Charles “Chuck” Hicks is the founder and director of the DC Black History (https://dcblackhistory.com/) Celebration Committee which celebrates black history year-round.  He is a community activist focusing on issues that directly affect the community. Hicks serves on several Martin Luther King Jr. committees providing guidance, leadership and support.  His work includes serving on the executive committee of the Martin Luther King Jr. DC Support Group, Inc.and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Award Committee. Hicks co-chaired the DC Host Committee for the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.  He was co-chair of the DC Host Committee for the opening of the new National Museum of African American History and Culture. Hicks is also a member of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Hicks is also a member of the DC Commission on Aging and the newly appointed DC Commission on African American Affairs.  He also serves on the Commission on Black Men and Boys under the purview of the Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton. He is also a devout member and trustee at Greater New Hope Baptist Church in Ward 1. Hick co-hosts with Joni Eisenberg the “Heal DC” radio broadcast on WPFW 89.3 FM. His service to the community also included work as the coordinator of labor for the District of Columbia for the Million Man March in 1995. Hicks was also a member of the 50^th Anniversary of the March on Washington Committee. He is the president of the Robert “Bob” Hicks Foundation which advocates for human and civil rights. 

Hicks is also a proud member of the NAACP.  He is also well known for providing 35 years of service to the DCPublic Library’s Black Studies Center. Hicks is a supporter and advocate of the African American Civil War Memorial &Museum. He is also founder of Bread-for-the-Soul Toy & Book Party – an HIV and AIDS organization which provides toys and books for Christmas to children whose parents have HIV/AIDS and to children who are diagnosed with HIV.

He is the former president of the AFSME District Council 20 and is a current member of the retirement chapter.Hicks continues his work as a member of the DC Democratic State Committee and is a dedicated member of two organizations that advocate for statehood for the District of Columbia – Stand Up! for Democracy in DC (Free DC) and DC for Democracy. Hicks is a member of the Waterside Tenants Association where he advocates for tenants’ rights and information transparency.  He is widely recognized for his support for the arts and community programming. Hicks is also an active member of several study groups.



Chuck recently received the 2017 Community Cornerstone Award from DC Councilmember Anita Bonds.

Bio 👇

Reaux Fareal is a 2x National Spoken Word Winner, a published author, a singer with more than 500k streams, a Film Director with a film on Amazon Prime, an Activist, and Motivational Speaker in New Orleans, LA.

A Louisiana native and resident, Reaux Fareal, is multi-talented with a professional career beginning at age 7.

He began writing Kid’s Korner in the Monroe Free Press and earned $10 per week for his published articles sharing a kid’s perspective on social events and politics. By 13, he had become so popular in North Louisiana that he emerged into radio, becoming the youngest employed radio personality in Louisiana history.

Since his childhood, Reaux has been a public figure in the Louisiana/Texas region. In 2001, He founded Amps Magazine and franchised it in 7 other cities before selling it. He was a founding partner of the Congo TV Network in 2017.

He has recorded more than 10 Spoken Word Albums, 2 Spiritual Albums, and 4 R&B projects.

Reaux played a role on the HBO series, Treme, and he has also been featured on Fox Sports, MTV, TBN, and Congo TV Network. He wrote, directed, and starred in Get The Ring, now playing on Amazon Prime.

As an Author, most of his books are published under his birth name (Ro Wright). Even though he has self published five books, it's the fifth book that received the greatest notoriety. The People Next Door, a fictional novel won him Fiction Book of the Year at the annual ULM Book Club at University of Louisiana at Monroe. The book has also been featured at Dillard University, more than 10 high schools, and numerous churches around the country.

In 2008, Reaux recognized the effects of Vitiligo on his skin. Like many who are afflicted with the unusual skin condition, he threw himself into a long depression. The spots varied on his body, and they were never consistent. They’d appear and disappear at random times. It made Reaux learn more about the Vitiligo community and he has actually spoken in many forums about ‘Living With Vitiligo’.

Growing up in the South as a “PK”, he was introduced to religion at an early age. He was a Louisiana State Leader in the Baptist Youth Encampment, which housed more than 2k kids on the campus of Southern University every Summer. Becoming interested in how ministry could be a tool to reach youth through Hip Hop, he went to a small seminary led by the Dr. Larry Hood. Reaux quickly learned religion could not hold his attention, but it led him to becoming more Spiritual than he had ever been in his life. He led two outreach ministries, one in Shreveport and in New Orleans, hoping to empower the difference between Religion and Spirituality before ultimately resigning from ministry altogether.

“I feel I am more effective using my gifts to bridge racial gaps, empowering others through my books, and connecting people through my music and many creative abilities.”

Reaux’s Parlay Company makes clothing for his staple brand, Parlay. His son, Cadence, is being groomed to manage The Parlay Clothing Co. However, Parlay is more credible for its charitable efforts through the Parlay Foundation. The group organized a social media campaign during Covid to provide financial aid for HBCU students. “I Got 5 On It Fridays” challenged people to donate $5 every Friday to help HBCU students. The Parlay Foundation was able to help over 50 students pay off tuition debt, raising more than $25k in its first year. Reaux, who attended Southern University in Baton Rouge while in college, is an outspoken advocate for Historically Black Collages and Universities.

Born Roosevelt Wright (Ro Wright), he uses Reaux Fareal as his moniker because it connects him to his Louisiana roots and reminds him to always be himself… unapologetically.

Reaux has publicly stated his greatest honor is being the father of three sons. Cadence, Ethan, and Caleb, the Godson that he always claims as his own.

Website:

https://www.parlaybrand.com/

REAUX FAREAL aka REAUX4REAL

Reaux Fareal is a 2x National Spoken Word Winner, a published author, a singer with more than 500k streams, a Film Director with a film on Amazon Prime, an Activist, and Motivational Speaker in New Orleans, LA.

Retired as a Police Sergeant after 23.5 years with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Now a Documentary Filmmaker producing and directing films under my Lightning Digital Entertainment banner with an emphasis on the critical issues facing Law Enforcement.

I have both an MBA and a 15 year corporate career in marketing, primarily in new product introductions for Corning, Sears, Rand McNally and Kenlin Enterprises. As I approached age 40 I decided to pursue my dream of running my own business and launched Creative Market Solutions, a marketing consultancy.

While working with the owner of a floundering franchise business on a marketing turnaround I realized that I really loved examining businesses from top to bottom and creating imaginative plans to boost sales and profits.

This desire led me to launch two businesses, the first in 1989 and the second in 2000.

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