Per Scholas Chicago Celebrates Five Years of Community Impact during Chicago Tech Week

Since launching in 2020, the Per Scholas Chicago campus has trained more than 700 learners, equipping them with critical tech skills to advance careers in IT Support and Cybersecurity. 

Today, alongside community and employer partners, colleagues, alumni, and friends, Per Scholas Chicago hosted Expanding Access to Tech Careers: A Leadership Conversation & Breakfast during Chicago Tech Week. This beautiful convening took place at the historic Willis Tower and featured insights from Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and Per Scholas Chief Executive Officer Plinio Ayala. The conversation was moderated by Dorri McWhorter, President & Chief Executive Officer, Executives’ Club of Chicago. Per Scholas Chief Operating Officer, Tamara Johnson, and Regional Senior Vice President Karla Benson Rutten were also in attendance. 

“It was an honor to gather our supporters and key stakeholders to discuss the role of high-quality training programs in building a more inclusive economy,“ said Kate Doyle, Per Scholas Chicago Managing Director.

Per Scholas Chicago acknowledges Comcast, JPMorgan Chase & Co., TEKsystems, CDW, Bank of America Foundation, and Motorola Solutions Foundation for their generous support that made this celebration possible.

With a proven tech training model including both in-person and remote learning, Per Scholas continues to unlock opportunities for individuals, strengthen communities, and drive business success across the greater Chicago area. Per Scholas Chicago is transforming lives and will continue to shape the region’s future as a thriving technology hub by equipping Per Scholas technologists with in-demand tech skills at no cost.

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About Per Scholas

As Per Scholas celebrates 30 years of impact, we are charting an ambitious path forward, expanding access to high-growth tech careers and fostering economic mobility nationwide. Since 1995, we’ve offered no-cost tech training to more than 30,000 technologists in the most sought-after tech skills, generating over $2 billion in increased personal earnings. On average, our learners earn 3x their pre-training wage in their first role after Per Scholas. With 20+ campuses and remote programs, we partner with employers—from Fortune 500 companies to startups—to create inclusive talent pipelines in fields like Cloud, Cybersecurity, Data Engineering, IT Support, and Software Engineering. More than half of our learners hold a high school diploma as their highest educational credential. We are building a future where successful careers in tech are accessible to everyone across urban, suburban, and rural communities, empowering individuals to unlock their potential and drive transformative economic change nationwide.

Learn more at PerScholas.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.