Arab America Mourns the Passing of Ismael Ahmed, Trailblazing Arab American Leader and Champion of Justice

posted on: Feb 1, 2026

Ismael Ahmed, a pioneering Arab American leader, public servant, and lifelong advocate for social justice, passed away on Saturday. He was 79. Funeral arrangements will be announced in the coming days.

Arab America joins countless individuals, institutions, and communities in mourning the loss of a man whose life embodied service, inclusion, and unwavering commitment to human dignity.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1947 to a Lebanese mother and an Egyptian father, Ismael Ahmed grew up in a working-class immigrant environment that profoundly shaped his worldview. His childhood spanned Brooklyn, southwest Detroit, and Dearborn—communities rich in cultural, ethnic, and racial diversity. Ahmed often reflected on how living among African American, Latino, Irish, Arab, and immigrant families instilled in him a deep belief in multiculturalism and shared humanity.

After high school, Ahmed was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era and served in South Korea. His brother served in Vietnam and later died from complications related to Agent Orange exposure—an experience that deeply radicalized Ahmed and strengthened his lifelong opposition to war and injustice. Following his military service, Ahmed worked as a merchant marine, an autoworker, and a union activist, experiences that grounded his commitment to labor rights and economic justice.

Ahmed’s life changed decisively when he attended the University of Michigan–Dearborn, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in secondary education and sociology in 1977. His education catalyzed a career dedicated to community empowerment and institution-building.

In 1973, Ahmed co-founded the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS), an organization that would grow into the largest Arab American human services agency in the United States. Appointed Executive Director of ACCESS in 1983, Ahmed oversaw the organization’s expansion into a national model for culturally competent social services. Under his leadership, ACCESS operated in 11 states, offered more than 90 programs, and served over 900,000 individuals annually.

Among his most enduring legacies was his role in founding the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn—the first museum in the nation dedicated to Arab American history and culture—affirming Arab Americans’ rightful place in the American narrative.

Ahmed’s public service extended well beyond the Arab American community. He served as Director of the Michigan Department of Human Services, overseeing more than 11,000 employees and administering a $7 billion annual budget, where he championed anti-poverty initiatives and expanded access to fresh food in Detroit. He also served as a Regent of Eastern Michigan University, Vice President of the Michigan Democratic Party, and held leadership roles on numerous civic and policy boards.

In 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Ahmed to the National Council on the Arts, a nomination unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate—recognizing his lifelong commitment to culture, equity, and creative expression.

Ahmed was also an artist and communicator. Since 1998, he hosted “This Island Earth” on WDET public radio, sharing global music while advancing a philosophy he often described as planetary citizenship—the belief that humanity’s shared fate transcends borders and identities.

Throughout his life, Ahmed spoke candidly about racism, justice, and the moral crossroads facing America. While deeply rooted in Arab American identity, he consistently emphasized unity over division and inclusion across differences.

His contributions earned him numerous honors, including the Neal Shine Award for Exemplary Regional Leadership, the Distinguished Leadership Award from the University of Michigan–Dearborn, and an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree recognizing his lifetime of service.

“Ismael Ahmed was, above all, a principled human being, one who believed that justice, culture, and community were inseparable,” said Warren David, president of Arab America. “His legacy lives on through the institutions he built, the leaders he mentored, and the countless lives he touched.”

Arab America extends its deepest condolences to his wife Margaret, his children, family, friends, colleagues, and the many communities he served.

Funeral arrangements will be announced soon.

Arab America highlighted Ismael Ahmed in its Pathbreakers of Arab America series in February 2025

Compiled by Arab America

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