501(c)(3) Public Charity•Serving Youth Across Minnesota•info@maydae.org
5Program pillars, one alliance
60%Youth voice on our advisory councils
~30Village Network volunteers at launch
14–29Ages welcome on the Youth Council
MAYDAE team and youth members together at the Minnesota State Fair
Our Story

Built Together.
Led by Youth.

What could we build if we stopped working alone?

MAYDAE is a youth-led alliance connecting young people with institutions, mentors, and faith leaders, so no referral is missed and no challenge is too big for one group to carry.

ConnectYouth meet mentors, institutions, and each other.
EngageReal projects, service, and shared programs.
LeadYoung people step up and lead the work.
Read the Full Story →

Five Pillars, One Alliance

Every MAYDAE program builds character, confidence, community service, and collective action.

Community

Brotherhood & Sisterhood

Circles, mentorship, camps, and cultural exchange.

Growth

Leadership Academy

Public speaking, conflict resolution, organizing, and negotiation.

Learning

Education

College prep, career readiness, financial literacy, civic education, and tech skills.

Action

Service

Cleanups, senior outreach, food drives, and disaster response.

Opportunity

Economic Empowerment

Entrepreneurship, trades, a business incubator, and paid internships.

Infrastructure

The Alliance Table

Youth organizations, faith institutions, and schools, working side by side. We complement our partners, we don't replace them.

See All Programs ›

There's a Seat for You Here

Funders, organizations, and young people all have a place at the table.

Funders & Supporters

Invest in a Connected Ecosystem

MAYDAE is a 501(c)(3) public charity. Your gift funds direct programming and the shared infrastructure that makes every partner more effective. Donation link coming soon, reach out to give now.

Contact us to give ›
Organizations & Leaders

Join as a Partner

Join as an Alliance, Strategic, Action, or Program partner. Every partner gets a welcome packet and a MAYDAE pin.

Explore partner categories ›
Youth & Community

Find Your Place

Register for the Village Network, join the Youth Council, or bring your skills as a mentor.

Find your place ›

MAYDAE in Action

Moments from the Minnesota State Fair Action Day.

MAYDAE team members posing together at the Minnesota State Fair
Member wearing a shirt reading Mutual Alliance for Youth Development, Action and Empowerment
MAYDAE members among the crowd at the State Fair
Members talking together at the State Fair
MAYDAE members connecting with a family at the State Fair
Fireworks over the crowd at the State Fair in the evening
MAYDAE members at a community seerah lecture event
Group of young MAYDAE members at a community faith and education event

About MAYDAE

The story behind the name, the symbol, and the alliance.

Our Story

In 2026, a small group of community leaders across Minneapolis–Saint Paul came together around one question: what could we build if we stopped working alone? Youth-serving organizations, mosques, schools, and mentors were each doing meaningful work, but often duplicating effort, missing each other's referrals, and facing challenges too large for any one group to solve.

MAYDAE was built to be the connective infrastructure between them, not a new program competing for the same youth, but an alliance that makes every existing organization more effective, together.

Our Leadership

MAYDAE is led by a working board, guided by advisory councils where young people hold 60% of the voice.

BM

Bilal Muhammad

CEO and Board Chair

External leadership, strategy, and community problem-solving.

AA

Amina Adan

COO and Board Treasurer

Operations, onboarding, and community connection.

JC

Jessica Connors

CDO and Board Secretary

Program development, training design, and financial oversight.

AF

Abdullahi Farah

Chief Innovation Strategist and Community Chair

Systems thinking and connective infrastructure.

MAYDAE in Action

Moments from our first coordinated event: the Minnesota State Fair Action Day.

MAYDAE team members posing together at the Minnesota State Fair
Member wearing a shirt reading Mutual Alliance for Youth Development, Action and Empowerment
MAYDAE members among the crowd at the State Fair
Members talking together at the State Fair
MAYDAE members connecting with a family at the State Fair
Fireworks over the crowd at the State Fair in the evening
MAYDAE members at a community seerah lecture event
Group of young MAYDAE members at a community faith and education event

Programs

Five pillars, one alliance, and the model that connects them.

Five Pillars, One Alliance

Every MAYDAE program lives under one of five pillars, the same five foundations, whether you're a first-time member or a founding partner organization.

Community

Brotherhood & Sisterhood

Bi-weekly circles, mentorship, team-building, outdoor adventures, camps, and cultural exchange: the relationships everything else is built on.

Growth

Leadership

A leadership academy in public speaking, conflict resolution, community organizing, and negotiation, applied to real, youth-led projects.

