African Development Center

What does speaking five languages and giving people resources that result in self-sufficiency have in common? They are two skills that an individual with an extraordinary entrepreneurial spirit possesses. Meet Hussein Samatar, founder and executive director of the African Development Center (ADC) of Minnesota. Opening its doors in April of 2004, the ADC is a nonprofit working within the African communities in Minnesota to start and sustain businesses, build assets and promote community reinvestment.

Speaking humbly in the ADC headquarters on Riverfront Avenue in Minneapolis, Samatar is not one to flash his own or the organization’s success, although he can hardly deny the positive impact and life-changing effects the ADC has had on the community, specifically African immigrants and refugees. “My primary motivation and passion is to help people get ahead and have pride and dignity,” said Samatar. And the ADC has done just that. Since 2004, the organization has trained 285 individuals on bookkeeping skills and how to effectively market their business. The ADC’s home ownership training has also been completed by 685 families across Minnesota, and a loan portfolio of $2.3 million has enabled 110 loans to be distributed to new and existing local businesses.

Those numbers continue to grow as staff and locations continue to multiply. Today the ADC employs 10 people and they recently opened a new office in Mankato. In addition, there are staff members who travel to various cities throughout Minnesota including Rochester, Owatonna and St. Cloud to conduct a first time home buyer’s class. ”Financial literacy is very important,” said Samatar.

Recognizing the need for financial literacy takes Samatar back in time to his life before the ADC. A Somali native, he came to Minnesota in 1994, eventually earning his M.B.A. from St. Thomas University. He became a senior lender for the Neighborhood Development Center and later a commercial lender with Wells Fargo and Norwest Banks.

In those roles, he saw Africans experiencing difficulty establishing themselves within the community. To get a better grasp on the problems facing new immigrants, he became a community organizer to better understand the core issues. Eventually that sparked Samatar to do the riskiest thing in his career: leave Wells Fargo and start the ADC.

The idea of creating the ADC proved to be a risk worth taking, but Samatar understands he couldn’t have done it alone, and continually urges entrepreneurs to seek guidance. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help,” said Samatar. “Find professionals to work with who will help you be more cost effective.”

Because of his background in the financial world, Samatar is able to help many individuals seeking loans for new business to go from being “unbankable” to “bankable” in usually 2-5 years. Even with his knowledge and ability to help approve individuals for loans, he admits the current markets are the biggest challenge today, but stresses financial education throughout the community is still crucial for success.

The continued work and progress of the ADC will be forever striving to reach new goals, but Samatar makes a conscience effort to take time away from his work to unwind and relax with his family. He enjoys going up north to a lake cabin near Hibbing with his wife and three children to go kayaking, hiking and canoeing. “The hope I have for my children is to raise well-rounded human beings and be able to give them a good education.” Not surprising, it mirrors virtually the same hope that Samatar has for everyone who walks through the doors at the ADC (and those who don’t), which is to help people get ahead.