It was a long journey from execution to completion for Dottie Rose Foundation's local girls-focused tech hub, but the finished product was worth the wait.
Leaders of the Charlotte-based nonprofit describe their new headquarters as uplifting, light and safe — an ambience they aimed to achieve for the girls participating in its program. Dottie Rose Foundation, born in 2018, provides technology and computer science education for elementary, middle and high school-aged girls.
The organization wrapped up renovations in late March for its tech hub, dubbed the "Dunbar House." It is located at 217 W. Dunbar St. in uptown Charlotte.
"The Dunbar House is to be a place where young women can come and learn and grow and celebrate technology," Sharon Jones, founder of Dottie Rose, told CBJ. "I think when people walk in, they think it feels happy, and it feels like a place where you can really come be yourself. And I think that's really important for many of the girls that we work with. Helping to build their confidence is equally as important as building their tech skills."
Dottie Rose's Dunbar House provides tech workshops, binary bling classes, game and web development, robotics, artificial intelligence, virtual reality and more innovative resources to inspire the next female generation. Graduates of the foundation's Stack Bytes offering — its first year-long, full web development program for girls in high school — can utilize the hub to help support and mentor the younger-aged members, Jones said.
The nonprofit plans to hold a graduation ceremony for its Stack Bytes program in the tech hub at the end of this month. Alumni will earn a full stack development certification. Dottie Rose plans to expand that program to offer data analytics education with a financial spin to coincide with Charlotte's leading stature in the space, Jones noted.
"There will always be a place here where you're gonna be able to come and learn whatever the latest technology is, and I think that's really important," Jones added.
The organization additionally provides recommendations for college internships and other resources for young women to explore the tech field.
The Dunbar House was created not only for girls, but also professional women in the local community, Jones said. They can rent the space for small gatherings, meetings or for learning purposes. Dottie Rose also plans to host its own community engagements in the tech hub.
The foundation bought the home, which was originally built in 1917, in May 2021. Renovations commenced in January 2022. The project was funded through donations, substantial community outreach and several corporate and individual sponsors such as Lowe's Cos. Inc. (NYSE: LOW), Charlotte-based AvidXchange Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: AVDX) and LendingTree Inc. (NASDAQ: TREE). Renovations totaled about $229,000, Jones said.
"We are both from Charlotte. We love the Charlotte community, and it's nice to have our stamp on it," said Jillian Klingberg, executive director at Dottie Rose who helps organize projects and activities for the girls.
Since 2018, the foundation has served more than 759 girls, Klingberg previously told CBJ. The organization aims to triple the number of participants in its summer camps this year to expand its impact, she said. The camps are a blend of coding, art and all things technology, taught by education experts.
The next summer camp kicks off in early June.
Dottie Rose Foundation is now looking forward to its next growth phase. In the next few years, the organization aims to serve more women since there is now a designated space for them to congregate. Jones said the organization also aims to invest in the Charlotte community by providing scholarships, backing boot camps and other entrepreneurial excursions.
When Jones reflects on the achievement of the finished tech hub, she remembers a saying her mom taught her: "You want to have a good foundation, and then you want your children to fly."
She's working to implement that philosophy at the Dunbar House.
"You want them to take that foundation and be able to go off and do great things, but yet come back if they need help or need support," Jones said. "And this place gives us those roots."
