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New York New Jersey Pennsylvania Delaware Maryland<br />
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc<br />
<strong>The</strong> omegan<br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
Brother Joseph Lincoln Parker<br />
Inside This Issue:<br />
Corridor V - UNCF<br />
Inside This Issue<br />
Presidents Reception<br />
Chi Corridor Pi Celebrates V<br />
40 Years Memorial of Service to<br />
at Syracuse, West Point NY<br />
68th Second District <strong>Conference</strong> <strong>Edition</strong><br />
An African American Pioneer in<br />
Architectual Engineering<br />
NY MTA Bridges and Diversity Council Honor<br />
His legacy as Design Engineer of NYC Transit<br />
Authority and MTA Bridges and Tunnels<br />
from 1920 -40’s<br />
Dr. Peter James Harvey Bethea<br />
Appointed $ Million Federal Grant<br />
Monitor - Newark , NJ<br />
Police Omega Department Men On<br />
<strong>The</strong> Move<br />
Wayne Hamer City<br />
Council Omega President Chapter&<br />
Devry Articles Pazant School<br />
Board President<br />
Englewwood Iota Epsilon, NJ<br />
Articles<br />
Demaune Millard<br />
SmartCEO 2013-14 Second Magazine<br />
COO District - Exec. Executive Allstar<br />
Council<br />
Omega Chapter<br />
Suspensions Articles &<br />
Expulsions<br />
Op/Ed Section<br />
Grand Basileus<br />
Antonio F. Knox, Sr.<br />
District Representative<br />
Milton D. Harrison<br />
District Public Relations<br />
Zanes E. Cypress, Jr.<br />
Friendship Is Essential To <strong>The</strong> Soul
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
THE OMEGAN<br />
“ Voice of the Second District”<br />
<strong>The</strong> Mighty Second District - Home of<br />
39th Grand Basileus Dr. Andrew A. Ray<br />
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR<br />
Milton D. Harrison<br />
EDITOR IN CHIEF<br />
Zanes E. Cypress, Jr.<br />
SENIOR COPY EDITOR<br />
Eric “Moby” Brown<br />
COPY EDITORS<br />
James Alexander<br />
M. Dante’ Brown<br />
Leroy Finch<br />
Demaune A. Millard<br />
Rev. Stephen M. Smith<br />
Grand Keeper of Records and Seal<br />
Kenneth Rodgers<br />
CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER<br />
Jamal Parker<br />
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS<br />
Fitz Devonish<br />
Lamonte Tyler<br />
2<br />
PUBLISHING MANAGERS<br />
Roy Wesley, Jr.<br />
Jeff Spratley<br />
<strong>The</strong> OMEGAN is the Official Organ<br />
of the Second District of the Omega Psi<br />
Phi Fraternity, Inc. <strong>The</strong> Second District<br />
is comprised of the Great States of<br />
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,<br />
Delaware and Maryland, It publishes<br />
three editions annually, Fall, Winter<br />
and <strong>Conference</strong> <strong>Edition</strong>s, for the<br />
Members of the Second District and<br />
is widely distributed Internationally<br />
throughout all Twelve Districts of the<br />
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Contact<br />
2ndDistrictPR @oppf.org.<br />
Grand Counselor D. Michael Lyles, Esq.<br />
Article Submission Deadlines:<br />
October 15, January 15 & April 1<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Second District Representatives Message<br />
Greetings My Second District Brethren and Guests,<br />
It is my sincere pleasure to serve as the 34th District Representative.<br />
It has been two years of highs and challenges. I have been extremely<br />
happy with our leadership team and how they have performed<br />
in exemplary manners. We have had some situations to<br />
deal with and have done so in a manner that will hopefully make<br />
the brothers that came before us proud. One of the highs has been watching the members of the<br />
district step up to perform in new and creative ways. As always, it is an extreme pleasure to<br />
witness the execution of our mandated programs across the district. My sincere desire is that we<br />
can get more brothers involved in the things that make us true Omega Men.<br />
Some of the challenges have been how a very small percentage of our brothers choose not to live<br />
up to our cardinal principles. In addition, we have seen a return to some of the violence against<br />
people of color across our nation. As we look at the two examples of the challenges, we must rededicate<br />
ourselves to our organization and to ensure we take a leadership role of helping to solve<br />
the problems in our nation<br />
As we look forward please join me in a renewed commitment to Omega Psi Phi at the international,<br />
district, and local levels<br />
Congratulations again on your accomplishments across the District and Country and May God<br />
continue to bless your efforts for Omega Psi Phi and the community<br />
Yours in Omega,<br />
Milton D. Harrison LM#4068<br />
34th 2nd District Representative<br />
April 28, <strong>2016</strong><br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
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www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Get the 68th 2nd District <strong>Conference</strong> Mobile App Now!<br />
Get direct access to the Agenda, List of Vendors and More!<br />
To install visit (http://my.yapp.us/OPP2D) on your mobile device<br />
or scan the above QR code.<br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
5
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
<strong>The</strong> Second District of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and the Brothers of<br />
6<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ<br />
ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ<br />
VOTE<br />
Carlton Lampkins, Ed.D.<br />
for<br />
35th Second District Representative<br />
“Proven Leadership<br />
with Committed Excellence”<br />
ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ<br />
ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ<br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
7
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
`<br />
Brother Ashley A. Turnbull<br />
Kappa Eta Chapter, Seton Hall University New Jersey 4-23-1980 Life Member 3263<br />
<strong>2016</strong> Candidate for District Representative<br />
Cell: 862-247-1010 website: http://www.turn-info.com/ash4dr<br />
email: ashque@outlook.com Facebook: AshQueforDR<br />
Personal Information<br />
Kappa Eta Chapter, Seton<br />
Hall University<br />
4-23-1980<br />
Life Member: 3263<br />
Seton Hall University;<br />
Bachelor of Science,<br />
Computer Science<br />
Columbia University;<br />
Master of Science, Urban<br />
Planning<br />
Professional Achievements<br />
Certified Technical Trainer<br />
Comptia A+, Network+,<br />
Adobe and Microsoft software<br />
certified trainer<br />
Paterson Parking Authority<br />
Commissioner 2010 - present<br />
My Platform:<br />
Partnership Revenue History Recognition<br />
What I am going to do:<br />
1. Innovatively Increase the District and Corridors’ Revenue Streams<br />
2. Revise Fee Planning for 50+ Year and Life Members<br />
3. Renew Commitment to the Documentation of Our District’s History<br />
(With a Distinct Emphasis on Our District’s 50 Year Plus Members,<br />
Luminaries, Leaders Past and Present)<br />
How am I going to do it:<br />
1). Utilize Proven District Talent Currently Equipped With Resources, a<br />
Track Record of Revenue Innovation and Creation<br />
2). Appeal to the Willingness of Our District’s Chapter Leaders to CHANGE<br />
Experience<br />
Corridor IV<br />
Representative<br />
2002-2006, 2008-2012<br />
Represented four<br />
District Representatives<br />
in writing and in person<br />
when communicating<br />
with School<br />
Administrators, Parents,<br />
Basilei and Chapters.<br />
Conducted over sixty<br />
Membership Selection<br />
Programs.<br />
Managed 18 to 24<br />
Chapters.<br />
Life Membership<br />
Chairman<br />
2006-2008<br />
Initiated “Thank You”<br />
souvenir pins and<br />
newsletter for attendees.<br />
District Marshal<br />
1998<br />
Initiated 50th Second<br />
District Website<br />
8<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
YOUR TIME, OUR TIME,<br />
BIG TIME!<br />
V<br />
TE BIGGY SMALLS<br />
Bro. J. Kendall “Biggy” Smalls, MSc<br />
CANDIDATE FOR FIRST VICE DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE, 2 ND DISTRICT<br />
OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY, INC.<br />
INITIATED 1990, CHI KAPPA (XK) CHAPTER<br />
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND<br />
NATIONAL/DISTRICT ACHIEVEMENTS<br />
Chairman , 2 nd District Social Action Committee (2008 - Present)<br />
Chairman, NYC Omega Boat Ride Summer 2015<br />
Creator, Domestic Violence Program*<br />
Facilitator, International Charles Drew Blood Drive*<br />
2 nd District Health Officer (2007 - 2008)<br />
Regional Director, Big Brothers/Big Sisters Partnership (2011-Present)<br />
Member, District 2 nd Vice DR Campaign Committee, 2012<br />
District Graduate Scholar Recipient, 2013<br />
Superior Service Award Recipient, 2012<br />
District Graduate Scholar Recipient, 2011<br />
Inaugural Recipient of the Eddie Taylor Award, 2008<br />
*Current Corridor or National Initiative<br />
PROFESSIONAL CAREER & EDUCATION<br />
CEO, JKendall LLC, Fertility Consultation Services<br />
North Shore LIJ, Clinical Embryologist, In-Vitro Fertilization<br />
Walden University, PhD Candidate<br />
1 st African-American to achieve a Masters in Clinical<br />
Embryology from University of Leeds, Leeds UK (2005)<br />
Columbia University, Post Baccalaureate (1996)<br />
Morgan State University, Pre-Med /Computer Science (1990)<br />
CORRIDOR , CHAPTER & OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS<br />
Nu Omicron Chapter, Queens, NY (1991 – 2001)<br />
Vice Basileus (1995-1997)<br />
Member, Board of Directors, Nu Omicron Early Childhood Educ. Ctr (1994-2006)<br />
Epsilon Chapter, New York, NY (1995 – Present)<br />
Five (5)x Basileus, Epsilon Chapter (2005 – 2009)<br />
Founder & Chair, Domestic Violence Program (2008 – Present)<br />
Founder & Chair, Leadership Brunch Program (2007 – Present)*<br />
Three (3)x Omega Man of the Year (2007, 2008, 2010)<br />
Three (3)x Scroll of Honor Recipient (2012, 2001, 2000)<br />
Second District Chapter of the Year, 2008<br />
Omicron Chapter Advisor, New York, NY (2010 – Present)<br />
Reactivated Omicron Chapter, Columbia University, 2010<br />
Host, Undergraduate Caucus, 2011<br />
Five (5)x Undergraduate District Scholarship Recipients<br />
Chairman, NYC Undergraduate Intake Committee (2010 – Present)<br />
10+ Corridor & Chapter Committee Memberships<br />
Pan-Hellenic Council of Greater New York, NYC<br />
Epsilon Chapter Delegate<br />
Member, Social Action Committee<br />
Medical Forerunner Award, 2011<br />
Delta Sigma <strong>The</strong>ta Sorority, Inc., New York Alumnae Chapter Award<br />
Carter G. Woodson Award (2006)<br />
10<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
PREPARED TO LEAD!<br />
AS YOUR BEST CHOICE FOR FIRST<br />
VICE DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE, I AM ACCOUNTABLE<br />
RESPONSIVE, HONEST, AND TRANSPARENT<br />
IN ALL MY ACTIONS. i HUMBLY REQUEST YOUR<br />
SUPPORT AS WE MOVE THE SECOND DISTRICT FORWARD.<br />
GOD BLESS YOU BROTHERS!<br />
Elect<br />
BROTHER<br />
MICHAEL LITTLEJOHN<br />
SECOND DISTRICT CONFERENCE<br />
<strong>2016</strong>-2017<br />
FIRST VICE<br />
DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE<br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
VOTE!!<br />
ANTHONY JONES<br />
LM #6218<br />
“A Servant Leader”<br />
for<br />
District Keeper of Records and<br />
Seal<br />
12<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Elect<br />
Eric Harley<br />
District Keeper of Records<br />
and Seal<br />
Intiated into Delta <strong>The</strong>ta in 1988<br />
Life Member 6154<br />
3 Term Basileus- Sigma Beta Beta Chapter<br />
International Reclamation Co-Chair- 2011<br />
Chairman- 2014 Shirtsleeve <strong>Conference</strong><br />
Chairman - 2nd Dsitrict Achievement Week Committee 2014-16<br />
Member - International Achievement Week Committee<br />
Member - International Reclamation Committee<br />
Member - Omicron Iota Chapter<br />
Objectives:<br />
Develop Effictive Plan to Communicate with Chapters and Brothers<br />
Utilize Social Media to Disseminate Information in Responsible Manner<br />
Use Video <strong>Conference</strong>ing to Train and Educate Chapter KRS<br />
Establish and Provide Workshops and Training Modules on Accountability<br />
Accolades:<br />
Sigma Beta Beta - 2 Time Chapter of the Year, Social Action Chapter of the<br />
Year, Superior Service Awardee and Membership and Revenue increased<br />
25% and 30%, respectively under his Leadership as Basileus<br />
Rudy Powell Award 2013<br />
Sigma Beta Beta Omega Man of the Year 2010<br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
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Voice of the Second District<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
15
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Brother Lawrence Bonnemère Called for Holy Orders<br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
Teaneck, NJ. April <strong>2016</strong>. Brother Laurence Bonnemère, a member of Nu Beta Beta Chapter,<br />
Teaneck, NJ and an Assistant Vice President at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, is one of<br />
23 men from diverse backgrounds, called for Holy Orders, specifically to be Ordained as Deacons,<br />
as a result of his successful Studies and Formation within the Permanent Diaconate Program of the<br />
Archdiocese of Newark. <strong>The</strong> intense four-year academic program was conducted at Immaculate<br />
Conception Seminary School of <strong>The</strong>ology at Seton Hall University.<br />
<strong>The</strong> program will culminate with the awarding of a M.A. in <strong>The</strong>ology with a concentration in<br />
Systematics and a Certificate in Diaconal Ministry. Most importantly, he has been called to receive<br />
the Sacred Order of the Church, for the Service of the Archdiocese of Newark, with his Ordination<br />
planned for Saturday, June 4, <strong>2016</strong>, at 12:00 noon, in the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart<br />
in Newark, NJ.<br />
As a result of his academic performance, Bro. Bonnemère was inducted into the Seton Hall<br />
University chapter of the Golden Key International Honour Society and was a recent recipient of<br />
the Basileus Award for Scholarship.<br />
Bro. Bonnemère has served as Vice Basileus and Keeper of Finance at Nu Beta Beta. He was initiated<br />
