Ismael Ahmed, who spent 78 years shaping Detroit’s social scene, passed away on January 31. He co‑founded the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Service, turning it into a major support hub for residents across the metro area. Ahmed also helped create the Arab Workers Caucus with the UAW, standing up for Arab American workers in the auto industry. He led Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services during Governor Granholm’s term and served as an associate provost at the University of Michigan‑Dearborn. In addition, he co‑established the Arab American National Museum.

Friends and family will honor him on Sunday, February 8 at noon to 2 p. m. in Dearborn’s Ford Community & Performing Arts Center. Instead of flowers, they ask for donations to the Concert of Colors, a free arts festival Ahmed started that showcases Detroit’s cultural mix. The 2025 event will let visitors hop from a food truck beside the “Thinker” sculpture at the Detroit Institute of Arts to Bollywood dances on the DIA lawn, then finish with a global rock‑n‑roll night at the Detroit Film Theatre featuring a special show by Don Was.

Ahmed’s voice will echo in listeners’ memories as he hosted “This Island Earth” on WDET‑FM (101. 9). The show was a weekly glimpse of the Concert of Colors, where he encouraged listeners—he called them “planetary citizens”—to look after one another. The celebration will be a chance for the community to reflect on his warmth, activism, and love of art.

Celebrating a Legacy of Community and Art

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