Education

Help wanted: Addressing KC’s (big) techie shortage

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone.   Kansas City posted nearly 7,700 STEM job openings in 2015 — but only filled 2,550 of them. That means that for every STEM job candidate, there were three job openings. That’s great for job searchers, but terrible for Kansas City business and…

Digital Inclusion Fellowship Google Fiber

Google opens applications for Digital Inclusion Fellowship

Just two months after it unveiled free access to gigabit internet for low-income households in Kansas City, Google Fiber is again ramping up efforts to close the digital divide. In partnership with the Nonprofit Technology Network, Google Fiber has again opened applications for its Digital Inclusion Fellowship, this time looking for 22 bright minds to…

The Lean Lab partners with 4.0 Schools to innovate KC education

More than 100 years ago, our education system was designed and built to prepare an early-1900s workforce for the industrial age. Today, children are learning with iPads and Youtube, but the bones of the traditional liberal arts structure remain similar to what our great-grandparents experienced. Local education innovation incubator The Lean Lab hopes to change…

We have liftoff! LaunchCode to boost Kansas City tech talent

About 3,500 tech firms need to fill 2,300 open positions in the Kansas City area, according to KCnext. Usually, that means businesses, both large and small, spar over the same people, snatching up programming talent wherever possible, including from their local neighbors. It makes for more than just awkward networking events among tech executives —…

OneDayKC competition to inspire future Kansas City entrepreneurs

A Kansas City competition is sowing the seeds of entrepreneurship in local youth by challenging high schoolers to launch a business in only one day. Now in its second year, OneDayKC will welcome a herd of Kansas City high schoolers to join teams and create a viable venture in 12 hours. After crafting a venture,…