Draft:Young Muslims (YM)

Young Muslims is an American Islamic non-profit youth-based organization with chapters in Atlanta, Florida, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Texas. . The organization seeks to empower Muslim youth in their identity and contribute to society in a God-conscious manner. It focuses on grassroots efforts via community involvement through mentorship, education, and service to connect Muslim youth

History
Young Muslims was established in the early 90s through the unification of existing Muslim youth groups in New Jersey, New York City, and Chicago. Formed as the youth division of the Islamic Circle of North America, Young Muslims encompasses two wings - Young Muslims Brothers and Young Muslims Sisters.

The organization hosts the annual Young Muslims Conference with noted speakers, such as Omar Suleiman.

Programs
Young Muslims is composed of local chapters, known as NeighborNets, that welcome Muslim youth and those interested in Islam. NeighborNets focus on weekly halaqas, an Islamic study circle, organized by the chapter’s elected NeighborNet coordinator and their team, in which various activities involving mentorship, volunteering, skill-building, and enriching brotherhood and sisterhood take place.

Coordinators from different chapters come together to organize and undertake larger projects. As the scope of the projects increase, such as nationwide fundraising during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the organization’s national structure is more heavily involved. .

Retreats
While Young Muslims values the unity of the ummah, it recognizes the importance of catering to the unique needs and preferences of each region. As such, all regions, including Texas (West), NorthEast, SouthEast, and MidWest, conduct their own separate retreats. This approach allows for a more personalized and culturally relevant experience for participants. The separate retreats provide a platform for young Muslims to connect with others from their specific region, fostering a deeper sense of community and understanding.

Tarbiyyah Retreats
Young Muslims places a strong emphasis on the spiritual development of its members, recognizing the pivotal role that spirituality plays in the lives of young individuals. The organization plans Tarbiyyah Retreats, a program designed to foster spiritual growth, at both the sub-regional, or city, and regional levels.

Impact
Young Muslims' Retreats have had a significant impact on the lives of countless young Muslims, helping them develop a strong sense of identity, community, and spirituality. Alumni of these programs have gone on to become leaders in their communities, actively contributing to the betterment of society. The organization's commitment to nurturing well-rounded individuals with a deep understanding of their faith continues to resonate with youth in diverse regions nationwide.

National Structure and Regions
Young Muslims has active chapters across the United States to foster a sense of brotherhood among Young Muslim Brothers (YMB) and sisterhood among Young Muslim Sisters (YMS), focusing on spiritual growth and personal development. The National Structure of YMB and YMS is composed of respective Executive Board and National Departments to support its National Operations.

The regional structure ensures opportunities for both brothers and sisters to connect with like-minded individuals, creating a network that caters to their needs.

These Regions are:


 * 1) North East
 * 2) In the North East region, Young Muslims Brothers and Sisters are actively engaged in communities in states such as New Jersey (North and South), Pennsylvania, New York (West and East), Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, and Maryland.
 * 3) South East
 * 4) The South East region encompasses Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana.
 * 5) Midwest
 * 6) Young Muslims Brothers and Sisters in the Midwest region, are established in Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Minnesota
 * 7) West (Texas)
 * 8) The West region serves both brothers and sisters in Houston and Dallas, Texas, as well as any expansion efforts.

Affiliations
As one of the largest non-profit Muslim youth organizations in America, Young Muslims is affiliated with and has partnered with other American Muslim non-profits

Young Muslims is the youth- based branch of ICNA, operating at a similar national scope and partnering at conferences. Consequently, Young Muslims is associated with the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations, of whom ICNA is a founding member