Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!
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72 MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMBER MARIE GREEN CRACKING THE CODE AS HIS BURGEONING COMMUNITY TECH CENTER BLUE 1647 EXPANDS NATIONWIDE, DIGITAL WHIZ AND SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR EMILE CAMBRY SETS HIS SIGHTS ON IMPROVING A MILLION LIVES. BY J.P. ANDERSON MBA, tech writer, radio host, filmmaker… Emile Cambry has proven himself to be a man of many talents in his 36 years. But it's as the founder and CEO of Pilsen-based community tech center BLUE 1647, which promotes diversity in tech through classes and workshops in Chicago and St. Louis, that the West Side native seems to have truly found his calling. As Cambry leads the growing organization into Austin and LA, the film buff and hoops fan spoke with Michigan Avenue about Chopin, making a difference, and The Matrix. Secret of success: "We're a non-profit and truly have a for- profit mentality in terms of growth and scale. Also, there are so many people looking for what we do—there are about 25 cities that would love for us to be there." Inspired by The Matrix: "[I love the film's] idea of being able to truly believe in yourself and maximize the abilities you have; I try to bring that into the work I do." On his playlist: "Being from Chicago, I like Kanye West —[his music has] a lot of under- tones to me of the American Dream. I also listen to a lot of classical music, Rachmaninoff and Chopin, to get me through some of these work weeks." . CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: BLUE 1647 makes learning about technology fun; founder Emile Cambry; fostering computer literacy is key for the organization; developing coding skills helps participants find jobs in the growing tech world. SCENE DYNAMO