This year, World Link held four Midterm and Diversity Immersion Conferences in different regions across the U.S. during the month of January, many of which took place over Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. YES students participated alongside several other students from different organizations.

The aim of this conference is to have students assess where they are in their program goals and develop a plan to meet their goals by the end of the year, give students the skills and tools they need in order to successfully plan and implement their Global Youth Service Day projects, and to immerse students in an activity that allows them to experience a diversity issue first-hand.

The Diversity Immersion activity is often the most impactful experience of the weekend. Here is what each our regional groups participated in for their immersion activity:

• Our Iowa cluster took part in a Q&A session with the pastor and some members of the congregation before attending the church service at Zion Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN.
• The Illinois cluster joined in with the singing and dancing when they attended a service at the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis, Tennessee.
• Our Colorado group attended a traditional African American church, and on MLK Jr. Day, had the honor of joining tens of thousands of people for the 2016 Martin Luther King Marade (March and Parade) – the largest march to celebrate the life and legacy of this important civil rights leader in America.
• The California Cluster spent a Sunday morning and early afternoon at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, California, where they were challenged to understand the Holocaust in a historical and contemporary context. They had the honor of hearing a Holocaust survivor tell his life story and also learn about all forms of modern day prejudice and discrimination.

Instead of us trying to explain the impact the diversity immersion experience had on our students, we will let the YES students that participated tell you:

“An African-American Christian Pastor, talking about justice and righteousness. He was also talking about Islamophobia in the United States and how people should not fall in the 'trap' of judgments driven by fear and emotions. He mentioned immigrants, refugees, and Civil Rights of Africans-Americans, and the church honored the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, who was assassinated in that very city. Today’s church service 'embodied' diversity. African-Americans were so kindhearted, their hospitality is mind-blowing. And as an Arab, born and raised a Muslim, this directly touched me. One of the greatest experiences I have ever had. Thank you World Link!” – Khalil Aidani (Tunisia/IL)

“I want to say what stood out to me at the MLK Marade. I learned that Martin Luther King Jr. is also important to the exchange student program because he is the reason students from all over the world can come to the U.S without any problems. If he didn’t fight for equality, then African’s like myself wouldn't have the opportunity to have the experience of being an exchange student. I wouldn’t be here today if not for MLK. This is an event that I’ll celebrate everyday of my life.” – Faith Daloba (YES 2015-2016 Nigeria/CO)

“Diversity wasn’t a reason for people to hate but a wealth to be thankful. Thankful that the world is not a boring place where there are just the same type of people everywhere. Thankful that there are people that think, see, or do something differently so we can learn by comparing and grow up. I mean, teenagers from 13 different countries can bond together as family, then can somebody please give me reason why the world cannot see it like we did?” – Talitha Messakh (YES 2015-2016 Indonesia/CO) 

“Throwback to the Memphis trip, I didn’t expect that it would be this special, but obviously it was. Since we tried some of the most famous dishes there, visited the civil rights museum in memory of Martin Luther King, and, on top of my list, visited an African American church. I’ve heard a lot about African American churches, but living the moment as they say inside that church was so much more than what I expected. The energy that these people had while praying was unbelievable and the respect that they had for Muslims made my day even better. I will never forget the hours that we spent in that church, such a peaceful place.” – Hanane Bousful (YES 2015-2016 Morocco/IL) 

“Today we learned a lot and part of it is that no matter what color of skin you have, what religion and beliefs you have, what part of the world you come from, you just have to walk with acceptance, acceptance of those things that make you unique. Because the world is full of differences and that's what makes it exciting. Remember that the rainbows in the sky look beautiful because of their different colors. We just have to learn how to respect every individual.” – Khayriyyah Fayhka Ala (YES 2015-2016 Philippines/IA)

“The experience that we had at the Museum of Tolerance was very educational and helpful for all of us. I think that it made us think and question ourselves about what we can do in order to improve and grow as individuals that won’t be judgmental, and how can we apply that to our communities so it will create a bigger outcome. It really gave us great ideas and motivation to make a change in order to be better.” – Viktorija Nestoroska (YES 2015-2016 Macedonia/CA)

“It takes only one man/woman to make a difference and today that was emphasized through the fact that Martin Luther King Jr. made a change. As did many others in several countries and they should be honored. Your opinion matters, so stand up and make a change.” – Tiffany Anders (YES 2015-2016, South Africa/IA)

It is clear the Midterm Diversity Immersion is an activity our students will remember for a lifetime. Students learned not only about the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Right’s Movement, but also how they can change the world through promoting his principals of peace and tolerance in their everyday lives.