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Hussein Samatar studied at the ], receiving his undergraduate degree in 1991. His goal was to work as an economist, but the outbreak of the ] four days after his graduation meant that he had to put this off.<ref name=ADCABOUT>{{cite web|title=Hussein Samatar|url=http://adcminnesota.org/about/staff/hussein-samatar|accessdate=12 January 2014|publisher=African Development Center of Minnesota}}</ref> Samatar left Somalia shortly after the outbreak of war as a means of survival.<ref name=MPRFIRST>{{cite news|last=Yuen|first=Laura|title=First Somali-American elected to public office in Minn.|url=http://www.mprnews.org/story/2010/11/03/hussein-samatar-first-somali-american-to-hold-public-office-in-minnesota|accessdate=12 January 2014|date=3 November 2010|newspaper=]}}</ref> Hussein Samatar studied at the ], receiving his undergraduate degree in 1991. His goal was to work as an economist, but the outbreak of the ] four days after his graduation meant that he had to put this off.<ref name=ADCABOUT>{{cite web|title=Hussein Samatar|url=http://adcminnesota.org/about/staff/hussein-samatar|accessdate=12 January 2014|publisher=African Development Center of Minnesota}}</ref> Samatar left Somalia shortly after the outbreak of war as a means of survival.<ref name=MPRFIRST>{{cite news|last=Yuen|first=Laura|title=First Somali-American elected to public office in Minn.|url=http://www.mprnews.org/story/2010/11/03/hussein-samatar-first-somali-american-to-hold-public-office-in-minnesota|accessdate=12 January 2014|date=3 November 2010|newspaper=]}}</ref>


As part of the first wave of Somali refugees in Minnesota, he learned English with the help of a Minneapolis librarian. Eventually, he earned his Master’s in business administration from the ]. Prior to his leadership with the African Development Center, Samatar worked as a commercial banker with Wells Fargo and Norwest Banks. He started ADC with extensive experience in banking institutions, as well as a deep regard for community economic development.<ref name=ADCABOUT /> Samatar was part of the first wave of ] in December 1991. He learned English with the help of a Minneapolis librarian. He was then accepted at the ], earning an MBA in Business Administration. In 2002, Samatar was hired by ] into their management training program and became a business banker in 2002. He also worked at Nortwest Banks. In 2004, he launched the African Development Center with help from the Pan-African Community Endowment and the McKnight Foundation. It's purpose was to provide education and financial services to recent immigrants. In 2009, the ADC had a loan portfolio of $10 million.<ref>{{cite web|last=Niemela|first=Jennifer|title=Hussein Samatar {{!}} Minority Business Executive|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2009/06/29/focus8.html?page=all|accessdate=14 January 2014}}</ref> <ref name=ADCABOUT />


He was selected as a ] Fellow in 2003–2004 and a German Marshall Memorial Fellow in 2007. He successfully completed the Achieving Excellence in Community Economic Development program at the ]. Additionally, Samatar first entered public office when Mayor ] appointed him to the Minneapolis Library Board of Trustees in 2006. Rybak remembers him as “an extraordinary leader” and real friend. In 2010, Samatar was the first Somali-American in Minnesota, and most likely the country, to be elected to public office when he won a seat on the Minneapolis school board.<ref name=ADCABOUT /> In 2003, he was selected a ] Fellow in 2003–2004 and a German Marshall Memorial Fellow in 2007. He successfully completed the Achieving Excellence in Community Economic Development program at the ]. Samatar entered public office in 2006, when he was appointed to the Minneapolis Library Board of Trustees by Mayor ]. Samatar made history in 2010 when he became the first Somali-American elected to public office when he won a seat on the school board of Minneapolis.<ref name=ADCABOUT />


==Death== ==Death==

Revision as of 05:45, 14 January 2014

Two men, a taller one on the left in an open suit jacket and the shorter one on the right in a white button-down shirt, smile as they stand in front of an indoor taquería.
Samatar, left, pictured with Ramon Leon of the Latino Economic Development Center at the Midtown Global Market in 2011

Hussein Samatar (Template:Lang-so) was a Somali American politician, banker, and community organizer. In 2004 he left the corporate world to launch the African Development Center so as to provide microloans and technical expertise to emerging African immigrant businesses.

Biography

Hussein Samatar studied at the Somali National University, receiving his undergraduate degree in 1991. His goal was to work as an economist, but the outbreak of the Somali Civil War four days after his graduation meant that he had to put this off. Samatar left Somalia shortly after the outbreak of war as a means of survival.

Samatar was part of the first wave of Somali refugees in Minnesota in December 1991. He learned English with the help of a Minneapolis librarian. He was then accepted at the University of St. Thomas, earning an MBA in Business Administration. In 2002, Samatar was hired by Wells Fargo into their management training program and became a business banker in 2002. He also worked at Nortwest Banks. In 2004, he launched the African Development Center with help from the Pan-African Community Endowment and the McKnight Foundation. It's purpose was to provide education and financial services to recent immigrants. In 2009, the ADC had a loan portfolio of $10 million.

In 2003, he was selected a Humphrey School of Public Affairs Fellow in 2003–2004 and a German Marshall Memorial Fellow in 2007. He successfully completed the Achieving Excellence in Community Economic Development program at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Samatar entered public office in 2006, when he was appointed to the Minneapolis Library Board of Trustees by Mayor R.T. Rybak. Samatar made history in 2010 when he became the first Somali-American elected to public office when he won a seat on the school board of Minneapolis.

Death

On August 25, 2013, Samatar died following complications from leukemia. In a statement, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak said one of his greatest pleasures as mayor was getting to know Samatar. "He has been an extraordinary leader and a real friend," Rybak said. "I am heartsick about losing him, but I will look for solace in knowing how many people he helped." In a last act outgoing Mayor Rybak renamed a stretch of 5th Street the Samatar Crossing.

References

  1. ^ "Hussein Samatar". African Development Center of Minnesota. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  2. Yuen, Laura (3 November 2010). "First Somali-American elected to public office in Minn". MPR News. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  3. Niemela, Jennifer. "Hussein Samatar | Minority Business Executive". Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  4. "Hussein Samatar, 45: Pioneering Somali public official dies". St. Paul Pioneer Press. 26 August 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  5. Rao, Maya (30 December 2013). "Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak's last act: West Bank walkway". Star Tribune. Retrieved 12 January 2014.

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