Our Roots

From Personal Struggle to Purpose-Driven Advocacy

My journey into fatherhood was not the "fairytale" experience that many imagine — and I use that word intentionally, because men of color are rarely seen as having the right to that dream.

When my first child was born, I was serving in the military. My duties kept me away from my daughter's pregnancy and birth, leaving me absent from one of the most formative moments of both our lives.

Years later, my now ex-wife and I learned we were expecting our second child just three days after I was laid off. A week before my son's birth, I found new employment — but because of the gap in work, I never qualified for parental leave. That pregnancy was marked by unemployment, depression, anxiety, and limited access to quality healthcare.

These experiences left me struggling to connect with my children, questioning whether I wanted more, and dealing with the self-imposed shame of not feeling the joy I thought pregnancy would bring. I sought therapy, not only to process my own story but to understand how societal norms, systemic barriers, and cultural stigma impact fathers like me.

It was in this process of healing and reflection that my purpose became clear: to support and advocate for fathers — especially Black fathers — from the very beginning of their parenting journey.

Today, through M3 Global Solutions, Maynard Firm LLC, and Maurice Maynard Foundation Inc WEST, I work with fathers in New York and California as a life coach, advocate, and organizer. I fight for reproductive justice to include fathers, challenge healthcare systems to provide equitable support, and push for policies that give every father a fighting chance to be present, healthy, and empowered.

My story is not just my own. It is the lived reality of countless fathers of color. This is why I work tirelessly to change the narrative — so that future fathers can build their own fairytales of healthy, thriving families.