WELCOME TO THE THE G|CODE HOUSE
BRIDGETTE WALLACE AND DAVID SUPPLE AT THE G|CODE HOUSE IN BOSTON
CHANGEMAKERS: TUFTS ALUMNI BRIDGETTE WALLACE AND DAVID SUPPLE TAKE ON CULTURAL DISPARITY IN THE TECH INDUSTRY.
The challenge:
“Just 3% of computing-related jobs are held by African-American women, 6% held by Asian women and 2% held by Hispanic women.” (https://builtin.com/women-tech/women-in-tech-workplace-statistics)
The solution:
Two Tufts Alumni of immigrant families (one Black, one Latinx) have now joined forces to make the G|Code House a reality in Boston’s neighborhood of Roxbury and utterly change the face of the Tech Industry—bringing to life a venue to both house and train young women and non-binary people of color in order to excel in Tech.
Bridgette Wallace is a striking Black woman who leads through action. Born in Jamaica and raised in Roxbury after her parents immigrated to Boston, Wallace is a kind, knowledgeable, practical and intensely driven individual. She is a Tufts alumna, accomplished Urban Planner, former Boston Public Health worker, as well as a consummate and innovative humanitarian.
She is the founder of the G|Code Project: a free program designed for young female and non- binary people of color aged 18-25 that provides exposure to coding in a supportive and inclusive environment to uncover interest and aptitude in tech.
What is G|Code?: “We are city planners, technologists, and activists working towards equity and social justice by providing young female and non-binary people of color with foundational needs such as housing, inclusive communities, quality education, and expanded access to economic opportunity.”
Boston is a city of great opportunity but also geographic and demographic inequity. This drastically impacts young female and non-binary people of color - while there are many programs that benefit them during high school years, after that their options become limited. G|Code programming empowers these folks that are aging out of other services to explore their next steps and pursue careers as change makers in the tech industry.
“The crossroads at which many girls find themselves after graduating high school can be intimidating. G|Code House is an innovative, place-based initiative which connects young women of color to educational and employment opportunities in the technology sector. This initiative combines affordable living, technology instruction, industry placements, and post-secondary education.”
The creation of the G|Code House is strikingly original--a 5,000 square foot Victorian home in Roxbury with period interiors and give fireplaces which will now be renovated in full to house 14 young female and non-binary people of color, while training them in coding. The ‘G’ is for girl.
Mr. Supple and NEDC have stepped forward to support Ms. Wallace and her team in the creation of the G|Code House, inspired by her vision and already deeply invested in the Boston community.
The partnership of these two individuals and organizations and their determination to rapidly bring this meaningful project to fruition was marked by a site walk through, meeting and ceremonial ribbon cutting on site at the G|Code House in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston last week.
Mr. David Supple is the CEO of New England Design and Construction, a leading residential Architectural Design Build creative firm in Boston with strong community roots. David’s mother’s family immigrated from Puerto Rico to New York. Mr. Supple attended Tufts Architectural School and is a passionate humanitarian, author and public speaker--releasing two books later this year on the subject of Black legacy in Architecture & Design. Mr. Supple and NEDC have joined forces with Ms. Wallace to assist in making the G|Code House vision a reality and will be now guiding the project through the duration of design and then overseeing and executing the full remodel.
Trade partners and local prominent businesses are reaching out to donate funds, time and material to make this vision a reality—including Wayfair, which will be graciously providing furniture for the facility. Businesses, individuals, and philanthropists throughout New England and the nation are invited to participate. To support this project: https://ifundwomen.com/projects/gcode-house
The Importance of G|Code In Ms. Wallace’s words:
“The immigrant story of being in search of opportunity and a better way of life is familiar to me as my family came to America from the West Indies during my childhood. Settling in Boston during a time of White flight and forced busing meant adapting to changing neighborhoods - my lived experience in Boston reflected the disinvestment and reinvestment in urban spaces depending on the presence or interests of those with privilege. This left many community members marginalized and reliant on inadequate policies to try to close gaps in housing, economic development, education and health.
This persistent pattern and the emotions that came with it ignited a passion within me to center my career around system changes, to act on behalf of those that are often invisible in plain sight, and to build upon solutions that created generational shifts that lead to equity and inclusion for all and not just a few. With a Master's in Urban Planning concentrated in Economic Development, decades of experience working in public health, and notable contributions to community centered initiatives in Boston, I went on to found G|Code, a non-profit designed to educate and empower young female and non-binary people of color to gain upward mobility by pursuing careers in tech. With a team of technologists and advocates by my side, G|Code is working towards equity and social justice by addressing foundational needs such as housing, inclusive communities, quality education, and expanded access to economic opportunity.
The early months of 2020 began with momentous progress for G|Code, though soon, like everyone, we were struck by a host of unanticipated challenges. However, the unjust outcomes of the pandemic, the murder of George Floyd, and the subsequent civil unrest across the country continuously reinforced the dire need for efforts like ours to bring justice to our education, employment, housing, and health systems. In the face of unprecedented times, the G|Code community doubled down on our initiatives and proved our value.”
The Importance of G|Code In Mr. Supple’s words:
“The inherent power of this project for positive change is striking. Ms. Wallace and the G|Code House will change individual lives in Boston for generations to come and will potentially change the face (and color) of the Tech industry as a whole. Our vision is that the G|Code House here in Boston will serve as a successful national and international model—bringing this embracive educational platform and approach to urban communities and young people of color around the world.”
PRESS INQUIRIES:
Contact Information for comment or interview:
Bridgette Wallace Email: bridgette70@gmail.com
Bridgette Wallace Mobile: 617 898 8138
David Supple Email: dave@nedesignbuild.com
David Supple Mobile: 617 474 0309
Imagery – Bridgette and David at the G-House in Roxbury last week https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8nlub7mogode65h/AAB3oqgEDCBOk5CgBNEZf2ATa?dl=0
Websites: