Computer programmer teaches homeless to code

Software engineer Patrick McConlogue gives to the homeless by teaching computer code. CNN's Bill Weir reports.

[@AmpsforBuddha]

We don't need a college education. We simply need education.

[@astral6749]

and we need education for NAAWWLEDGE

[@Megalomaniakaal]

Don't need no stinkin' papers, just need the skills.

[@coronette4708]

!!1!1

[@kinglito93]

College is overpriced and most majors are useless. It has a very dim future.

[@rod-abreu]

After wasting 4.5 years in college studying Computer Science, I don't know if 1 year out of the total amount was the really needed slice to learn all I needed to start practicing and keep learning by myself. It's only about the paper, because I have many friends who are already senior programmers in multiple companies without never have stepping inside a classroom to learn it. However, they have always the same kind of background, supportive parents and access to a computer since they were children. I struggled to have a computer, because my family could not buy me one when I was around 10 and already wanting to make games. A simple computer in Brazil when I was a kid, was costing around 10 salaries, so that way you see that the government wants to private you from knowledge since years ago, quite different from countries as US, Japan etc...

[@Erebus.666.]

Give a man to fish and he'll eat for a day,teach a man to PHish an he gets three meals per and a bed....

[@Vida24322]

Tony Mushin PHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[@YIIIIIN]

for a second i thought u mean php

[@andrewgarfield5512]

+huy ngo Wait... Doesn't he?! LOL I honestly thought the same thing...

[@Mellowspark1]

+Tony Mushin Give a man a Fizz and he tells you to Buzz off. #FizzBuzz

[@ConsumeristScroffa]

That didn't make sense.

[@PaigePiskinTV]

this is so inspiring!! Patrick - you are an awesome person, the world needs more people like you!

[@robinmetzefilms]

what is possible..??

[@crissihatesyou]

It also needs more people like Leo!

[@CiprianIonut]

How about you do similar things so you become one of the "needed"? The world doesn't need anything, it should want though and only then something would possibly change.

[@robinmetzefilms]

but computer programing.. I tried it in college and it was more than could do... what is this he is doing??

[@pchamney]

robin metze Did you catch the part early on about his strong early interest in science? Leo has a really good brain in that direction. Some of us are better at other things. ;)

[@ParkerDewrell]

I couldn't stop smiling when he said "I have a lot of respect for authorities." Despite the fact he was arrested.

[@KingAuthor83]

ughhh....

[@i_love_tacos7887]

Very cringe

[@DanielCardei]

Now in this case you buy him a HP Laptop and the heating problem in winter its resolved

[@KennethDiazperlloni]

We need more people like Patrick what an awesome guy.

[@bamb5886]

i could see this as a movie with will smith and jeremy renner.

[@lacountess]

Lol, and it has to be Will Smith, who's one of the richest guys in the world.

[@bamb5886]

lacountess Will Smith is worth about $200 million. He's not even close to being one of the richest people in the world.

[@vinsokukan1879]

Write the script & maybe some one will opt to direct it or send it over to hollyweird.

[@roni5245]

@@lacountess no, Will Smith is worth around 200 million dollars and Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, is worth 200 billion dollars

[@UhhLeeShuh]

I dont see how this is anything but awesome. arrogant to offer him $100 or a computer and lessons???? More like giving and life-changing. Not only is this a friendship formed out of people who normally ignore each other… but it is a great example of the potential that education can unlock in any individual. GREAT JOB PATRICK AND LEO!

[@jshnoelgill]

Critics get so salty at the idea yet the guy proved them wrong and even made a working app and they probably wouldn't even be able to know how to design In the first place.

[@sleeplessingalway]

Patrick and Leo, I am humbled and speechless. Nothing I could say or type could be eloquent enough to speak to the beauty of your story and the reminder of the best things in our humanity -- compassion, grace, potential, faith! Many thanks to Bill Weir for bringing this amazing story to world attention -- You Rock! It made my holidays a little brighter!

[@DeniseOBerry]

Such an amazing story of giving, belief, and gratitude. How fitting for the holiday season. The best part of this video for me? Don't judge. That is so true!

[@mariowilliams4704]

This really touch my heart. I wish the the best for Leo

[@jellosquishier]

I honestly don't understand the level of cynicism Patrick got when he first announced he was going to give a laptop to a homeless man. I mean, it's his money and laptop. He can do with it whatever he wants. Anybody know why those people responded the way they did?

[@cosmicreality8]

Because he didn't just do it privately, Patrick drew a lot of public interest by writing about the story. People are naturally skeptical. Think of it this way: "For every action there's an equal and opposite reaction". And also: "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." Unfortunately, this is human nature.

