January 09, 2019

Media Advisory – SMASH STEM Program Launching in Illinois in Partnership with IIT and SIU Carbondale

SMASH, the signature STEM education program of the Kapor Center, announces SMASH Illinois, its first statewide initiative program partnership with Illinois Institute of Technology, Southern Illinois University Carbondale and the Creating Pathways and Access for Student Success Foundation. 

Through university partnerships, SMASH provides a three-year, free-of-cost, residential college preparatory program targeting high school students from traditionally underrepresented communities interested in pursuing science, technology, education and mathematics (STEM)  careers. The SMASH Illinois program will focus on core STEM skills at the intersection of health, technology, innovation and equity to empower underrepresented students to pursue STEM and excel in the rising “HealthTech” industry.  

SMASH Illinois will run from July 6 to August 10.

Tech is the fastest growing and most lucrative industry in the United States. Unfortunately, its current demographic makeup is majority white and male, leading to continued wealth inequality for communities of color. SMASH is dedicated to closing the gap for students of color in STEM. 

Through this statewide initiative, the SMASH Illinois consortium (SMASH, IIT, SIU Carbondale and CPASS) hopes to provide the education, resources and access the students of Illinois deserve so they can pursue and persist in careers in tech and entrepreneurship, and become the future innovators and leaders that will uplift their communities. 

Reporters, photographers and news crews are invited to a news conference tentatively set for 11 a.m., Jan. 24, at Venue Six10, Landmark Room, 610 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Illinois. The time is subject to change due to Governor-elect J.B. Pritzker’s availability.

Speakers will include:

  • B. Pritzker, Illinois governor-elect (Invited).
  • Illinois State Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford, 4th District, Assistant Majority Leader (Invited).
  • Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, (Invited).
  • Eric E. Whitaker, CPASS Foundation.
  • Freada Kapor Klein, Founder of SMASH, Partner at Kapor Capital.
  • John M. Dunn, Interim Chancellor, SIU Carbondale.
  • Peter Kilpatrick, Provost, SVP Academic Affairs, IIT.

Media contacts: Ashleigh Richelle, 408.387.4353, ashleigh@smash.org; Kim Bardakian, 510.499.5723, kim@kaporcenter.org; Pete Rosenbery, 618-453-1439, assistant director for communications and marketing, SIU Carbondale, prosen@siu.edu.