The Madi Youth Association (MYA) kickstarts the 2023 Youth conference in Dallas, Texas on the July 4th weekend tackling topics in mental health, financial literacy, Ma’di clans, and many more. This memorable weekend was energized by traditional dances, BBQ, culture and joy. The MYA put together a special camaraderie with old and new friends, of which exemplifies a true testament to Madi culture, traditions, and values. This article recaps highlights from the conference but most importantly offers feedback from youth members!
A few highlights include panel discussions on career and mental health awareness. Many enjoyed discussions with youth professionals in career fields including STEM (i.e. Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), management, health, and fitness. Another highlight was the cultural education of Ma’di clans. One youth member said,
“I loved how we had elders and educated youth present who knew how to help others learn what clan they were a part of. That's huge when it comes to culture!”
What an amazing comment! Over time, the gap between the youth and elders will be unified, and they can continue to learn from each other.
Fun fact, there are more than 60 different clans in the Ma’di tribe. Not many get the opportunity to learn about their ancestral bloodline, as the knowledge is lost between generations. The Ma’di people, however, are proud to pass down this knowledge to their children. This is beneficial so that you don't marry your cousin and have children! Some may disagree but the Ma’di people prefer not to marry their distant relative, even if it's the third, fourth, or fifth cousin, most will not do it!
Another youth member mentioned that his biggest takeaway was on culture, saying,
“Ma’di culture is alive and thriving!”
If you ever had a Ma’di conference experience, you will know that culture is a priority. I remember the days when my mother hand-made beaded skirts for my sister and me so that we were prepared to perform at the Ma’di General Conferences. Those were the moments I cherished the most as a young girl, everyone celebrating and dancing in a big circle! It was a wonderful time, I would always get excited for it by telling all my classmates at school about how I'm going to celebrate my culture with my friends from different states. An annual reunion that many Ma’di people were proud to be a part of.
Another youth member focused on the desire for change. She said,
“It's up to our leaders and all of us to be proactive in implementing change cohesively if we want things to work out long-term… I really hope that does happen because I want the community to feel wholesome and like a Team.”
What a profound statement! Let's emphasize that this generation wants to see unity among our youth and elders. Now let's address the most important segment of this article, the feedback! Don’t stop reading yet, this is the meat of the entire article. Many people want to see change, but we often forget to self reflect and ask "what kind of changes can I make in my life to better my family and community?" Keep that in mind while we go over some feedback from the conference.
A common feedback was improvement in time management. Also, since many of the youth live in different states, it's hard to get to know each other. One member suggested that more icebreakers and fun activities be implemented so all members can learn more about one another and build relationships.
Let’s also look at some positive feedback. The youth panel and financial literacy presentations were definitely a success among many members. It is a blessing to always receive inspiration from great leaders in our community to impart wisdom and understanding for personal and professional development. One member said
“I loved the financial education portion of the conference that was given by Joel Adiges. It is SUPER important and critical to the future of our youth.”
What amazing feedback, Now the next step is to take some ACTION.
This wraps up our recap and feedback from the 2023 Youth Conference in Dallas, Texas. Thank you to all members who provided feedback from our youth meeting and also those who took the time to answer my questions.
This article would not have been possible without Lagu Luka and Rose Amuda, thank you for your written feedback it is much appreciated!
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