[@aardvarkian1207]

and equally unfortunate is the fact that the media is driven to such extent as to harass a man for his own ideas of kindness and his drive for a good experience with kindness and true humanity

[@phraggers]

I know this is 3 years old but I just stumbled across this. My answer to your comment would be: Reporting. Honestly it benefits the story if everyone is negative, I'm sure overall there was more positive feedback than negative, but to make the piece more interesting they didn't show the positive feedback :) Not that I'm trying to take anything away from it; I love feelgood news.

[@DjEazyP]

I am 200 on the like button. I didn't know you can go to jail for sleeping on a park bench. My taxes go to locking up people trying to rest on a park bench. And they wonder why they can't solve real crimes, cops to busy picking on the homeless and hanging out at Wawa or Dunkin' Donuts

[@Native_Creation]

This says two things, there's a whole lot of untapped potential being ignored on the streets, and secondly, we need to embrace our environments. We would be able to to solve several problems in one and help improve the world.

[@OthMar39]

If a homeless guy built an app , you absulutely can build one if you want.

[@GundamDakz]

"if i gave you a rock and a stick, how long would it take you to send me and email"? joe rogans the bomb

[@raptornomad1221]

What? No you can't. A good coder and someone who can code is different. I studied coding for two years and thank God I'm good at medicine or else I'm done for.

[@04pranks]

Benjamin Huang Do you think learning coding won't help ? or at least find where to live.

[@Joshua-dl3ns]

@@raptornomad1221 it’s absolutely possible if you put dedication, time and patience

[@MrBones696]

"teach a man how to fish" and get bashed for it,wtf?

[@bidyo1365]

haha

[@plutopowered1116]

I want to know what the cops did with his original laptop.

[@vinsokukan1879]

cellubrite ........yep....metadata is king!!!

[@simplyme922]

I admire both men.

[@xtremewarhdk974]

Hello. I don't know why but I found this video today. I only want to say we need more Patrick's in the world. AWESOME.

[@lindajackson3574]

I loved what Patrick did for this person. That's a hand-up I certainly can applaud!!!

[@numbertoxy]

With so much crap going on in the world, it's nice to see stories like these.

[@Snowball_Butterfly]

This heartwarming story calms me down. It is important for each person to just learn not to pay to learn.

[@susmitsingh642]

and people say geeks aren't cool

[@Sulfen]

I don't think they've said that ever since geeks made the top of the Forbes richest people on earth.

[@notsolegalciv2761]

+Sulfen 😂

[@panlis6243]

Because they aren't. Geeks are posers. Nerds are cool

[@kingkbtv]

Give a man a fish he eats for a day Teach a man to fish he'll eat for a life time

[@hayseman]

This is the greatest story I have heard all year.

[@MalamIbnMalam]

wow, amazing story, brought tears to my eyes. Patrick is a very nice guy, the homeless guy is as well too. He just wants to genuinely get a good job, and find a home. Sometimes life isn't fair.

[@blakemartin4992]

The connotation that the word programmer carries for how intelligent someone is laughable once you become one. The media and the average person lumps the difficulty of all types of programming under the difficulty of the lowest level and most complicated applications of programming. As far as what was shown in the video, he was teaching him javascript and html. It doesn't take a genius to learn javascript and a markup language like html ( or any programming language for that matter). Anyone who is willing to learn about how computers work and is a remotely logical can learn to program. The only genius involved with programming is innovation and aggregation of ideas that are already present to solve an unsolved or currently inadequately solved problem. That being said, I am fine with letting those people stay uninformed on the subject just in case I ever need to get paid decently in the future and I don't really want to work that hard.

[@9463-g1j]

As a programmer & a hacker, this is just a bitter opinion. Coding isnt learnt overnight & takes a lot of time to become fluent. Dont piss on the guys successes because you're ignorant. You sound miserable.

[@irbeast69]

94638 33312 how can I get started learning please? How did you start? What guide, books, school do you recommend? Any insight would be appreciated

[@aakarmathurful]

This homeless guy's inner peace is the definition of cool!!!

[@brassattacks2411]

he never says thank you, not once. not sure how kewl that really is.

[@janreynaldreyes9737]

5:17 "don't judge no one" double negative it means judge everyone

[@Kh4lidz]

WWWWWOOOOOOOWWWWWWW YOU ARE SMAAART !!!

[@janreynaldreyes9737]

+Kh4lidz Lol thanks!!!! :D

[@Kh4lidz]

Jan Reynald Reyes lol

[@dominikburazer5292]

+Jan Reynald Reyedont dont judge,no one there now it makes sense

[@darkspace5762]

It means judge someone

[@thecuriousnerd3396]

homeless man who taught how to code. i hope the app he created able to help his life to a better world. such a positive attitude even though he is in a poor situation.

