Ako Abdul-Samad

Ako Abdul-Samad DEMDemocrat

State Representative, District 34

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Ako Abdul-SamadDEMDemocrat State Representative, District 34
72
Years of Age
16
Years of Experience
IAResidence (state)

Ako Abdul-Samad (born July 25, 1951) is the Iowa State Representative from the 34th District. He has served in the Iowa House of Representatives since 2007. Previously, he was a member of the Des Moines school board. Abdul-Samad was born, raised, and resides in Des Moines. Abdul-Samad is the founder and CEO of Creative Visions Human Development Institute, a nonprofit organization in Des Moines. As of May 2013, Abdul-Samad serves on the Iowa House Administration and Rules, Education, Human Resources, and Public Safety committees. He also serves on the Health and Human Services Committee of the Midwestern Legislative Conference of the Council of State Governments.Abdul-Samad is founder and president of the African-American Islamic Association.In February 2024, Abdul-Samad announced that he would retire at the end of his current term.

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0 / 3
Education4 - 4 of 2
Des Moines Area Community College
Attended
National Conference of Black Lawyers Community College of Law and International Diplomacy
Graduated
Past Positions1 - 9 of 9
Assistant Minority Leader
Iowa State House of Representatives
Current
Representative
Iowa State House of Representatives
2023 - Current
Representative
Iowa State House of Representatives
2007 - 2022
Former Assistant Majority Leader
Iowa State House of Representatives
Employee
Patton's Restaurant & Catering
Current
Vice President
KUCB Radio
Current
Writer
Teen Talk
Current
Writer
Understanding Islam
Current
Chief Executive Officer
Creative Visions Human Development Center
1995 - Current
Other Experience1 - 20 of 20
Chair
American Muslim Alliance
Current
Chair
Iowa Democratic Black Caucus
Current
Co-Founder
Black Student Union, Iowa
Current
Co-Founder
Young Men's Christian Association Downtown Teen Program
Current
Founder
National African-American Islamic Association
Current
Founder
African-American Islamic Association
Current
Member
International Civil Rights Solidarity Movement
Current
Member
Black Panther Party, Des Moines, Iowa Chapter
Current
Vice President
Center for the Study and Application of Black Economic Development
Current
School Board Member
Des Moines Public Schools
2004 - 2007
Former Vice President
School Board, Des Moines Public Schools
Founder
FromPain2Power
Former Assistant Minority Leader
Iowa State House of Representatives
Former Member
Administration and Rules Committee, Iowa State House of Representatives
Former Member
Subcommittee on Capital Projects, Iowa State House of Representatives
Former Member
Education Committee, Iowa State House of Representatives
Former Member
Human Resources Committee, Iowa State House of Representatives
Former Member
Subcommittee on International Relations, Iowa State House of Representatives
Former Member
Legislative Council Committee, Iowa State House of Representatives
Former Member
Agriculture Committee, Iowa State House of Representatives
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