Barton Brooks [Guerrilla Aid Worker]

By: Editor | December 15, 2011 | Lifestyle

After years of traveling and volunteering, Barton Brooks started solving the world’s woes — guerilla style. Without a master plan or a group of suits behind him to front the bills, Brooks ventured out on his own with one goal in mind: go as many places and help as many people in need as possible. This mentality led Brooks to found and run the day-to-day operations of Global Colors, an organization that provides immediate aid and education to communities all around the world including Haiti, Uganda, Laos and Kenya. Today, Global Colors is a mammoth organization that has garnered attention from philanthropic power players including Oprah Winfrey and Angelina Jolie. Brooks remains dedicated to his original guerilla-style approach, challenging the world at large to participate in what he has dubbed the “Guerilla Aid” movement that is part of his “52 Weeks to Change the World” project. Wanderer, humanitarian and entrepreneur, Barton Brooks summed it up best himself, “If someone is going to change the world, why shouldn’t it be me?”

Describe your personality in 10 words or less.
Aware, impatient, energetic, passionate, curious, evolving and content.

If you were reincarnated, who or what would you like to come back as?
Whatever it is, it has to be moving forward. I’d just hate to come back as something stationary. Person? Ideally Laird Hamilton because of the way he lives his life with purpose and a sense of adventure. 

Name your favorite …
Contemporary musician: Pink
Comfort food: macaroni and cheese
Wild animal:  lemur
Instrument:  piano
Founding Father: Thomas Jefferson

What do you consider your greatest professional accomplishment?
I’ve been able to generate support for projects from the middle of America to the White House, and I’ve even caught the attention of Oprah. But how do you choose between cows for widows in Kenya, schools in Haiti and Madagascar or family programs in Cambodia? Each community project feels like family. I could never say which one was greatest.

What are you pissed about right now?
Nothing really specific right now, but in general I’m put off by the senseof entitlement and disregard for others that many people display these days. It’s just not cool to be ignorant — that gets my blood boiling faster than anything.

What tunes would be on the five-song playlist to your life?
“Perfect” — Alanis Morrisette, “Welcome to the Black Parade” — My Chemical Romance, “Desperado” — The Eagles, “The Luckiest” — Ben Folds, “Non, Je Ne Regrette” — Edith Piaf

What is your greatest fear?
Unrealized potential.

Who is the most interesting person you have ever met (and why)?
Kathy Eldon. She suffered immense loss and then turned her trials into global inspiration. She is indefatigable, engaging, and she has this extraordinary ability to make you want to learn about the world and help where you can. Every time I see her, I am reinvigorated in my personal journey, and her hugs and pancakes are second to none!

Name three things you cannot live without.
Movement, my Mac, coffee.

You get one wish …
I want to create and provide for a family of my own, and someday, I will.

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