[@FuIIDiveVR]

I only hoped more people would wake up like this man before it's too late.

[@juansinaaaaaaaaaaa5402]

When I become a programmer I am gonna do the same to someone

[@ruskodudesko9679]

yes all programmers sould go teach one homeless guy to code lol

[@ominous450]

this is a great story. it warmed my heart

[@peetam22]

Such an inspiring story! Great initiative Patrick! One change like this could very well change the world!

[@alex5315]

I’m learning how to program and I love it .

[@Transvestigater]

Holly shit he made the app I never could! Keep going Leo!

[@gck86]

I hope Microsoft ,Apple,Google company Facebook Company and tech companies give a job to those homeless people.New hope for the homeless people!

[@rajmarathe1]

Great story. Thanks for sharing this with us, CNN.

[@JackLloyd]

4:20 - And that attitude is why "the man" is able to keep you down and take your laptop.

[@suzannewoods9396]

Wow what a great video. Best of luck to you Leo. Thanks Patrick.

[@AnneElizabethHawley]

Inspiring and very decent, but if he wants to help the "unjustly homeless" I'd sure like to know how he defines the "justly homeless".

[@AnonymousInaWay]

There doesn't have to be a justly homeless for someone to be unjustly homeless. 99.999% of homeless people are unjustly homeless, there are probably a few people i.e. gang bangers etc, that probably don't deserve a whole lot, but then again even they didn't grow up with any real opportunities.

[@lacountess]

Believe it or not some of the homeless in my neck of the wood choose to be homeless. At least that's what they say. I talked to one and he spoke about it as if it were a lifestyle. He also rejected my diet coke because of the "Aspartame" which I found highly amusing.

[@Ichibuns]

That's why he gave him the choice for a hundred dollars or a handy skill

[@edutzugaya]

this got me to smile. keep it up. much love from romania

[@VinnieCool13]

This the best story I heard in a long time

[@midnightlynx6380]

You know what. People like him make the world a way better place.

[@dinghaorensheng]

This is a good lesson for everybody. In your travels ...see someone who needs a hand? Help them ...personally. How many homeless and poor are there compared to the general wealth of this country? We outnumber them greatly. If every one of us shares just a little of what we have, the whole problem will be eased ...and hey ...you never know who you're going to meet ...just look at the example in this video ...just because the gentleman doesn't have a home right now doesn't mean he's not contributing to the well-being of the world. Every person has value ...some don't know that, some have forgotten, and some just need a hand to realize their value. Patrick McConlogue and Leo Grand are both heroes in my book!

[@hybridrogue4097]

a bench really is it really illegal to sleep on a bench when you have no where better to sleep

[@imp3r1alx]

the difference of a man who want to learn education and students who just want that 1 single paper at the end of college

[@funakiexpressV2]

What nice people! Such an inspiring story

[@raywillis5656]

I need this man to teach me code.

[@whiterose7055]

THIS is a heartwarming story.

[@76Rooroo]

Good for you man! Keep that up Leo. \m/

[@yupmonk3yzrul3]

this is freaking brilliant. wow. I really love how all these people, when Patrick had the idea originally, just assumed that Leo would either take the laptop and never show up for lessons or that he would just take the $100. It shows how ignorant people are to the value of education. And teaching someone code counts as education

[@catl.8081]

The last sentence says it all... "Faith, prayer. It works. Try it!" Patrick is a genius indeed.

[@emmetcasey6405]

This message should be spread its just so good

[@dwnturn]

This guy is so inspiring. +1

[@elfpballer6]

Good for everyone in this video.

[@pakalologirl420]

we need more guys like this

[@alefefam3502]

I wish someone would teach me how to code, I have a passion

[@RamboToReality]

There are multiple sites online willing to help you. (Such as codeacademy and khanacademy)

[@alefefam3502]

+NSG Stunting I am actually using kan but I need a more visual learning

[@alefefam3502]

thanks

[@nathanskates2400]

+nikholaa code academy is good but it doesn't teach you how to really make things like games out of code, just what different things do. It's good for beginners

[@Sulfen]

+NathanSkates once you know a programming language you can just use a game engine that uses that language and read the online manual on how to make games with it and you're set.

[@2210ihp1]

he is a good man.

[@smoak2024]

This is an exceptional idea! Anyone who says otherwise has no respect for the homeless.