at Gamma chapter in 1969, where he also served as Basileus and Vice Basileus.<br />
Brother Lawrence Bonnemère<br />
Brother Devry Pazant New Board President of Englewood, NJ<br />
Public School District & Brother Wayne Hamer<br />
President of Englewood, NJ City Council<br />
L- R Bro. Junius Carter, School Board Trustee; Bro. Benjie Wimberley, NJ Assemblyman; Bro. Devry Pazant, School<br />
Board President; Bro. Wayne Hamer, City Council President and Bro. Marvin Dillard, 30th 2nd District Representative.<br />
Englewood, NJ. March <strong>2016</strong>. Bro. Devry Pazant (8-Nu Psi-82) was<br />
recently sworn in as Board President of the Englewood Public School<br />
District. Bro. Pazant is completing his third year as a trustee. Along with<br />
the other trustees, the board is focused on raising test scores, increasing<br />
accountability at every level and strengthening professional development<br />
for staff and faculty.<br />
Bro. Pazant was instrumental in connecting with the “Facing Forward”<br />
mentoring program. That program was remodeled and adopted by our<br />
16<br />
Youth Leadership <strong>Conference</strong> during the 67th District <strong>Conference</strong>.<br />
During that same week, Bro. Wayne Hamer (14-Mu Psi-75) was sworn in<br />
as Englewood’s City Council President. Bro. Hamer enters his tenth year<br />
on the council. High on the council’s list of priorities are improving the<br />
city’s AA bond rating, delivering quality services to the city’s economically<br />
and ethnically diverse residents and merchants and forging a stronger<br />
bond with the school district.<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
Former NJ Attorney General Brother Peter Harvey Appointed<br />
Newark Police Department Federal Monitor<br />
Brother Peter Harvey<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Newark, NJ. March 30, <strong>2016</strong>. Nearly 10 years after he left the top law enforcement job in the<br />
state, Brother Peter Harvey has been tapped to fill another prominent position in the New Jersey –<br />
the Federal Monitor who will act as a watchdog over an agreement calling for sweeping changes<br />
to the Newark Police Department. <strong>The</strong> Department of Justice Wednesday, March 30, <strong>2016</strong>, announced<br />
Harvey had been chosen from a pool of 21 applicants to oversee the federal consent decree.<br />
Harvey comes to the role with decades of legal experience and roles he’s played in New<br />
Jersey. <strong>The</strong> attorney, who graduated Morgan State University in 1979 and received his<br />
law degree from Columbia in 1982, has worked in both the private and public sectors. He<br />
served in several high level positions in the attorney general’s office before being sworn<br />
in as New Jersey’s first African American, and 54th overall, Attorney General in 2003.<br />
During his nearly three-year tenure in the role, he was known for going after large companies<br />
in consumer and insurance fraud cases. He oversaw the construction of a<br />
state-of-the-art forensic and computer crime lab in Mercer County, and under his direction<br />
the state was lauded as one of the most prepared for a bioterrorist attack.<br />
He was in office during the federal monitor of the New Jersey State Police, and in his final<br />
official act, created a permanent Office of State Police Affairs in an attempt to ensure<br />
that the department would continue to comply with racial profiling reforms.<br />
After leaving the post in 2006, Harvey took a job as a partner at the<br />
prominent Patterson Belknap law firm in NYC, where he still works.<br />
Officials Wednesday said he was the right man for the job.”We are confident that Mr. Harvey’s experience,<br />
and the high regard in which he is held by the court, make him exactly the right choice for<br />
this assignment,” U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said at a press conference about the consent decree.<br />
Reached Wednesday, Harvey declined to comment on the appointment, saying that it<br />
is pending a federal judge’s approval. Civil Rights groups who have been calling for<br />
more oversight of the Newark police called Harvey’s appointment an important step. “<br />
Excerpts taken from an article by Jessica Mazzola | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com<br />
Brother Demaune Millard Receives Smart Magazine<br />
Executive Management Award - Nonprofit COO<br />
Baltimore, MD. March 23, <strong>2016</strong>. Brother Demaune Millard, COO of the Family League of<br />
Baltimore, has been recognized as one of the Baltimore regions Executive Management All Stars<br />
by SmartCEO Magazine. <strong>The</strong> award was received at an event held on Thursday March 24, <strong>2016</strong><br />
from 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. at <strong>The</strong> Westin BWI Hotel in Linthicum Heights, MD. <strong>The</strong> Smart CEO<br />
Magazine Executive Management Awards program recognizes the leadership and accomplishments<br />
of the region’s management all-stars — CFOs, CIOs/CTOs, Chief Legal Offices/General<br />
Counsels, Chief Human Resources Officers, and other C-suite executives. <strong>The</strong> individuals chosen<br />
uphold the highest ethics, lead collaboratively and creatively, and enhance and support the<br />
organization’s mission. An independent committee of local business leaders reviews the EMA<br />
nominations, and winners are chosen based on the quality of the nominations submitted. EMA<br />
winners are profiled in the March/April issue of SmartCEO Magazine. Brother Demaune Millard,<br />
is a member of Pi Omega Chapter and the Vice President of the Omega Baltimore Foundation, Inc.<br />
On Leadership and Mentoring: “My leadership and mentorship style is similar to that of a sports<br />
team captain,” says Demaune Millard, COO at Family League of Baltimore. Millard sees himself<br />
as being both an advisor and a confidant for fellow team members. “In today’s work environment of<br />
increased demands, tight deadlines and stretched resources, my philosophy is to not contribute to<br />
those stressors, but focus on being a thought partner to finding solutions to challenging situations.”<br />
His Driving Value: “When I first came on board in May 2013, I established a coordinated<br />
public policy and communications strategy,” says Millard. “As part of that, I developed an<br />
internal process to review legislation and interject Family League in Baltimore’s child<br />
policy landscape. As a result, Family League is more vocal — and strategically so — in<br />
weighing in on proposed measures that impact the well-being of children in Baltimore.”<br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
Brother Demaune Millard<br />
17
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Pi Omega 60th Talent Hunt Competition<br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
Talent Hunt Chair John Berkley, Bro. Allen Taylor, Talent Hunt Winners,<br />
Pi Omega Foundation Chair Otho Thompson, and Pi Omega Basileus C. Donald Bowser Jr.<br />
Baltimore, MD. March 6, <strong>2016</strong>. Pi Omega Chapter hosted its 60th<br />
Annual Bro. Kelvin J. O’Neal Talent Hunt Competition on Sunday March<br />
6, <strong>2016</strong> at <strong>The</strong> Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American<br />
History & Culture, located at 830 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Talent Hunt demonstration was created in 1945 out of the Fraternity’s<br />
Sixth District (North Carolina and South Carolina), and is one of<br />
the international projects of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Pi Omega has<br />
participated in this activity for 60 years, and many of our talented high<br />
school youths have benefited from this project through all-expenses paid<br />
trips, U.S. Savings Bonds, trophies, certificates, print and televised media<br />
exposure.<br />
Students from public and private schools in Baltimore City, Baltimore<br />
County, and the surrounding area were involved in this year’s competition.<br />
<strong>The</strong> winners were as follows:<br />
Vocal Classical: (1) Katyrah Davenport (Catonsville High School)<br />
Vocal Contemporary: (1) Trudi Henderson (Glenelg Country School),<br />
(2) Makayla Johnson (Randallstown High School)<br />
Instrumental Contemporary: (1) John Tyler (Baltimore Design School)<br />
Visual Arts – Painting: (1) Kalia Hammonds (Baltimore School for the<br />
Arts), (2) Iqra Zulifer (Milford Mill Academy)<br />
Ms. Katyrah Davenport and Ms. Kalia Hammonds will represent Pi Omega<br />
Chapter at the District Talent Hunt Competition to be held at the <strong>2016</strong><br />
68th Second District <strong>Conference</strong>. This year the conference will be held at<br />
the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and <strong>Conference</strong> Center in Bethesda,<br />
MD the weekend of April 28 – May 1, <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
Prior to intermission Mr. David Linberg, a winner from the 2006 and<br />
2007 Talent Hunts, played two selections on the saxophone for the audience.<br />
Mr. Linberg is a graduate of Florida A&M University and currently<br />
teaches music in Harford County. Upon returning from intermission seniors<br />
competing in the program for the last time were recognized. <strong>The</strong><br />
Talent Hunt competition was renamed in 2011 following the death of Bro.<br />
O’Neal who was the Talent Hunt Chairman for over 20 years.<br />
18<br />
Bro. John Berkley served as the chairperson for the 60th Annual Bro. Kelvin<br />
J. O’Neal Talent Hunt. Bro. Allen Taylor did an outstanding job as MC<br />
for this event. Special thanks were extended to the Pi Omega Foundation<br />
for providing the funding for this year’s competition.<br />
David Lindburg entertaining the audience<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
Pi Omega Energy Retrofits and Renovates its Fraternity Center<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Pi Omega Basileus C. Donald Bowser Jr. , Baltimore City Controller and<br />
Mayor, Joan Pratt and Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Bro. Al Wylie, Pi Omega<br />
Vice Basileus Ron Williams, 2nd District DR Miltion Harrison (in rear)<br />
Baltimore, MD. February 2, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of Pi Omega Chapter<br />
held it’s Ribbon Cutting Ceremony celebrating the reopening of its Fraternity<br />
Center on February 2, <strong>2016</strong> at 1:00 p.m. <strong>The</strong> Master of Ceremony was<br />
Brother Albert Wylie. Pi Omega Basileus, C. Donald Bowser, Jr. gave the<br />
Welcome Address; Vice Basileus, Ron Williams stated the occasion and<br />
remarks were given by Second District Representative, Milton D. Harrison,<br />
Executive Director Healthy Neighborhoods, Inc., Mark Sissman and<br />
Baltimore City Mayor, the Honorable Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.<br />
Mayor Blake highlighted the extensive social action initiatives Pi Omega<br />
Chapter has done and continues to do in the Winchester area of West Baltimore<br />
and gave major appreciation to the Omega Baltimore Foundation.<br />
In 2011, Omega Baltimore established a public private partnership with<br />
Baltimore City Recreation and Parks to manage and operate the Easterwood<br />
Recreation Center and has received grants from the Family League<br />
of Baltimore City to operate an After School S.T.E. M., Computer Skills<br />
Bro. Dr. Gary Rodwell, Pi Omega Basileus C. Donald Bowser Jr.,<br />
Baltimore City Mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake with Proclamation,<br />
Pi Omega Vice Basileus Ron Williams,<br />
and Nutrition Programs. Through the Nutrition Program funding, Omega<br />
Baltimore feeds over 40 inner city kids dinner and snacks Monday thru<br />
Friday.<br />
Energy retrofit repairs included replacing the existing roof, filling the<br />
outside cracks in the exterior walls, caulking and weather stripping the<br />
doors and windows, Replacing 7 windows, internal wall insulation,<br />
installing new ductless mini system and diffusers, new LED light Fixtures,<br />
installing new toilets and urinals, installing new low water faucet<br />
aerators and water flow devices, replaced low efficiency stream pipes in<br />
basement, new high efficiency refrigerators, new high efficiency stove,<br />
new gas fires HVAC system, replaced worn support floor beams and flooring.<br />
<strong>The</strong> funder for the energy retrofit was the Energy Office of Baltimore City,<br />
the lender was Healthy Neighborhoods, Inc., the General Contractor was<br />
<strong>The</strong> AZ Group, the architect was <strong>The</strong> Kann Group and the developer was<br />
the Coppin Heights Community Development Corporation.<br />
Pi Omega Fraternity Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony<br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
19
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
When We Wear the Gloves<br />
Manhood............laid low<br />
Bro. Ernest Custis - Omega Chapter<br />
Baltimore, MD Brother<br />
Ernest Custis, born April 21,<br />
1926, transition to Omega<br />
Chapter on February 27, <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
Professionally, he retired as a<br />
Regional Administrator at the<br />
Department of Parole and Probation<br />
Division for the State<br />
of Maryland. He personally<br />
hired, trained and instilled a<br />
mentoring spirit in many<br />
men and women throughout<br />
his years of State service.<br />
Initiated into the Omega Psi<br />
Phi Fraternity, Inc. through Pi<br />
Chapter at Morgan State College,<br />
now University, on April<br />
8, 1949; he was educated at<br />
West Point High School in West Point, Va. and earned his<br />
bachelor’s degree in 1951. While attending Morgan, Brother<br />
Custis played on the Varsity Football Team at the position of<br />
offensive lineman. He will always be remembered through<br />
his introduction at Pi Omega Chapter meeting Roll Call by<br />
his Big Brother, Brother Russ Young, Pi Chapter 1948 as<br />
“I made that Boy”. Brother Custis was the football lineman<br />
blocking for this running back, who forged a Fraternity Friendship<br />
that has endured for nearly 70 years. He joined the Army<br />
after college and rising to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant during<br />
the Korean War, he received a combat Infantry Badge,<br />
Korean Service Medal and United Nations Service Medal.<br />
