My name is Y. Mustafaa Madyun. I have been called, Mr. Mustafaa, Baba Mustafaa, and Mr. Madyun by the hundreds of young people I have been blessed to work with over the past 30 years. I was born and raised in Washington, DC. I have a bachelors degree in Theater Arts, a Graduate Certificate in Adult Education, and I am two classes away from my Masters in Youth Development Leadership.
For almost a decade I have facilitated the Advancing Youth Development course for thousands of youth service providers and professionals and consulted for agencies and organizations locally and nationally. I will be sharing the inspirations I have been blessed with from my practice in youth development over the years. These initial postings will set the ground work by looking at some of the premises/beliefs we (adults) have operated under for centuries. Later we will discuss new ways of thinking and acting with our young people as we learn the "language" of youth development.
First and foremost it is my intention that the words, thoughts, and ideas, from this forum bring about a new way of how the adult world thinks about and interacts with young people in particular and how human beings deal with each other as a whole. I intend that this effort facilitates understanding and healing between parents and their children of all ages; that it be a confirmation for those who have always understood and practiced the art of youth development; and that young people (and adults) become enlightened and liberated to exist as the free thinking, strong, and fearlessly loving beings we were all created to be. This because I Love You!
I have five "young people" of my own: the eldest is 34 and the youngest 22. All of them have college degrees and are by all accounts successful - youth developmentally speaking. This is important to share because it sets the framework for this forum. I have "children" who do not know what it feels like to experience pain from their father. I have never hit, spanked, whipped, cursed, or called them out of their names. It is not necessary (nor beneficial) to hurt children in order to develop them. Indeed, hurting children only builds anger, resentment and fear that later manifest into a host of psycho-emotional challenges as teens and adults.
Adults (parents in particular) love their children. In truth, they only treat children the way they themselves were treated when they were young. If they knew better, they would do better. It is time to know better. It is time especially to teach young people that there is nothing wrong with them; that they are not inherently evil, that they have never done anything for which they deserved to be hurt or punished; in fact that all the things they have done (even the "wrong" things) were for the "right" reasons. We will talk about those "reasons."
I expect we will have fervent debate; so let us argue beautifully, seeking always to understand and be understood. -- One Love!
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