I am the middle child of Hon. Robert S. Badio and Hawa Massaley Badio(both deceased) from lower Careysburg in Montserrado County, Monrovia, Liberia. Born on March 16, 1978.

My first name, MADEA means “New Woman” in English. It is  from the Bassa ethic group (one of the 16 local ethic groups or tribes) in Liberia and is not pronounced like the Tyler Perry movies.

I was named after my maternal grandmother who along with my dad spoiled me a lot as a child.

My childhood was filled with love most especially from my parents and grandmother. I was the closest to father despite looking so much like him amongst my siblings. My mother was the disciplinary but strong and silent supporter while my dad was more physically involved.  All my classmates and teachers knew him as he was always checking our school work as he wanted us to consistently make the honor roll as students. He was and still remained my idol and hero to this day.

Due to the poor school district combined with other traditional practices that were against my father’s ethic groups where my parents lived, they had us kids live with other family members; later boarding schools and supported us financially there.

I was 11 years old when the civil war started in Liberia.  Although, I grew up in the midst  of the civil war in Liberia (December 1989 to  2003) which disrupted and destabilized our country and of course our lives for fourteen years or more,  we were protected, saved and still got our education.

I lived in so many homes and boarding schools all which shaped and molded my life. One of my favorites was my aunty Ms. Edna E. James before I went to boarding school at age 10.   She raised me along other relatives.  And later her daughter Ms. Leemus B. Gbarbea   who is one of my role models after I left boarding school when she was just in her early 20's continued to raise us when her mother was out of the country (living here in the U.S). She made sure I attended the best private high schools (St. Teresa’s Convent and Cathedral Catholic High) in Liberia. I went on to attend and graduate from the University of Liberia where I studied Sociology and Demography.

Boarding school was the best decision my parents made for us; there I obtained another family mostly sisters (75plus) and a foster mother, Mrs. Edith Neh Ricks.  Living  with her, I expressed what it was to still be a child and treated like a child which was different from other homes I lived in. My foster mother, foster sisters and foster cousins along with my biological families are my main community of support.

My background in both Sociology and Demography, earned a temporary contract with the World Food Program and ActionAid Liberia while I attended college and upon graduation. I worked with Arcelor Mittal Liberia, The Liberia National Red Cross Society, and the Liberia Senate.

Due to my work with women and girls when I worked as project supervisor for the Liberia National Red Cross Society and also my active work with youth in my church for many years, I was invited by Mrs. Velma Mitchell my former boss to join the Rotary Club of Sinkor which I visited all of 2010 before I joined in 2011 during the presidency of Rtn. Elizabeth Mulbah who was my mentor. During this time I got to learn and love Rotary.  I served in many capacities: I was Co-Chair who tasked with training new members and educating them about Rotary, New Generation Chair and Vice President elect before Liberia.

I love to travel and I have to traveled to other parts of Africa and three countries in Europe and 34 of the 50 States since I moved to America in 2014.

Moving here has been one of the best things that have happened to me and I’m grateful for the opportunity given me.  I lived in the DC area since moving here and I love it. My career also took a different turn as I find myself working in Customer Service in the Bank and now Credit Union.