GARRY GILLIAM FOUNDER / CEO
Garry hails from Harrisburg , PA ., having attended the Milton Hershey School and Penn State University . Garry prides himself in his hunger for knowledge and love for giving back to his community . His five seasons spent playing in the National Football League allowed him to build strong connections both on and off the field .
COREY DUPREE COO
Corey ’ s affinity with learning has allowed him to serve as a chameleon in all environments in which he has worked . This includes marketing , athlete and entertainer management , news filming , and event coordinating just to name a few .
FL veteran Gary Gilliam and his childhood friend Corey Dupree are on a mission to breathe new life into poorer areas . The two men have founded the Bridge , a company created to help “ span the tide ” between underdeveloped and successful communities and “ build bridges ” for others to gain access to basic resources . The Bridge transforms abandoned properties into “ eco-villages ,” sustainable communities that provide shelter , support , education , and more to the less fortunate . Through their efforts , Dupree and Gilliam hope to empower those forced to live in low-income communities , particularly at-risk inner-city youth .
Although Gilliam had plans for the Bridge sometime before it was officially founded , it was the death of rapper Nipsey Hussle in 2019 that catalyzed his decision to put those plans into action . Seeing what Hussle had done for his community , Gilliam was inspired to follow the artist ’ s lead .
“ What Nipsey did for his community really inspired me and I knew I wanted to give back to my community like he had done for his ,” Gilliam said .
Gilliam and Dupree alike were also inspired by Milton Hershey School , a non-profit boarding school that both men attended . Founded by famous chocolatier Milton Hershey , the school provides low-income families and single-parent households a completely cost-free education . Inspired by the school ’ s model , the two men wished to create something similar that could serve a whole community . Like MHS , the eco-villages created by the Bridge are meant to support less privileged children , supplying them with an education that is not determined by their wealth or lack thereof .
“ We wanted to create something that emulated MHS , but was available for an entire community ,” Dupree said . “ Our mission at The Bridge is to eliminate systemic oppression and create systemic empowerment , to provide at-risk inner-city youth an equal opportunity in life .”
The eco-villages would also supply low-income students with other necessities , such as nutritious food and a safe home . By following five pillars--Eat , Live , Learn , and Play--the Bridge intends to turn communities around , transforming them into more prosperous locales where citizens can live and work in safety and where children will be able to reach their full potential .
“ The Bridge will provide co-working spaces and retail opportunities , healthy alternatives for food than what is normally provided in inner-cities , affordable and luxury housing , financial literacy and business courses , and a virtual reality arcade . We want to set up inner-city youth with an even playing field to become successful ,” Dupree said .
Although COVID-19 has complicated some of their plans , Gilliam and Dupree continue to build on their plans . While they have had to push some events back , they have also gained new business partners and added new team members . As of now , the Bridge plans to create eight new eco-villages across the country by 2025 , located in the cities of Harrisburg , Pittsburgh , Philadelphia , Atlanta , Seattle , Birmingham , Phoenix , and Houston .
Dupree and Gilliam are providing an invaluable service for people living in low-income areas . By claiming and revitalizing property in order to give it back to the community , they are not only saving these areas from the negative effects of gentrification but ensuring that the community ’ s youth will be able to be successful . With eco-villages set to be built across the country , many underprivileged youths will be given a new chance at success , which can only add to the overall prosperity of their communities as well as the country as a whole .
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ENSPIRE MAGAZINE WS20