FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 15, 2024
Chicago, IL— REACH Pathways™, based in Chicago, IL, has been named one of the winners of the 23rd annual Chicago Innovation Awards.
The winners were announced at this year’s event held on Thursday, November 14th at the UIC Forum. The annual Chicago Innovation Awards is the Chicago region’s foremost recognition of the most innovative new products or services brought to market each year.
REACH Pathways was recognized for its groundbreaking platform that bridges the opportunity gap for under-resourced students. REACH was launched by Chicago Scholars, a nonprofit that has guided over 6,500 students through their college and career paths, achieving outcomes 2-7X the national average. REACH empowers students to build essential skills, strengthen their resumes, and connect with valuable job opportunities by combining AI-driven tools and game-based learning principles. Through its engaging “quest” structure, REACH provides a unique blend of career guidance, skill development, and a supportive community to help students navigate their educational and career pathways.
REACH supports schools, nonprofits, and colleges with supplemental support to strengthen and provide college and career resources. Employers benefit from access to a curated pool of diverse, high-potential talent, making REACH an essential partner for organizations seeking to build inclusive talent pipelines.
Since its public launch in September, REACH Pathways has welcomed 750+ signups from across the country, allowing students to grow essential skills and build practical paths toward their career goals. Tools like the REACH Resume Builder, which uses AI to help students create polished, job-ready resumes, have already become invaluable resources. With each new user, REACH continues to demonstrate its commitment to transforming career access for students from under-resourced backgrounds.
“The Chicago region continues to be a global leader in innovation,” said Tom Kuczmarski, co-founder with Chicago journalist Dan Miller of the awards. “The 2024 winners are solving unmet needs and making a difference in healthcare, finance, the environment, artificial intelligence, education, consumer products, energy, manufacturing, social services, economic development, food, and government.”
“We’re honored to be recognized for our commitment to creating pathways to success for under-resourced students in Chicago and beyond,” said Jeffery Beckham Jr. Co-CEO of REACH Pathways and CEO of Chicago Scholars. "This award comes right as we're launching the latest version of our product, which provides AI-powered pathways and resume guidance and an opportunities board with paid internships and scholarships.”
The winning organizations receive a variety of honors, including the opportunity to ring the Nasdaq Bell in New York City.
“350 organizations were nominated for this year’s awards,” said Luke Tanen, President and CEO of Chicago Innovation. “As a group, these nominees are responsible for generating over $4.2 billion in new revenues and creating nearly 6,000 jobs. The winners represent the best from this very impressive group.” The complete list of this year’s Chicago Innovation Award winners can be found at www.chicagoinnovation.com.
Are you an innovative nonprofit or school leader passionate about empowering youth with cutting-edge technology? Do you know of companies eager to introduce their industries to talented students from under-resourced backgrounds? Reach out to Sasha Peña at spena@reachpathways.com to explore partnership opportunities with REACH Pathways, www.reachpathways.com.
Contact:
Sasha Peña
Head of Employability
REACH Pathways
Email: spena@reachpathways.com
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