Representative, Iowa State House of Representatives, District 34, 2023-present

Assistant Minority Leader, Iowa State House of Representatives, present

Former Assistant Majority Leader, Iowa State House of Representatives

Representative, Iowa State House of Representatives, District 35, 2007-2022

Candidate, Iowa State House of Representatives, District 35, 2020

Member, Committee on International Relations

Ranking Member, Local Government Committee

Member, Natural Resources Committee

Member, Public Safety Committee

Member, Subcommittee on Administration and Regulation Appropriations

Former Member, Administration and Rules Committee, Iowa State House of Representatives

Former Member, Agriculture Committee, 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 Assistant Minority Leader, Iowa State House of Representatives

Former Member, Legislative Council Committee, Iowa State House of Representatives

Former Member, Subcommittee on Capital Projects, Iowa State House of Representatives

Former Member, Subcommittee on International Relations, Iowa State House of Representatives

Chief Executive Officer/Founder, Creative Visions Human Development Center, 1995-present

Vice President, KUCB Radio, present

Employee, Patton's Restaurant & Catering, present

Writer/Co-Producer, Teen Talk, present

Writer/Producer/Director, Understanding Islam, present

Founder/President, African-American Islamic Association, present

Chair, American Muslim Alliance, present

Member, Black Panther Party, Des Moines, Iowa Chapter, present

Co-Founder, Black Student Union, Iowa, present

Vice President, Center for the Study and Application of Black Economic Development, present

Member, International Civil Rights Solidarity Movement, present

Chair, Iowa Democratic Black Caucus, present

Founder/President, National African-American Islamic Association, present

Co-Founder/Coordinator, Young Men's Christian Association Downtown Teen Program, present

Founder, FromPain2Power

Former Vice President, School Board, Des Moines Public Schools

School Board Member, Des Moines Public Schools, 2004-2007

Awards:

Bankers Trust Award, 2015
Martin Luther King Jr. Community Activist award, 2009
National Caring Award, 2004

Favorite Movie:

Malcom X

Favorite Musician:

Marvin Gaye

Favorite Quote:

"I am sick and tired of being sick and tired." --Fannie Lou Hammer
"Their are two important days in your life the day you are born and the day you find out why." --Mark Twain
"Life or death-our children r precious to us." --Ako Abdul-Samad
"Remember to give your child or children a hug while saying I love you." --Ako Abdul-Samad

Favorite Sport:

Muhammad Ali

Favorite TV Shows:

Soul Train

Publications:

The Deeper Truth: Revelations of the Soul