Bilal Rahman is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. He developed his love for civic responsibility and service to his community through the Boy Scouts of America. His childhood was normal growing up in a two parent household but like most black male children, he faced challenges in the streets of Baltimore surrounded by crime and violence.
The streets of Baltimore have always been tough, so Bilal Rahman had a choice to persevere or succumb to the pressures of society. He made bad choices that landed him in prison. In 1990 he received 71 years for his crimes with no apparent hope of re-entering society again! He didn’t serve time, he allowed the time to serve him. He took advantage of all the educational, self-help and religious programs prison offered to him. In his darkest hour he found a glimpse of light. He was eventually paroled in February of 2014.
He received his GED, an AA at Hagerstown Community College, and works in the plumbing trade. He founded Community Conscious Rap, Inc. with three other like-minded people to creatively resolve conflict in the prisons and the community. If sports have referees to manage and insure that everyone is playing by the same rules, why wouldn’t members of the community have specialists in Conflict Resolution? Community Conscious Rap, Inc. is a community resource for Conflict Resolution. Bilal Rahman has been recognized by several government and civic institutions for his community service. He has helped a countless number of incarcerated men wanting something different than what lead them to prison.
Cognizant of the social dilemma of his community, he found ways to turn “a negative into a positive”. He participated in block cleaning programs sponsored by Baltimore Manpower Initiative. He has sat on community panels and forums to talk about Conflict Resolution. He shared the lectern with the Baltimore City Police Commissioner Bates and Commander Major Briscoe of the Western District Police. He had the honor of Introducing former Maryland State Senator, Lisa Gladden in community meetings. He was in the streets during the hours of Baltimore’s uprising over Freddie Gray’s death. He also worked on Sheila Dixons’ Mayoral Campaign in Baltimore. He pushed policy in Annapolis for justice for incarcerated lifers on such bills as: Lifers’ Bill and Juvenile Lifers’ Bill. He is writing a book on Conflict Resolution called “Mutual Ground”, coming soon.