Search Results for “Derik”

Choosing Skilled Trades Over Years in College and Debt

January 13, 2026

By Derik Hicks When Jalen Hinton sat in his high school guidance counselor’s office and contemplated a four-year college degree, he said he felt the pressure to go to college and get a bachelor’s degree that many high school students face.…

NASA Helps Charlotte Students Send Their Science Experiment into Space

August 28, 2025

By Derik Hicks In the heart of East Charlotte, a group of students from Albemarle Road Middle School (Albemarle Road) did the unimaginable. They designed a scientific experiment that was selected by NASA and sent to the edge of space. Yes, space.…

Black Mama Collective

February 25, 2025

The Power of Motherhood and Connection By Derik Hicks Ciera’ Harris is a powerhouse of resilience, community spirit and ambition — a source of inspiration for Black women and mothers in Charlotte and beyond. A Charlotte native, Harris is a 12th-grade English teacher, entrepreneur and the founder of various initiatives, including Black Girl Thriving (BGT) and the Black Mama Collective (BMC).…

Fathers of Basketball Professionals Partner with Billingsville-Cotswold Elementary

December 29, 2024

By Derik Hicks In a heartwarming display of community spirit and commitment to education, the Fathers & Men of Professional Basketball Players (FAMPBP), including North Carolina’s Charles Paul — father of NBA star Chris Paul — joined forces with Billingsville-Cotswold Elementary for a back-to-school supply drive.…

CRVA Highlights and Recommends Vibrant Businesses to Charlotte Visitors

November 1, 2024

By Derik HicksCharlotte is more than just a hub for banking and professional sports; it’s a city rich in history, culture and community, warmly inviting visitors from around the world. According to the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA), visitors spend $8 billion annually in the Queen City.…

Breaking the Chains: Overcoming Redlining in Charlotte and Beyond

May 6, 2024

By: Derik Hicks Have you ever driven through a city and noticed a dramatic change in neighborhoods just within a few blocks? Maybe you crossed a railroad track or highway and suddenly you felt the urge to double check that your car doors are locked.…

Hope Vibes Offers Life-Changing Help to Neighbors Experiencing Homelessness

December 24, 2023

By Derik Hicks In the heart of Charlotte, a city experiencing rapid growth, there is the often overlooked hidden reality of people in our community who are experiencing homelessness. This is a world where sidewalks become makeshift beds, cardboard boxes and tents are shelters, and hope remains an elusive, fragile companion.…

Roddie Jr.’s Watchdog Foundation
Helps Make Owning Dogs Safer

August 25, 2023

By Derik Hicks An 8-year-old boy named Roddie Philip Dumas Jr. was fatally mauled by his father’s three pit bulls while innocently playing in his grandmother’s fenced-in yard in Charlotte on April 16, 2004. Tameaka Brown, Roddie’s mom, first learned about it while she was at work and was 7 1/2 months pregnant.…

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Several coyote attacks recently reported in the Carolinas

March 10, 2021

The attacks happened in Greensboro but several Charlotte-area neighborhoods report recently spotting coyotes too. NORTH CAROLINA, USA — The start of spring signals the middle of the mating season for coyotes. They’ve recently been spotted all across the Carolinas from Greensboro and Charlotte to Fort Mill.…