Brother Custis gave 67 years of his life in service to the Omega<br />
Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. and maintained his membership at Pi<br />
Omega Chapter for nearly 65 years. He served on the following<br />
Pi Omega Chapter Committees: Hospitality, Social Action,<br />
Memorial Day, Mardi Gras and Nominating Committees.<br />
Brother Lloyd Alston, Sr. - Omega Chapter<br />
20<br />
Baltimore, MD. Brother<br />
Lloyd McKinley Alston Sr.,<br />
born June 9, 1932, transitioned<br />
to Omega Chapter on January<br />
31, <strong>2016</strong>. Initiated into the<br />
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.<br />
through Pi Chapter at Morgan<br />
State College, now University<br />
in 1952, his 63 years of<br />
service in Omega inspired the<br />
legacy of two sons, Michael<br />
Alston, Omicron Psi 1978,<br />
Lloyd Alston, Jr., Xi Pi 2000,<br />
and grandson Tyler Alston,<br />
Alpha Mu 2010 into membership<br />
in our beloved Fraternity.<br />
Graduating with honors from<br />
Morgan State College, in<br />
1954, Brother Alston earned<br />
a Bachelor’s Degree in Business<br />
Education and received<br />
a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant<br />
in the U.S. Army. He<br />
earned an MBA from American<br />
University and pursued<br />
additional studies at Loyola College of Maryland<br />
and the University of Maryland.<br />
Brother Alston had the distinctive honor of having served as<br />
Assistant Superintendent of three divisions within the Baltimore<br />
City Public School System; the Division of Personnel,<br />
the Division of Adult and Community Education, and<br />
the Division of Vocational Education. A consummate educator,<br />
serving in positions as Teacher, School Principal and<br />
Assistant Superintendent, his twenty-eight years of service<br />
in the Baltimore City Public Schools System was characterized<br />
by effective, creative, and dynamic leadership. After retiring<br />
in 1984, Brother Alston served as Vice President of the<br />
Baltimore Urban League with his friend, colleague and fraternity<br />
brother, Baltimore Urban League President, Dr. Benjamin<br />
Whitten. Lloyd remained with the Urban League until 1993.<br />
For over 63 years, Lloyd was an active member of Omega, serving<br />
as Pi Omega Chapter Basileus from 1980 to 1982 and serving<br />
on the Talent Hunt, Achievement Week/Founders Day, Scholarship<br />
Committee and Mardi Gras Committees; 28 years of strong<br />
work in education, 10 years of work in civic service and 63 years<br />
in social and community projects and activities in fraternity love.<br />
Brother Alston is survived by his wife, Quette Josephine<br />
Alston, to whom he was married for over 60 years; sons Lloyd,<br />
Michael and Ronald, daughters Dale, Margaret and Dianne.<br />
When we say our last goodbye...He walks on Streets of Pearls<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
When We Wear the Gloves<br />
Manhood............laid low<br />
Bro. John Donnie Walker - Omega Chapter<br />
Montgomery County, MD. Born<br />
December 10, 1930 Brother John<br />
Donnie Walker transitioned to<br />
Omega Chapter on March 21,<br />
<strong>2016</strong>. Bro. Walker grew up in<br />
Darby, PA where he attended<br />
the public schools and graduated<br />
from Darby High School in<br />
1948. Shortly after graduation he<br />
enlisted in the United States Air<br />
Force and actively served from<br />
September 1948 to August 1952.<br />
Bro. Walker attended technical<br />
school, where he pursued his love<br />
of graphic arts, during his enlistment<br />
in the Air Force. After his<br />
discharge, Bro. Walker enrolled<br />
at Howard University and earned<br />
a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1956<br />
with a major in Art. Bro. Walker<br />
was an avid sportsman and star<br />
football player for the HU Bison,<br />
where he served as co-captain. On<br />
December 8, 1953, Bro. Walker<br />
was initiated into the Omega Psi<br />
Phi Fraternity through Alpha<br />
Chapter. Bro. Walker was em-<br />
-ployed by the Federal Government for over 40 years. He began<br />
work at the Veterans Administration (VA) in 1958 as a<br />
graphic artist and retired in 1991 serving as the Chief of the<br />
Graphic Arts and Exhibits Division. One of his most cherished<br />
duties at the VA was serving as the Art Director for the<br />
agency’s annual Black History observances. Many African<br />
American celebrities participated in these programs. Bro.<br />
Walker took great pride in designing and creating exhibits,<br />
signs, posters and programs for all the Black History events.<br />
During his tenure, he received numerous outstanding performance<br />
awards an acquired the nickname “Mr. Graphics.”<br />
Bro. Walker was a devoted family man who loved visiting<br />
and spending time with family. He also enjoyed traveling,<br />
playing tennis and bowling. Bro. Walker joined Mount Calvary<br />
Baptist Church in 1988 and was a devoted and faithful<br />
member, receiving from the Men’s Fellowship a Faithful<br />
Servant Award in appreciation for over 20 years as Mount<br />
Calvary’s Official Banner Designer and as a member of the<br />
Publicity Committee. Bro. Walker was a member of the Mu<br />
Nu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity based in Montgomery<br />
County, MD where he served as a tutor for the Chapter’s<br />
Saturday School Program for over 20 years. In 2013 he<br />
was awarded his 60 year pin and certificate which exemplified<br />
his commitment, devotion and service to the Fraternity.<br />
When we say our last goodbye...He walks on Streets of Pearls<br />
<strong>The</strong> Omega Brand<br />
25-Word (Elevator) Positioning Statement:<br />
OPPF is a historically Black fraternal organization that provides and promotes programs of social-, cultural- and economic uplift to<br />
the communities we serve. For over a century, we have recruited, trained and deployed men of color for leadership roles in service<br />
to humanity.<br />
50-Word Positioning Statement:<br />
Our social action programs touch the lives of hundreds of thousands of families and individuals each year. Whether our efforts result<br />
in entertaining an audience, educating a group of young people; or simply helping those in need, we have developed a reputation for<br />
delivering programs and projects that make a difference in the lives of those we serve.<br />
100+ Word Positioning Statement:<br />
A partial list of social action initiatives includes: scholarships for deserving students, mentoring programs for disadvantaged youth,<br />
leadership development and training in partnership with GE, health and wellness prevention through partnerships with State Farm<br />
and American Cancer Society.<br />
If your company is looking to move from “success” to “significance” as a corporate neighbor, let’s have a conversation!<br />
Our aim is to make you feel welcome, respected and well served!<br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
21
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Message From <strong>The</strong><br />
2nd District<br />
Retention Chairman<br />
retaining newly initiated brothers,<br />
I have conceived of a program that<br />
has been on my mind and heart for<br />
some time now, the “Shadow Que”<br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
the chapter should prepare a list of<br />
active brothers willing to participate<br />
in the program.<br />
“<strong>The</strong>se times demand clean men, of clear vision, of straight<br />
thinking, of unselfish doing. And every Omega man must<br />
accept this challenge.<br />
Out of the groups like ours, men who know and feel the<br />
utmost Fidelity, Liberty and Fraternity, must come to the<br />
world absolution.<br />
Only by the bonds of brotherhood, stronger than life or<br />
death, which shall grip harder and more securely as ever<br />
greater numbers feel the tie, shall the world at last stand<br />
unfettered of evil, because chained in real fraternity.”<br />
Dr. Ernest Everett Just<br />
<strong>The</strong> Challenge<br />
June 1919 Oracle<br />
22<br />
William “Bucky” Dent<br />
Second District Retention Chair<br />
First and Foremost, I greet you in<br />
name of the Supreme Basileus of the<br />
Universe as well as in the spirit of<br />
the Founding Fathers of Omega Psi<br />
Phi Fraternity Inc.<br />
Over the past several years, many<br />
of our newly initiated brothers are<br />
straying away from the brotherhood<br />
very early in their life in as an<br />
Omega man. By abandoning the<br />
fraternity shortly after initiation,<br />
these brothers are not absorbing<br />
the real benefits of Omega Psi Phi<br />
Fraternity and end up unfilled as it<br />
relates to the true Brotherhood.<br />
Developing our newly initiated<br />
brothers is needed to ensure the<br />
fraternity’s rich traditions and<br />
profound history does not perish.<br />
As a solution to our difficulties in<br />
program.<br />
What is the “Shadow Oue”<br />
Program?<br />
<strong>The</strong> “Shadow Que” program is a<br />
new initiative to retain neophyte<br />
brothers by offering the opportunity<br />
to follow an active brother through<br />
his chapter, district or national<br />
activities in Omega. Participants<br />
will interact together with the intent<br />
they grow to know each other and<br />
bond in the true Omega Spirit. <strong>The</strong><br />
shadow period is suggested for three<br />
years.<br />
For chapters interested in<br />
participating in the program,<br />
the process should begin when<br />
the chapter votes to conduct the<br />
Membership Selection Process<br />
(MSP) and has submitted the proper<br />
documentation to its corridor team.<br />
After a chapter is cleared to conduct<br />
an intake process, the executive<br />
committee and retention chair for<br />
<strong>The</strong> brothers being shadowed should<br />
have at least 7 years of fully financial<br />
and active fraternity membership.<br />
Brothers that are being shadowed<br />
do not have to be the sponsor of<br />
the neophyte. Reclaimed brothers<br />
can also participate in the program.<br />
Chapters should be willing to<br />
commit to shadowing assignments<br />
for at least 3 years. Also, brothers<br />
should be willing to bond with<br />
neophytes outside of fraternity<br />
meetings and events.<br />
Once a chapter is cleared for<br />
intake, the Executive Committee<br />
and the Retention Chairman for<br />
participating chapters will match<br />
the brother with the newly initiated<br />
brother before their first chapter<br />
meeting. If the chapter of the newly<br />
initiated brother does not have<br />
enough brothers to participate in<br />
the program, the chapter Retention<br />
Chairman can contact the District<br />
and a brother will be identified to<br />
work with the new brother.<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Goals of the Shadow Que Program<br />
1. Track the participation of newly initiated brothers<br />
2. Teach new members how to be accountable to their Omega oath.<br />
3. Develop and train brothers for leadership in their chapter and<br />
beyond.<br />
4. Ensure brothers become fully knowledgeable of the fraternity’s<br />
committees and committee functions.<br />
5. Learn from the perspective of fully financial and active brother.<br />
6. Understand the roles within the local, District and National levels<br />
of the fraternity.<br />
7. To strengthen the bond of brotherhood within chapters and<br />
ultimately in our fraternity.<br />
8. To brothers keep a direct line of communication with the<br />
Retention Chairman of their chapter and the Basileus regarding<br />
participation in the fraternity.<br />
Currently, Corridor 3 is serving as<br />
the testing ground for this program.<br />
If successful, the program will be<br />
rolled out throughout the entire<br />
Second District. <strong>The</strong> ultimate goal<br />
is for the Shadow Que program to<br />
become a national level program<br />
for all undergraduate and graduate<br />
chapters.<br />
All financial brothers, regardless of<br />
age are encouraged to participate.<br />
If you are interested, please<br />
submit your name to you chapter<br />
Reclamation Chair. Once we have<br />
identified the brothers that wish to<br />
be shadowed, we will match them<br />
with the newly initiated brothers<br />
that will shadow them. If you have<br />
questions about the program, please<br />
reach out to me by phone at (267)<br />
625-5108, or by e-mail at William.<br />
Dent@dla.mil.<br />
brotherhood of this fraternity and<br />
fortify us for the next hundred<br />
years. If we implement “Shadow<br />
Que” properly, the program will<br />
be a strong source in keeping<br />
Omega first among all Greek letter<br />
organizations.<br />
Fraternally,<br />
William L. Dent III<br />
Second District<br />
Retention Chairman<br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
We as a brotherhood must take an<br />
aggressive stand to make sure that<br />
our Omega Psi Phi Fraternity will<br />
last another 100 years. Participants<br />
of “Shadow Que” will restore the<br />
23
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
Alpha Mu Nu Monrovian College Black History Month Celebration<br />
Bro. Dr. James Peterson<br />
Bethlehem, PA. February 25, <strong>2016</strong>. Brothers in the Alpha Mu Nu<br />
chapter welcomed Brother Dr. James Peterson,’90 Omega Zeta, as<br />
the keynote speaker for the Moravian College Black History Month<br />
celebration. <strong>The</strong> title of his talk and the theme of the month, “Activism<br />
<strong>The</strong>n and Now” engaged an audience of over 300 students and<br />
members of the college and local community on the evolution of activism<br />
from the Civil Rights Movement to the #Blacklivesmatter campaign.<br />
Flanked by his DJ, Brother Justin McCarthy, ’09 Delta Chi,<br />
who played tracks by hip-hop/rap artist Kendrick Lamar, including<br />
Lamar’s “Hi Power,” “<strong>The</strong> Blacker the Berry,” and “Alright,” Peterson<br />
focused on the influence that music has had in social activism.<br />
Brother Dr. Peterson is the Director of Africana Studies and Associate<br />
Professor of English at Lehigh University and a Media Contributor. A<br />
graduate of Duke University and the University of Pennsylvania, he is<br />
also the founder of Hip Hop Scholars, Inc., an association of hip hop generational<br />
scholars dedicated to researching and developing the cultural<br />
