Jamal and his wife, Ilo, live in the Phillips West neighborhood with their 5 children. They love exploring the parks and restaurants of South Minneapolis. They value living in an area with vibrant commercial corridors with cultural identity such as those in the 6th Ward along East Lake Street, Franklin Avenue and Cedar Avenue.
As a refugee, and from his time spent in public housing after arriving in Minnesota, Jamal learned the importance of community and supporting those in need. This inspired him to dedicate much of his time to volunteer work and a career in helping professions. He volunteers as a certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor that teaches participants of an 8-hour course how to identify signs of mental illness, how to offer initial help to people struggling in a mental health crisis and how to connect them to the appropriate professional care. He also served on the Phillips Community Clinic Board and enjoys volunteering with Open Arms of Minnesota preparing food in the kitchen for delivery. Before becoming the Ward 6 Council Member, he worked for Common Bond Communities in the Social Services department as a Resident Advocate. He worked to ensure those living in affordable housing had access to a full range of housing stability and personal growth services to enable them to feel supported and safe.
Both as a longtime resident of Ward 6 and through his work in the community, Jamal is acutely aware of the issues that our diverse ward faces. He pledges to be an advocate and strong voice for the entire ward at City Hall by listening to and weaving together our diverse constituents’ diverse opinions. Jamal has a special focus on policy that helps those struggling with opioid addiction, access to affordable housing and those feeling unsafe in our community. He’s proud to serve Ward 6 and hopes to meet many more folks that call our community home while in office.