[@ashthepandao-o6924]

we need more people like him

[@imadzeryouh3602]

Respect to the homeless guy. Computing is sooo awesome :D

[@jz5748]

Amazing story

[@WolfIonGaming]

that's amazing this is truly an inspiration to all of us. this pumps me up even more to be a better programmer! XD

[@robovoid8024]

Most people just pass by throwing a quarter and turning there nose up at the homeless. Regardless of what the kid does its more than most hes giving the man an opurtunity.

[@ChurchillLee]

Faith in humanity restored :)

[@thejluntzreport]

Information and knowledge are the true forms of wealth in this modern day & age. The people who thought he should just give him a few bucks are stuck in an archaic mindset. Great video and story.

[@tyru2]

The homeless guy is very respectful, and he has kids. Why didn't his kids take care of him.

[@umnikos]

How the homeless afford the electrisity for the laptop?!?

[@kajal091s]

+Alex Stefanov (umnikos) Public places have electricity and internet. Such as library,coffee shop,supermarket and even on some streets from where i live.

[@umnikos]

kajal091 ?!?!! Then they don't need more help - they have everything needed

[@kajal091s]

Alex Stefanov You seriously think electricity and internet is all you need to live? You should take a look at hierarchy of moscow.

[@fagbowsa]

its called maslow's hierarchy of needs... simpleton

[@kajal091s]

alchemicinterest Thank you captain. Now fly away.

[@arghadeep10]

leave him alone let him live his simple life and have his freedom.

[@JCW7766]

Awesome story. It just goes to show you never know what someone is capable of and that we as a society stereotype people way too much.

[@SupremeStone]

This put a smile on my face

[@anaskiddem3888]

God bless you my friend

[@programthis3805]

What a heart warming story :)

[@Zetich]

This guy is a genious!

[@Matt_Matt96]

Instead of giving them temporary money give them knowledge to make money plus more. I want to do something as open hearted as this one day in my community.

[@sin9493]

1st year: Homless 8 years later: He’s the next CEO of google

[@flash2989]

The guy who teached him is a true genius.

[@jacobsoesan]

Love this story. Watchd it 2 times

[@HealthInspectorz]

People don't realize how powerful self education really is. It ignites that curiousity that is a catalyst to grasping knowledge.

[@jannahbethea8089]

So inspirational.

[@damonlee11]

Awesome story

[@toxicgurl168]

This is truly inspiring, I just wish they would put him up somewhere, give him some cash, something. I mean, it is cold like the video said, I just feel bad that he has to go back onto to streets when the day is over, you know?

[@brittanyrocket]

It's up to him, he doesn't want peoples charity unless absolutely necessary. He wants to make his own way whenever possible.

[@djgetti]

Brittany Ransom True, but the dangers of one stealing his laptop while he is in the middle of a long task. imagine coding all night and forgeting to save, its the same thing. still a great video!

[@CM-sr7pi]

Brian Smith I think he has a higher risk of getting his laptop seized by the police than a thief.

[@tecsmith_info]

A real hero

[@geminix365]

The thing he needed the most, don't give him food, he won't like

[@NicoleArrage]

Can Ellen Degeneres please give this guy a house or somewhere to stay? He's got soo much potential! He's such a great person! I hate to see him living outside in the cold streets :(

[@ayarper]

Who are this 20 people that could even think of disliking this. This is some amazing and inspiring. If more people were like this guy, we wouldn't have these environmental and social problems in the first place.

[@gurpreet.tamber]

Amazing ! Great Cause, Great Work !!

[@AraTheCoach]

GREAT story!! where does he shave, that tache was serious.

[@abdoelrhmanmohammed]

I saw the blog post since first day , here it comes to life!😂

[@MFahad-hn8fe]

Faith,prayer ... Very nice

[@jelyzza]

If you guys want to support him buy "Trees for Cars" in the App Store.

[@retaliat1275]

since when was it illegal to sleep on a bench and why is the laptop evidence?

[@warpatato]

Wow. Kinda heartbreaking when they say he was obsessed with science as a child. It was like the world lost a potentially great scientist

[@rickysukhi]

What an attitude !!

[@shadowscrap666]

I love reading the comments claiming how this doesn't help get a job. Does it matter? Not to him it doesn't. Leo seemed fairly content with his life and i'm pretty sure he did not want to waste what was probably a once in a lifetime chance to invigorate himself into a world that he didn't know much about. Sure he doesn't get a job right away, but if he is able to dedicate his time to something the world is revolving around, his future may be brighter than you Mr./Ms. "make him do REAL work." You can have a job, earn cash, and still be a lowlife asshole, but this guy chose to have knowledge and broaden his horizons to live a happier life.

[@KendraC]

Awesome story!

[@kinglito93]

Better student than most people in college.

[@dennisbean4622]

How awesome is this?!?