North Carolina NAACP President Deborah Dicks Maxwell will be the grand marshal for Monday’s 34th annual MLK parade in Elizabethtown.
The parade is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday through downtown Elizabethtown. Line-up for the parade will begin at 9 a.m. at 805 West Broad Street.
Dicks Maxwell is the first female president of the NAACP in North Carolina history. She previously was the president of the New Hanover County NAACP and NC NAACP District Director for Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, Onslow and Pender Counties. She worked to improve the quality of life in southeastern North Carolina for all citizens. She says that equity in all areas is needed and this will eliminate racial discrimination.
Dicks Maxwell grew up and lives in Wilmington. She earned her Bachelors in Administration and Management from LaRoche University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and her Masters of Social Work with a concentration in Health from East Carolina University. Deborah obtained her Masters of Social Work because she began enjoying her volunteer work more than the retail management position she had.
Prior to obtaining her degrees Dicks Maxwell served in the United States Army and Army Reserves at various duty stations to include two years in Busan, Korea. She is a Desert Storm Veteran and attained the rank of Sergeant First Class. She also was a commander of the local NABVETS (National Association
of Black Veterans) Chapter.
A recently retired public health social worker, Dicks Maxwell worked for over 25 years with children from birth to 5 years of age and their parents. She chairs the Southeastern Regional Network of Care and Prevention meetings for Region 7 which focuses on HIV and AIDS.
She is a passionate advocate for children and positive health outcomes. Deborah strives to provide health information, education and positive outcomes. Deborah is part of the Health Ministry at her home church, St. Stephen AME in Wilmington. Her focus on the children of North Carolina has led her to serving as a former board member of NC Child. Under her leadership the New Hanover County NAACP began hosting an annual health fair during Minority Health Month in April.
Increasing minority participation in environmental justice issues is another area of concern for Dicks Maxwell. She is on the board of Cape Fear River Watch and the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters.
Social justice is always on her mind. Deborah was among those arrested during Moral Monday protests at the State Capitol in Raleigh about a decade ago. The group was exercising its right to be civilly disobedient in protesting wrongs inflicted upon North Carolina citizens. Recently she participated in the planning and speaking at a rally for Families and Children together which focused on the separation of immigrant detainees from their children.
She was appointed by Gov. Cooper to serve on the Racial Equity in Criminal Justice Task Force.
Voter education and registration is an ongoing pursuit for Dicks Maxwell.
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