From Vision to Ownership: How Potomac Gardens Is Building Black Businesses

5 Elite Cleaning Service First Contract at Muhammad Mosque no 4 Washington DC

Doing for Self: How Vision, Unity, and Action Are Shaping Economic Independence in Potomac Gardens

BLXCR editorial note: We make it a point to keep the spotlight on those who are not just talking about change, but actively shaping the community through action. One such example is the work of Brother Frank Muhammad of First Fruit, alongside those assisting him in Potomac Gardens. What makes this effort powerful is not just the idea itself, but the collective spirit behind it.

Brother Frank is not working alone. With the assistance of Muhammad Mosque No. 4, the Mighty Fruit of Islam in Washington, D.C., and other community partners who recognize vision when they see it, a strong model is being built right in front of us. Their approach is simple, practical, and rooted in reality: identify a need, create a solution, and teach our people that independence is possible when we put our lines together.

One of the first businesses to come out of this effort is a cleaning company. It’s a strategic move. Every business, regardless of size, needs maintenance. When you understand the need, you can build a business around it. This is the model First Fruit is teaching—business that is doable, scalable, and sustainable. The administrative steps, such as forming an LLC, securing a tax ID, and obtaining insurance, are important, but they are only tools. The real work happens when like-minded people come together with discipline, commitment, and vision.

We believe stories like this matter because they show what happens when vision is matched with discipline and community support. This is not theory or rhetoric—it is lived practice. What follows is Brother Frank Muhammad’s account of how this work unfolded, not as a one-time project, but as a blueprint in motion that can be studied, supported, and replicated wherever our people are serious about Doing for Self.

Brother Frank Muhammad shared how the journey unfolded as a natural progression rooted in faith, partnership, and action. He explained that the work first received momentum through a community partnership that provided six weeks of structured business coaching.

That period of training concluded with the youth officially registering their business in Washington, D.C., marking a critical transition from idea to ownership. From there, he approached the Mighty Fruit of Islam and asked them to support the effort by rendering cleaning services through the youth-led company.

He also encouraged a collective contribution—five dollars each—to provide a modest stipend, using that moment to open deeper conversations around financial literacy, responsibility, and the discipline required to sustain a business.

As the work continued to grow, Brother Frank explained that the focus naturally expanded beyond simply operating a business. The next step became reaching out to the broader community for financial backing to help sponsor advanced training, including an epoxy class, entry into a cleaning franchise model, and the purchase of essential supplies. The goal, he emphasized, is not merely survival, but transformation—equipping these young men to become bosses in their own community and providers of jobs for their peers.

Brother Frank made clear that this initiative is deeply rooted in the teachings of our leaders. He referenced the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad’s Economic Blueprint, emphasizing that real economic development requires action and deeds—not words or lip service. He explained that when it comes to the youth, action is the only language that truly resonates.

They have heard promises repeatedly, yet too often witness little follow-through. This project, he said, is designed to counter that pattern by offering tangible guidance and real opportunity within a system that has historically worked against them.

He also stressed that this work is collective and rooted firmly in brotherhood. Brother Frank took time to salute his Godbrother, Brother Sulaiman. Together, they have taken on the challenge of pooling resources not only to create jobs, but to train young men as entrepreneurs capable of providing opportunities for others—particularly those facing systemic barriers due to prior criminal offenses.

With the initiative being led by the Mighty FOI of Muhammad Mosque No. 4, economic opportunity is intentionally paired with ongoing mentorship. This structure ensures that the youth are not only gaining income, but also being refined in character, discipline, and accountability. Brother Frank explained that this refinement is essential, as it prepares them to command respect and navigate professional environments with confidence across all walks of life.

“We are looking for 100 people to donate a minimum of $100 toward franchise costs, along with others contributing supplies needed to run the business. Once we establish this model, we can duplicate it citywide and ultimately nationwide. Now the question is: who is really about doing for self?”

Brother Frank further emphasized the need for spiritually grounded Black entrepreneurs to step forward and pour into the next generation. He highlighted the recent involvement of Brother Fred Hill, an established business pillar in Washington, D.C., who welcomed the young men into his warehouse in Prince George’s County.

This visit served as a follow-up to the time Brother Fred invested during the summer sessions of MBSYEP 2025. Seeing the growth firsthand, Brother Fred was encouraged to learn that the youth had transformed that initial investment of time and guidance into ownership of a registered cleaning service company in Washington, D.C.

For Brother Frank, this work is deeply personal. He expressed gratitude for brothers who consistently answer the call, not only with words of encouragement but with tangible support. He described the mission as raising Black youth to become morally centered bosses within their own community—young men positioned to be the solution in alignment with the will of God, rather than being shaped into problems by forces that work against them.

The vision goes even further.

“We must set a code that we will only do business with those who are passionate about giving back to the community and solving problems unique to us.”

Reflecting on his own journey as a professional network marketer, Brother Frank explained why mentorship sits at the core of this work. He recalled that someone once took the time to share knowledge and guidance with him—an opportunity many traditional business owners never extended.

Determined to break that cycle, he committed himself to offering youth not only income-earning opportunities, but also the behavioral development necessary to sustain success. He explained that if he challenges them to step away from what they are comfortable using to earn money, he has a responsibility to provide a real, structured alternative.

That alternative, he explained, includes deliberate exposure to environments that push growth. The youth are taken into spaces that initially make them uncomfortable—virtual offices, downtown D.C. conference rooms, meetings with bank managers to open business accounts, and soon, conversations with wealthy business owners to explore subcontracting opportunities. Brother Frank shared a principle that guides this approach: a business will work on you long before it works for you, because every victory you seek lives just beyond your comfort zone.

This is what Doing for Self looks like in real time. Vision backed by action. Faith paired with discipline. Economics rooted in love for the people.

BLXCR Editor’s Charge

The work highlighted here is not meant to be admired from a distance. It is meant to be supported, strengthened, and duplicated. Our communities do not suffer from a lack of ideas—we suffer from a lack of collective action and follow-through. The model taking root in Potomac Gardens shows that when faith, mentorship, and economic discipline come together, transformation is possible.

BLXCR calls on those with resources, skills, and vision to step forward—not tomorrow, not when it’s convenient, but now. Doing for Self requires participation. It requires sacrifice. And it requires us to align our spending, our partnerships, and our time with those who are truly committed to rebuilding our communities from the inside out. The blueprint is in motion. The question is no longer what needs to be done, but who is ready to do it.