I
founded Global Colors after years of volunteer
work and international travel, starting with a couple
of years in London before studying political history and
theology in Israel and the Middle East. I developed an insatiable
case of wanderlust and explored Europe, North America, South
America, Asia, and Africa - and in the process, became acutely
aware of the individual needs that plague our world.
Traveling
to take pictures and collect souveniers started feeling
a bit hollow, and it was in Cambodia where I finally was
inspired to make a difference. I changed my life to
reflect that, and started my little organization to
just do random acts of service around the world.
  I
started creating projects, and to make it all happen
sold my only asset (a Shelby Cobra replica that I built
by hand) to personally fund the first GC projects. I'll
still cry about that car if you catch me on the wrong
day, but that beautiful hunk of metal became an education
for kids in Cambodia, and changed the lives of some
beautiful women in Kenya.
So in reality, it was a no-brainer...
My
little organization has created a pretty sweet ride
of it's own, as it was a few years ago I was this random
guy having the desire to make a difference - but with
absolutely no experience in international volunteering.
Now I field calls from politicians, families, students,
corporations, and even the White House regarding the
proper approach to international grassroots efforts.
A
few bullet points about my experience or past work...
- Received
my formal education at Dixie College, the University
of Utah, and The Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern
Studies, and my U.S. professional background is
in real estate, the fashion industry, and production.
- Personally
lead volunteer projects in Cambodia, Peru, Mexico,
Ethiopia, Senegal, Kenya, South Africa, Thailand,
Burma, and Mozambique.
-
I've
been an advisor at the United Nations regarding
the Burmese refugee crisis .
-
Introduced
programs and developed projects for First Lady
Laura Bush to visit on her international goodwill
tours, and she recently joined me in Senegal for
a tour of our DIG project.
-
On
the board of the SaoSary Human Rights Foundation
in Cambodia.
-
Partnered
with Bleeding Hearts Media in Burma/Thailand
-
I
ran the GC International Research Internship Program
at UCLA and NYU.
-
Launched
a corporate reforestation volunteer vacation program
in Africa.
We
all work based on the inspiration of those we serve,
but I have to explain a bit about the people who have
had a major impact on helping me find my life.
My heroes below have shaped my thoughts about being
the man I want to become, and how to create the life
I want to live in.
MARGARET
MEAD - I think she understood human interaction
better than anyone, and her core belief that we learn
the most from simple observation has benefited me greatly.
I'm continually inspired by her desire to avoid polluting
cultures with fears, expectations, or personal rules,
and that lesson has made my work much more rewarding.
As it applies to volunteerism, I've learned to not place
anyone into a mold of what I think they need, but rather
ask them how they want me to help them and we start from
there.
ANGELINA
JOLIE - If you look throughout history at all
the celebrities who have come and gone, there are very
few who have taken their fame and turned it into something
powerul for millions of suffering people around the world.
She is the reason I became interested in Cambodia, and
it was while I was there that I decided to start GC -
so yeah, she's kind of a big deal to me. It took on a
whole new meaning when I watched some Cambodian children
playing Tomb Raider so I said, "Angelina Jolie?"
and they all started giggling and laughing. I realized
that they now had someone beautiful to attach themselves
to, and they collectively felt that she was "theirs"
just because they knew she was part of them. Talking in
a bit more detail, they think she kind of put them on
the map for the world, and these orphan kids felt attached
to her just because she knows they exist. Love or security
by association - a beautiful lesson for me...
LAIRD
HAMILTON - What an amazing inspiration for life.
Everytime I feel lazy or that I just want to chill and
coast, I think of the way Laird lives his life. Every
day should be lived to it's fullest, and every challenge
we master should bring a greater challenge to conquer.
His thought, "What would the knight do if there were
no more dragons to slay?" kind of sums it up for
me... Life is meant to be lived through conquering challenges
we face, not by the relaxing part after we've conquered
them.
OPRAH
WINFREY - There is just too much to say... but
in a nutshell, there is no greater example of human accomplishment.
Period.
Enough
about me - I just want to connect the world one volunteer
at a time, and I see it as my job to help people figure
out how and where they can make a difference.
Search,
find your cause, change the world...
|
