ADC Updates

ADC 2008 Annual Event

I would like to extend my thanks to all of you that joined ADC in celebrating our 4th annual event. I must say, I am very pleased with the outcome of this event. It was truly a success, with many in attendance. The event was colorful, elegant, and cozy.

An African Childhood, a Hero, and a Common Future

Here are a few upcoming events I would like to share with you.

ADC 2008 Annual Event Celebration Reminder and Special Guest: Hibo Nuur

Once again, I would like to remind all of you that our 4th annual event is just a few days away! This Friday, October 17th, the ADC staff, clients, partners, friends, family and the community are all invited to join in the celebration.

ADC Goes to Norway

Next week I will be traveling to Skein, Norway. I have been invited by the Skien Kommune delegation to be guest lecturer at their National conference, “MAKING INTEGRATION WORK – A TASK FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY”.

ADC 2008 Annual Event Celebration

The African Development Center would like to invite you to our 4th annual celebration event.

ADC Opens New Office in Mankato

On Thursday August 14th, ADC opened a new office in Mankato, MN. The entire ADC staff traveled to Mankato to celebrate the office opening.

ADC opens new office in Mankato

August 5, 2008—This week, African Development Center opens a satellite office in Mankato.

ADC hosts Swedish economic development delegation

July 10, 2008—Natives of Somalia and Ethiopia are among Sweden’s largest immigrant groups.

Hussein Samatar honored as "Living Legend"

June 20, 2008—ADC Executive Director Hussein Samatar was among the “Living Legends” named this year by the Minneapolis chapter of the Urban Financial Services Coalition.

Announcing May 3 business seminar in Mankato

April 22, 2008—ADC is teaming with the South Central Small Business Development Center to measure the demand for business planning workshops, technical assistance and lending (including Murahaba) in the Mankato area.

ADC receives $500K EQ2 loan from M&I Bank

April 21, 2008—The community development corporation of M&I Bank has just announced it will award an EQ2 loan in the amount of $500,000 to ADC’s commercial loan fund.

ADC wins awards from Minneapolis and Minnesota partners

April 21, 2008—ADC wins top awards from key business development and homeowner education partners.

A meeting, then a killing: one evening in Cedar Riverside

April 14, 2008—Last Friday in Cedar Riverside, small business owners gathered to make their voices heard in a civic forum on long-term planning….An hour later, a young Somali man, 18 years old, was gunned down a block away, in public.

ADC debuts homeownership training in St. Cloud; Rochester and Willmar next

April 7, 2008—Last month ADC took a big first step in addressing shockingly low rates of home ownership among African immigrants and refugees in Greater Minnesota.

Announcing April 11 public meeting on Cedar Riverside businesses

March 30, 2008—If you are involved in the Cedar-Riverside business community, neighborhood planning or a member of the media covering these topics, I encourage you to attend a public meeting ADC is holding April 11.

Muhammad Yunus on Minnesota Public Radio

Jan. 23, 2008—Hussein Samatar, Executive Director of African Development Center of Minnesota, called in to the program and was honored to share experiences with his role model.

The rock star treatment

November 21, 2007—Last year, Nimo was an intern for ADC. Today, in Northern Europe, she is our Elvis Presley.

Announcing City Market grand opening November 6

November 1, 2007—Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak and Ward 9 City Council Member Gary Schiff will join African Development Center (ADC) in celebrating the opening of City Market, now the largest African-owned buisiness on Lake Street.

Ambassadors of success to Sweden

August 7, 2007—ADC will represent Minneapolis’ exemplary success in integrating African immigrants and refugees into the local economy.

ADC extends its reach, retains its focus

July 13, 2007—From Hamburg, Germany, to Hutchinson in Central Minnesota, ADC has covered a lot of territory lately.

Strengthening the community: ADC at home and abroad

July 12, 2007—ADC is influencing numerous groups locally and across the world.

ADC “Steps Up” for youth development

July 9, 2007—Edison High School junior Idil Hashi is the first Minneapolis Step-Up participant to intern with ADC.