and educational potential of hip hop, urban, and youth cultures. A scholar<br />
and an adamant proponent of educational reform, Dr. James Peterson is a<br />
strong advocate of integrating youth culture into classrooms as a way of<br />
transgressing the historically divergent borders between lived experiences<br />
and the formal educational system. He has trained teachers for the greater<br />
part of a decade, working with them to incorporate innovative methods for<br />
teaching students from all backgrounds, particularly from minority groups.<br />
<strong>The</strong> presentation by Dr. Peterson was the pinnacle event for<br />
the small, liberal arts college of about 1,700 students in the Lehigh<br />
Valley. Brothers from the Alpha Mu Nu chapter interacted<br />
with students and the community at the conclusionof the event.<br />
Alpha Mu Nu Mentoring Program<br />
Alpha Mu Nu Brother Mentoring to Students<br />
Bethlehem, PA. March 8, <strong>2016</strong>. Addressing a void in our local community<br />
in providing outreach and guidance to youth in the Lehigh<br />
Valley, the Brothers of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Alpha Mu Nu<br />
Chapter began the “Each One, Reach One” mentoring program at<br />
an elementary school in the Bethlehem Area School District. Each<br />
Tuesday the Brothers meet with a group of boys who were identified<br />
by the school administrators to talk about life goals and career aspirations,<br />
challenges at home and school, and becoming young men.<br />
<strong>The</strong> demographics of the school are diverse for this region of Pennsylvania<br />
with the students being 56% Hispanic, 10% Black, and 33% White.<br />
Not only is the school ethnically diverse, but also socioeconomically<br />
24<br />
diverse as 72% of the students qualify for the free/reduced lunch program.<br />
<strong>The</strong> young boys who participate in this program were specifically<br />
identified by school officials based on their knowledge of the children’s<br />
personal and educational challenges. Several of the kids do not have<br />
fathers at home or positive role models in their lives. “This is why we<br />
do what we do and why we serve who we serve,” said one Brother. “It<br />
just doesn’t make any sense that so many of these children struggle just<br />
to hear a positive word from an adult on a daily basis.” Every Tuesday<br />
afternoon, the Brothers spend time with the children providing encouragement,<br />
discipline, and positive reinforcement, and a positive word<br />
that should and must be spoken into the lives of children every day.<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
Lambda Gamma Gamma <strong>2016</strong> Talent Hunt<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
LGG Talent Hunt Co-Chair Yahari Butler and LGG Basileus Michael Parham, Jr.<br />
presents Talent Hunt Overall Award to Clarence Brown III<br />
Springdale, MD. March 19, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of Lambda Gamma Gamma<br />
Chapter (Fort Meade, MD) held their annual Talent Hunt <strong>2016</strong> program<br />
at the Charles Herbert Flowers High School on Saturday, March 19, <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
Thirteen high school students participated in the various categories of<br />
Drama, Dance, Visual Arts, Instrumental and Vocal. Brother Antonio Ferguson<br />
served as the program chairman and Brothers Brian Wilson and<br />
Brother Yahari Butler served as the committee co-chairmen of the event.<br />
Ferguson expressed how fortunate they were to have a diverse variety of<br />
“such amazing high school talent” in this year’s event. <strong>The</strong> winners of the<br />
Talent Hunt <strong>2016</strong> program were as follows: Visual Arts: 1st Place - Bethlehem<br />
Maleku (Eleanor Roosevelt High School), Dance: 1st Place – Kya<br />
Ellis (Charles H. Flowers High School), Drama & Poetry: 1st Place –<br />
Alexis Hayes (Eleanor Roosevelt High School), Vocal:1st Place – Jeremy<br />
Little (Bishop McNamara High School), 2nd Place – Kmaia Mix (Bowie<br />
High School), 3rd Place – Martin Tanter (DeMatha Catholic High School),<br />
Instrumental: 1st Place – Clarence Brown, III (Piano – Woodbridge High<br />
School), 2nd Place – Damon Squier (Violinist – Duke Ellington School<br />
of Arts), 3rd Place – Kyla Frank (Flute – Duke Ellington School of Arts).<br />
Clarence Brown, III (Woodbridge High School) who won 1st<br />
place in the Instrumental category also won first place in the overall<br />
program. Clarence will go on to represent the chapter and perform<br />
in the 2nd District Talent Hunt program which will be held<br />
during the 68th District <strong>Conference</strong> on Saturday April 30, <strong>2016</strong> in<br />
Rockville, MD. Clarence will perform in the Instrumental category<br />
and Bethelehem Maleku will represent in the Visual Arts category.<br />
This year’s Talent Hunt program was graced by the performance<br />
of jazz musician and fraternity brother Willie Bradley. Bro. Bradley<br />
performed several selections during the intermission of the<br />
event and also served as a sitting judge for the vocal & instrumental<br />
categories. Brother Bradley expressed how pleased he was to<br />
see such remarkable and talented high school students perform.<br />
Brother Ferguson went on to state that he has every confidence<br />
that Clarence and Bethelehem, who will be representing and<br />
chapter, will be positioned well at this year’s 2nd District Talent<br />
Hunt program which should prove to be extremely competitive.<br />
Lambda Gamma Gamma <strong>2016</strong> Talent Hunt<br />
LGG Brothers with Bro. Rev Taft Quincey Healeyat Shiloh Baptist Church<br />
Alexandria, VA. February 21, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Lambda Gamma Gamma<br />
(LGG) chapter encompasses the entire Washington, DC metropolitan<br />
area and its members live from Baltimore to Woodbridge and from<br />
Annapolis to Leesburg. As is the quarterly custom of LGG, its Brothers<br />
moved their quarterly church visit to Old Town Alexandria, VA to<br />
the historic Shiloh Baptist Church on Sunday, February 21. Brother<br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
Taft Quincey Heatley (Psi chapter, 1996), Senior Pastor, delivered a<br />
moving sermon for the congregation. Afterwards, Brother Micheal<br />
Parham, Jr., Basileus of LGG, presented Brother Heatley with a check<br />
in the amount of $1,000 to support the Shiloh Baptist Church College<br />
and the Deaconess Ministry College Student Care Package Drive.<br />
25
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Lambda Gamma Gamma <strong>2016</strong> Easter Egg Hunt<br />
Ft. Meade, MD. March 26, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of Lambda Gamma<br />
Gamma Chapter held their 16th Annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Youth<br />
Services Center located in Ft. Meade MD. <strong>The</strong> event is held annually and<br />
is open to the military community as well as the public. <strong>The</strong> event, chaired<br />
by Bro. Tommie Bennett, continues to grow each year with a standing<br />
room crowd anticipating the start of the event. <strong>The</strong> ages of the participants<br />
range from infants to 13 years old. <strong>The</strong> children are divided into four age<br />
groups, which are infants to 2 years old, ages 3 - 5, ages 6 - 9 and ages 10<br />
- 13. Bro. Chauncey Dockins, who assisted with this year’s event, stated<br />
that “<strong>The</strong> LGG Easter Egg Hunt provides fun activities for the children to<br />
participate in such as a coloring contest, raffles and the opportunity to take<br />
pictures with our special guests, Ronald McDonald and the Easter Bunny.”<br />
This year’s Easter Egg Hunt hosted over 349 registered children<br />
representing over 200 families. <strong>The</strong>re were eight (8) special toys<br />
for kids who found the special eggs and a prize for the child who<br />
guessed how many jelly beans were in the jar. <strong>The</strong>re was also a<br />
$10 McDonald’s gift certificate award for a child and, unlike previous<br />
years, each child received a McDonald’s Happy Meal toy.<br />
LGG thanks McDonald’s owner, Brother Bernard McPherson,<br />
who participated in this year’s Easter Egg Hunt and we look forward<br />
to their participation in future events. Once again the staff<br />
of the Ft. Meade Youth Services Center helped make our annual<br />
event a success by allowing the chapter to use their facility.<br />
LGG Basileus, Michael Parham, Jr. gives<br />
Easter Basket to kids of Servicemen<br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
Lambda Gamma Gamma Receive Community Partner Award<br />
Lambda Gamma Gamma Mentor DeAnte Byrd with mentees at the Award Ceremony<br />
26<br />
Glenarden, MD. March 8, <strong>2016</strong>. Many Brothers of Lambda Gamma<br />
Gamma, LGG, chapter volunteer at Charles Herbert Flower High School<br />
each Wednesday night mentoring to the school’s young men. <strong>The</strong> program<br />
entitled Manhood 101, is part of the chapter and fraternity’s Assault<br />
on Illiteracy Program. Throughout the school year, the Brothers<br />
provide academic assistance, moral support and guidance to the young<br />
men. Additionally, the Brothers take them on several trips throughout<br />
the year to cultural and educational sites around Washington, DC and<br />
also to area colleges, to get a taste of life after high school. <strong>The</strong> conclusion<br />
of the 2015-<strong>2016</strong> school year will bring to a close the 4th year<br />
LGG has provided Uplift to these young men through Manhood 101.<br />
In recognition of the contribution and efforts of the Brothers, they were<br />
recognized on Tuesday, March 8, <strong>2016</strong> at the Flowers High School<br />
award ceremony. <strong>The</strong> award bestowed on the Brothers of LGG by way<br />
of the Manhood 101 Mentoring Program was the <strong>2016</strong> Community Partner<br />
Award. This award recognizes community members for their dedication<br />
and service to the Charles H. Flowers High School community.<br />
Bro. DeAnte Byrd, one of the program’s mentors, stated that “When<br />
the Manhood101 program was implemented nearly 4 years ago through<br />
the vision of Brothers Gorman Brown and Bleu Colquitt, I could not<br />
have imagined the impact it would have not only on the young brothers<br />
that we mentor but the effect it would have on me personally.”<br />
Bro. Blue Colquitt, the Chair of Manhood 101 and the Assault on Illiteracy<br />
Program, is extremely proud of the work of the younger Brothers<br />
such as Bro. Byrd. “I really appreciate the younger Brothers for taking<br />
the reins for this program. <strong>The</strong> boys have begun to see you as their ‘Big<br />
Brother’ and in these times that is an excellent thing for our Black Boys.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> proof of the success of the program can be seen in the regular weekly<br />
attendance of the young men, their attitudes and, tangibly, in their Grade<br />
Point Averages (GPAs). Most of the young men now possess GPA 3.0 and<br />
higher, which is a significant improvement since the program’s inception.<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
Alpha Upsilon Project O.A.S.I.S. Male Mentoring Program<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Alpha Upsilon Brothers with O.A.S.I.S. Mentees at NY Islanders Hockey<br />
Brooklyn, NY. March 14, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Alpha Upsilon Project O.A.S.I.S.<br />
Male Mentoring continued to be a positive entity in the lives of young<br />
males. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of Alpha Upsilon (Manhood) took six mentees<br />
along with two staff members of the Junius St Temporary Housing<br />
Shelter to special mentoring session. Basileus Steve Liverpool, AY<br />
2010, was able to secure 10 tickets to the NY Islanders vs Florida Panthers<br />
hockey game for the program. <strong>The</strong> group met Bro Hayden (Tau<br />
Psi 71), Bro Basileus, and Bro Wilkinson (Nu Tau 92) at the Barclays.<br />
<strong>The</strong> young men were treated to VIP entrance, a bobble head gift, and<br />
the experience a hockey game from a suite! <strong>The</strong> six fortunate men were<br />
selected by Women-In-Need Youth Specialist, Mr. Rajib Gonzalez, under<br />
the criteria of school performance (Scholarship) and positive behavior<br />
(Uplift). It was a great night for all as the young men were able to see<br />
their hometown team come back and win the game. This was used as<br />
an example of Perseverance in discussion with the group after the game.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Committee and mentees would like to thank DBNA, Principal<br />
Soror Dawnique Daughtry (MS 113) Brooklyn Alumnae,<br />
Delta Sigma <strong>The</strong>ta Sorority, Inc., and Bro Basileus for the tickets,<br />
as this was the first hockey game for a majority of the mentees.<br />
Alpha Upsilon Thanksgiving Community Feeding<br />
New York, NY. November 26, 2015. <strong>The</strong> Alpha Upsilon 2nd Annual<br />
Thanksgiving Dinner took place in partnership with Milk<br />
River Lounge, Brooklyn Wine Yard and <strong>The</strong>rapy Wine Bar.<br />
<strong>The</strong> event took place at Milk River Lounge between the hours<br />
of 12pm to 3p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and was an opportunity<br />
to give families in need a traditional thanksgiving dinner.<br />
This year our patrons, numbering approximately 100 families, were<br />
students and parents of New York’s Students in Temporary Housing<br />
Program and were from local Brooklyn shelters: Auburn Family<br />
Assessment Center, Claremont Family Residence and Housing<br />
Bridge 1 & 2. Patrons were transported by the City’s Dept. of Education<br />
Office of Schools and Youth Development in New York City.<br />
<strong>The</strong> committee took on a daunting task of making this Dinner the best<br />
it could be, by securing live entertainment Jelani and the Jazz Expedition<br />
and comedian Dave Lester, the event took on new entertainment<br />
element. A memorable and rewarding day was had by all in attendance.<br />
Alpha Upsilon St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital<br />
Game Day Give Back<br />
Brooklyn, NY. February 7, <strong>2016</strong>. Alpha Upsilon Chapter known as<br />
“Brooklyn Omega” of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. held its second St.<br />
Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital Game Day Give Back at <strong>The</strong>rapy<br />
Wine Bar on Super Bowl Sunday. <strong>The</strong> event was well attended and the<br />
fellowship amongst Brothers and bar patrons was great. <strong>The</strong> chapter was<br />
able to raise $1000.00 for the hospital. Slightly lower than last year’s total<br />
of $1,400, it’s a worthy cause that Alpha Upsilon Chapter supports and<br />
initiated by our Grand Basileus Antonio F. Knox, Sr. to partner up with St.<br />
Jude’s and raise money for children. Thanks again to those who donated,<br />
came out to the event and helped make this year’s fundraiser a success.<br />
ST Jude’s Football Jersey<br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
27
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
NY Metropolitan Transit Authority Bridges and Tunnels Diversity<br />
Council honors the Legacy of Brother Joseph Lincoln Parker<br />
l-r Bros. Walter Oden, Kyle Edmonds, Monte Suber, Seventh from left NYC Councilman Bro. Robert Cornegy Jr.<br />
r-l Bro. Alfonso Morrell 2nd District Artifacts and Memorabilia Chairman and Bro. Christopher Bennett<br />
New York, NY. February 9, <strong>2016</strong>. As part of their celebration in honor<br />
of Black History month, using the theme “Making an Impact: <strong>The</strong> Past,<br />
Present and Future” the Metropolitan Transit Authority Bridges and<br />
Tunnels Diversity Council honors the legacy of Brother Joseph Lincoln<br />
Parker. Brother Parker, an African American pioneer in architectural<br />
engineering, was a former Design Engineer in the 1920’s and 30’s<br />
for the NYC Transit Authority and in the 1940’s for the MTA Bridges<br />
and Tunnels. Throughout his stellar career he contributed greatly to<br />
many of the largest public transportation projects in New York history.<br />
Brother Parker was initiated into the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.<br />
through Gamma Chapter. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute<br />
of Technology in 1923 majoring in urban design. Bro. Parker became an<br />
authority on tunnel construction, making his life’s work the planning and<br />
construction of the New York subway and tunnel system. A proclamation<br />
from the city honoring Bro. Parker’s contributions was presented by<br />
the event’s keynote speaker NYC Councilman the Honorable Bro. Robert<br />
Cornegy, Jr. MWBE Liaison / Compliance Manager, MTA Bridges<br />
and Tunnels, Bro. Christopher Bennett, was the event’s coordinator.<br />
Chi Pi Day of Social Action at MLK Day Clothing Drive<br />
Chi Pi Brothers at the MLK Day Clothing Drive<br />
Syracuse, NY. January 18, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of the Chi Pi chapter engaged<br />
in a Day of Social Action at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day<br />
Clothing Drive. <strong>The</strong>y were joined by Brothers of undergraduate Kappa<br />
Chapter of Syracuse University. Brothers sorted, folded and distributed<br />
winter coats, children’s clothing, and other needed items. <strong>The</strong> clothes<br />
28<br />
were immediately packed and delivered to area organizations. In<br />
additions brothers helped make over 300 sandwiches for lunch<br />
for the local Samaritan Center which provides meals of individuals<br />
in need. Overall, brothers left with a sense of pride knowing<br />
their efforts to give back helped to enrich the community<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
Chi Pi Chapter Celebrates 40 Years of Service in Syracuse, NY<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Standing l-r:Bro. William Thompson, Bro. Ceasar Marshal, Bro. Stephen Moses, District Representative Bro. Ted Greer, .<br />
Bro. James Cannon, Immediate Past District Representative Bro. Milton Johnson, Bro. William Rowland, Bro. James May<br />
Kneeling l-r :Bro. Archie Gilchrist, Bro. James Campbell, Bro. Dennis Dowdell, Bro. Curley Fountainberry, Bro . Ben Jeffers,<br />
Bro. Leon Mullen, Sitting:Bro. Charles Grace and Bro. John Ricks<br />
Syracuse, NY. January 31, <strong>2016</strong>. Chi Pi Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is celebrating its 40th year. <strong>The</strong> chapter was founded on January<br />
31, 1976 in a warm and meaningful ceremony at the Everson museum in Syracuse. During those 40 years Chi Pi has hosted four successful District<br />
<strong>Conference</strong>s (1987, 1995, 2002, and 2010). <strong>The</strong> chapter is planning several events throughout the year to commemorate the anniversary. “I stand on the<br />
shoulders of those mighty Omega Men who had the perseverance to See It Through” said Anthony Cherebin, Basileus. Brother Benjamin Jeffers is one<br />
of the original founders still working hard for Omega 40 years later.<br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
Seated l-r Bro. Daniel Akins, Bro. Herb Dunmore, Bro. Derrick Carr, Bro. Benjamin Jeffers, Bro. Anthony Cherebin, and Bro. George Kilpatrick<br />
Standing l-r Bro. Dwight Hicks, Bro. Fred Gilbeaux, Bro. Scott Freeney, Bro. Alton Hicks, and Bro. Kevin Barnett<br />
29
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Chi Pi Mentors Youth at Syracuse City Schools<br />
Syracuse, NY. January <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of Chi Pi Chapter continued<br />
their work in the Syracuse City School district, mentoring youth through<br />
the Coaching Boys into Men curriculum on healthy relationships and ending<br />
relationship violence against women and girls. <strong>The</strong> effort is part of the<br />
chapter’s partnership with Vera House, a local domestic violence and sexual<br />
assault prevention agency in Syracuse, NY. <strong>The</strong> young men are from<br />
the Danforth Middle School, which is in need of positive male role models.<br />
<strong>The</strong> principal of the school is Brother Dr. Ronardo Reeves, who sees<br />
the partnership as an opportunity to help him with some of the challenges<br />
that plague urban schools across the country. This month we took the men<br />
on a tour of Syracuse University athletics for a firsthand look at what<br />
Division I recruits see during recruitment. Current and former athletes<br />
and the head Women’s basketball took time out to reinforce some of the<br />
messages we’ve been instilling in the youth. Many of the students who<br />
live a little over a mile from the University, had never been on the campus.<br />
Overall it was a positive experience for the Brothers and the youth.<br />
Syracuse, NY. February 4, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of Chi Pi Chapter kicked<br />
off Black History Month and continued its 40th year Anniversary Celebration<br />
at the annual Dennis Dowdell Memorial Scholarship fundraiser held<br />
on February 4, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> program raises money for scholarships and recognizes<br />
individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions<br />
during the year. <strong>The</strong> event held at the George and Rebecca Barnes<br />
Foundation Mansion. <strong>The</strong> mansion is a documented station on the Underground<br />
Railroad. This year of the fraternity honored Consumer Affairs<br />
Manager Evelyn C. Carter as the Citizen of the year for her extensive support<br />
of community, the U.S. Marine Corp and the Toys for Tots program<br />
as the organization of the year, and Omega Man of the Year was Brother<br />
Dr. Chavez Carter for his efforts at helping to revive Delta Mu chapter on<br />
the campus of Cornell University. <strong>The</strong> scholarship is named in honor of<br />
Brother Dennis Dowdell who gave over 50 years of service to Omega.<br />
Chi Pi Scholarship Reception<br />
Chi Pi Brother mentoring to students<br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
Chi Pi Awardees at the Scholarship Reception<br />
Delta Upsilon Widows Acknowledgement Luncheon<br />
Delta Uposilon Widows<br />
Trenton, NJ. December 2015. Delta Upsilon hosted a luncheon to acknowledge<br />
and spend time with its widows. During the luncheon<br />
Stan Davis was also awarded Delta Upsilon Omega Man of the Year.<br />
30<br />
DU Basileus, Scott Rice, DU Omega Man of the Year, Bro. Stan Davis, and<br />
DU Vice Basileus Charlie Williams<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
Corridor V United Negro College Fund Presidents Reception<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
New York Basilie welocme Dr. Tashni –Ann Dubray, Incoming President of Shaw University<br />
Nerw York, NY. March 2nd <strong>2016</strong>. For the third year the Brothers of<br />
Corridor Five of the 2nd District banded together in order to host the<br />
reception for the college presidents attending the UNCF Gala the following<br />
evening. <strong>The</strong> reception was held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Midtown<br />
Manhattan.<br />
<strong>The</strong> eleven participating chapters, which were Alpha Upsilon, Kappa<br />
Omicron, Nu Omicron, Zeta Psi, Epsilon, Xi Phi, Iota Xi, Omicron Iota,<br />
Beta Alpha Alpha, Xi Lambda Lambda and Psi Lambda Lambda, recognized<br />
the new incoming presidents of UNCF colleges and universities.<br />
Certificates were presented to Dr. Ronald A. Johnson of Clark Atlanta<br />
University, Dr. Colette Pierce Burnett of Houston–Tillotson College, Dr.<br />
Andre Miller of LeMoyne-Owen College, Dr. Roderick L. Smothers Sr. of<br />
Philander Smith College, Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell of Spellman<br />
College, Frank L. Sims (Interim) of Fisk University, Dr. Edward L.<br />
Delta Upsilon Monthly<br />
Retiree Breakfast Outling<br />
College, Frank L. Sims (Interim) of Fisk University, Dr. Edward L.<br />
Wheeler of the International<strong>The</strong>ological Center, Dr. Samuel Sullivan (Interim)<br />
of Paine College, Dr. Tashni – Ann Duboy of Shaw University and<br />
Dr. C. Reynold Verret of Xavier University.<br />
<strong>The</strong> reception is a part of a larger project to establish a scholarship fundraising<br />
program that will be sponsored by the New York Chapters in<br />
conjunction with UNCF.<br />
In addition to the presidents, Dr. Michael L. Lomax, President and Executive<br />
Officer of UNCF, attended the reception. Dr. Lomax spoke highly of<br />
our efforts and encouraged <strong>The</strong> New York chapters to continue to help to<br />
support UNCF.<br />
Special thanks goes to Brother Fred Mitchell, Vice President in charge of<br />
the New York Office of UNCF, for his continuing support of the project.<br />
Delta Upsilon Greet<br />
Grand Chaplin Preaching in NJ<br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
31
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Delta Upsilon Charles Drew <strong>2016</strong> Blood Drive<br />
Trenton, NJ. February <strong>2016</strong>. Delta Upsilon Chapter, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity,<br />
Inc. teams with Shiloh Baptist Church, Trenton, NJ, and Community<br />
Blood Council of New Jersey, Inc., Ewing, NJ, to kick off the mandatory<br />
Charles R. Drew Blood Drive in Trenton, which raised over 24 pints<br />
of blood saving 72 lives. New Jersey is the lowest state in the nation for<br />
blood donors, so it becomes difficult to keep the hospital’s shelves filled<br />
with blood and blood products,” said Loriann Burris-Reinhardt, account<br />
manager, Community Blood Council. “I would like to encourage you to<br />
continue this life saving process. Thank you for making your blood drive<br />
and its success a priority. Never forget that there are many individuals<br />
whose future depends on you and the donors,” she added.<br />
State figures show that while 60 percent of people in New Jersey are eligible<br />
to donate blood, only 3.6 percent of them do. Nationally, according<br />
to the Red Cross an estimated 38 percent of the U.S. population is eligible<br />
to donate blood at any given time, less than 10% of that eligible population<br />
actually do each year. Blood cannot be manufactured – it can only<br />
come from generous donors.<br />
<strong>The</strong> annual Charles R. Drew blood drive is a welcoming initiative to the<br />
state and community when you examine the shortage of blood in the area.<br />
<strong>The</strong> blood drive was coordinated by Delta Upsilon’s former MSP candidates,<br />
now, neophytes, “5 Ages of Omega”, as part of their MSP community<br />
service program. Neophyte, Bro. Wayne Snead said, “while we<br />
coordinated the blood drive, Brothers, wives, family members and the<br />
community help make it happen through word of mouth, social media,<br />
mailings, flyers, posters, and church announcements, etc.” Because of<br />
the blood shortage in NJ, Burris-Reinhardt has requested that Delta Upsilon<br />
consider hosting a summer blood drive when supplies become really<br />
thin. When the summer months come upon us, we find ourselves in the<br />
same blood crisis year after year,” she said.<br />
Chapter Basileus, Scott Rice, has taken Burris-Reinhardt’s re-<br />
Delta Upsilon 2015-16 Officers<br />
Bro.Walter Nall donating the gift of life<br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
-quest under advisement and he plans to make a formal recommendation<br />
to the chapter on how we can participate this summer.<strong>The</strong> ability to use<br />
blood, blood products to save the lives of millions of people year each is<br />
owed to Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Brother Charles R. Drew, Medical<br />
Pioneer, Physician and Father of Blood Banks, who developed ways to<br />
process and store blood plasma in “blood banks.” He directed the blood<br />
plasma programs of the United States and Great Britain in World War II,<br />
where he reportedly collected roughly 14,500 pints of plasma. In 1941,<br />
he spearheaded another blood bank effort for the American Red Cross.<br />
Bro Drew entered Omega Chapter, April 1, 1950.<br />
Bro. Mo Williams, Keeper of Peace; Bro. Larry Lewis, Sr., Chaplin; Bro. Jeff Sumners, standing in for Bro. Ron Williams, KF, not pictured;<br />
Bro. Harold Vereen, KRS; Bro. Charlie Williams, Vice Basileus; and Bro. Scott Rice, Basileus<br />
32<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
Chi Rho Talent Hunt Competition<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Long Island, NY. January 29, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of the Chi Rho<br />
Chapter continued on with tradition in hosting another successful Talent<br />
