For this entrepreneur, friend, father of four and neighborhood home owner, ADC was honored to be of service. And in recognition of his service to others, ADC has awarded Abdikafar Aden its Community Hero Award for 2007.
Osman Kulmie was eager to open the restaurant he had been dreaming about for five years – a place that would bring to Minneapolis the warm sense of kinship and community that he recalled from “back home” in Somalia.
Mustaqbal means “future” in Arabic, and the future seems to be rushing in fast for the business.
“Back home nobody has rent. Now I’m feeling like I’m at home.”
Abdi Duh, founder of the Coalition of African Community Services of Kandiyohi County, is ADC’s first partner in serving growing African populations in Greater Minnesota.
“ADC knew about running an American business, and also they were very well prepared with knowledge of the transportation industry.”
Hussein Ahmed Ali left behind a family transportation business in Somalia and has remade himself, seven years later, as the owner of a transportation business.
The word is getting out about Tam Tam’s, a new restaurant in Minneapolis’ Cedar-Riverside neighborhood.
Safari Express has the catchy menu and brand awareness that has launched other immigrant-owned start-ups on Lake Street into local chains.
“Bringing distant cultures closer to home” is the slogan for Fabelos Imports, a new shop in the Midtown Global Market that features decorative objects from around the world.
“Since opening in 1998, I’ve taken only two days off: the birth of my son and daughter . . . ”
Mulbah Battaforyen wastes no time.
“If I become a millionaire I won’t forget ADC.”
When the Midtown Global Market opens next spring, its 60 food and craft vendors will include Faduma Hashi’s first business venture, Starlight Cafe.
“The most important thing is to advertise yourself, your products, where you are located.”
“Without the ADC it would have been almost impossible to start my business.”
Hajji Gobana gets a loan
Midtown Community Works
“Everything is good,” said Gobana. “We got the loan we needed . . . ”
$800,000 saved is $800,000 earned
“We saved our money and learned a lot in the process.”
The Girmas are pleased to be part of an upward trend in African home ownership.
"Self-sufficiency equals self-respect."
Stephen Wreh-Wilson has been changing the world, one person at a time, for the last 15 years.
The next step: buying business real estate
Abdulgadir Ali recently reached a milestone that many business owners only dream about.