REACH Pathways and Fellow Winners of the Chicago Innovation Awards to Ring the Nasdaq Closing Bell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jeffery Beckham Jr.

jbeckham@reachpathways.com 

Celebrating Innovation in the Chicago Region

Chicago, IL (August 1, 2025) – REACH Pathways™, the award-winning platform reimagining how young people explore careers, build skills, and connect with opportunity, will join fellow winners of the 2024 Chicago Innovation Awards in New York City on Friday, August 1st to ring the Closing Bell of the Nasdaq Stock Market. This ceremony celebrates the growing wave of innovation emerging from Chicago and honors the organizations shaping its economic future.

“Chicago Innovation Award winners cut across all industries and represent the best in new product and service development from large companies, startups and non-profits,” said Luke Tanen, President and CEO of Chicago Innovation. “Their winning innovations are solving a range of unmet needs in the marketplace, and we’re proud to celebrate their successes on a global stage by ringing the Nasdaq Bell.”

REACH Co-CEO Jeffery Beckham Jr. and Head of Product Kenneth Woodard will represent the organization at the Nasdaq bell-ringing. “We’re thrilled to represent Chicago and our youth advisors at Nasdaq,” said Beckham. “This moment is a powerful symbol of what’s possible when we invest in the brilliance of under-resourced youth, and when innovation is grounded in equity and community.”

Woodard added, “I’ve spent my career building tools that empower students to own their stories. Being part of this moment reflects the belief that innovation should uplift those historically left out of opportunity, and that starts with how we design.”

REACH was recognized for its AI-powered, gamified learning platform that helps under-resourced students build career confidence and workforce-ready skills. Through personalized quests, structured skill-building, and near-peer mentorship, REACH helps learners move from exploration to employment. With over 8,700 users in 40 states, REACH is proving that talent is everywhere, even if opportunity is not.

About REACH Pathways

REACH Pathways™ is the award-winning platform reimagining how young people explore careers, build skills, and connect with opportunity. Recognized by Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas List, SXSW Pitch, and the Chicago Innovation Awards, REACH is reimagining career development for a new era. The next generation is entering a workforce transformed by AI, automation, and a generational divide, and REACH is seeking to prepare youth for these rapid changes.

Built with and for learners, REACH delivers career guidance personalized by AI, structured skill-building, and near-peer mentorship to drive long-term success. Backed by 30 years of proven outcomes through Chicago Scholars, serving 6,500+ students at outcomes 2–7x the national average, REACH is a mission-driven social enterprise proving that talent is everywhere, even if opportunity is not. We partner with colleges, nonprofits, and employers to prepare the next generation of leaders for a workforce that demands more. From exploration to employment, REACH bridges the gap between potential and placement.

About Chicago Innovation and the Chicago Innovation Awards

Chicago Innovation, established in 2002, has grown from a single awards ceremony to a year-round series of events and programs to educate, connect, and celebrate all innovators in the Chicago region. Its vision is to ensure that innovation is for everyone. The Chicago Innovation Awards celebrate the most innovative new products, services, and organizations in the Chicago region, cutting across all industries—from high tech to no tech, from startups to nonprofits. For more information, visit http://www.chicagoinnovation.com.