Mpls council candidate knows what it means to rebuild a life from scratch

My name is Maurice L. Ward. I’m a Justice-Impacted Individuals leader, husband, father, nonprofit founder, and proud resident of North Minneapolis. I’m also running for City Council in Minneapolis’ 5th Ward, one of the most diverse and vibrant communities in the city. 

When I returned home in 2018 after more than eight years incarcerated at a Minnesota correctional facility, I had to rebuild my life from scratch. I hadn’t seen my wife or kids in nearly a decade. My driver’s license had expired. I relied on the bus to get around. 

“My wife, who sadly passed away this January after 32 years of marriage, and my brother were my lifelines during that difficult time. Their support saved me.

But not everyone has that support. That’s why I founded J.I.I.V.E. (Justice Impacted Individuals Voting Effectively), a nonprofit dedicated to reentry, civic engagement, housing, employment, and healing. People returning from incarceration don’t just need services; they need community, dignity, opportunity, and someone who believes in them.

This work is personal because I’ve lived it. I know what it’s like to come home with no job, no housing, no ID, no transportation, and no emotional safety net. I understand the struggle of reconnecting with family after years apart, while navigating shame, grief, and the pressure to stay out of a system designed to pull you back in.

A holistic vision for reentry

After returning home, I enrolled in college and earned my bachelor’s degree. I then completed a Master’s in advocacy and political leadership at Metro State and am currently pursuing a second Master’s in nonprofit and public administration. I did this not only for myself but to better serve others equipped with the tools, language, and policy knowledge to create meaningful change from the inside out.

At JIIVE, we don’t separate issues. Reentry isn’t just about housing, employment or voting… It’s about all of it. You can’t expect someone to engage in elections if they can’t feed their kids. You can’t expect someone to hold a job without stable housing. That’s why our work is holistic.

One of our most powerful initiatives is Just Us Gardens, a healing space built on the idea that the same space once used to incarcerate can now be used to grow. Every garden bed is the size of a prison mattress. This isn’t just symbolism… It’s a statement: We can do more with these spaces than confine people. We can feed people. We can heal.

This project arose from a frustrating reality. The Department of Corrections has failed to implement gardening programs equitably across facilities. Inside prison walls, where connection and healing are desperately needed, there are no gardens. The DOC cites financial concerns, but the truth is this is about control. Gardening grounds people. It heals trauma. It restores dignity. The system isn’t designed to nurture that.

Minnesota Statute 241.241 mandates, “The commissioner shall establish a gardening program for inmates at each correctional facility where space and security allow. Gardens shall primarily be tended by inmates. Produce shall be used to feed inmates, with surplus donated to nearby food shelves and charities.”

So, we created Justice Gardens outside the walls for returning citizens, the community, and the movement. The impact is real. At a recent garden gathering, a local flutist played and the crowd sang together; it was a moment of grounding, joy and healing that I’ll never forget.

Why I’m running for city council

I never planned to run for office. But I’ve seen too many elected officials talk a good game without delivering for our communities. The 5th Ward deserves a representative who shows up, listens, and understands life on the ground.

If elected, my top priorities will be:

• Public safety through community investment
  Safety starts long before policing; it begins with housing, youth programs, jobs, and mental health support. We need proactive outreach, not just reactive arrests. Nobody wakes up wanting to be hungry, homeless, or criminalized. Let’s invest in solutions, not punishment.
• Affordable housing for all
  Minneapolis’ housing costs have become outrageous. People are paying $1,500 for 500 square feet, often without heat or basic amenities. That’s not affordable, it’s exploitation. I’ll fight for policies that make truly affordable housing accessible to working families.
• Pro-labor economic empowerment
  I’m pro-union and pro-worker. Everyone deserves a living wage and a fair shot. We need stronger labor protections and pathways to employment for people returning from incarceration. Economic justice is public safety.
  

The work continues

Under JIIVE, we’ve launched several initiatives:

• Justice Gardens: food justice, healing, and housing
• Voter engagement for justice-impacted individuals
• Housing and employment referrals through trusted partners
• A community CSA (coming soon) to distribute garden produce 
• Planned legal support to help returning citizens with criminal case navigation
• Collaboration with the University of Minnesota on a “story map” of Minnesota’s prison system, using data, policy, and lived experience

None of this would matter without one core truth: Change is possible. I’m living proof. All I’ve ever wanted is to lead by example — to show others they can come back from anything.

For more information or to get involved with JIIVE, visit jiive.org.

Shanasha Whitson’s “Profiles in Power” aims to highlight community members spearheading positive impact in the local Twin Cities community. She is also the founder of Community Partnership Collaborative 2.0 (CPC).

The MSR is offering equal space in the weeks ahead to other Minneapolis Ward 5 city council candidates to promote their candidacies. Contact our Associate Editor, Jasmine McBride, at jmcbride@spokesman-recorder.com for more information.