The Burmese Muslim Education and Community Center (BMECC) was established in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and registered with the State of Indiana as a faith-based community organization in September 2010. BMECC is a 501(c)3 tax-exempted organization. The organization is committed to working on enhancing and raising the standard of living among Burmese Muslims in Fort Wayne. The Purpose of the organization is to serve as a central place that empowers the Burmese Muslim community and strengthens relationships with the community at large by promoting Five core values – Faith, Commitment, Knowledge, Respect, and Unity. To continuously enforce the organization as community represented entity, a Board of Directors election was held every two years in accordance with the existing by-laws. The number of Board of Directors has also increased to 15 that including brothers, sisters, elders, youths from both religious and secular educational backgrounds. Within the Board of Directors, there are several sub-committees including Executive Committee, Finance Committee, Fundraising Committee, Masjid Committee, Cemetery Committee and Education Committee. Board of Directors meet quarterly and during the interval of Board of Directors meetings, an Executive Committee that includes President, Two Vice Presidents, Secretary, Joint Secretary, and Treasurer, oversee the approved activities and also ensure that all the activities comply with the organization’s rules and regulation. The Finance Committee is led by the Treasurer and includes the Secretary, Fundraising In-Charge, and another Board of Directors. The Fundraising Committee is the backbone of the construction project and is carried out under the mandate of Fundraising In-Charge. All the committees work independently in accordance with the decision of the Board of Directors. All the functions and activities are discussed in detail at quarterly Board of Director meetings, and monthly or weekly meetings are called upon as needed. The daily operation of the Masjid Noor ul-Islam is overseen by the Masjid Committee, the Education Committee oversee the Noor ul-Islam Academy and the Cemetery Committee oversee the Muslim Cemetery of Fort Wayne. During the first five years, the Masjid Construction Project was the primary function and in 2015, the very first Masjid built by the Burmese community in the United State was opened. Noor ul-Islamic Academy is also introduced in July 2017. Organization Highlights and Milestones The organization is registered with the State of Indiana since September 2010 as a faith-based community organization. IRS recognized 501 (c)3 not-for-profit tax-exempt status. As a representative organization of the Burmese Muslim community in Fort Wayne, the Board of Directors was directly elected every two years by the community members. A property on Seddlemeyer Avenue was purchased for the masjid construction project in 2011. In 2012, the number of Board of Directors was increased from 7 members to 15 members which include brothers, sisters, elders, and youths members of the community. Phase I of the masjid Noor ul-Islam was completed in May 2015 and a historic grand opening of the new masjid was celebrated with over 2,000 participants. Phase II of the project which includes a multi-purpose hall, a lobby, and a new entrance to the Masjid was completed in November 2016. Noor ul-Islam Academy, an education institute is introduced in July 2017 and after-school programs for children were started in August 2017. A storage unit on the left of the Masjid was completed in 2017. Phase III of the project, an extension of the main prayer space was completed in 2019. A 15 acres undeveloped land was purchased for the new cemetery project and Allen County Planning Department approved the project in 2021 to establish Muslim Cemetery of Fort Wayne.
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