Hunt Program. <strong>The</strong> event was once again held at the Central Islip<br />
High School in Long Island and the students did not disappoint.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Talent Hunt Program was created in April of 1946 by Brother J. Austin<br />
Aktins and Brother Dewey Duckett in Charlotte, North Carolina. <strong>The</strong><br />
program was created in order to establish an equal opportunity for youth to<br />
develop and express their talents. Today it has grown into one of the Fraternity’s<br />
most popular programs and is now nationally mandated, requiring<br />
all chapters to participate on the local, district, and national levels. <strong>The</strong><br />
program is incentivized thorough scholarships and financial assistance, allowing<br />
Brothers to uplift students in ways that are rarely available to them.<br />
Although we did not have the normal volume of contestants, as in past<br />
years, the quality of the performances were as good as ever. <strong>The</strong> chapter<br />
Chi Rho Brothers with Talent Hunt participants<br />
would like to thank all of the contestants and judges who helped make<br />
this a successful event. <strong>The</strong> contestants were Davianna Dinnoo, Kenneth<br />
Dinnoo, Ayanna Moonah, Sade Meeks & Kristal Grindley, from the Amityville,<br />
Wyandanch and North Babylon High Schools. <strong>The</strong> judges were<br />
Kianné Muschett, Yvonne Francis, Teddie Rollins and Chaudé Taylor. All<br />
of these people are extremely talented singers and musicians, and we thank<br />
them for gracing our stage. Our winner was Ms. Kristal Grindley, who<br />
performed an A cappella rendition of Sam Smith’s “Latch”. <strong>The</strong> runnersup<br />
were Ayanna Moonah and Sade Meeks both with contemporary vocals.<br />
Special thanks to Brother Rodger Muschett, the program’s Chairman. He<br />
was able to secure the location and coordinate the program with the judges<br />
and contestants. Ms. Grindley will continue on to the district level of the<br />
competition, where we hope she can bring another win home to Long Island.<br />
Chi Rho “Men Who Cook” Social Action<br />
Wyandanch, NY. March 5th, <strong>2016</strong> <strong>The</strong> “Men Who Cook” program is<br />
one of the signature programs of the Chi Rho Chapter. Our annual social<br />
fundraiser was held on March 5th, <strong>2016</strong> at Our Lady Of Miraculous<br />
Medal Church in Wyandanch, NY. It is a day for socializing and showcasing<br />
the efforts and versatility of Omega Men. Brothers cooked a variety<br />
Chi Rho Brothersat the Men Who Cook event<br />
of wonderful dishes from several cultures for our guests to enjoy, and<br />
enjoy them they did. <strong>The</strong> chairmen of the event was our own Jim “44”<br />
Wallace with the assistance of the rest of the chapter. <strong>The</strong> event was a<br />
major success and we are sincerely grateful for all of those in attendance.<br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
33
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Delta Upsilon Day at the Races<br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
Trenton, NJ. July 18, 2015, Delta Upsilon held its annual scholarship fundraiser at the races. <strong>The</strong> Day at the Races is just one of the events during<br />
the summer that the chapter uses to raise money for its scholarship program. <strong>The</strong> highlight of the event is the running of the “Omega Classic”.<br />
34<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
Delta Upsilon Social Action Programs<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Delta Upsilon Annual<br />
Voter Registration Drive<br />
Trenton, NJ. January <strong>2016</strong>. Each year Delta Upsilon chapter completes a<br />
voter registration drive. This year is particularly important as we are gearing<br />
up for the <strong>2016</strong> presidential run and we know that every vote will count.<br />
Delta UpsilonAnnual<br />
Scholarship Golf Outing<br />
Trenton, NJ. August 18, 2015. Delta Upsilon chapter along with its affiliate<br />
Omega Delta Upsilon Foundation held its 15th Annual Scholarship<br />
Golf outing. Nearly 100 golfers and over 70 sponsors participated in the<br />
event raising close to $15,000 for scholarships and community programs.<br />
Delta Upsilon Feeds<br />
Less Fortunate<br />
Trenton, NJ. October 7, <strong>2016</strong>. Delta Upsilon continued its working in assisting<br />
those less fortunate by acting as servers during the dinner meal held<br />
at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen. <strong>The</strong> chapter’s social action committee<br />
participates each month in this worthwhile and community event. This<br />
month’s participation was dedicated to Brother Gene McCray who was<br />
instrumental in organizing the chapter’s involvement from the beginning.<br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
35
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Epsilon Pi Annual Holiday Turkey Basket Drive<br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
Chester, PA. December 19, <strong>2016</strong>. On this clear cool morning 30 men<br />
of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., Epsilon Pi Chapter of Chester PA.<br />
kicked off their Annual Holiday Turkey Basket give community outreach.<br />
<strong>The</strong> chapter provided 135 turkey baskets to many surprised families<br />
in the city of Chester and other communities in Delaware County, PA.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Omega men ventured out of the Chester Community Charter School,<br />
and enjoyed fellowship with residents of Delaware County communities,<br />
while remembering the reason for the season and giving back, said Darron<br />
Daniels, Chapter Basileus. On this occasion Epsilon Pi Chapter supported<br />
some of less fortunate families of Delaware County. <strong>The</strong> holiday Turkey<br />
Basket was a great success and a wonderful way to support and promote the<br />
spirit of Omega and give back to the communities. <strong>The</strong> chairman and organizer<br />
of the chapters Turkey Drive committee was Brother Roosevelt Turner.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Omega men served as ambassadors of goodwill while delivering the<br />
baskets to family homes, and shared many words of holiday greetings.<br />
Epsilon Pi Brothers and Volunteers at the Turkey Drive<br />
Gamma Pi Community Uplift TV Show<br />
Community Uplift host Denise Roberts interviews Gamma Pi Basileus Brian K. Long<br />
Largo, MD. April 1, <strong>2016</strong>. As of March <strong>2016</strong>, you can now tune in and<br />
watch Gamma Pi on TV. <strong>The</strong> Super Chapter launched a new community<br />
wide over-the-air broadcast public affairs television show called Community<br />
UPLIFT. <strong>The</strong> show debuted on February 26 in the Washington<br />
Metro area available to viewers on Verizon FiOS and Comcast. Viewers<br />
can watch the pre-taped show in Prince George’s and neighboring Montgomery<br />
counties.<br />
<strong>The</strong> purpose of the show is to highlight Gamma Pi’s community projects<br />
and its many partners. <strong>The</strong> 30-minute talk show, hosted by Denise Roberts,<br />
will be broadcast bi-monthly. <strong>The</strong> show is broadcast by Community<br />
Television (CTV), the local public access channel. <strong>The</strong> program is taped<br />
at the CTV studios in Largo, Md. <strong>The</strong> show is a joint project of CTV and<br />
Gamma Pi chapter, Brother Clinton Green, who is training at the station,<br />
is the lead technical producer of the show. <strong>The</strong> Gamma Pi Public Relations<br />
Committee is responsible for producing the content and guests.<br />
<strong>The</strong> debut show, which ran during the month of March, spotlighted the<br />
chapter’s Project ENRICH program and featured Director Bro. Willie<br />
Hines and a mother and son participating in the program, as in-studio<br />
guests. Brother Basileus Brian K. Long will be a regular guest on the<br />
36<br />
show, leading off every broadcast with host Denise Roberts. Community<br />
UPLIFT airs weekly and was shown 14 times in March. It is also<br />
posted on the Internet at Gamma Pi’s website (www.gammapi.org) for<br />
on-demand viewing.<br />
<strong>The</strong> second installment of Community UPLIFT was taped March 29 and<br />
highlights Gamma Pi’s Que Kidz Dayz, a monthly activities program for<br />
children in an underserved, low-income part of Prince George’s County.<br />
That program, which will be aired in April, features interviews with<br />
chapter Brothers who run the program, along with special guest Carolyn<br />
White-Washington, founder and executive director of an organization<br />
called Sisters 4Sisters, which works closely with Gamma Pi on Que Kidz<br />
Dayz projects. <strong>The</strong> organizations jointly conducted a Domestic Violence<br />
Summit for the youth in March.<br />
Community UPLIFT is believed to be the first regular public affairs program<br />
produced and aired by a chapter of the Fraternity. In addition to<br />
enhancing the connection between Gamma Pi’s outreach and the greater<br />
community, the show will dovetail with existing chapter public relations<br />
efforts to help publicize Gamma Pi’s programs and initiatives, expanding<br />
the number of people who can benefit from them.<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
Springdale, MD March 12, <strong>2016</strong> -- <strong>The</strong>y really do have talent in Prince<br />
George’s County, and every year, the high school youth who participate in<br />
Gamma Pi chapter’s Omega Talent Hunt showcase the exciting talent of local<br />
youth. That was on display again this year as parents and friends joined<br />
members of the chapter for an entertaining Talent Hunt Program on March 12.<br />
A total of 27 students participated in this year’s event, covering four areas<br />
of performance: Instrumental Classical, Vocal Contemporary, Dance Contemporary<br />
and Art. Aston Woolery, of Suitland High School, was named<br />
the overall winner of the Talent Hunt. He performed Prelude in C# Minor<br />
by Rachmaninoff. He has participated in Gamma Pi’s Talent Hunt before.<br />
<strong>The</strong> atmosphere was very much reminiscent of the old variety shows<br />
that were popular on television in the 1960s and 1970s, when numerous<br />
performers would appear on one show. <strong>The</strong> sky-high voices, the<br />
sounds of finely tuned instruments, the captivating dance moves and<br />
the riveting artwork, all made for an exciting scene that made you<br />
think you were in the audience at the old Apollo <strong>The</strong>atre in New York.<br />
As always, Gamma Pi’s Talent Hunt team of judges was comprised of music<br />
and arts professionals and educators, including professors from nearby<br />
Bowie State University and the University of the District of Columbia,<br />
and the manager for the popular Rhythm and Blues supergroup, Earth,<br />
Wind & Fire. Bro. Dr. Leroy Barton, a music educator, chairs Gamma<br />
Pi’s Talent Hunt. “It never ceases to amaze me the level and kind of talent<br />
we have among our high school students in Prince George’s County.”<br />
Gamma Pi Vice Basileus Bro. Tony Lee served as Master of Ceremonies.<br />
True to form, Bro. Lee kept the audience entertained in between the<br />
performances with his well-known stand up routine that included a little<br />
falsetto singing. Other category winners of the Talent Hunt are as follows:<br />
Gamma Pi <strong>2016</strong> Talent Hunt<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Vocal Contemporary: Olowabukola Odediram, Visual Art-Photography:<br />
Terris Johnson, Dance: Tianna Robinson, Instrumental Contemporary:<br />
Langston Hughes II, Classical Piano: Aston Woolery, Instrumental Classical:<br />
Graceson Moore, Visual Art – Drawing: Jakema Washington.<br />
Gamma Pi Mardi Gras<br />
Bro. Tony Lee, Overall Winner-Aston Woolery and Bro. Dr. Leroy Barton<br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
Gamma Pi Mardi Gras guest dance the night away<br />
National Harbor, MD. March 19, <strong>2016</strong>. For so many years, Gamma<br />
Pi’s signature fundraising event, Mardi Gras, was easily one of Prince<br />
George’s County’s hottest social tickets. You could count on it being held<br />
on a Friday night in mid-March and at the same Greenbelt, Md venue it<br />
has called home since the 1990’s. This year, the Super Chapter took its<br />
biggest and most widely attended event to a new level, moving Mardi Gras<br />
to the county’s hottest new upscale venue, Washington National Harbor.<br />
Mardi Gras <strong>2016</strong> (“Hollywood at the Harbor”) turned out to be a huge<br />
hit. More than 1,000 people packed a ballroom at the Gaylord National<br />
Hotel at National Harbor Saturday night, March 19, to dance to<br />
the live funky sounds of the Omega-comprised Just’s Friends band,<br />
enjoy a costume parade with the chance to win prizes, and bite into a<br />
delicious midnight breakfast all while helping to raise funds for scholarships<br />
and social action programs. As in recent years, Mardi Gras<br />
was co-sponsored with the Friendship Charities Foundation, Inc. As<br />
Gamma Pi likes to say, Mardi Gras is always a “party with a purpose.”<br />
it was about more than just a new location in one of the hottest areas<br />
of the DMV. Patrons enjoyed some other new wrinkles this year.<br />
Thanks to the capabilities at the new venue, the audience was able to<br />
share in the occasion interactively. Two large video screens at either<br />
end of the room posted live tweets from patrons throughout the<br />
night, adding to the excitement and the atmosphere. <strong>The</strong> crowd was<br />
also able to see some of Gamma Pi’s and Friendship Charities’ work<br />
over the years through a digital slide show. <strong>The</strong> breakfast was anew<br />
menu for Mardi Gras (switching from dinner in previous years) and<br />
couples were also able to stroll in on a Hollywood-style red carpet.<br />
<strong>The</strong> highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the Mardi Gras parade. Highlighted<br />
by women sporting parasols, the parade drew undivided attention as<br />
strutters and others in costume competed for cash prizes and bragging rights.<br />
It was one of the most memorable Mardi Gras nights in Gamma<br />
Pi history. Congratulations to Brother Ronald Swann, Chairman,<br />
