Isaac Birds is currently a junior at Fordham University, majoring in International Studies with a concentration in Global Affairs and double-minoring in Humanitarian Studies and French. He grew up in Syracuse, New York. Throughout high school, Isaac volunteered with a number of non-profits focused on refugee assistance. In the summer of 2017, he studied in Dakar, Senegal, where he immersed himself in the local communities and learned a great deal about issues that public health specialists in West Africa are currently tackling.

He is off to study at the University of Paris this spring where he will undertake more public health and humanitarian assistance education. In the future, he hopes to get his MPH in Global Health and work in public health-focused humanitarian assistance, particularly in relation to access to vital resources in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa.

When not working or studying, you are most likely to find Isaac riding his bike at Riverside Park, listening to French rap, shopping at Urban Outfitters, or performing improv at one of the many theaters throughout NYC. Isaac recently answered a bunch of questions to help us get to know him better. We were lucky to have Isaac as part of our intern team at the NY office and wish him lots of luck with his future.

Home: Syracuse, New York

Education: I major in International Studies at Forhdam University. I am also minoring in French and Humanitarian Studies. In the future I hope to pursue my MPH in Global Health.

CMMB volunteer position: I work at CMMB as a sIntern on the Volunteer Programs Team. My immediate supervisors are Heidi West and Marcia Grand Ortega.

Sum yourself up in two words: Invested, aesthetic

Why CMMB? When I was originally searching for fall internships this summer I applied to a number of positions. CMMB, however, stood above the rest as the organization that could offer me the most enriching position. From the moment I interviewed, I could tell that CMMB is an organization that values the impact of their programs and yearns to ensure that each volunteer’s skills are utilized properly and in a fulfilling way.

I also admire CMMB’s commitment to sustainable development, which is so crucial in the field of humanitarian assistance. As a future public health professional myself, I truly believe that CMMB’s values align with my own in relation to how to achieve sustainable and impactful solutions to the number of hurdles to be crossed within developing countries.

What are you most proud of? I am most proud of the fact that I was able to use French within my position here at CMMB. I translated a number of our volunteer position descriptions into French, and they are now live on various university career websites. These posts have been met with success, as my French postings alone have received a large number of applicants.

Imagine you are stuck in an elevator. Who would you most like to be stuck with? And why? I would love to be stuck in an elevator with Casey Neistat. He is a YouTuber that I have admired for years – he lives in NYC and worked incredibly hard to succeed in the field of filmmaking. His perseverance and resulting success has been a constant source of motivation to me in both my personal and professional life.

You are featured in the NY Times. What’s the headline? Ideally, the headline would read “Examples of Sustainable Change: Isaac Bird’s Strides in Development in Senegal”

What would your theme song be? Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins

What is your hope for your experience volunteering with CMMB? By volunteering with CMMB, I hope to be introduced to the public health-related aspects of the humanitarian sector. I also hope to gain experience in organization applications and communicating with volunteers. Throughout my career, I hope to do both field work and administrative work, so interning with CMMB is a fantastic way to be introduced to the sector.

Favorite quote: “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man how to fish and he eats for a lifetime.” – Ancient Chinese Proverb

What book should everyone read? Why?  Everyone should read “The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries are Failing and What Can Be Done About It” by Paul Collier.

It is an incredible look at the economic factors that have caused such income inequality in the modern world, and provides a number of sustainable solutions to a number of these issues. It is a must-read for anyone in the humanitarian sector.

Who would you like to play you in the movie of your life? Aaron Paul

What is your hope for the future? My hope for the future is that we will live in a world free from societal inequalities. I hope to see the day that all have sustainable access to vital resources, opportunities for economic mobility, and the overall chance to live a full and happy life.

If you could solve one world problem, what would it be? Income inequality worldwide.

What are the three things you are most grateful for? 

  • My friends
  • My family
  • The opportunities I have been given

I want to be a volunteer!