The Royal Oak Initiative

04/09/2026

Peace Yall! We're back this Chess Sunday with a new timeline! Pull up on us at The 4C (80 Parsons Ave) from 3pm-7pm for community, chess, culture, & celebrating our new mural being installed! All ages and skill levels are welcomed and encouraged.

See you soon!
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03/13/2026

Come celebrate the closing of The Free Radicle Art Exhibit, on March 29th at The 4C! This is the last chance to see this collection of community artworks honoring the life & legacy of our founder, Ernest Levert Jr. 🌳👑
We’re bringing back our Open Mic after such a great turnout for the opening reception. We invite community of all ages to use their voice to share a poem, a song, a story, or a laugh.
“If you want to be seen, be seen! If you want to be heard, be heard!” -ELJ

We will have chessboards out for gameplay, as well as snacks & refreshments in the A Space♟️

80 Parsons Ave.
$5 Entry
Signup @ 5:30PM
Open Mic from 6-9 PM

03/04/2026

Join us this Sunday for ROI Chess from 4pm-8pm! We're integrating chess, art, music, & community for all ages and skill levels👑♟️

We will have a special beading workshop led by Coach Helen from 3-5pm on the B side! Link in bio to RSVP.

Create or Play
80 Parsons Ave.

02/03/2026

Peace Fam!
Happy Black History Month! 👊🏾🖤 ROI is committed uplifting black & brown people in the game of life and the game of chess. Every piece has value on the board.

We have a great lineup of events to look out for this month but we look forward to seeing you at Chess Sunday THIS SUNDAY the 8th from 4-8PM🌳 We will be sharing stories of some historical black chess players, playing music, and sharing wisdom. Bring your friend, family, and/or a snack! Don't know how to play? We'd love to teach you! All levels welcomed.

See you on Sunday!
80 Parsons Ave.

12/24/2025

12/05/2025

"THE FREE RADICLE ART EXHIBIT" Featuring works that celebrate the life of Ernest Levert Jr. 👑

Opening Reception will take place Saturday December 13th from 3pm-8pm with free food, music, chess and an open mic @ 6! Come see art from our community that honors Ernest's legacy and bless the mic with a poem, a song, or a story. 🌳

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On December 14th we are turning Upper Cup Chess Sundays up with an Unrated Mini Tournament in Ernests honor! Sign up starts at 5:30, Open to all levels.

Not interested in competing? You can still come and get a friendly match in! We're rocking out with our usual vibes from 4-8pm🙏🏾

We are grateful for the righteous seeds Ernest sowed in his life that still carry our mission of instilling wisdom and wellness in our communities utilizing the game of chess. See yall next weekend!

11/19/2025

THE FREE RADICLE ART EXHIBITION 👑
DEADLINE EXTENDED TO NOVEMBER 29TH!

You still have time to share visual art, performance art, and/or writings that honor the life and legacy of Ernest Levert Jr. aka The Free Radicle! For Ernest's first birthday as an ancestor, we remember his impact through the powerful act of collective creation.

Ernest created The Royal Oak Initiative with a vision to protect, heal, and build community utilizing the wisdom and wellness of chess.

He valued wisdom, health, community, leadership, liberation, creative strategies, and empowering others.

We deeply encourage those who knew Ernest to create for this show, though, we are open to reviewing submissions from people who were impacted by his mission and commitment to community.

New Deadline is November 29th
Please Submit via the link in bio🌳

Exhibition will run from December 2025—February 2026.

We look forward to seeing the way you move creatively!
DM us or Email us [email protected] for any comments, questions, or concerns.

11/17/2025

ROYAL RECAP👑🌳
October was filled with wins that deserved review!

♟️ROI completed our fall sessions at the Columbus Metropolitan Libraries, having impacted 60+ students through the game of chess. We look forward to returning to our libraries in the spring!

♟️Ivory held the very first "One Breath at a Time, One Move at a Time" Yoga session at The 4C! She encouraged participants to move slow and steady like a Pawn would. Come move with intention 4th Sundays at 3pm, right before Uppercup Chess Sundays!🧘🏾

♟️Uppercup Chess Sundays have been evolving with new faces and new players at almost every session! Players of all ages and backgrounds come, connect, and share their wisdom through chess!

♟️Our Chess Coaches (Honey, Nine, Ira, & Doug) hosted a chess tournament at The Charles School, where we work with high school students weekly and empower them in the value of their decision making. It was exciting to observe the growth of our students!

♟️Coach Nine held the second official art show at The 4C, titled "The Pursuit of Understanding"! The work explores family, grief, perseverance, & intuition. We also held space for community to create in response to prompts from Nine.

Keep an eye out for our next art exhibit honoring the life of our founded Ernest Levert Jr.!

👑Want to support our mission? Click our linktree to:
- Join our mailing list to stay updated on our events
- Make a donation to The Royal Oak Initiative
- Leave a testimony of your experience with us

Let's keep making moves with intention!🙏🏾

10/29/2025

THE FREE RADICLE ART EXHIBITION 👑
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS!

On behalf of The Royal Oak Initiative, we invite you to submit artwork that honors the life and legacy of Ernest Levert Jr., aka The Free Radicle! For Ernest's first birthday as an ancestor, we remember his impact through the powerful act of collective creation.

Ernest created The Royal Oak Initiative with a vision to protect, heal, and build community utilizing the wisdom and wellness of chess.

He valued wisdom, health, community, leadership, liberation, creative strategies, and empowering others.

We deeply encourage those who knew Ernest to create for this show, though, we are open to reviewing submissions from people who were impacted by his mission and commitment to community.

Deadline is November 15th to Submit via the link in bio🌳

We look forward to seeing the way you move creatively!
DM us or Email us [email protected] for any comments, questions, or concerns.

10/22/2025

Who will set up the chess board the fastest? 👀
Our Chess Coaches had some friendly competition at MLK Library yesterday!
Join us for our youth-focused chess programming at MLK Library next week at 3pm on Tuesday! It will be our last one of the fall season.

ALSO we're on Tiktok now! Give us a follow! @/theroichess614

10/21/2025

"One Breath at a Time, One Move at a Time"
An All New Chess-Inspired Yoga Series with Ivory🌳

Starting THIS SUNDAY, will be using the wisdom of chess to activate mindfulness, meditation and mental clarity through Yoga at The 4C!

RSVP with the link in our bio to attend🙏🏾
Stick around after yoga and join for Upper Cup Chess Sunday for Art, Music, and Wisdom through the game of Chess!

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