Jamal Osman (politician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jamal Osman
Member of the Minneapolis City Council from the 6th Ward
Incumbent
Assumed office August 28, 2020
Preceded by	Abdi Warsame
Personal details
Born	1983/1984 (age 41–42) Somalia
Political party	Democratic
Children	5

Jamal Osman is an American politician who serves on the Minneapolis City Council. He is a member of the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party in Minnesota. In 2020, he was elected to represent the 6th Ward of Minneapolis.

Early Life and Background

Jamal Osman was born in Somalia. As a child, he lived as a refugee in Kenya. When he was 14 years old, he moved to the United States. After arriving in Minnesota, his family lived in public housing.

Before becoming a politician, Osman worked in social services. He helped people as a resident advocate for a nonprofit group called CommonBond Communities. He also served on the board of the Phillips Community Clinic.

Minneapolis City Council

2020 Special Election

In 2020, a seat on the Minneapolis City Council for Ward 6 became open. The council member before him, Abdi Warsame, left to lead the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority. A special election was held on August 11, 2020, to fill the position.

This election happened during the COVID-19 pandemic and after the George Floyd protests. During his campaign, Osman promised to help people get access to affordable housing. He won the election against ten other candidates and officially took office on August 28, 2020.

As of early 2024, Osman is the chairperson of the Business, Housing & Zoning Committee on the council.

Personal Life

Osman is married to Ilo Amba. She is the founder of a nonprofit organization called Urban Advantage Services. Together, they have five children and have lived in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis.

Past Controversies

Old Social Media Posts

In 2022, some old posts Osman had made on Facebook between 2011 and 2013 were discovered. The posts contained offensive comments about different groups of people.

Osman apologized for the posts. He stated that the comments were wrong and did not represent who he is today or what he believes in. The mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, said the comments were hurtful but also expressed forgiveness.

Connection to "Feeding Our Future" Investigation

In 2025, a nonprofit organization that Osman had started years earlier was mentioned in a federal investigation called "Feeding Our Future." The investigation looked into how money from a federal program to feed children was spent.

Osman started a nonprofit called Stigma-Free International in 2019 to do mental health work. He left the organization in 2020 after he was elected to the City Council. After he left, new people took over the nonprofit. Investigators later said that these new leaders used the organization to improperly receive millions of dollars from the federal child nutrition program.

A separate nonprofit started by Osman's wife was also investigated. Neither Osman nor his wife has been charged with any crime.

Electoral history