I am proud that I have been able to create a professional life that mirrors my concerns and desire to combat racial inequality whether it is my current work at the NAACP, previously working for Rev. Al Sharpton, coordinating a college program for incarcerated women or working at multi-cultural centers at universities.
I am proud that I have been part of non-violent direct action and other types of activism in the United States and in different parts of the globe and finally I am proud that in the midst of my activism and professional work I have been able to get married, stay married and have two great kids.
Dedrick Asante - Muhammad is currently serving the NAACP as the Sr. Director of the Economic Department and Executive Director of the Financial Freedom Center. In 2011 the NAACP re-launched its economic department with a new headquarters in Washington DC, an enlarged staff, and new programmatic work focused on financial and economic education, fair lending, and diversity and inclusion efforts.
"Sacrifice, commitment and dedication are three principles that have helped me succeed and I think are much more important than natural talent or ability. Currently my leadership mantra is leadership through service," says Muhammad.
Muhammad's past civil rights experience includes his time at Reverend Al Sharpton’s National Action Network where he first worked as the National Crisis Coordinator and then as the National Field Director.
Muhammad's professional work in economic equity began at United for a Fair Economy (UFE) where he was coordinator of the Racial Wealth Divide Project. While at UFE, Muhammad co-founded the State of the Dream report and has been a co-author of this annual report for five years.
Pursuing his work in economic and racial equity Muhammad went on to the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) where he worked in the Inequality and Common Good Program, under the leadership of Chuck Collins.
At IPS, he cofounded the "Race and Economy Forum" with the Economic Policy Institute's Algernon Austin. During this time, Muhammad also produced the reports "40 Years Later: The Unrealized American Dream" and "Challenges to Native American Advancement: The Recession and Native America".
