The Black Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City launched a new program for area school districts that it hopes will help propel underserved youths toward careers buoyed by the digital revolution.
Through the "Cyber to Schools" program, California Polytechnic State University’s California Cybersecurity Institute is collaborating with the chamber to launch the program in local school districts. Kansas City Public Schools is the first district to participate in the digital literacy program.
Siemens Smart Infrastructure, a Black Chamber corporate sponsor, initially pushed the program to the chamber.
Siemens General Manager Bart Jacobson said the program will expose students to careers in technology and cybersecurity. Those jobs are in high demand today and will continue to be for the foreseeable future.
The program will offer a cybersecurity curriculum; artificial intelligence and machine learning; and digital literacy mentoring and training, among other opportunities. The goal is to upskill and reskill students toward careers in the tech, space and cyber industries.
Aligned with state standards, the training curriculum also will give students opportunities to participate in summer school, cyber competitions, and professional training and certification
“It is important to introduce urban youth to cybersecurity careers and business ownership opportunities which they otherwise may not know exist,” Kelvin Perry, president of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City, said in a release.
