CS+X FOUNDATION
Welcome to CS+X, where we’re driven by a simple belief: every person deserves the chance to learn, grow, and thrive—regardless of race, class, gender, language, age, or disability. By adding computer science (the “CS”) to any profession (the “X”), we mobilize people from all backgrounds to learn, advocate, and employ technology to strengthen families, expand opportunity, and create safer, more resilient communities.
Our mission centers on five urgent themes facing our communities today: youth development, family and community violence prevention, civil legal aid, re-entry support, and economic opportunity. Through practical tools, digital skills, and data-informed approaches, we equip individuals and organizations to turn knowledge into impact. Our vision is called techquity: the use of technology to build equity.
We invite you to join us—because a future where everyone belongs is a future we can all build together.
OUR CAUSES
EMPOWERING OUR COMMUNITY
FROM WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY
Founded in 2014, the CS+X Foundation is effecting real change by leading successful campaigns throughout Champaign-Urbana and across Illinois. Through social justice initiatives, grand challenge themes, and innovative programming, our dedicated team works to elevate and hold leaders and decision-makers accountable for their actions, moving them to rethink what is possible.
Driven to make an impact and inspire change, our grassroots movement is continuously expanding our understanding of contemporary issues and pushing for positive solutions. Learn more about our causes below.
ON LOCATION AND GROWING!
Faces of Our Movement
Location: 15 E Main
Office: M-F 10AM - 6PM
Program Hours: See Events Below
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OUR MISSION:
RESTORE, REINVEST, RENEW
ADVOCACY
Ensuring that All Voices are Heard
Advocacy is an essential pillar of our approach to humanitarian grand challenges. There is strength in numbers, and we work to inform and encourage others to take a stand for what they believe in. Our themes include:
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Youth Development
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Family and Community Violence Prevention
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Civil Legal Aid
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Re-entry Support
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Economic Development
ENGAGEMENT
Lifelong Learning is within our G.R.A.S.P.
As a large collective of faculty and community activists anchored by a land grant institution, public engagement is close to our hearts. We believe that the best solutions for today's grand challenges come from within, and see our mission as building awareness across our institutions and possibilities across our globe.
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Grand Challenges
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Robotics and Sensors
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Analytics
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Scientific Visualization and Applied Art
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Predictive Modeling
INNOVATION
Everyone Creates!
Champaign-Urbana is home to a thriving technology and artistic community. It was recently named one of the top startup cities in America. From our history of successful start-ups to a strong venture capital community, it’s all happening here. Join CS+X founders and sustainers to explore the possibility of investing in a place-based urban development strategy. Our goal is to regenerate under-performing downtown neighborhoods like the N Neil St Corridor, into desirable locations for innovative and creative employment, entertainment, and education.
ACCESS
Everyone contributes.
CS+X Foundation is working toward its first inclusive off-campus professional development accelerator. The CS+X Accelerator will support initiatives like the Illinois Small Satellite Consortium (ISSC) as well as community start-ups like the CS+X Business Elevator and the Gallery15 Creative Co-op. The accelerator is designed to hire under-represented technologists to complete engineering, computer, and business related contracts for consortium partners under the mentorship of knowledgeable professionals. In addition, the CS+X Business Elevator and Gallery15 Creative Co-Op will provide creatives and cross-overs with high-end audio and multi-media studios in a corporate environment that encourages local investment and professional workforce development. The accelerator can be viewed as a resource serving any company’s need for space or talent located within a rich university community. With your help, internships and apprenticeships will abound!
You shared. We listened. Let's build it together.
CS+X Center:
Anchoring an Innovation District in the Former News-Gazette Building
The talking techquity results were unanimous: community stakeholders determined the former News-Gazette building to be the perfect site to anchor an equitable "innovation district" in the heart of downtown Champaign. According to the 2022 techquity stakeholders, the community is in dire need of an intentional, high-tech space integrated into the life of the city — not a stand-alone, limited-access, high-tech silo on the campus of the University of Illinois.
With a $5 million donation to renovate this iconic property, a CS+X sponsored tech hub can fill this need. It will provide co-working spaces, shared amenities, and programs that foster collaboration between startups, small businesses, students, and civic partners. The district will follow a smart infill strategy, connecting to nearby housing and other small businesses, ensuring it contributes to the broader downtown ecosystem while supporting economic growth.
The facility will advance CS+X’s five themes — youth development, violence prevention, legal aid, re-entry, and economic opportunity — through hands-on STEAM learning, citizen science, educator training, interactive museum partnerships, artist–scientist residencies, and the curation and dissemination of innovative curricula. All programs will be guided by data-driven decision making and measurable outcomes, ensuring real impact in the community.
As a fully recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit, CS+X ensures that contributions are tax-deductible and directly drive meaningful, lasting change. Revitalizing this landmark building will establish a visible, vibrant center of equitable innovation where life-long learners, researchers, creatives, entrepreneurs, and community members can collaborate, innovate, and tackle pressing challenges — creating a national model for grass-root empowerment and community-driven solutions.