and Co-Chair Brother Rodney Beverly, for an outstanding<br />
job. You can catch all the “sight and sound” highlights of this<br />
year’s Mardi Gras at this Twitter hashtag: #gpmardigras<strong>2016</strong>..<br />
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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Gamma Mu Nu Mentoring Programs<br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
<strong>The</strong> Brothers of Gamma Mu Nu Chapter and Principal Clay<br />
Middletown, DE. October 2015. Gamma Mu Nu Chapter of has been<br />
diligently working in the Southern New Castle County Community performing<br />
outstanding Youth Mentoring programs.<br />
STEM at MOT High School - As part of Gamma Mu Nu Chapter’s Mentoring<br />
Block Initiative, we have been supporting <strong>The</strong> MOT Charter High<br />
School Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Program<br />
during the 2015/<strong>2016</strong> academic school year in Middletown, DE. <strong>The</strong><br />
Brothers of GMN meet with the STEM class at the MOT High School<br />
weekly during the fall and spring semesters, providing over 60 man-hours<br />
of service thus far. This spring semester the Brothers of GMN have spearheaded<br />
a “Solar Car” Racing Project with the STEM students at the MOT<br />
Charter High School. This program will run for several months, and will<br />
culminate in a solar car race of 4 high school teams in the parking lot of<br />
MOT Charter School. <strong>The</strong> purpose of this program will be to expose<br />
the students to a real world engineering experience through project based<br />
demand learning.<br />
Delta Upsilon VIP Meet and Greet<br />
100 Men Reading at Silver Lake Elementary – On Tuesday, October<br />
20th, 2015 the Brothers of Gamma Mu Nu Chapter read to four 2nd grade<br />
classes as part of the 100 Men Reading National Program. This program<br />
was founded by Imani Henry, who was featured on CNN’s “Heros” program<br />
last year. During this reading day the Brothers of Gamma Mu Nu<br />
Chapter participated in a World Record attempt for the most children read<br />
to within a 24 hour period. At the end of the reading session, the Brothers<br />
donated the book to the each of the 4 classes.<br />
Leader in Men Week – Middletown, DE. November 2nd -5th, 2015. <strong>The</strong><br />
Brothers of Gamma Mu Nu Chapter participated in Silver Lake Elementary<br />
School’s 14th Annual Leader in Men Week.<strong>The</strong> Brothers mentored<br />
six students during the week. <strong>The</strong> mentoring tasks included helping with<br />
classwork and talking to the class. <strong>The</strong> Brothers were requested to support<br />
this program to mentor children that do not have fathers in their lives.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Brothers also accompanied the students to dinner on Wednesday, November<br />
4th for the evening celebrations and a book fair after dinner. During<br />
the book fair the Brothers purchased books for the students.<br />
Trenton, NJ. November 20, 2015. Delta Upsilon’s Social Action Committee<br />
(SAC) met with the director of MCCC Youth College VIP Program<br />
to plan support activities now thru <strong>2016</strong>. SAC chairman presented<br />
Program Director Ms. Nekiel Butler, Delta Sigma <strong>The</strong>ta Soror, with a<br />
two-hundred dollar check to assist the program with after school snacks.<br />
Chairman Brother Aula Maarufu Sumbry had become aware of a sevenhundred<br />
dollar short fall in the program’s budget via a letter from the<br />
program director requesting financial assistance.<br />
<strong>The</strong> seventy youth who participate in the VIP Program come to the Kearney<br />
Campus and Trenton High West Campus five days a week after<br />
school from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. This short fall primarily impacted the<br />
program’s ability to provide snacks. As is obvious, these children face an<br />
exceptionally long day. Our contribution assisted in offsetting this after<br />
school snack short fall. In addition, SAC will supply a line of speakers<br />
to address the children about the career path each speaker has chosen. To<br />
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date six career spokesmen have volunteered. Fraternity Brother Steven<br />
Cooper will be the first career speaker.<br />
<strong>The</strong> VIP Program’s focus is especially important in terms of the future<br />
of the children it serves. It’s focus is to facilitate each child choosing a<br />
career path which will result in the child’s ability to earn a living wage.<br />
This may or may not mean attending college. All children are not meant<br />
to attend college, in some cases technical or some other training is sufficient<br />
as long as the result is the potential for a living wage. <strong>The</strong> SAC is<br />
looking forward to interacting with the Fathers/Parents/Guardians of the<br />
children in addition to mentoring their children. We will be planning a<br />
<strong>2016</strong> Summer cookout and a fishing trip. In addition we will be developing<br />
a VIP Hop Allstars Team. Any Brothers interested in working with<br />
the team please contact Brother Aula Maarufu Sumbry (609-638-7635;<br />
brotheraula@yahoo.com). Finally, we will organize and sponsor a <strong>2016</strong><br />
Kwanzaa program for VIP staff, parents and students.<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
Gamma Mu Nu Cuts for Kids and School Supplies Donations<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Middletown, DE. December 2015. <strong>The</strong> Gamma Mu Nu Chapter has<br />
been supporting disadvantaged youth in the Southern New Castle County<br />
Community through various Youth Donation programs. Two of these programs<br />
are described below:<br />
On Sunday, December 13, 2015, the Brothers of Gamma Mu Nu Chapter<br />
in conjunction with Trinity AME church conducted A Day of Giving,<br />
donating more than $700 worth of books, games, toys, and clothes to the<br />
Appoquinimink School District for their district wide gift giving program<br />
for underprivileged students.<br />
Capitol Heights, MD April 1, <strong>2016</strong> -- <strong>The</strong>y were initiated into Omega<br />
Psi Phi Fraternity before many members of Gamma Pi chapter were even<br />
born. <strong>The</strong>y were around to celebrate Omega Psi Phi’s 50th and 100th anniversaries.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y are the Omega men with more than 60 years of service.<br />
Gamma Pi chapter, with a membership diverse in age and Omega experience,<br />
can now proudly say that it has three members in the 60-<br />
year club. Three members reached 60 years of service in 2015.<br />
Brothers Luther Burse, George Edwards and Harold Suggs all<br />
joined the 60-year club of the Fraternity in the past year and all have<br />
hit their 80th birthdays. <strong>The</strong>y continue to be active in the Fraternity,<br />
and active in life. When they speak, Brothers listen because<br />
no one else has the perspective they have about Omega and life.<br />
All of the 60-year members crossed <strong>The</strong> Burning Sands in 1955.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y are all enjoying retirement with their families. Brother Burse,<br />
a Ph.D., entered the Fraternity at Kentucky State University at<br />
Psi Psi chapter. He spent many years in higher education, including<br />
serving as President of Fort Valley State College in Georgia and<br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
Bro. Salahudin Bin-Yusif and Atmosphere Barber<br />
Gamma Pi 60 Year Brothers<br />
On Sunday, August 23rd, 2015, the Brothers of Gamma Mu Nu Chapter<br />
conducted a Free Cuts for Kids, Book Bag and School Supply Donation<br />
Social Action event in Middletown, DE. Over 20 youth received haircuts<br />
from the Atmosphere Barbershop. Additionally students received free<br />
book bags, other school supplies, and discount coupons to the Elite Feet<br />
sneaker and shoe store. <strong>The</strong>re were 10 book bags that were not given<br />
away during the “Cuts for Kids” program. <strong>The</strong>se bags along with the supplies<br />
contained were donated to the Trinity AME Church in Middletown,<br />
DE on Monday, August 24th, 2015.<br />
Cheney University in Pennsylvania. Today he remains a stalwart advisor<br />
and past Chairman of Gamma Pi’s Mardi Gras committee.<br />
Brother Edwards is also a Ph.D., and entered the Fraternity at<br />
Mu Psi chapter at N.C. A&T State University. For many years he<br />
taught music at the college level, retiring as a professor of Music<br />
at the University of the District of Columbia. For many years,<br />
he led Gamma Pi’s Talent Hunt program and today continues to<br />
lead the chapter in signing the Fraternity Hymn, “Omega Dear.”<br />
Brother Suggs was initiated at Tau Psi chapter at N.C. Central University.<br />
He worked for many years in the metro area as the owner of a transportation<br />
private business enterprise. Today he serves as the “conscience” of the chapter,<br />
challenging the chapter to think businesslike. Brother Suggs is known<br />
for taking a stand on business operating principles, and he always is listening<br />
to make sure Brothers are not getting slighted in a deal or agreement.<br />
Gamma Pi treasures its three wise men and looks for many more years of<br />
their wisdom to come!<br />
39
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
Iota Nu Annual Book Donation to Harford County Public Library<br />
Iota Nu Brothers and guest with author Reggie Bishop at the Book Donation to Harford County Public Library<br />
Abingdon, MD. February 6, <strong>2016</strong>. Iota Nu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi<br />
Fraternity made a generous donation of books to the Harford County Public<br />
Library at a ceremony held at the Abingdon Library on Saturday, February<br />
6, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Library accepted copies of the book <strong>The</strong> Bishop Bond:<br />
Finding Yourself Through Family Roots by local author, Reggie Bishop,<br />
for each library branch in Harford.<br />
Mr. Bishop was also the guest speaker for the book dedication held in<br />
honor of Black History Month. <strong>The</strong> event drew a large audience of community<br />
members and library staff. “It was an honor to host the annual<br />
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity book dedication ceremony again this year,” said<br />
CEO, Harford County Public Library Mary Hastler. “This event is always<br />
inspiring, and it was fascinating to learn about the rich history of the<br />
Bishop family and its deep roots in the Harve de Grace and surrounding<br />
areas of Harford county.” Mr. Bishop shared his inspiration and journey<br />
on writing the book, and provided some critical steps to take in order to<br />
find your family history.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. is the first African-American national<br />
fraternal organization founded at a Historically Black College and University.<br />
Omega Psi Phi<br />
Fraternity’s mission is to provide social action in the communities in<br />
which its members live through dedication to its four Cardinal Principles:<br />
Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance and Uplift.<br />
Visitors to the Library are encouraged to pursue the Iota Nu chapter’s newest<br />
addition to the collection and to view past titles donated by the group<br />
on the Library’s website at hcplonline.org/celebratingblackhistory.php.<br />
Harford County Public Library operates 11 branches located throughout<br />
Harford County, Maryland. <strong>The</strong> Library serves over 191,000 registered<br />
borrowers of all ages and has an annual circulation of over 4.1 million.<br />
Harford County Public Library is committed to connecting people with<br />
information and promoting the love of reading within the community.<br />
Iota Nu Mardi Gras<br />
Middle River, MD. February 20, <strong>2016</strong>. Iota Nu conducted their annual<br />
Mardi Gras Ball on February 20, <strong>2016</strong> to raise funds for the Iota Nu Uplift<br />
Foundation Scholarship program. <strong>The</strong> evening started with the sound of<br />
smooth jazz, and dining in a festive atmosphere. Dinner was followed by<br />
a precision hop show conducted by the hop team of Pi Chapter of Morgan<br />
State. <strong>The</strong> DJ continued the evening providing great music and brought<br />
everyone to the dance floor. <strong>The</strong> Iota Nu Uplift foundation raised over<br />
$10,000 in scholarship funds that will be presented to seniors of nearby<br />
schools who meet all of the qualifications for the scholarship award.<br />
40<br />
Brother David White and his Wife at the Iota Nu Mardi Gras<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
Iota Nu Talent Hunt<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Brother Emil “Tink” Cromwell, 62-Pi Epsilon and Brother Mark Thomas, 08-Iota Nu, Basileus, congratulate 1st Place Winner Ms. Serene Williams<br />
Havre de Grace, MD. February 27, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> sounds of Classical Piano,<br />
Contemporary Piano, Vocal, Classical Violin and Dance were on display<br />
at the St. James AME in Havre de Grace MD during the 8th Annual<br />
Talent Hunt sponsored by the Iota Nu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity,<br />
Inc. 6 performers showcased their talents in front of approximately<br />
40 guests for a chance to represent the Chapter at the District Competition<br />
and the performances were first-rate.<br />
<strong>The</strong> event started with a welcome by Brother Mark Thomas, Baselius,<br />
followed by prayer from Brother Melvin Adderley and the Talent Hunt<br />
History by Brother Judah Hatcher, Talent Hunt Chairman, who was also<br />
the Master of Ceremonies. Judges for the event were Mrs. Courtney Gilbert<br />
of Edgewood, MD, a Computer Engineering and Music major from<br />
the University of Delaware, Ms. Felicia Thomas of Baltimore MD, a classical<br />
musician, and Mr. Jaron Darden, a graduate from Edgewood High<br />
Baltimore, MD. Sunday March 13, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of Iota Nu<br />
Chapter conducted their Annual Memorial Service at Friendship Baptist<br />
Church. <strong>The</strong> Memorial Service was remembrance of all Iota Nu Brothers<br />
who have entered into Omega Chapter. <strong>The</strong> service highlighted the lives<br />
