African Development Center

The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s Minority Business Awards for 2009 will recognize ADC’s Hussein Samatar and nine other top minority business owners, corporate executives, and advocates in the Twin Cities.

Samatar is an innovator and visionary whose work continues to shape the landscape and future of Minnesota’s African immigrant community. He is the founder and executive director of the African Development Center, and entrepreneurs and families throughout Minnesota benefit from his leadership. Since its founding, ADC has flourished under the leadership of Hussein; the staff has increased to accommodate increasing demands in the community, and this fall, ADC will be moving to a new building in the heart of a bustling immigrant community in South Minneapolis. The space will be a signature building for economic development in the African immigrant community.

Samatar is among a talented pool of individuals selected from a competitive group of nominees. He will be recognized as one of the top corporate executives in the area, and honored for making a difference in his industry, business, and the community. Samatar is undoubtedly a pioneer of economic development in the African immigrant community and an inspiration for many. He came to ADC with a wealth of experience and knowledge. Prior to founding ADC, he served as senior lender for the Neighborhood Development Center and a commercial lender with Wells Fargo and Norwest Banks. Samatar holds an M.B.A. from St. Thomas University, and was both a Humphrey Institute Policy Fellow and a German Marshall Memorial Fellow.

The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s Minority Business Award highlights his vital contributions to the community at large. Samatar has created several culturally-conscious alternative finance products to better serve Minnesota’s changing demographics, and he continues to address emerging trends and topics to financial, governmental and other community institutions. His leadership is not limited to the scope of ADC’s work. Samatar currently serves on the boards of several development and civic organizations, including the Minneapolis Foundation, CommonBond Communities, the Citizens League and the Dean’s Advisory Board of the Humphrey Institute at the University of Minnesota.

ADC’s staff and board are proud of Samatar’s accomplishment, and look forward to his exceptional leadership as the organization anticipates momentous changes ahead.

The following link below will redirect you to The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s BUSINESS CENTER