Today we’d like to introduce you to Bilal Bahar.
Hi Bilal, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have always dreamed of getting an education and becoming a successful social entrepreneur. However, growing up in poor neighborhoods in Baltimore City, this dream often eluded me. This feeling changed when I volunteered on a trip to Abuja, Nigeria, in 2006. During my visit, I asked a group of educated men (Andrew Young, Martin Luther King III, and John Hope Bryant) to teach me to be as articulate as they were. Their response was, “read, brother.” These two words, “read, brother,” motivated me to start an 11-year journey to functional literacy. I came back to Baltimore and immediately enrolled at CCBC, and 9 years later, I received an Associate Degree in Business Administration. Soon thereafter, I transferred to the University of Baltimore.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I always dreamed of getting an education and becoming a successful social entrepreneur. Armed with fresh knowledge and a strong sense of accomplishment, I entered UBalt ready to give back to the Baltimore neighborhoods where I was raised. However, the starting point had me stumped. I focused more time on developing my skills and expanding my network. I initially applied to the Merrick School of Business Entrepreneur Fellowship program, but I was not accepted. Instead of giving up, I changed my focus and entered the Interdisciplinary Studies program in the Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences. My concentration included community studies, civic engagement, business, and communications. After two years of perseverance and hard work, I graduated from UBalt in fall 2016 with a 3.5 GPA and bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies.
As you know, we’re big fans of Evolve Community Foundation, Inc. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
In 2015, I started Evolve Community Foundation, Inc. Our mission is to “create and preserve long-term sustainable community wealth and a better quality of life for the students, families, and stakeholders of the communities we serve.” Our after-school leadership programs are designed to challenge an often self-destructive urban culture by giving students a place to learn, create, express, and bring new life to their communities.
All of our (1) Programs (2)projects (3) initiatives and (4) community engagement…operate on our B.E.A.C.H. Life Track To Success and Purpose, Community Operating System.
This includes our (1) Mission (2) Guiding Principles and (3) our B.E.A.C.H. Life Curriculum and (4) The B.E.A.H. Life Game.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Bilal ‘Coach’ Bahar brings a wealth of community development experience to his graduate studies. As the founder of the Baltimore-based Evolve Community Foundation Inc., a non-profit organization providing youth mentoring in business, education, arts, community, and health, Coach Bilal sees landscape architecture as a tool to help bridge divides between some of Baltimore’s affluent and underserved neighborhoods, as well as a catalyst for healing trauma. His current work explores the therapeutic potential of hydroponic systems, particularly examining the power of water to enhance how people see themselves and their neighborhoods. His long-term sights are focused on doctoral work, which explore relationships between cognitive dissonance, education, and community development.
Contact Info:
- Email: coachbilal@evolvecommunityfoundation.org
- Website: www.evolvecommunityfoundation.org
- Instagram: evolve_foundation
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvsIen-0eBDk9Uneu_1MX3w
