Makin' Headlines!
Maurice Cook
Maurice cook is our featured Headliner. Mr. Cook is the CEO of EM Designs Group, Inc. in the ATL, a progressive and exciting advertising firm which boast of clients who range from In The Life Atlanta (The Official promoters of Atlanta Black Pride) to The Atlanta Voice Newspaper, Physicians Practice S.O.S. Group, Inc. Capital Development Group, Brotha Love Images, Communications Technical Systems, Claiborne Fitness, and many more (check out his website, emdesignsgroup.com).
CTD3 (CTD III Enterprises, LLC) had the pleasure to sit down with Maurice and ask him about EM Designs Group and it’s future, along with his view of Atlanta and it’s Gay Black culture:
CTD3: “Maurice, if you had to define who is e. Maurice Cook, what would you say?”
Maurice: “Focused, loving, direct, assertive, fun, comedic, passionate, loud, giving. I am an only child; I am a mama’s boy. I am an artist/designer. I love music/I love the arts in general. I love men, I love my sistahs and I enjoy what I do.”
CTD3: “Wonderful Maurice, now you’re not originally from Atlanta. I know that you’re from the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia. What brought you here to Atlanta from Philly?”
Maurice: “When Atlanta was awarded the Olympics for 1996 I knew there were going to be many job opportunities for graphic designers. So I took a week off of my current job, flew down to Atlanta and stayed with a friend’s brother and interviewed for a week. Within that week I landed a job, secured an apartment and began my journey. Two weeks later I was Atlanta bound. October 18, 1992.”
CTD3: “How did you get started with your company (how many years now)?”
Maurice: “I've had my own advertising/design agency for 7 years now. We started in 2000. I now have a staff of 5. I have always had an entrepreneur spirit, so when it was time to strike out on my own I just knew it. S I did it. And I love it.”
CTD3: “Where do you plan to go next with EM Designs Group, Inc.?”
Maurice: “Well I want to continue to grow and become one of the sought after agencies in Atlanta and world wide. We want to expand our web development side of the business and also get into shooting and art directing music videos. (I love music).”
CTD3: “Now I want to turn the attention to your views about Atlanta.Now that your feet are firmly planted in the ATL, what do you like about Atlanta?”
Maurice: “Opportunity, Opportunity, Opportunity, Opportunity, I love the fall season in Atlanta. The earth tone colors of nature really help me to fall in love with Atlanta. I love the southern charm, and I love growing with the city. The BOYZ are HOTT as well. (LOL)”
CTD3: “So now Maurice, the bigger question, “what are your thoughts about the Gay Black male community, and be careful, print will come back and bit you in the ass?”
Maurice: (chuckles), “I think that we are powerful, loveable, resourceful, creative and resilient. However with all of that, I experience my community as full of anger, longing for love, too caught up on physical, exterior beauty, sad and hurt. I know that this sounds like a contradiction to what I just said, but the truth is if we don't address these fears that I listed then we won't be able to rise to our potential that stared listing at the beginning of this question.”
CTD3: “So now that you’ve made it safely through that answer, what advice would you give a Gay Black man moving to Atlanta?”
Maurice: (chuckles and says “Good answer,” like we were on “The Family Feud”) “Have a plan, and work your plan. Stay focused. The boys and the clubs will always be there. But you have to make your purpose be the number one agenda.”
CTD3: “I have a couple more questions and then we are done. Other than, your business, do you have other projects going on?”
Maurice: “Yes for the past 2 years I have been facilitating Intimacy Workshops.
(check out the website: n2mec.org). The workshop is a weekend retreat that allows brothers to come together in a mountain getaway, to explore intimacy. I want to show us that we can have intimate relationships with out sex! These workshops have helped brothers become better friends as well as take a more intimate interest in themselves, and also in their professional life. I love it. Each time we go I get emotionally charges IT IS A GREAT Thing!
CTD3: “And in closing, is there anything that you want to say that hasn't been covered by these questions?”
Maurice: “Well I just want to say that each of us has the power to make change. We must all become the change. I decided to be the change and now I’m living my life at 40 I am happy, complete and satisfied. I am constantly looking at ways to improve; I am always open to learn something new. Further more I made a conscious decision to dedicate my life to the working in and for our Black LGBTQ community. I love us and I want the best for us. I heard to things in life that has kept me. First is Oprah Winfrey said that "hurt people hurt people" I once was a hurt person and because of that I hurt a lot of people, I am sure I will spend the rest of my life forgiving myself for some of the hurtful things that I have done. .Second is Dr. Maya Angelou said that the greatest thing that a person can say is Thank You! Thank You is God speaking directly to us. I live by this so to you Cleon I say Thank You.”
CTD3: “And thank you Maurice for this interview.”