Community remembers beloved activist, Concert of Colors founder Ismael Ahmed

February 2, 2026

Ismael Ahmed, a prominent Detroit-area community activist who died January 31 at age 78, dedicated his life to coalition-building across diverse communities and cultural advocacy. Beginning his activism in the early 1980s, he co-founded the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) in 1971 while still a student, eventually transforming it from a small storefront operation into a major organization with eleven locations serving metro Detroit. Ahmed also created the multicultural Concert of Colors festival, co-founded the Arab American Museum in Dearborn, and served as Michigan's Health and Human Services director under Governor Jennifer Granholm, becoming the first Arab American to hold such a prominent state cabinet position.

Who is affected

Ahmed's wife Margaret, children, and grandchildren
ACCESS (Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services) staff and the communities it serves across 11 locations
Concert of Colors festival participants and organizers
The National Council on the Arts, where Ahmed served as a member
The Arab American community in metro Detroit
Students and staff at University of Michigan-Dearborn, where he served as associate provost
Coalition partners across various communities, including Rev. Horace Sheffield III and the broader Detroit activist community
Mary Sheffield (Rev. Sheffield's daughter and Detroit's first woman mayor)

What action is being taken

No explicit ongoing actions are described in the article. The article discusses past actions and Ahmed's death, with tributes being released, but does not describe current ongoing initiatives.

Why it matters

Ahmed's death represents the loss of a bridge-builder who demonstrated how coalition-building across racial, ethnic, and cultural lines could advance social justice for all communities. His work transformed ACCESS from a small volunteer operation into a major regional institution serving thousands, while Concert of Colors became one of the largest world music festivals in the country, attended by over 30,000 people annually. As the first and only Arab American to serve as Michigan's Health and Human Services director, overseeing 10,000 employees and a $4 billion budget, he broke barriers in state government. His philosophy that "the best way for us to succeed in our own individual battles was for us to fight together across the whole front" exemplifies an inclusive approach to activism that remains relevant during current attacks on equity and diversity.

What's next

The family has requested that contributions be made to Concert of Colors in lieu of flowers.

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com