Comic Charlie Berens and Marvel Cinematic Universe actress Alaqua Cox scheduled for RIT’s Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend

A stand-up comedian who enjoys poking fun at his Midwestern background and a Marvel Cinematic Universe actress are the headliners expected at this year’s RIT Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend.

Charlie Berens, a Wisconsin native, has been featured on networks including Comedy Central, Fox, CBS, and TBS. He provides weekly content on social media for his 9 million followers.

In 2013, Berens won an Emmy Award for “The Cost of Water” while reporting for KDAF in Dallas.

In 2017, he created the online comedic news show, Manitowoc Minute, and he added weekly Midwest-focused sketch comedy videos on his social media platforms.

His bestselling book, The Midwest Survival Guide: How We Talk, Love, Work, Drink and Eat … Everything With Ranch, was released in 2021 and spawned three stand-up tours. He also hosts the Cripescast podcast where he interviews musicians, artists, comedians, creators, and more about their stories and connections to the Midwest.

His appearance is open to the public at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, in RIT’s Gordon Field House and Activities Center.

Saturday’s presenter is Alaqua Cox, a deaf actress known for her breakout role as Maya Lopez and Echo in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Cox, 27, appeared as Echo in the Disney+ series Hawkeye, which debuted in late 2021. This year, all five episodes of her solo spin-off series, Echo, premiered on Hulu and Disney+.

She was born and raised on the Menominee Indian Reservation in Keshena, Wisconsin and is of the Menominee and Mohican nation. Since landing her acting role after friends urged her to apply, she has become an inspiration to many and continues to be a strong advocate for the deaf community.

“It feels like a huge honor to be representing all these underrepresented communities. I want kids to be able to see themselves and feel worthy. We deserve this space in this moment. I am so happy Hollywood is making these changes and accommodations for us. It’s a great time to live right now,” she said on The Kelly Clarkson Show.

Cox’s conversation, which is open to the public, is at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, in the Gordon Field House.

Many other events, including several for RIT’s individual colleges, are scheduled during the weekend for the more than 140,000 RIT alumni and families, as well as current RIT students, faculty, staff, and retirees. Among the largest events this year are women’s hockey, Thurs., Oct. 17, and Fri., Oct, 18, against RPI. On Sat., Oct. 19, men’s hockey will host Bowling Green in the Blue Cross Arena in downtown Rochester at 7:05 p.m. And at 10 a.m. Sun., Oct. 20, the Brick City Weekend 5K will be held.

Go to the Brick City Weekend website for more activities, registration and ticketing information, expected in August.