Abdullahi Ali is an accomplished community member and leader. Abdullahi is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Gateway Community Services, Executive Director of the Not-for-Profit organization wing of Gateway (GCSM), CEO of LAAFYO Consultancy/Property development; he is also the founder of the East-African based non-profit, Nurture All Afric Foundation. Abdullahi was born in Somalia, raised in Kenyan refugee camp, Dadaab, and resettled in Maine as a refugee. While in Kenya, Abdullahi received his Associate’s in Community Development and studied Sociology and Public Administration at the University of Kenya in Nairobi. Abdullahi has worked with humanitarian and development agencies in Kenya. He was regularly involved in programs and activities of income generation for vulnerable communities, peace education, women’s empowerment, and skills development. He brought his vision of inclusivity and ambition with him when he moved to Maine.

Abdullahi continued his pursuit of higher education by studying for a Bachelor’s in Social Science at the University of Southern Maine (USM) and graduating with a Master of Science degree in Justice Studies with a concentration in Public Administration from Southern New Hampshire University. He is currently completing his PhD in Public Policy at the Muskie School at USM. Since 2009, Abdullahi has worked with BIPOC and Immigrant communities, survivors of torture, youth, and families, and created programs to address their needs. In 2019, Maine Magazine honored Abdullahi as one of “50 Mainers Creating a Brighter Future for the State,” and in 2020, he received the Metamorphosis Visionary Leadership Award. In 2023, Abdullahi was chosen as the recipient of the Maine Black Excellence Award: Community Bow and Stern, for Best All Around Excellence in Leadership and Advocacy. 

Abdullahi continues to strive towards the greater good of the communities he lives with through the work that he does in his organizations and the other organizations he is member of their Board of Directors.