In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Gary Bonner, Executive Director at the Baltimore PC’s for People. Gary speaks on the importance of digital literacy and how PCs for People, a social enterprise, provides low-cost devices to those who may not have them readily available. He also touches on how his parents shaped his world view, and how this was the catalyst of Gary’s life of helping others.

QUOTES

• “During my time I was [in the military], I really began to feel my heartstrings tug at me more towards an occupation that allows me to help people on a much, much larger scale. Particularly the people who were like the kids that I went to school with.” – Gary Bonner [05:13]
• “The real issue with digital literacy is: There is no greater barrier to economic mobility than the inability to compete in a digital world. ” – Gary Bonner [28:37]
• “You have a voice, you have a story you want to tell, do you want to blog, do you want to compose music? You know, these are all things that you can do through your device. And don’t look at it as something you’re just going to write letters on and do homework on.” – Gary Bonner [38:12]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:04] Intro
• [01:32] Meet Gary Bonner
• [02:47] Air Force
• [06:11] World View and Family
• [10:05] Ins and Outs PCs for People
• [15:44] Apple Devices
• [16:42] Social Enterprise
• [18:18] Techs and Warehouse Workers
• [21:45] Safety Processes
• [23:20] Starting a Nonprofit During a Pandemic
• [24:52] Leaving Healthcare to Start Nonprofit
• [25:40] Solving the Problem
• [30:46] Success Stories
• [33:36] Wrap-Up Questions
• [40:25] Outro

RESOURCES

• The University of Texas at Austin
• ROTC
• Microsoft
• Whiting-Turner
• Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty

RELEVANT LINKS

• Gary Bonner on LinkedIn
• PCs for People
• Contact Information for Maryland’s PCs for People
• Gary’s Email