Brooklyn's Progress
August/September 2005

By Khadija Batuta

Bilal Mahdi Muhammad, downtown Brooklyn civic leader and active Member of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, passed away on Fri., June 24. 

Mr. Muhammad, 58, was a Brooklyn business success who embodied the entrepreneurial grit and spirit that drives the borough’s small business economy.  His “Success Story” of how he expanded his business through networking at Chamber events, was one of the first to be featured on the Chamber’s Web site, ibrooklyn.com.

“We were saddened and shocked to hear of Bilal’s passing.  He was so active in Fort Greene and in the Chamber, and so committed to important causes beyond just his business.  We send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends,” said Brooklyn Chamber President Kenneth Adams.

WiseUp! Productions, established in 1994, allowed Mr. Muhammad to realize his entrepreneurial dreams.  WiseUp! specializes in promoting cultural arts and business events primarily through flier, poster and brochure distribution.  The business serves many local institutions, including the Brooklyn Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, various Broadway theatrical productions, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, and many others.

Mr. Muhammad was a personal friend and former high school classmate of Darryl Hollon, the Chamber’s Vice President of Membership.

“Bilal was a true entrepreneur – initially experiencing some failure – but through his stick-to-itiveness he ultimately prevailed in carving himself quite a niche in the Brooklyn business community through his company, WiseUp! Productions.  Bilal will be missed,” said Mr. Hollon

In addition to his entrepreneurial pursuits, Mr. Muhammad was a community activist involved in several organizations supporting youth education as well as economic development.  He founded the Bogolan Merchants Association, a group he organized to provide support to small businesses in Fort Greene.  Mr. Muhammad was also the founder of the African Horsemen, an organization dedicated to preserving traditional West African horsemanship, which led to his participation in many African-American celebrations and parades in New York City.

Mr. Muhammad is survived by his wife of 26 years, Ibon M. Muhammad; five children including a son, Bruce Ramses Perry, and four daughters, Jamilah, Aiysha, Ayana and Naimah; six grandchildren; his mother Helen Jackson Brown; a sister; two brothers; and a host of family and friends.

A memorial service was held on Tues., June 28, at Masjid Adbul Muhsi Khalifah in Bedford-Stuyvesant.  The family intends to continue Mr. Muhammad’s legacy through the company he founded.  To learn more about WiseUp! Productions please visit the company’s Web site at http://www.wiseuponline.com/.