The booming tech industry has hit the South and West sides with a bit of whimper, but a group of 15 firms say they want to change that.
As part of 2019 Chicago Tech Day, downtown-based Relativity announced plans Monday to create a pipeline to well-paid tech jobs from those traditionally under-served communities.
“As tech leaders, it’s important to reach into the communities where opportunities often don’t come,” said Relativity’s CEO Mike Gamson, whose firm helps companies and governments sort large amounts of data to assist in legal disputes.
Gamson, speaking at his company’s headquarters and with Mayor Lori Lightfoot in attendance, said his company is beginning a pilot program to find 20 or so people to train to work in the legal software field.
“We’re going to find people with the potential — irrespective of their their background — and we’re going to pay them to come in and learn from us,” Gamson said. “They will not be engineers. They will be people who know how to operate the software within the context of the legal litigation industry.”
Gamson said his company will work with a range of nonprofit, community-based organizations to try to find good candidates.
“Let’s face it, we still have work to do to diversify the tech system — both in terms of making sure that people of color have access to the skills that they need, but also that they are aware of the jobs,” said Andrea Zopp, president of World Business Chicago.
In total, the group of 15 tech companies say they plan to add 2,000 jobs through 2020. Most of the companies are based downtown; Evanston Technology Partners is based in Bronzeville.
“We see you as vital, essential and partners in Chicago’s future,” Lightfoot told the gathering.