ADC releases 2007 Annual Report

July 1, 2007—In 2007 ADC really stepped up as a statewide financial services innovator. Our programs gained notice from Hutchinson in central Minnesota to Hamburg, Germany. Download the 2007 Annual Report to see the details.

Hussein Samatar presents on Islamic financing to FDIC task force

May 30, 2007—Samatar’s popular talk comes as Islamic financing is being adopted by more lenders.

Safari Express chef Jamal Hashi featured on Channel 11 -- watch it here!

April 2, 2007—ADC client Jamal Hashi, owner of Safari Express in the Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis, appears today on the Showcase Minnesota segment of the KARE 11 morning show.

"Training the Trainer" expands financial literacy opportunities

February 14, 2007—Kassim is holding ADC’s gift of a paper shredder to reinforce that immigrants are frequent targets of identity theft.

Blazing trails: Profit-based financing for Islamic clients

January 30, 2007—Because Islamic doctrine prohibits interest-based financial transactions, many Muslim entrepreneurs face a compelling ethical challenge when dealing with banks to obtain financing.

Adel El-Huni: Friend of ADC

January 15, 2007—Adel EI-Huni, Regional Emerging Markets Manager of Institutional Lending for Wells Fargo, is a long-time volunteer instructor in the first-time homebuyer financing section of ADC’s monthly HomeStretch workshops.

ADC program evaluation released

November 14, 2006—Download the comprehensive evaluation of ADC conducted by Rainbow Research in 2006.

Financial Literacy Center: upward mobilitiy by design

November 10, 2006—The new center, designed by powerhouse firm Shea, Inc., will deepen the organization’s business development training and enable new services – coming next year – in business accounting and personal finance.

Hussein Samatar to present on Islamic financing to FDIC task force

November 7, 2006—During the workshop, bankers and representatives from nonprofit groups will discuss effective financial services and strategies for delivering financial education to immigrants and unbanked groups.

Mahmoud Bah: ADC board chair discusses the organization’s future

Oct. 2006—”I think there is far more awareness now that the African community is an emerging market that is helping itself to succeed.”

Hussein Samatar awarded Marshall Memorial Fellowship

Oct. 2006—In recognition of ADC’s effectiveness in community development and previous scholarship on the economic situation of African immigrants in America, executive director Hussein Samatar has been awarded a Marshall Memorial Fellowship.

ADC receives $100K federal grant

Aug. 2006—African Development Center has been awarded a $100,000 financial assistance grant from the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund of the U.S. Treasury Department.

ADC featured in national report on immigrant financial literacy

Aug. 2006—African Development Center is featured as a case study in “Financial Literacy for Newcomers,” a new national report by the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service.

Making a home

July 2006—In the two short years ADC has offered workshops certified through Home Ownership Center’s “Homestretch” program, we have achieved impressive results.

ADC loan portfolio to grow by $250,000

July 2006—African Development Center has received a $250,000 Community Development Equity Equivalent Debt Investment (EQ2) loan from Wells Fargo Bank.

ADC collaborates with Bremer Bank in rural Minnesota

June 26, 2008—Did you know that in the Southwest Minnesota town of Marshall, more than 500 of 12,000 residents are African immigrants?

2006 Annual Celebration in pictures

June 2006—More than 200 organizational partners, clients, civic leaders and community members joined in African Development Center’s second Annual Celebration, held June 3 at the Zuhrah Shrine Center in Minneapolis.

Inside ADC's loan portfolio

UPDATED January 2007—We have succeeded in disbursing more than $1million in loan ADC funding to eligible clients, enabling 50 businesses to start up or expand in the Twin Cities.

2006 Annual Report

March 22, 2007—We are pleased to release the ADC Annual Report 2006, the first such publication in our four-year history.

ADC partners with Minneapolis on new business financing program

March 22, 2007—African Development Center and the City of Minneapolis have partnered to launch a new alternative financing program for Minneapolis small business owners.