AIVillage Tech Institute helps young people ages 11 to 24 discover what they are capable of through hands-on computer hardware and personalized local AI — connecting their natural passions to real education, careers, and economic opportunity.
Because “it take a village”
Whether inside your school campus or across our independent community workshops, every student starts with hands-on PC hardware and builds outward into their own future.
We roll The Traveling Village Tech Lab directly into middle schools and high schools for a hands-on 5-day workshop. Kids get out of their seats, use real screwdrivers to take apart computers, install operating systems, and set up their own local AI.
Outside of school hours, AIVillage runs weekly workshops, Saturday open labs, and summer sessions where youth dive deeper into building tech, learning practical skills, and working with mentors.
Every student starts by holding physical silicon in their hands. They build mechanical trust, conquer the command line, and use local AI to engineer their own pathway.
Students take apart real desktop computers all the way down to the metal chassis. They hold CPUs, RAM sticks, power supplies, and hard drives in their hands. They clean the parts, put everything back together, and hear the system beep to life.
Learning how computers work under the hood. Students boot open-source Linux, control the machine directly through the command line, check live processor activity, and see how internet data travels across networks.
Unplug the internet cord. Students run real AI models right on their own computer—no subscriptions, no ads, no data tracking. They learn AI is math, not magic, and set up their own personalized AI assistant.
Moving from playing games to building tools. Students write simple Python code to connect with their offline AI, solve real problems, and automate everyday tasks.
Technology is just the tool—the student's passion chooses the direction. Whether it's cars, music, starting a lawn care business, sports stats, or understanding their legal rights, they apply tech to their real interests.
Connecting what they build to next steps: high school CTE tracks like Wilco, trade apprenticeships, college credits, and a supportive community of mentors through age 24.
Every student takes apart and rebuilds a real PC tower to understand how computer hardware actually works.
Running real AI models directly on the computer without internet, cloud fees, or anyone tracking their data.
Writing simple code that connects to their offline AI to automate tasks, fix problems, and build projects.
We don't force every kid to become a coder. We show them how hands-on tech and smart tools give them a real advantage in whatever they already love doing.
Taking apart and fixing computers, learning terminal commands, setting up home networks, and protecting your accounts and data from hackers.
Starting your own local service hustle: pricing jobs, mapping daily routes, sending invoices, and using simple AI tools to land customers and manage your gear.
Understanding how cars are made and how engines work. Hands-on troubleshooting, car electrical systems, and the difference between gas engines and modern electric vehicles (EVs).
Making beats and producing music, editing videos, designing clothing and graphics, and building your own creative portfolio online.
Knowing your rights as a citizen or non-citizen, understanding how courts work, researching real cases, and learning how laws have shaped our communities throughout history.
Public speaking, speech writing, learning how your town actually runs, and leading neighborhood projects that make your community better.
Tracking athletic stats and game performance, understanding workouts and body recovery, and using smart fitness tech to stay healthy.
Whatever you love—from gaming to cooking to sneakers—we show you how technology and AI can turn your passion into a real project and future career.
Rooted in Bolingbrook and Chicagoland, our leadership brings lived experience, technical mastery, and passionate community advocacy to every student we serve.
Lifelong Chicagoland technologist, computer builder, and Bolingbrook resident. Founder of ThePuterGuy.net and creator of the AIVillage hands-on hardware and local AI learning lab.
Bolingbrook community leader and youth advocate dedicated to parent partnerships, supporting families, and keeping our programs accountable and compliant.
Bolingbrook community ambassador and youth mentor passionate about student outreach, second chances, and helping young people find positive direction.
Empowering Youth & Young Adults Across Chicagoland • Cook & Will Counties, Illinois