Bringing out the Genius
in every student.
We prepare young people for careers in technology by teaching business and computer coding skills.
Our Mission
Our mission is quite simple: Prepare Black and LatinX youth for careers in IT by teaching business and coding skills.
We are squarely focused on exposing youth to the possibilities of learning how to manipulate technology to solve problems that don’t yet exist. We are developing the next generation of tech-preneurs.
We use a very unique system to make learning seemingly difficult stuff easier. Our interactions with young people never feel like school. We make learning fun by challenging our young people to think boldly about what they can accomplish when they allow themselves to believe in themselves.
Nothing is off the table in The Genius Lab. If our young person can think it, we look for solutions to get it done. We foster critical-thinking skills, teamwork and collaboration, problem-solving skills, and professional development for every Genius Lab participant.
Our students learn how to think about solving problems. Then they learn the skills to build the solutions to the problems, and finally, they learn how to package their solutions into viable business presentations and plans.
“I feel smarter…”
“When this program first started, I didn’t want to do it because I didn’t think I was smart enough. After the second session, I felt smarter and my confidence increased. I can’t believe I built my first app. I was pumped up about it, and it wasn’t even hard. I feel smarter like I can do anything.”
— Genius Lab participant, Jesse Owens STEM Academy, Chicago
Our Impact
Our impact at Genius Lab is truly remarkable, and we are proud to have impacted over 2,900 young people since our inception in 2014. We believe in the power of T.EA.M.S. (Technology, Entrepreneurship, Arts, Math, and Science) and are dedicated to introducing young people to these fields to help them discover their passions and unlock their full potential.
Our impact extends beyond just the number of young people we have served. We are thrilled to report that more than 500 mobile apps and 300 websites have been built by our participants since 2014. In addition, more than 60% of our participants have started their own business in the IT industry, which has led to the creation of 326 jobs. These jobs have been entrepreneurial start-ups by Genius Lab alumni, as well as with Fortune 500 companies like IBM and AT&T.
Join us on our mission to change the lives of young people around the world through T.EA.M.S. education. Learn more about our programs and how you can get involved today.
331
Jobs created
We are thrilled to report that more than 500 mobile apps and 300 websites have been built by our participants since 2014. In addition, more than 60% of our participants have started their own business in the IT industry, which has led to the creation of 331 jobs. These jobs have been entrepreneurial start-ups by Genius Lab alumni, as well as with Fortune 500 companies like IBM and AT&T.
31+
communities served globally
We are proud to have served more than 31 communities globally, including students from Chicago, St. Louis, Mexico, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and 14 countries in Africa. We are committed to making a positive impact in the lives of young people around the world, and we are excited to continue to expand our reach.
3,547
geniuses served
At Genius Lab, we believe that every young person has a genius inside of them waiting to be discovered. That is why we are dedicated to introducing our participants to T.EA.M.S. and providing them with the tools they need to succeed in life. We are proud to have served over 3,541 geniuses since 2014, and we are excited to continue to impact even more young people in the years to come.