African solutions for African Lending
Finance and Commerce
April 3, 2008—One of the African Development Center’s major accomplishments has been developing a lending program that is compliant with Islamic law, which prohibits people from paying or receiving interest.
Micro Loans, Macro Impact
B., the Magazine of the Opus College of Business
Spring 2008—Hussein Samatar ’00 M.B.A., executive director and founder of the African Development Center in Minneapolis, is a blessing to those who have very little.
Banking on immigrants
Minnesota Bankers Association News
January 2008—OK, bankers: Let’s get to the bottom line. Why is ADC’s bench-scale effort vitally important to the finance industry?
Financing the American Dream
MARQ magazine
December 2007—There’s a difference between starting over and starting from scratch. Hussein Samatar has experienced both.
Catholic Campaign for Human Development helps ADC help its clients
The Catholic Spirit
November 15, 2007—Thanks in part to the U.S. bishops’ Catholic Campaign for Human Development and the African Development Center in Minneapolis, which it funds, Ahmed has been able to make his dream a reality.
City Market opens at Cedar-Lake
KARE 11
November 6, 2007—One of the Twin Cities’ largest African-owned businesses is now open.
Safari, so good
METRO Magazine
November 2007—What makes Safari unique is that almost half its customer base is non-Somali.
Minnesota's African face
Minneapolis Star Tribune
September 12, 2007—The numbers would really be exploding if people could move more easily from one adopted country to the next, said Nimo Farah, the Somalia-born program coordinator for the African Development Center.
African immigrants honored for entrepreneurial achievements, community service
Mshale
Sept. 10, 2007—A non-profit organization started in Minnesota three years ago to help African immigrants entrepreneurs navigate a complicated U.S. financial system, honored some of them Saturday for their success in business.
New members add expertise to the U of M Humphrey Institute advisory council
University of Minnesota News Service
The U of M Humphrey Institute’s Dean’s Advisory Council announces five new members: Jill Buckley, Bill Buzenberg, Jay Cowles, Peggy Lucas and Hussein Samatar.
In it for the long haul
St. Paul Pioneer Press
Ali said he always wanted to start his own business, but hadn’t spent much time thinking about it until he stumbled upon the African Development Center . . .
2007 Best Coffeehouse: Mapps Coffee & Tea
City Pages
April 25, 2007—City Pages has released its “Best of the Twin Cities” list for 2007, and ADC client Mapps Coffee & Tea has won for Best Coffeehouse. Congratulations to our good friends, owners Yildiz and Erdoan Akguc!
Small businesses to get help from new loan plan
Minneapolis Star Tribune
The program was conceived after Hussein Samatar, director of the African Development Center in Minneapolis, told the city that many in his community needed more financing options.
Minneapolis offers financing options for small businesses
Minnesota Monitor
The council approved the plan last year after Hussein Samatar, executive director of the African Development Center, testified that more than 40 percent of Muslim-owned small businesses have no access to capital because of religious restrictions.
New Alternative Loan Program for Immigrant Enterpreneurs
Mshale
Announcing the program, Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak said, ““The city has built equity thanks to African small business owners. This city is the Statue of Liberty for Somalis even in Mogadishu.”
New financing option unveiled for Islamic businesses
Minnesota Public Radio
Hussein Samatar, executive director of the African Development Center, says the new program benefits all Minnesotans.
Financial institutions expand products that target U.S. Muslims
USINFO
The week of April 9, the African Development Center of Minnesota will announce a program with the city of Minneapolis to help Muslim business owners.
The African Factor: Census Shows Economic Divide
Mshale
Simba Craftware had its start eased thanks in part to financing from the African Development Center (ADC), which, since it opened its doors in April 2004, has been a gateway to financial success for many African immigrants.
Micro-lending is big
St. Paul Pioneer Press
The 2-year-old ADC is coming on fast with 58 loans so far, including 35 this year.
Letter of the day: Microcredit has also remade the Twin Cities
Minneapolis Star Tribune
“Your readers should know that nonprofit community developers in Minneapolis have utilized microlending for years as a way to build wealth in emerging markets and revitalize urban neighborhoods.”
African immigrants look to development center for business boost
Twin Cities Daily Planet
“It’s the American story . . . To give people help so eventually they can help themselves.”
My story: Edinam Agbenyeke
Macalester College
“I was surprised by how much of a difference an individual’s background can make to their success in a new place.”
Dinner at Tam Tam's with Hussein Samatar reveals the power of a good business education
The Bridge
In fact, one of the graduates of ADC’s program, Uganda native Steve Kaggwa, is now running Tam-Tam’s restaurant with two of his fellow countrymen.
Women of Substance
St. Paul Foundation
If you spend any time in the African malls of the Twin Cities, you might notice that the women are as active in the retail business as the men—perhaps even more so.
Midtown Global Market opens amid fanfare and high hopes
Midtown Community Works
The Global Market is at the heart of the new Midtown Exchange, and presents the most public face of the $190 million restoration of the former Sears tower.
Minneapolis Foundation names new trustees
Minneapolis Foundation
Mr. Samatar is the founder of the African Development Center , a nonprofit that works to start and sustain businesses, build assets, and promote community reinvestment within the African communities of Minnesota .
African Development Center: a path to success for immigrants
Twin Cities Daily Planet
Along with the language and legal barriers that incoming Africans must navigate, some also bring with them religious needs that affect their financial lives.
Midtown Global Market
Comcast News Makers
Video clip: Collaboration of community developers delivers Minneapolis’ signature public market in the heart of Lake Street.
Coming soon: Midtown Global Market
KARE 11
KARE 11 Extra reported by Roxanne Battle
Hussein Samatar’s appointment broadens Library Board capacity
Twin Cities Daily Planet
“Hussein has shown incredible leadership helping many entrepreneurs get their start and will bring excellent business and financial planning experience to our libraries.”
Rybak picks Somali man for library board
Minneapolis Star Tribune
The mayor and Samatar believe he is the highest-ranking Somali-born public official in the United States.
For immigrants, life in America far outstrips Sweden and Europe
WatchingAmerica
Hussein Samatar arrived in Minnesota in 1994. At the time, he spoke no English. Now he heads an entrepreneurship center, stating that “the dollar is green, not black or white.”
Hajji Gobana gets a loan
Midtown Community Works
“Because he is a bright light our community, we at ADC are inspired to provide the help that’s needed.”
Neighborhood Heroes: Hussein Samatar
Minnesota Housing Finance Agency
Video clip: 60 seconds, 2MB wmv file
ADC boosts funding, knowledge for entrepreneurs
Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal
The ADC of Minnesota is meeting a need that’s been getting stronger for more than a decade.
Comcast News Makers: Hussein Samatar
Comcast News Makers
Video clip: 5 minute, 9MB wmv file
Twin Cities refugee groups tackle community development
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
The African Development Center, or ADC, opened its doors in 2004 and received its first major operating grant, from the Bush Foundation, earlier this year.
Work progesses on former Minneapolis Sears building
Minnesota Public Radio
“This is going to be a different ball game,” said Hussein Samatar . . .
Program aims to revitalize two areas
McKnight Foundation
“The challenge, to me, is very simple: New people come here and don’t know the system,” said Somali community leader Hussein Samatar. “They need help.”
New organization wants to talk business
Midtown Community Works
You see that building?” asked Hussein Samatar on a recent walk down Lake Street . . .
Somali Voices host, Hussein Samatar, named to 40 Under 40 list
KFAI Community Radio
Each year “The Business Journal” honors 40 members of the community under the age of 40 for their professional achievements and community involvement. This year Hussein Samatar, host of KFAI’s Somali Voices, was named to the list.