Barangay: Finding a Community with Each Other

Session 2

Lincoln Hall, LH 1057

11:20 AM - 12:30 PM

Barangay, or baryo, is a Tagalog word for 'neighborhood/community.' During this workshop, attendees can learn about and discuss the importance of fostering a welcoming community through the lens of Filipino culture.

Midwest Association of Filipino Americans (MAFA)

The Midwest Association of Filipino Americans (MAFA) exists to promote unity and cooperation amongst Filipinx and Filipinx-Americans around the Midwest by promoting Filipinx culture and Asian-American awareness, coordinating meetings and events, as well as supporting the objectives of the MAFA Member Organizations.

MAFA's vision is to foster a safe, inclusive space for members in the Midwest to engage in social consciousness regarding Filipinx culture and issues, therefore defining and cultivating a Midwest Filipinx-American identity. Through this dialogue, we aim to bridge members to the greater network of the Filipinx diasporic community and to explore personal and professional opportunities and resources.

MAFA encompasses many Filipino-American student organizations located in the Midwest, and the list of member organizations is only growing. MAFA focuses on preserving our roots and cultivating the development of Filipino student organizations through various events such as the MAFA Picnic, Leadership Retreats, Spring Conference, and Conference within a Conference. The MAFA organization is widely renowned for its annual leadership conference, called the Midwest Filipino-American Summit (MFAS). As of 2012, MFAS has provided the students of MAFA Member Organizations workshops, games, and team-building exercises that encourage them to discover their identities and become leaders of tomorrow.