Abdul Sm Rasheed is the founder and former CEO of the North Carolina Community

Development Initiative (NCCDI) and Initiative Capital, a U.S. Treasury Certified Development

Finance Institution. Over his 20-year career, Abdul spearheaded efforts supporting local

community development corporations, leadership, and capacity building, working with

low-income leaders, governments, foundations, banks, and other financial institutions. His

leadership attracted $100 million in capital, facilitating over a billion dollars in statewide

development projects. Currently, Abdul serves as Senior Advisor to the board and CEO of

Franklin-Vance-Warren Opportunity, a $12 million Community Action Agency serving four

counties. He has been with the organization for five years. Abdul holds Honorary Doctorates

from Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) and Livingstone College. He also earned a BS in

Basic Business from ECSU, an M.Ed. in Counseling and Personnel Services from Trenton State

University, and an MS in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire

University. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Senior Executive Management Program at

Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Abdul has traveled extensively

across the U.S., the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and Mexico. He was invited as an advisor at

the National Conference of Black Housing Developers in Manchester, England, too discuss

housing development for low-income communities. Abdul resides in Henderson with his wife,

Marolyn. They have five children and seven grandchildren.