Illinois Institute of Technology

Gain new STEM skills and earn the credentials that showcase the extent of your knowledge with free courses through the Bronzeville Opportunity Engine at Illinois Tech. These free courses in technology, project management, and more can lead to you earning digital badges and certificates that will help you level up your skills and train for the modern job market—no degree or experience required!

If you are a member of the Bronzeville neighborhood or a surrounding Chicago community who is looking to start or advance a career in high-growth tech industries, this programming is for you!

To learn more about the Bronzeville Opportunity Engine free courses contact Felena Bunn at fbunn@illinoistech.edu

The university, through the Office of Community Affairs, seeks to be the connective tissue linking the Illinois Tech community with the organizations, businesses, and individuals looking to make positive change in Bronzeville and the surrounding communities.

Illinois Tech is located in the Chicago neighborhood of Bronzeville, the center of African-American history on Chicago’s South Side. The community today is undergoing a revitalization driven by entrepreneurial African Americans who value its rich history and who are dedicated to keeping that history and its lessons alive.

Illinois Tech is honoring the Alpha Suffrage Club, the Ida B. Wells-founded organization that was the first to promote the right for Black women to vote in Illinois, with a marker on northern edge of its main campus.

The community-based garden and ecological research center is designed to bring together neighbors, students, researchers, educators, horticulturists, and community scientists—all while honoring Nathaniel “Nate” Thomas, who established the trailblazing Early Identification Program for minority recruitment at Illinois Tech.

While Illinois Tech faculty and alumni have made lasting impressions on Chicago’s skyline, many graduates left an impact on the city’s residential neighborhoods and the suburban cities and villages. Their designs are detailed in Modern in the Middle: Chicago Houses 1929–75, a book co-authored by Professor Michelangelo Sabatino.