Keith Ellison, 43, is a father, husband, attorney, former Minnesota state legislator, community advocate – and now a United States Congressman. Ellison’s roots as a community activist and his message of inclusivity through democratic participation resonated throughout the Fifth District.  His long career of advocacy is focused on promoting peace, prosperity for working families, and civil and human rights. In 2006, Ellison made history as the first African American elected to Congress from Minnesota and the first member of the Muslim faith elected to Congress. Congressman Ellison took his ceremonial oath ceremony into Congress with the holy Qur’an that was owned by founding father Thomas Jefferson.  Originally from Detroit, Michigan, he moved to Minnesota in 1987 to attend the University of Minnesota Law School, where he graduated with a Juris Doctor degree in 1990.  Ellison and his wife, Kim, a high school mathematics teacher, have lived on the Minneapolis Northside for the past eighteen years.  They are the proud parents of four children. Ellison will be the keynote speaker at the upcoming banquet for the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ southern California chapter on Nov. 10.