Transforming Dreams into Leadership
Samir Fekihi, originally from the historic city of Fes, has called the United States home since he was just twenty-five years old, embarking on a mission to empower youth and cultivate leadership among Moroccan and Moroccan-American communities. Through a program aptly named "Leaders of Tomorrow," Fekihi aims to instill confidence, experience, and open-mindedness in young individuals, enabling them to transform their potential into genuine leadership. This initiative is deeply rooted in Fekihi's own experiences as a young Moroccan navigating his way towards the American dream.
After completing his studies in Morocco, Fekihi ventured to Orlando, Florida, where he began his professional journey through the Disney Cultural Representative Program. This opportunity not only opened doors within the hospitality sector but also laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial aspirations. "After my time at Disney, I worked at a five-star hotel within the Disney area and subsequently opened my own Moroccan restaurant," he shares enthusiastically.
Upon settling down in the United States and marrying, Fekihi found hospitality to be a powerful medium for showcasing Moroccan culture. He emphasizes, "Wherever I can share my culture, you will find me there." Over time, his career transitioned into real estate and entrepreneurship, where he now serves as a real estate agent, manages a rental business, and runs another company specializing in event organization. His flexible work schedule allows him to dedicate more time to community initiatives.
Building Bridges Through Culture and Leadership
In addition to his professional pursuits, Fekihi holds the position of Executive Director of the Moroccan American Cultural Society of Florida (MACS), a nonprofit organization he founded in 2022. This organization is dedicated to preserving Moroccan heritage, supporting the local community, and fostering cultural dialogue through various events and educational initiatives tailored for youth. It is within this context that the idea for the "Leaders of Tomorrow" program was born.
The program emerged from Fekihi's observations of the frustration felt by successful Moroccan expatriates. He notes, "I noticed that Morocco tends to engage with leaders only after they have already achieved success." This sentiment was echoed in discussions with community members who repeatedly asked, "Why does Morocco only reach out to us once we have made it, after we have accomplished our goals? No one spoke to us before this."
The program took shape following an unexpected collaboration with an American nonprofit that approached MACS to help organize a leadership trip to Morocco for American participants. Fekihi joined their group, assisting in their stay and introducing them to the country. Witnessing the benefits that American youth gained from this experience sparked the question: Why shouldn't Moroccan-American youth have the same opportunity?
After discussions with his team, the "Leaders of Tomorrow" program was officially launched. Today, candidates come from various regions across the United States, selected based on their academic performance, community involvement, initiative, and leadership potential. Typically, the program accepts ten participants; however, the latest cohort comprised twelve due to their exceptional achievements and contributions to their communities. Fekihi states, "With the results they achieved and the work they accomplished for their communities, it was impossible not to choose them."
A primary objective of the "Leaders of Tomorrow" program is to reshape how young members of the community perceive their relationship with Morocco. For many, trips to the kingdom often revolve around visiting family, leading to a limited understanding of their homeland. Fekihi explains, "For these young individuals, Morocco may simply symbolize their grandmother's house. They don’t necessarily know Morocco itself." Therefore, the program takes participants beyond this familiar framework, exploring cities like Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Fes, and Tangier, allowing them to discover the diverse facets of the country.
Fekihi observes that this experience has helped some participants cultivate a stronger sense of belonging to Morocco. "We witnessed this connection to Morocco grow. They all returned saying, 'We are Moroccans. Our roots are in Morocco.' They became incredibly proud of their heritage and culture."
While discovering Morocco is a central theme of the program, learning from influential Moroccan leaders is another crucial aspect. Participants visit parliament, universities, businesses, and various institutions, engaging with Moroccan ministers, political leaders, senior officials, business executives, and seasoned professionals. Fekihi emphasizes that he wants participants to experience leadership not as a theoretical concept but as a practical reality learned directly from those who have built successful careers and navigated their way to positions of responsibility. "Leadership cannot be taught in a classroom; it is learned through experience," he asserts. These encounters aim to bridge the perceived gap between youth and key decision-makers, instilling confidence and knowledge.
For Fekihi, these engagements become invaluable lessons, allowing participants to hear firsthand from Moroccan leaders in politics, economics, and institutions, and to understand how they forged their paths, overcame obstacles, and made decisions over time. The program's impact does not end upon participants' return to the United States. Many former participants have since joined the youth council of MACS, engaged in Ramadan events, community initiatives, and contributed to organizing forums that introduced candidates for local elections to the community.
Some have even returned to the "Leaders of Tomorrow" program in new capacities; three participants from the previous cohort traveled back to Morocco this year, this time as mentors for the new group. Fekihi believes this transition from participants to organizers highlights the potential outcomes when youth are entrusted with responsibility. "I always tell them they are already leaders; they just need this experience and someone to give them a little push. They already possess what it takes."
As the "Leaders of Tomorrow" program originally targeted Moroccan-American youth, MACS is now working to expand the concept to include young people residing in Morocco. Through a partnership with the National School of Business and Management, Moroccan students participated in visits to parliament, the House of America, and businesses, connecting them with professionals and institutions while introducing them to various career paths. The next phase involves reversing the journey entirely, as MACS plans to take a group of Moroccan students to the United States for approximately 15 to 18 days to meet with political, economic, and community leaders, allowing them to also benefit from direct immersion experiences.
The organization is also considering establishing an academy for younger participants while maintaining "Leaders of Tomorrow" as an annual program that includes advanced lessons, institutional visits, and community activities that continue in the United States after the trip to Morocco. For Fekihi, all these initiatives ultimately aim to support the development of youth without diminishing their connection to Morocco along the way. He concludes, "If they can help Morocco, that is my goal. If one day they can return and contribute to changing this country, that would truly make me happy."
As reported by ar.yabiladi.com.