Learning

Education

College prep, career readiness, financial literacy, civic education, and technology skills, delivered through workshops and school partnerships.

Action

Service

Neighborhood cleanups, senior outreach, food drives, and disaster response, organized and led by youth themselves.

Opportunity

Economic Empowerment

Entrepreneurship training, skilled-trades exposure, a youth business incubator, and paid internship placements.

Infrastructure

The Alliance Table

A standing coalition of youth-serving organizations, faith institutions, and schools, coordinating resources, training, and advocacy together.

How MAYDAE Works

MAYDAE doesn't run a program instead of your organization. It does three things no single organization can do alone.

Connect

Bring youth, mentors, organizations, and institutions into purposeful relationship with one another.

→

Engage

Align programs, resources, calendars, referrals, and community response across the whole network.

→

Lead

Move youth and partners together on initiatives and opportunities too large for any one entity alone.

Youth Council

Youth voice. Youth leadership. Youth action.

Youth Voice. Youth Leadership. Youth Action.

MAYDAE Youth Council

MAYDAE is looking for the next generation of leaders. Are you ready to get in the game?

  • Do you have ideas?
  • Do you care about your community?
  • Do you want to create change?
  • Do you want to develop your leadership skills?
  • Do you want your voice to be heard?

We want you.

The MAYDAE Youth Council is a leadership opportunity for young people who want to help shape programs, events, policy, initiatives, and solutions for youth and their communities. Ages 14–29: leaders, creators, innovators, athletes, entrepreneurs, artists, students, organizers, community advocates, content creators, and problem solvers all welcome. No leadership experience required, just character, commitment, courage, and a willingness to take action.

Who We're Looking For

Young people ages 14–29 who are leaders, creators, innovators, athletes, entrepreneurs, artists, students, organizers, community advocates, content creators, or problem solvers.

What You'll Do

  • Plan: help shape MAYDAE's youth agenda
  • Create: develop youth programs and events
  • Serve: lead community service projects
  • Connect: build relationships across the community
  • Grow: join leadership training and workshops
  • Represent: serve as a voice for young people

What You'll Gain

  • Leadership development & resume building
  • Public speaking experience
  • Mentorship & networking opportunities
  • Internship & entrepreneurship exposure
  • Real projects to lead
  • A powerful youth leadership network
The Challenge

Don't just talk about what needs to change.

Help change it.

Join the Youth Council

The Path for Members

Every youth and adult member climbs the same ladder. Advancement is earned through consistency and ownership, never bought.

Member
→
Leader
→
Ambassador
→
Partner
→
Council

Get Involved

Funders, organizations, and individuals all have a place at the table.

There's a Place for You at the Table

MAYDAE brings together three groups of people. Find yours.

Funders & Supporters

Invest in a Connected Ecosystem

As a 501(c)(3) public charity, your contribution funds direct programming and the shared infrastructure that makes every partner organization more effective, not just one more standalone program.

See how to give ›
Organizations & Leaders

Join the Alliance Table

Schools, mosques, nonprofits, and businesses already doing youth work can plug into shared training, resources, and collective advocacy, while keeping their own identity.

Explore partner categories ›
Youth & Adults

Become a Member

Start as a Member and grow at your own pace, through leadership, mentorship, and real responsibility earned along the way.

See the path ›

Partner Categories

Four ways organizations can plug into the alliance: no tiers, just the category that fits how you want to work with us.

Alliance Partner

  • Endorse the mission
  • Share opportunities
  • Attend & promote events
  • Refer youth

Strategic Partner

For organizations with established funding and resources.

  • Shared funding
  • Staff & facilities
  • Employment pathways
  • Strategic planning

Action Partner

  • Join MAYDAE initiatives
  • Shared events
  • Cross-org mentors
  • Facilities & expertise

Program Partner

  • Co-create programs
  • Youth check-ins
  • Training & support
  • Marketing support

Every partner, in every category, gets a welcome packet and a MAYDAE pin.

Ready to Partner With Us?

Every partner brings value. Every partner receives value. Together, we build what none of us could build alone.

Get in Touch →

Contact

We'd love to hear from you.

Get in Touch

Whether you're a funder, a potential partner organization, or a young person ready to get involved, reach out.

Email

info@maydae.org

The best way to reach the MAYDAE team directly.

Send an email ›
Location

Minneapolis–Saint Paul, MN

Based in the Twin Cities, serving youth across Minnesota.

Online

maydae.org

Explore our programs, the Youth Council, and how to partner with us.

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