General Assembly is an international community, made up of over 1 million technologists, entrepreneurs, business leaders, educators, and creators from all over the world. GA was was founded on a global vision of the world that represents how people today work and live — and it’s clear that the future of tech, innovation, and entrepreneurship will only reach its full potential through a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Our community gathers at many of the most diverse and multicultural cities in the world, like Atlanta, London, Los Angeles, New York, Singapore, Sydney, and Toronto. We strive to ensure that the GA community is not just a reflection of the world today, but of the world we want to see in the future.
The diversity of our community, and the broad perspectives that diversity brings, is what sparks the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit that is central to who we are at General Assembly. One of our core values is that “empathy is your secret weapon.” I firmly believe there is no more powerful tool than the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person — especially if that person’s experience and life is nothing like yours.
Last Friday, the White House issued an executive order that goes against the values of diversity and empathy that are central to General Assembly’s identity and global community. This move by the White House runs counter to every angle possible: logic, economics, and the moral imperative that America has historically embraced and benefited from. We must remain vigilant and take action to ensure that we create and foster a safe and open environment for everyone in our community, no matter who they are or where they come from.
I want to make sure everyone at General Assembly and beyond understands our strong support of diversity and inclusion, regardless of race, immigration status, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, disability status, religious affiliation, socioeconomic status, or political persuasion. We are taking this opportunity to share our diversity and inclusion values statement, and our commitment to abide by it across our global community. As part of that commitment, we are now allocating $150,000 worth of seats in our full-time Immersive training programs in web development and user experience design to refugees and other immigrants.
Since 2014, we have raised more than $6 million in public and private commitments, matched 1:1 by General Assembly scholarships, to support students in completing career-changing courses at GA. With our additional commitment of $150,000 this year for refugees and other immigrants, we are doubling down on our efforts to support new Americans in gaining the skills they need to compete in the changing workforce. Please complete this form to nominate yourself or someone you know for a scholarship.
Diversity and Inclusion at General Assembly
General Assembly abides by a diversity and inclusion values statement. Our entire community upholds this commitment, and we maintain shared responsibility across our global campuses to live these values. General Assembly strives to make the future of tech as vibrant as the world it inhabits through a global commitment to diversity and inclusion.
At General Assembly, we are diverse. We foster an international community comprised of different backgrounds, experiences, identities, and perspectives. We work to ensure that everyone has a place at the table at General Assembly, regardless of race, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, disability status, religious affiliation, socioeconomic status, or political persuasion. We consistently leverage the diverse experiences of our community members to transform the narrative of diversity within the tech, data, business, and design communities. We also strive to ensure that the GA community is not just a reflection of the world today, but of the world we want to see in the future.
At General Assembly, we are inclusive. We celebrate and welcome diversity unbound by social hierarchies, and collectively work to foster mutual respect, empathy, and common cause. We provide welcoming spaces for growth conversation and empowerment on our campuses and strive to build greater cultural competence within our community. We also commit to supporting opportunities beyond our walls to promote access, break down barriers, and empower future generations of leaders in the tech industry.
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To learn more about diversity and inclusion efforts at General Assembly, sign up for our Social Impact newsletter. To read about some of our programs and advances in 2016, please visit this post.