Tech workforce program championed by former Chiefs star graduates its first KC class

An education initiative recently launched in Kansas City not only focuses on lifting up young people from low-income backgrounds and helping them succeed in the high-tech sector, said pro football hall of famer Will Shields: it upends a cycle of decline and replaces it with building blocks.

i.c.stars, headquartered in Chicago, launched in Kansas City in April 2023 — thanks in part to years of support from former Kansas City Chiefs offensive guard Shields, through his Will to Succeed Foundation.

Earlier this month, i.c.stars graduated its first Kansas City class with Shields, an advisory board member for the program, on hand.

Click here to learn more about i.c.stars’ efforts in Kansas City.

During his congratulatory remarks to the i.c.stars graduates, Shields shared a story about growing up in Oklahoma and receiving a special coin after completing many workouts. The coin included a special saying from Native American tribes that became his personal mantra: “Hanta Yo,” which means “clear the way.”

“It’s what this program instills — not only are you learning to make yourself better but you are clearing the way for the next group that comes after you,” Shields said. “We are making ourselves better individuals because we are not looking just internally but externally saying ‘How can what I know help you? How can I pull you along? How can I build the bridge? How can I do the next thing?”

“For me, that Hanta Yo is now passed along to you the next generation — our first cohort — as being the building blocks of what the future of this program is going to be.”

Eleven Kansas City students (interns) graduated from the 16-week intensive program, in which students learn by doing; by building web-based applications to solve clients’ real-world challenges. Students are immersed in coding, learning business practices, and receive leadership instruction.

i.c.stars Kansas City graduates pose with board members, instructors, staff and the nonprofit’s founder; photo courtesy of i.c.stars

i.c.stars partners with local businesses giving students on-the-job experience as well as creating a professional network that jumpstarts their careers. Students receive a laptop as well as a stipend during their training. I.c.stars provides wraparound services to support students as they move toward successful employment.

During the final month of i.c.stars’ training, interns participate in career readiness activities including mock interviews, resume reviews, and career coffees. Employers come on-site to interview i.c.stars participants for open positions. 

Shamika Hogan, i.c.starskc, appears alongside Will Shields during an April 2023 launch event in Kansas City

I.c.stars officially opened its local office in downtown Kansas City in July 2023, where Executive Director Shamika Hogan leads a small staff and works closely with a 12-member advisory board of business, education, and communal leaders that includes Shields at the helm.

RELATED: Former Chiefs star wants to change the way employers look at tech talent — starting with untapped ‘forever learners’

“In what feels like 16 short weeks, our program participants have undergone a transformative learning journey, acquiring essential skills and knowledge in both technology and leadership,” Hogan said. 

“As we successfully conclude this inaugural cycle for Kansas City, I think the significance lies in the practical application of their newfound expertise,” she said.

Graduates are currently interviewing with multiple companies with a number having already landed employment.

The Kansas City program is seeking resilient individuals to join its upcoming cycle starting in mid-February.

Click here to learn more about applying to .c.stars’ Kansas City program.

i.c.stars graduating student Gustavo Adolfo Aybar is excited about his future, he said.

“i.c.stars challenged me not only to push myself beyond my limits but to accept the challenge of being better than I was the day before,” Aybar said.

Initial funding for i.c.stars’ program in Kansas City came from the Will to Succeed Foundation, The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the Hall Family Foundation, Amsted Rail, Mariner Wealth Advisors, Burns McDonnell, McGowan as well as the Hunt Family Foundation.

Several local companies sponsored the educational components of the first Kansas City class (or cycle), including Amsted Rail and Tricom, Lockton, and Copaken Brooks. Several local companies have already committed to supporting the second cycle of students including Children’s Mercy Hospital, Polsinelli Law Firm, and New Dynamic, although i.c.stars is seeking additional partners.