Bankers Trust today hosted a special reception celebrating Black History Month and honoring state Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad at its East Branch location, 150 E. Euclid Ave., Des Moines. Abdul-Samad has been a member of the Des Moines School Board and is currently serving his fifth term in the Iowa House of Representatives where he is the Chairperson of the Iowa Democratic Black Caucus. Outside of civil service, Abdul-Samad has served as a national motivational speaker, founded frompain2power.org and recently published “A Deeper Truth, Revelations of the Soul” a book of poetry.