Ismael N. Ahmed

1947 - January 31, 20261947 - Jan 31, 2026

Dearborn, Michigan, USADearborn, MI

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American labor leader and community activist

Ismael N. Ahmed, a revered American labor leader, government official, and tireless community activist, passed away on January 31, 2026, at the age of 79. His remarkable life was dedicated to advocating for the rights and well-being of underserved communities, particularly the Arab American population in Michigan and across the nation. Ahmed's legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of metro-Detroit, where his vision and leadership fostered significant advancements in social services, cultural understanding, and civil rights.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1947, Ahmed moved with his family to Detroit at the age of six. His early experiences, including military service in South Korea during the 1960s and later becoming a union activist in auto plants, profoundly shaped his commitment to social justice and labor rights. These formative years instilled in him a deep understanding of the challenges faced by working-class families and immigrants, fueling a lifelong passion for advocacy.

A cornerstone of his work was the co-founding of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) in 1973, an organization he would later lead as Executive Director for 24 years, transforming it into the largest Arab American human services organization in the country. Beyond social services, Ahmed was a fervent champion of cultural preservation and exchange, co-founding the National Arab American Museum in Dearborn and establishing the acclaimed Concert of Colors festival in 1993, a vibrant celebration of global music and arts.

Ahmed's influence extended to the highest levels of state government, where he made history as the first Arab American to lead a major state cabinet department, serving as Director of the Michigan Department of Human Services from 2007 to 2011. His expertise and dedication were recognized nationally when President Joe Biden nominated him to the National Council on the Arts in 2021. He also contributed significantly to academia as an Associate Provost at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, which awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 2009 for his lifetime of service.

Ismael Ahmed's passing leaves a void in the communities he so passionately served. He will be remembered as a compassionate leader whose unwavering dedication to equality, cultural diversity, and human dignity left an indelible mark on countless lives and institutions. His tireless efforts to build bridges between communities and empower the marginalized will continue to inspire future generations of activists and public servants.

Memorial created on February 1, 2026. Last updated on February 15, 2026.

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Paul O'LearyFeb 6

Ish was my brother-in-law. I got drunk for the first time at his and Mary's wedding, age 14(?) Spent many days and nights at their various flats in the south end. Blessings and hugs to Peggy, and Saladin, and everyone still here from "back in the day". Godspeed, Ish.

Vicki ReaumeFeb 5

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Ismael Ahmed, a former member of the Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents. He served on the Board from January 2007 to August 2007, and we are grateful for his service to Eastern Michigan University and to the community. We extend our deepest condolences and are keeping his family and loved ones in our thoughts. - Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents

Alan MadlaneFeb 4

Much love, Ishmael! Fly free!!

Charles Ezra FerrellFeb 3

This Island Earth (For Ismael Ahmed and 35 Years of the Concert of Colors) _______ Ismael calls it “This Island Earth” not as a warning, but as a remembering. Not land divided by flags or fences, not sound split by language or law, but one breathing body — ancient, patient, listening. In his vision, the earth does not spin alone. It rests on the back of a turtle, steady and alive, carrying music stories in its shell— songs from the Arab oud, the African drum, the Indigenous dance, the immigrant violin, the youth DJ’s prayer scratched into vinyl. The turtle moves slowly because it must hold us all. Ismael teaches us that culture is not decoration— it is oxygen. That music is not performance— it is survival. That justice is not an idea— it is a practice done in public, in community parks, on city streets, under open skies where no one is turned away. The Concert of Colors Thirty-five years, and ticking and the island has not shrunk. It has widened its arms. We have watched him tune the airwaves at WDET, braiding voices others tried to silence, turning radio into refuge, turning difference into harmony without sanding down its edges. From Detroit outward, the Concert of Colors rose— not a festival, but a gathering of community belonging. A living proof that the world does not have to fracture to be powerful. Through our eyes, through our shared heart, we see children dancing before they learn fear. Elders nodding as if to say, Yes, this is how it was meant to be. Artists arriving as strangers and leaving as kin. The turtle keeps moving, steadily ahead, miles ahead The shell grows brighter. Each revolutionary color earns its place. This Island Earth— where perceived differences are not placed into false categories, but are currents in the same sea. Where joy is political, and love is strategic. Ismael, our brother, the Sage, the Connector you did not invent unity— you remember it for us and dare us to live it out loud. As we approach the 35th anniversary of the Concert of Colors which you birthed and carefully nurtured. we stand barefoot on the shell, listening to the deep pulse beneath us, knowing now what you knew then: We are not visitors here. We are relatives. And the earth, alive and watching, is carrying us forward— together. -by Charles Ezra Ferrell (Kariuki wa Thiong'o)

Nebechi Gab UgwuFeb 3

The world in general, Michigan in particular, and the Arab community in Michigan specifically has lost great person, a soft spoken cultural unifier, and a great visionary and servant leader in the person of Mr. Ismael Ahmed. I will not recount the numerous roles (which many people have mentioned already) he had played in the communities within the State of Michigan. I must point out this probably unknown fact; due to his love for music and culture, he tried to help the African community to establish an African radio program on public radio. I enjoyed working with him in Concert of Colours in the late 1990s and early 2000s. May the Almighty God, Allah, Chukwu Onye Okike, bless him with a peaceful rest. Nebechi Gabriel Ugwu

Sharon M BledsoeFeb 2

It is very sad to hear of the death of Ismael Ahmed. We sat next to each other in Mr. Schultz's homeroom at Fordson High School. He graduated with me in January 1966. We would meet up at reunions, events, and Homecoming over the years. He was agreat person. Really enjoyed his telling me of his time forming ACCESS. I am so sorry to hear of his death. My condolences go to his family. Sharon M Bledsoe

Ismael N. Ahmed

American labor leader and community activist

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