community spotlight
“ I had a really good experience and I kind of fell into this… I wasn’t seeking it out.”
After volunteering for LBAF from 2003 to 2008, Bowie now holds the paid position
of executive director there, working an average of 80 hours a week despite mak-
ing less than a third of his counterparts in the same field.
Bowie comes from a professional background in the entertainment industry
having been a former film/video/radio producer at Century Pictures Company.
He has produced Grammy nomination contender music videos, documentaries,
commercials, public service announcements and an award-winning documen-
tary. Garry uses this experience in many ways at LBAF. “Whatever we do here,
we’re always taking pictures and video taping it,” he explains. In fact, LBAF has
five websites, two YouTube non-profit channels and broadcasts on Blog.TV. Mak-
ing use of technology in a way that other non-profits don’t, they utilize Twitter,
MySpace, YouTube and the interconnectivity between all social networking sites.
Garry observes, “What’s great about the youth today is they are able to talk about
relevant teen and health issues, affecting changes in the world in a way that we
could never have done using old traditional methods.”
Speaking of the younger members of our community, Bowie has been instru-
mental in finding innovative ways to connect to youth. In 2007, he transformed
the LBAF World AIDS Day yearly event with Project Red Paint—youth HIV program.
“On the one day that we stop the world to look at HIV and AIDS, we should take it
as an opportunity to teach, not to mourn.” He explains… “Kids today don’t know
people who died. Our event is about celebrating life using art, music, theater
and dance to relate and tie in messages about HIV and AIDS.” Last year a record
number of 527 people attended including 297 youth. “The coolest part about the
whole thing is they took the educational materials with them back home. After
the event, kids were calling and telling me that they were still talking about it
at school two weeks later… that’s when I knew, we won!” Garry acknowledges
that are many different age groups, cultures and communities that need to be
understood and he masterfully uses different methods to reach them.
Garry is the author of Don’t Say No – The Ultimate Guide to Customer Service
that has been used by many small businesses and in seminars. This expertise
also helps him immensely in his current role. “This year Long Beach Aids Walk
had 686 participants in person, not counting online,” he says. “We’re here for our
participants. It’s all about making their experience a fun one so they come back
the following year.” To that end, everyone involved with LBAF always has a great
attitude and smile. “If anyone needs our help, we’ll bend over backwards to get
them what they need,” he stresses. “It’s all from a customer service perspective.”
Due to the economy and lay-offs there has been a huge upswing in volunteers
with highly skilled backgrounds. “We love celebrating the volunteers who do
the work, it can’t be all me,” Garry says. “To use an old Japanese saying, ‘The fish
Garry Bowie:
stinks from the head down,’ so I have to set the example… I have to set the tone.
I’m passionate about what we do here. We move mountains but still have a lot
of fun.” LBAF is completely donor supported and does not receive funding from
renaissance man
the government. “We’re nimble and can respond faster because we don’t have
the red tape that agencies who are government funded do,” Garry continues. “We
respond to the needs of the community as an organization, becoming a strong
and innovative agent for social change.”
The ultimate aim of the Long Beach AIDS Foundation (LBAF) is to end the spread Garry is currently mentoring volunteers who he hopes can take over when the
of HIV/AIDS. It’s a mission led by executive director, Garry Bowie and made pos- time comes for him to leave. “I will probably be returning to working in the en-
sible collectively by donors, participants and volunteers alike. “Ultimately, this is tertainment business soon or go back into consultation and teaching customer
not about me,” says Bowie “This is about our organization and our mission.” service,” he elaborates. “But I want to be sure that there is someone suitable first to
A Long Beach resident since 1987, Garry previously lived in Huntington Beach take over my position.”
where he became involved in Orange County AIDS Walk as a participant. “I also
did the Avon Breast Cancer Three Day Walk for three years in a row,” he continues, For more information call 562.987.5200 or visit
lbaidsfoundation.org.
8 RAGE monthly | July 2009
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104