Celebrate Black History Month With Kaplan Institute!

February is an opportunity to understand Black stories, uplift Black voices and spotlight those who are driving positive change within our culture and communities. The Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship invites you to seize this opportunity! Join us by registering and attending one of our events:

February 7: Bytes Over Bites w/ D.R. “Solo” Perry

D.R. “Solo” Perry has been a professional artist and animator since the age of 14 when he was hired as a T-shirt designer for a local screen printer. In 2021, Solo launched “Ka-Pow!! The Comic Arts Academy” in an effort to provide affordable high quality instruction in the Comic Arts for anyone seeking direction in the comic craft.

February 9: “Illumination Sessions” w/ Harold Morrow Jr.

While being raised in a middle-class family in Chicago’s South Side, Harold learned the value of principled hard work and rising one’s potential regardless of what society says is and isn’t possible. He was able to complete one of his bucket list items of starting his own design company that ran for five years and achieved almost 1 million in gross revenues.

February 10: Black Diaspora Excellence Mixer

Make connections and discover potential internships/full time employment opportunities with attending university partners, companies, content creators, and Illinois Tech alumni! Register now and take a peek at which companies will be there as well as our special guest speakers!

February 15: Bytes Over Bites w/ Jeffery Beckham Jr.

Jeffery Beckham Jr. is the Chief Executive Officer at Chicago Scholars and an award-winning acrylic painter. In his role as CEO, Jeffery is responsible for leading the organization that serves more than 5,000 first-generation and low-income students to reach their dreams to pursue a college education.

February 21: Bytes Over Bites with Kevin P. Davenport

Kevin P. Davenport is the founder and CEO of The Ideal Candidate, a diversity impact staffing company, and a co-founder and CEO of Thunderstrike Marketing. He also serves as an angel investor for the 1921 Coworking incubator, is the director of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center for Chicago Urban League, and is the author of The Ideal Candidate.