Today we’d like to introduce you to Maurice Clark-wilkinson

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?

Well first I would like to say thank you for having me and it is an honor to sit here and speak with you and secondly, I would like to thank God for opening up this door. You asked how I got started correct? To be honest with you the very same God that I just thanked is how I got started. You see life for me has not been easy I’ve experienced more downs than I have ups see people look at me and see the things that I’m doing, but they have no idea what I’ve been through. There was a time where I felt I reached the end of the road I basically lost everything and I ain’t know what I was going to do especially when those whom I thought were friends turned against me, family members weren’t there for me as most of them chose to ridicule me and find pleasure in my suffering. So, one night I was ready to throw in the towel and give up, because I felt as though my life was over and that I had nothing to offer, I felt worthless and felt like a failure. But instead of doing what was easy I did something that I should have done and that was humble myself before God repented to him and prayed to him. Then I told him that if he would forgive me and bless me that I would bless others and at that very moment Take It To The Streets Inc (Formerly Known as Kingdom Business) Was Born and here we are four years later, and we’ve accomplished so much. So, it’s true what they say the weapons may form but they won’t prosper.

Here I am 33 years old an ordained elder at Kingdom Nation Church, fighting battles that some people my age or older won’t fight, and most importantly putting God first in all that I do. Don’t be surprised if you see Me as a Councilman, Mayor, or United States Senator someday but for now I’m just about being in the community, saving a dying breed of teenagers who feel as though they have nothing to live for or look forward to we shouldn’t have a generation of youth whose idea of graduation is the fact they made it home from school without being jumped, robbed, or shot so they can wake up hoping for the same thing, I’m also about raising up a generation that won’t be afraid to spread the gospel, call on the name of God, and be bold enough to stand on the front lines. That is why need a generation of lawyers, doctors, engineers, teachers, and elected officials that will be ready, able, and willing which is why my generation can’t afford to drop the ball like the previous generation.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

Interesting question, what I will say to that is that nothing is ever a smooth road there are always a few bumps along the way especially when you’re doing God’s work people are going to talk about you, pray for your downfall, and yes you may experience some setbacks such as events not turning out the way that you plan, people not investing in or believing in you or your vision, people trying to steal your ideas and honestly, we’ve experienced everything that I’ve mentioned, however, we always come back bigger and better because you stop anything authentic and from the heart and you certainly can’t stop anything that has God in the midst of it. But the most important obstacle we face every day is reaching and teaching a generation that are raising themselves and growing up fast.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?

Take It To The Streets not only provides resources for single mothers, teenagers, and the community as a whole, but we also uplift people and save souls. We specialize in community affairs such as helping people find housing, providing groceries for residents, helping people pay their rent, sponsoring different programs (such as the Plainfield high school teen parent program). On top of that we are also committed to fighting the political battles that our people meaning (Black People) face. I say that because we are left out of just about everything when it comes to economics, employment, housing, and legislation. We do this because we understand that it takes a village so we look out for own instead of marching and protesting begging politicians like the current administration in the white house, Failed New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, and these Black elected officials like Plainfield Mayor Adrian O. Mapp and the Plainfield City Council, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka and The Newark City Council, Mayor Eric Adams of NYC, and Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago for things that they are not willing to give as they are more so worried about their pockets and selling out our people instead of addressing the racism, wars, and genocides that are going on in Plainfield, Newark, Chicago, NYC, Philly, Atlanta, Oakland, DC, Detroit, and Baltimore. we have racist police departments that continue to harass, assault, and murder our men, women, and children, teenagers being shot on an everyday basis, high unemployment, residents constantly being illegally evicted, a homeless crisis where people are now being put in prison just for being homeless instead of being given the resources they need to get back on their feet, and a failed education system but yet they continue to find money and resources for these illegal immigrants, money and resources for the Ukraine, and other countries. With that being said Take It To The Streets will continue to be that village and by any means necessary we will keep fighting to improve the conditions of our people and build a legacy that the next generation can preserve, protect, defend, and be proud of. We will also carry on the legacies of our elders Huey Newton, Mutulu Shakur, Stokely Carmichael, Macolm-X, Assata Shakur, Sundiata Acoli, and last but not least my Great Uncle and Former Black Panther John Andaliwa Clark. So, I encourage the real activist and the real future leaders from Jersey to NYC to Baltimore to Detroit to Atlanta to Oakland ALL to STAND UP because a storm is brewing and there will be a war and when it is all over WE will OVERTHROW these current officials from their seats and form a NEW REGIME that will truly govern by serving the people and not the interest of those at the top.

To answer your next question what sets apart from others? That’s an easy question to answer number one is our faith we all have a radical faith so no matter what we face no matter what may arise we always put our faith in God, secondly, we don’t just talk about it, but we be about it. Many people talk about giving back but they do it when it’s convenient or to make themselves look good, but us? we do this to make the people feel good, to let them know they are not alone, and to reestablish hope.

What am I most proud of? I’m most proud of the work that we do in the community from starting the community baby shower in Plainfield, NJ (YES WE ARE THE ORIGINATORS), to the food drives we’ve done, toy drives, sponsoring the Teen Parent Program at Plainfield High School, providing custom made suits for young black men who are unable to pay for their proms, and overall how much we’ve grown not only as individuals, but as a whole. I’m also proud of the things we are preparing to do for the rest of this year and starting next year. We are just getting started. Be on the lookout for our new website, we have a podcast that we are about to launch, and countless other things.

Of Course I want to thank my team: My Vice President Derrick Grant, Shayla McDaniel, Raymond Foxx, my little brother Jasir Clark-Washington, my aunt Alicia Jones, Kristian Thompson, and my niece Destiny Grant. thank you all for riding with me. Also, to the family of Sonya Massey we not just praying for you all, but we are riding with you.

What was your favorite childhood memory?

My favorite childhood memory? Going to wrestling matches at the Continental Airlines Arena to see Bret Hart, British Bulldog, Undertaker, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels, and The Rock.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Take_It_To_The_Streets_Inc
• Facebook: Take It To The Streets Inc