Hood Heroes — episode 4: Momo, Saint-Michel's mentor
Who could claim to live in the Saint-Michel district and have never heard of Mohamed Noredine Mimoun, alias “Momo”? Both coordinator of the Saint-Michel Youth Forum and a speaker at Cégep de Maisonneuve, Mohamed Mimoun is the very definition of dedication. More particularly with young people, whom he attaches great importance to and in whom he has a lot of hope. This 46-year-old Algerian speaker is already known to the political and media world for his actions as well as for his speeches and public positions. But who is really the person that the young people of Saint-Michel consider to be a “mentor”? La Converse went to meet him to find out who Mohamed Noredine Mimoun is — before being “Momo”.
Who is Mohamed Noredine Mimoun?
“I was born in Algeria. In my 20s, I arrived in France, in Paris, as a foreign student. I was doing two or even three jobs at the same time when I arrived, and then I started working in my preferred field,” says Mohamed. A professional experience in Paris that did not start as planned, and he decided to open a bookstore: “My wife saw that I was not happy in what I was doing.” The bookseller's adventure lasted three years, until another reason prompted Mohamed Mimoun to leave Paris and the European continent for good.
“When I went to study in France, I especially wanted a better life than in Algeria, except that I did not know enough, regrets Momo. It was in the late 1990s, and racism was very present; it was something new for me. Seeing that I frightened some people just with my first name or my appearance was very hard to accept at first. In terms of who I am and my values, it's hard to accept that people don't like me just because, on the surface, I represent what these people are afraid of. I didn't want my future children to know that feeling,” he explains.
For Mohamed, continuing to live in France was impossible, but returning to Algeria, his native country, was just as impossible. “Some of my bookstore customers were disappointed with my departure, but the reality unfortunately remains the same. I liked my neighborhood, but when I left my little corner, all the prejudices came out as for all the “Mohameds”, and I could not accept it,” he regrets. He and his wife therefore took the direction of the unknown and landed in Canada, in Montreal. Mohamed was already in his thirties by then.
“You don't change a dollar for 85 cents, so I didn't want to find myself in the same situation as in Paris. I wanted to stabilize myself, to have a rewarding job linked to what I like to do,” says Mohamed, adding that over the years, he has developed a clear idea of what drives him. His Paris experience was an electric shock for the speaker: “I really like working with people, I wanted to use my personal experience to help others in an immigration context. I told myself that I would pass on to people what I may or may not have had when I arrived in France, for example. Because, even if we change countries, the situation and the reality remain the same.”
Mohamed wants to take his “revenge” on life and on his survival in France. “I had a lot of problems when I was in France. I had a lot of needs and very little help. I said to myself: “Can we take revenge on life and do the opposite by reaching out to people who are new or who were born here, who grew up here and who need support and help?” ” he asked himself before his wife told him about the opening of a speaker position at the Saint-Michel Youth Forum (FJSM). A position that he obtained and that seemed obvious for someone who would also become a speaker at Cégep de Maisonneuve. Between FJSM and middle school, Momo found his professional and personal development among Montreal youth: “I am trying to plant a seed in these young people who, one day, may be able to change the world. At my level, I can't change it, but I can have people who will change it.”
“My heritage? To have little Momos succeeding me”
“Whether we like it or not, Montreal's youth are the future of this city and this country. They are the citizens of tomorrow, who will make the country in their image,” insists Momo about his young people whom he believes in. Even if he distinguishes between these two speaker jobs (his work in Maisonneuve is more intimate than at the forum and has a more grouped approach), Momo's goal remains the same: “What I am trying to do is to have new speakers from the new generation. And that will help the community a lot, because we have our own way of doing things. We know our culture, we know the problems that our young people may have and we have this facility of contact with our young people. Whether you like it or not, a young person, when he is in contact with a worker from the same culture, is half the way”, he assures.
And the role of the intervener does not end there. Recognizing the disconnection of members of this new generation from the media and political world, Momo wants to make them aware of what awaits them, to encourage them to take their destiny into their own hands. “What I want, for young people, is the place of power — the place of power — the place of decisions that are part of public life, of their lives. It's good to have a good job and a good career, but you have to be a part of the game and know the rules. And as long as you have young people who integrate into the community and who know the rules, you never know if some of them will not end up on boards of directors. That's what we need! ”
Mohamed Mimoun also denounces the prejudices of the media on young people in the neighborhoods. According to him, the media speak of these young people as victims, as precarious and needy people. “There is no appreciation in the neighborhoods, no recognition of what a young person can contribute or can give to his community. That's why you have to accompany them. The last time, for example, young people were in an event where they had to decide on a priority in the neighborhood. They took part in this decision, to their great surprise,” he reports with conviction, highlighting the power potential of these young people from the neighborhoods. Being proud of your neighborhood is one thing, but for Momo, you have to go beyond your own reality and “start to change things around you, while being open to the world.” As he says, you have to “be in contact with others without locking yourself up in the comfort of your neighborhood.”
