Kids Hope Alliance recently had the pleasure of hosting Metrotown-In-A-Day (MIAD)! This program is a One Jax initiative that promotes youth leadership and development through group activities, inner reflection, and healthy communication amongst middle and high schoolers. MIAD is a three to four-hour workshop that is available to educators, nonprofit youth programs, youth groups of faith institutions, and other organizations. Different topics such as inclusion, mental wellness, and empathy are discussed throughout the workshop, allowing participants to explore how to successfully live together in a world that is growing more diverse. Students who attend MIAD usually go on to participate in the full two-to-four-day Metrotown experience.
Hosting the Youth of MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation
The special group of students who participated in the MIAD experience we hosted was none other than one of our very own providers: MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation (MWYF). During the school year, MWYF offers after-school programs that include academic assistance, mental health counseling, mentorship, and more. They also offer the Tennis-n-Tutoring program to students in kindergarten through fifth grade, where they play tennis and get help with their homework.
During the summer, Camp Dynamite serves about 200 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, where they grow educationally and physically, develop new skills, and attend local field trips. High schoolers can be apart of S.T.E.P Into Summer, where they serve as junior camp counselors, participate in college and career prep, and attend field trips.
My Experience Attending Metrotown-In-A-Day
I sat in on the first part of MIAD and I really enjoyed myself! We started off by playing human bingo, which is a get-to-know-you game that includes a lot of movement and talking. Each person is given a bingo card where each box has a phrase like, “this person has a baby in the family,” or “this person can count to 10 in another language.” This game allows you to learn fun facts about people while getting out of your comfort zone and speaking to people you may not have spoken to before. In order to win this game, you had to complete two rows within a set time frame. I was very close to completing two rows, but I didn’t win human bingo that time around.
We then played a game to see how well everyone knew each other. If you wanted to participate, you wrote your name on one side of an index card, and on the other side, you wrote about an embarrassing or shocking thing that happened to you. Then everyone had to try and match up the story with each person. It was fun hearing everyone's silly stories and trying to guess what happened to whom. Since I did not know anyone at MIAD, it’s safe to say I was not very good at this game.
The next activity had to do with discussing fears. Those of us who participated, sat in a circle and we listed our top four fears, then shared them with each other. It was very interesting because I was surprised to see some people have the same fears as mine. Sometimes I’m hard on myself for certain fears I have yet to overcome, but it’s comforting to know I’m not alone. I was also touched by everyone's vulnerability. It is an uncomfortable experience to really sit and decide to talk about the things you’re most afraid of, but I’m so proud of those who were able to push themselves through that experience. I am also proud of the individuals who decided to sit out. It was great to see young people set boundaries and exercise their ability to opt out of certain activities.
The last activity I stayed for was a deeper experience where participants shared more emotional things about themselves. Everyone went around the circle completing “If you really knew me...” sentences.
My Commendations
One of the things I was most appreciative of was the facilitators made it clear that you could chose not to participate in any activity if you did not feel like taking part. No one was made to feel bad if they chose to sit something out. Giving the participants this option helps create a safe and welcoming environment.
Another thing I appreciated was how confidentiality was stressed throughout MIAD. It was made very clear that the stories shared amongst everyone were to stay in the room. For activities of this nature, people are more inclined to share if they know they are doing so in confidence.
Conclusion
I had a great time sitting in for the first part of Metrotown-In-A-Day. Even though these activities are designed for students younger than myself, I was able to get out of my comfort zone and relate to some of the things that were shared. I highly recommend Metrotown to any middle/high school students who are interested. Students can apply to the Metrotown Institute today!
By: Madison Beckford