersive Overview: A industry discussion and overview provided a macro view of Chicago’s tech ecosystem and how the public can receive the education needed to succeed in this field of study that included machine learning, AI, Google tools and more. An engaging and interactive overview of the various pathways, programs and trainings that City Colleges of Chicago offers and how individuals can receive the education needed to succeed in various fields including Cybersecurity, Software Development, AI, and more.
• Moonshot Information Sessions and Invitational Program: These forward-looking sessions introduced students to City Colleges’ Moonshot initiative. Attendees learned how to position themselves for competitive, next-generation workforce opportunities and future-proof tech disciplines.

“I attended Chicago Tech Connect because I want to learn all about AI and other technology that is changing the world we live in and changing it every day–and lightning fast. I want to learn as much as I can now as I strive to be an engineer and before I transfer to a 4-year college or university,” said Tyler Bufford, first year student at Kennedy King College. “I know to learn this now is in my best interest and is a must.”

Photos by J. Agustyn/City Colleges of Chicago

Learn more about how City Colleges Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Development, Associate of Applied Science degree offered at Wright College. Also learn about City Colleges’ Advanced Certificate in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Development.