We recently had the chance to connect with Walter Barreda and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Walter , we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity would be #1 for me because integrity in the foundation to how high I can grow. The height of a building is based on the depth of the foundation. If my foundation is not rooted in principles, maybe not today but one day the life I build will be on sand and not on solid rock. This means everything I do and say has to be in alignment with my intentions because everything is accounted for. Integrity is your legacy.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Walter Barreda the President and Founder of the Reup Movement. We are a non-profit organization that provides resources to the homeless community, create programs to support low-income families along with mentoring and energizing the youth. The ReUp stands for a new beginning! Maybe you went through a hard time and need some help to get back on track” That’s ReUp”. A family that is working to reset the foundation of their household but don’t know where to start “That’s ReUp”. A young man or women that hasn’t found their purpose yet but need opportunities to figure it out “That’s ReUp”. Working class families struggling to pay for housing and essential needs but lack access to help “That’s ReUp”.
The Reup Movement was established in 2017. We have served Thousands of families across Texas and Louisiana, providing hygiene products, furniture, clothes, cleaning supplies, toys, electronics, prayer, family activities, food, hot meals, and more.
Some of the major cities, towns, and countries include Houston, Lake Charles, Austin, Odessa, Sugarland, Spring, Belize city, Belmopan, Brenham, Richmond, Arcada, Kendleton, Wharton, and other smaller locations.
Future and soon to be locations served New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Florida, New York, Guatemala, Central America, Africa, Ghana, Liberia, until we have touched Every City Every Country, and Every Nation.
3 principles we stand on:
1. We serve as if it were us on the other side of the table because we are only a few choices from someone else’s shoes.
2. We don’t have events to see how many people we can reach, but we do events with the intention of finding the one.
3. We don’t just give items, but we transfer energy that will impact our community guests shifting their outlook on themselves and life.
Year 2022 was our most impactful year, serving over 100,000 families and providing over 1 million dollars’ worth of products into rural and underserved communities. Our President Walter Barreda was also honored with the lifetime achievement award from President Biden for more than 5,000 hours of community service.
Year 2025 was a monumental year for The ReUp Movement. We shipped our first container to Belize; this made us an international organization. This was a dream 9 years ago but now it is our reality. We shipped $144,000 worth of resources that will serve an estimated amount of 3,000 families.
We are in the process of creating our international base in Belize that will serve every country in central America. We are so grateful for our collaboration with A Town Called Freedom and look forward to our global expansion.
Community clean ups are another dynamic act of service we provide to our communities due to illegal dumping and poor community management. We have done several over the years across the city of Houston but now we have the right partnership to take it to the next level.
J Hanks Services is one of our top sponsors and supporters. They provide us with tools, manpower, volunteer hours, and miscellaneous items to help us close the gap for our communities. J hanks services have helped us take our ability to clean ditches, parks, streets, gullies and much more to another level. We are beyond grateful for this partnership and collaboration to bring change to our communities.
Our next major investment is to fully establish our programs to support low-income families. We will have an online platform that will give families access to workshops and skill-based programs to assist anyone in need. With completing the courses, they will receive a ReUp credit, that can be utilized in our online store. Our online store will have products from A to Z. It will also include services that will be provided to homeowners, car owners, and business owners. The goal is to challenge communities to self-invest to earn tangible benefits and resources. This program will revolutionize the way we serve communities around the world.
Finally, I want to thank The Reup Movement Team
Charles Cooper (President of USA ReUp) – (Business Owner: Double up Fitness)
Janay Hanks (Chief Financial Advisor) – (Business Owner: JHanks Services)
Kyana Wiggins (Chief Administrator Officer) – (Business Owner: KYWI International)
Carl Pringle (Media Manager) – (Business Owner: CGC films)
Antonio Bowman (Logistics Manager) – (Artist, Singer, Songwriter, Musician)
Darice Story (Warehouse Manager) – (Business owner: Fresh eyes)
Courtney Brown (Director of Mentor Program) (Business Owner: House of Disciples)
Ashley Brown (Co-Director of Mentor Program) (Business Owner: House of Disciples)
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Walter Barreda, the president of the reup movement states that his grandmother Velma Skinner AKA “Fumomma” was the person who and spoke greatness over my life. She poured her cup dry consistently to make sure that I was over filled with confidence and principles that are still carrying me through today. She pointed out how my heart to serve and help was my superpower. Growing up I got into trouble or put myself in a bind because I wanted to help someone or because I felt I was able to shift someone’s life for the better. She would say Walter you can’t help it; it’s your heart for people. This very saying was the foundation for me starting The ReUp Movement. She taught me how to conduct myself professionally and be a great leader. Her number one saying to me was ” Walter you were created to stand out not to fit in”. Now I’m telling people all over the world the same message.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering when it comes to business is a state of mind. Let’s start at the top. You created a great plan and vision for you to work towards. The dream is bigger than anything you have seen before in the physical. Then you start working towards it and in the beginning, you are patient and motivated. But then you hit a couple of walls that required you to fight through them to stay on track with the plan. Now that you’re getting through the first few hurdles but then you are hit with a curve ball that’s stops you in your tracks. You must decide ” Are you going to keep going or turn around?” A few people will turn around but the committed ones will keep going. Now it’s year 3 and the hurdles are back. What are you going to do, stop, turn around, or keep fighting? The real bosses are going to push through. But now it’s been 7 years and you’re dealing with new hurtles but the same challenges. How will you respond? At this point you must realize that you are closer to the goal than you are to the starting point. This is why it’s important to know your purpose and to stay aligned with your original intention. Success along the way keeps you going but does not define your drive. How you deal with the struggles defines you as a person and a company. This decision to serve families all over the world was not a temporary decision, it was a life decision. When you shift to life’s work then you realize patience is the tool you must maintain.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
At the ReUp Movement we know that community service is more than just giving items, cleaning streets, and creating opportunities.
We know that the work we do helps individuals find out why they are on earth.
We know energy can’t be created or destroyed, only changed in form or moved between systems.
We know that we have the power and authority to step into gaps for families all over the world.
We know that money is not the only currency, so what limitations are on your wealth?
We know that we have the privilege of impacting lives in every city, every state, and every nation.
We know that our faces will be aligned with hope, love, abundance, consistency, compassion, and strength.
We know that when we committed to serving for a lifetime, we were ready to fight through every season because the work needs to get done and we are blessed to be the ones to do it.
We know that we carry the image of God with us and we honor that responsibility.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Praise is a great thing to receive while building an empire because it helps you push through during those hard times. But praise is not the motivation for giving our best to what we do. Through our training and discipline, there is enough praise to help us run over anything that’s in the way. Praise feels good but what feels better is when you know that you did the work without cutting corners. Although we don’t serve to receive but we know that what we put out will return and we have been pushing out billions. So, we stand tall knowing that those billions will return in due time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thereupmovement.org
- Instagram: @thereup_movement
- Linkedin: Walter Barreda
- Facebook: @thereup_movement
- Youtube: @walterbarreda5013
Image Credits
Walter Barreda- FatFull Productions
Brian Collins – Blue Panther Media
Carl Pringle – CGC Films