Authenticity is Mohamed Mimoun's key word. This is what makes her strong on a daily basis, especially among young people: “To have little Momos succeeding me would be a source of pride, but I would especially like to be remembered for my authenticity. This is what I try to transmit as much as possible to the youngest. There is nothing more beautiful and more honorable than to succeed by remaining yourself and maintaining your authenticity.” It is this character trait that has won the trust of all this youth.
“He is a mentor for us here”
Whether in Saint-Michel or Maisonneuve, everyone Momo has taken under his wing is unanimous in his consideration: in their eyes, he is a mentor. In the academic, professional, personal, sporting and even romantic fields, the Saint-Michel counsellor is the ear that every young person comes to trust. ““Momo, I met someone; I don't know if this is the right person and if I should marry her...” Looking back, I wonder if I should tell him if it is the right person for him or not. Do I have to do that myself? The bond of trust that I established with this little one allows him to ask me this question today. It's a pretty special feeling, honestly,” recalls Momo as she looks doubtfully at the ceiling.
We also wonder how he succeeds in inspiring young people to trust him. In order to answer this question, we went to the Saint-Michel Youth Forum (FJSM) on a Saturday to meet the association's young volunteers and stakeholders, all under the supervision of their coordinator. “Momo is both a father and a best friend,” says Imene, a FJSM volunteer. I had taken steps to get a diagnosis of ADD, and Mohamed helped and supported me throughout the process.”
Nessim, another forum volunteer, is grateful for all that his speaker brings to him: “He's really like my second dad, always there when he needs to be. To help you or just to listen to you. You know you can always count on him.” “If I am the person I am today, it is in large part thanks to Momo. He gave me a chance and made me grow a little bit more every day. He is my mentor here, my point of reference”, proudly declares the colt and speaker who works alongside Momo, Azzouz. Even those who have only recently known him talk about him as if he had always been present in their lives. This is the case of Hugo, the new FJSM volunteer: “Whether with communities, young people or even the homeless, Momo brings people together naturally, regardless of age. We feel valued at his side and that gives us a lot of strength and motivation.”
“I never defined myself as a mentor. I'm glad it was taken that way, seeing people succeed and saying, “Momo was a mentor for me.” If I contributed in one way or another to their success, so much the better! My personal satisfaction is found in this success. Of course it makes me happy that they consider me that way! ” confides Momo.
“Traveling Saturdays” or the feeling of accomplishment
“Traveling Saturday” is an initiative taken by the FJSM during the COVID-19 pandemic. An idea implemented by Momo at the initiative of the young volunteers of the forum. “The young people did not want to sit idly by during this period, so they wanted to make themselves useful”, explains the coordinator. The process is simple: collecting food from a food bank, cooking dishes in a collective kitchen and distributing them to homeless people downtown. “This initiative is a meeting between us, young people, volunteers and homeless people, where we learn to cook, to manage our time and to work as a team,” summarizes Momo before explaining the real objective of this initiative.
“I can myself, alone, prepare food and distribute food to homeless people in Montreal — I have already done it several times. With this gesture, I will certainly offer them a moment of happiness, with a hot dish, but will I change the reality of those who live on the streets? No! On the other hand — for you to understand the logic and where I am coming from — involving young people to do so is essential. Sending them to choose food, to have it cooked, to go and meet the homeless, this is where they will open their eyes to other realities and become aware of them. These young people, one day, may become the decision-makers of tomorrow. They will have this sensitivity to the realities that homeless people experience, they will learn to share and to work for others. Thanks to this initiative, you are multiplying the number of young people who are involved and aware of this reality — it is no longer just me, Momo, who prepares hot dishes and distributes them to the needy.”
Happy, kind, unifying, generous or even exceptional, the adjectives that young people use to describe Momo follow one after the other. Whether in his work at the forum or at CEGEP, Mohamed Noredine Mimoun inspires and motivates all those he supports and those around him. So, who better than one of the first young people who met him at the forum, Aniss Rizzoug, alias “Nissou”, to conclude a report on Saint-Michel's mentor: “Momo never gives up and he is everywhere — at work, volunteering, with young people — he represents us publicly. His only motivation is the success of each of us, and I have a lot of respect for that! And thank you for not only being there, but always there! ”