and friendship of Brothers Silas Williams, XXX Lewis, and Leonard Hayward.<br />
Iota Nu’s own Brother Reverend Donald Jones presided over the<br />
service, with Brothers, Adderley, Witherspoon, Bennett, Jones, Mitchell,<br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
Iota Nu Memorial Service<br />
High School, Music Instructor and co founder of Music4live Entertainment<br />
in Edgewood MD.<br />
Serena Simmons, a senior from Edgewood High School performed a dramatic<br />
interpretation through dance. Victoria Stanley who attends Havre<br />
de Grace High School played contemporary piano. Clarke Williams<br />
from <strong>The</strong> Bryn Mawr School performed a dramatic interpretation through<br />
dance. Zakira Malloy from Aberdeen High School played classical piano.<br />
Jenell Waters from Harford Technical High School played a classical standard<br />
on Violin, and Dominique Elder from Patapsco High School sang a<br />
contemporary Christian song.<br />
<strong>The</strong> winner of the event was Serena Williams. Clarke Williams won second,<br />
and Victoria Stanley placed third. Brothers Emil Cromwell and Melvin<br />
Adderley assisted with handing out the prizes. A prayer from Judah<br />
Hatcher closed the event.<br />
Wilson and Smith all in attendance. Brother Jones delivered a moving<br />
sermon from the book of Matthews on exercising your faith. During the<br />
devotional Brother Witherspoon was asked by the Deacons of the Church<br />
to provide a prayer for the congregation. Upon the conclusion of the memorial<br />
service Vice Basileus Melvin Adderley was spoke on the History<br />
of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and Iota Nu Chapter, as well.<br />
41
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Kappa Chapter Welcomes New Brothers<br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
2nd DR Milton Harrison and Bro. Benjamin Jeffers with Kappa Chapter Spring <strong>2016</strong> Initiates, Bros. Edward Nwaba and Justin Alvarez<br />
Buffalo, NY. March 12, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of Kappa Chapter welcomed<br />
new life into their chapter. Fall 2015 initiates of Kappa Chapter, Bro. Edward<br />
Nwaba and Bro. Justin Alvarez, as well as their graduate advisor,<br />
Benjamin Jeffers (Kappa ’71) headed to Buffalo, New York to have 6<br />
candidates initiated into Omega. <strong>The</strong> new initiates are Brother David Fitz-<br />
-patrick-Woodson, Brother Anthony Haynie III, Brother Timothy Crossin,,<br />
Brother Zaire Franklin, Brother Alexander Hayes and Brother Kendall<br />
Moore. <strong>The</strong> 34th Second District Representative Brother Milton<br />
Harrison conducted the initiation welcoming new Brothers of Phi Omega<br />
Chapter and Kappa Chapter into Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated<br />
Kappa Chapter Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service<br />
Kappa Chapter Brothers at the MLK Day of Service event<br />
Syracuse, NY. January 18, <strong>2016</strong>. On Monday, January 18th, the Brothers<br />
of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Kappa Chapter help commemorate<br />
the life of Martin Luther King Jr. at the United Way of Central New York’s<br />
16th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Volunteers sorted<br />
through an array of clothing, separated them and boxed them based on<br />
age group and gender.<br />
42<br />
Brothers David L. Jackson, Bryan Cash and Justin Alvarez were among<br />
the volunteers who helped not only pack clothes, but also made sandwiches<br />
to feed those in need.<br />
All the clothing and food was boxed at noon and loaded and shipped off<br />
to different organizations in the Syracuse community.<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
Syracuse, NY- February 7th, <strong>2016</strong>. Brother David L. Jackson hosted the<br />
morning tutoring session, a new adoption, a classroom initiative started by<br />
Kappa Chapter. <strong>The</strong> program is in collaboration with the Neighborhood<br />
Youth Recreation Program, and Archibold Gymnasium. Every Sunday<br />
morning students from a local middle school attend an hour of tutoring,<br />
before free recreation time is given. Brothers of Kappa chapter, facilitate<br />
the recreational activities (Basketball, Football, Swimming, Gymnastics,<br />
Soccer, ect.). Students are also provided with breakfast between sessions,<br />
the program runs the whole semester, with the intentions of expanding<br />
during the upcoming semester.<br />
Kappa Chapter Activities<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Syracuse, NY. February 18th, <strong>2016</strong> . <strong>The</strong> Brothers of Kappa Chapter,<br />
celebrate 94 years on the campus of Syracuse University with “BruhTime<br />
at the Apollo”. <strong>The</strong> theme of the event was inspired by Brother Carter<br />
G. Woodson quote “Those who have no record of what their forebears<br />
have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching<br />
of biography and history.” <strong>The</strong> Brothers of Kappa Chapter turned this<br />
quote into a black history month celebration, honoring not only the talents<br />
of Syracuse University students, but also the youth in the Syracuse city<br />
school district. Brother Lawrence Jackson, who now works for P. Diddy’s<br />
Company, Revolt, hosted the event.<br />
Syracuse, NY. February 17, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of Kappa Chapter,<br />
hosted an interactive self-defense workshop for women on the campus of<br />
Syracuse University. <strong>The</strong> workshops were in reaction to the recent stream<br />
of sexual and physical assaults on the woman population within the Syracuse<br />
community. <strong>The</strong> Syracuse University Department of Public Safety<br />
ran the workshop, teaching women techniques that prevented them from<br />
danger if ever placed in a situation of harm. Women who attended the<br />
workshop, all provided positive feedback, and expressed more workshops<br />
like these are necessary on the campus of Syracuse University. <strong>The</strong> Brothers<br />
will make these self-defense workshops an active and recurring series,<br />
to assist women on campus.<br />
Syracuse, NY. February 17, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of Kappa Chapter, in<br />
collaboration with <strong>The</strong> American Red Cross, hosted the annual Charles<br />
R. Drew Blood Drive. Snow storms in upstate New York left blood banks<br />
with a limited amount of donations, thus leading this blood drive to be<br />
very crucial for the Red Cross. <strong>The</strong> drive was hosted in the Goldstein Auditorium,<br />
and proved to be the largest drive of the academic school year.<br />
Brothers signed students in, distributed snacks, and recruited students to<br />
attend. As students waited to donate entertainment was provided through<br />
various student organizations on campus.<br />
Syracuse, NY. February 27, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of Kappa Chapter,<br />
volunteered their time at the United Way of Central New York’s annual<br />
Dollar Day at the Carrier Dome. <strong>The</strong> United Way looked to raise about<br />
$4,000 at the Syracuse Men’s Basketball game in order to fund some of<br />
the brother and sister organizations that fight poverty within the Greater<br />
Syracuse Community. Brothers Justin Alvarez and Edward Nwaba were<br />
on hand collecting donations as well as helping to set up the event in<br />
hopes of helping the United Way reach their goal.<br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
43
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Lambda Upsilon <strong>2016</strong> Memorial Service<br />
Paterson, NJ. March 13, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers<br />
of Lambda Upsilon Chapter of Omega<br />
Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. participate in a Omega<br />
Mandated Memorial Service Observation. <strong>The</strong><br />
purpose of the Memorial Service is to recall<br />
members who have entered Omega Chapter.<br />
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. has designated<br />
March 12 as the day when each chapter recalls<br />
members who have died in the chapter. This<br />
year Memorial Service was held at Calvary<br />
Baptist Church and the event was well received<br />
by the Pastor and the Church. Rev. Dr. Randall<br />
Lassiter facilitated the service and Lambda Upsilon<br />
Chapter enjoyed a service filled with an<br />
uplifting experience.<br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
Lambda Upsilon Brothers attending<br />
the Memorial Service<br />
Kappa Omega New Year Celebration<br />
Harrisburg, PA. January 5, <strong>2016</strong>. On New Year’s Eve of <strong>2016</strong>, Brothers<br />
of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity fellowshipped with friends and family<br />
members within the Fraternity House of the Kappa Omega Chapter. <strong>The</strong><br />
Brothers and their guests were greeted by the welcoming smile of the host<br />
and the warm glow of floating candles as they took their places at preset<br />
tables. Melodic jazz sounds permeated the air as the guest filed in. <strong>The</strong><br />
food was blessed by young Master Amante’ Randolph, son of Chapter<br />
Brother James E. Randolph Jr. <strong>The</strong> dinner which began at 6pm consisted<br />
of baked fish and chicken, roast beef, green beans, corn, rolls, side salad,<br />
wild berry tea, lemonade, coffee, assorted pies, and cakes.<br />
Brothers and their guest donated $4.00 per person and many of them<br />
shared that the fellowship experienced during the event was priceless.<br />
<strong>The</strong> main focus of the event was to bring brothers and their families together<br />
to share appreciation our faith, families, friends, and fraternity.<br />
Each one of the at least 32 guests were asked to introduce themselves and<br />
the united, brotherly spirit took over we shared stories of life’s lessons and<br />
accomplishments, Stories about love, appreciation, and managing grief<br />
with the loss of loved ones were very emotional.<br />
A plea or request was sent up to our young people in the hopes of letting<br />
them know we are all connected in some way by faith, family, friends,<br />
and of course by the fraternity. We must accept that we all have a sense of<br />
responsibility for each other and it should be exercised each day as tomorrow<br />
is not promised.<br />
<strong>The</strong> event ended at 8 pm, the guest hugged and shook hands, shared positive<br />
comments, candles were blown out, music turned off, house put back<br />
in order and the New Year of <strong>2016</strong> arrived with smiling memories of the<br />
special event we attended with our now extended family and friends of<br />
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. A special thanks goes out to Brothers and guest<br />
present, Albert Bennett, Samuel Clayton, Jesse Rawls Sr., Roy Purdy ,<br />
Burell Whitworth, Niles Howard, Walter Howard, Wes Gumby, Ernest<br />
Frazier, Joseph Farthing, James Randolph, and Jeffery Hill. An extended<br />
thank you goes out to the Brothers of the Kappa Omega Chapter who<br />
welcomed and supported the idea for the event.<br />
Kappa Omega Supports African American Civil War Troops<br />
Harrisburg, PA. November 16, 2015. On Saturday November 15, 2015<br />
the Brothers of Kappa Omega Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.<br />
stood in the hallowed Soldiers Grove adjacent to the Pennsylvania State<br />
Capitol building, with Senator Rob Teplitz and other state and local legislators<br />
to participate in the 2015 Celebration honoring United States Colored<br />
troops active during the American Civil War.<br />
Guests, Civil War re-enactors, and audience members traveled hundreds<br />
of miles to participate in a symbolic parade honoring our esteemed forefathers.<br />
Pa. Senate Resolution 196 delegated November 9 through November<br />
15, 2015 as “United States Colored Troops Grand Review Week” to<br />
honor the patriotism, bravery and sacrifice made by the African-American<br />
soldiers of the Civil War.<br />
Chapter Brother and Harrisburg City Council member Jeffrey Baltimore,<br />
served as an Honorary Grand Marshal for the 2015 Grand Review Procession<br />
and Commemoration, which took place the morning of November 14,<br />
2015. He was not alone as his Chapter Brothers; Pete Baltimore, Howard<br />
Sheppard, Darryl Hadley, Ernest Frazier, Eugene Spells, and James Randolph<br />
continued with their fellowship after a spirited Chapter breakfast<br />
program, engaging other participants who took part in this historic event.<br />
As part of the Commemoration, Kappa Omega Chapter Brothers first attended<br />
a church service at the Grace United Methodist Church on State<br />
44<br />
Street in Harrisburg. Immediately following the service the Brothers took<br />
their places in the procession and took a symbolic walked back into time<br />
to say thank you to all that have served. <strong>The</strong> Brothers walked along with<br />
hundreds of others, some were in full civil war regalia, some wearing<br />
similar time period attire, and some on horseback. <strong>The</strong>y paraded along<br />
a route similar to one the soldiers traversed in 1865 when a military parade<br />
was held. <strong>The</strong> parade winded its way from State and Filbert Streets,<br />
through Harrisburg to the South Front Street residence of U.S. Senator<br />
and former Secretary of War at that time, Simon Cameron. Secretary of<br />
War Cameron provided those men and others who gave their lives with<br />
the acknowledgement and recognition that their lives are just as important<br />
as others who fought and served.<br />
Several of the students and family members who are mentored by Kappa<br />
Omega Chapter Brothers received thanks for providing catering services<br />
and support for the White Carnation Dinner that took place at the Grace<br />
United Methodist Church.<br />
One of the guest speakers asked, “Why did they fight, and why it is so<br />
important to remember?” He was of the opinion that those colored troops<br />
fought because they hoped their participation would help their people and<br />
also because of their faith that God would help them fight for a greater<br />
good.<br />
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Voice of the Second District<br />
Lambda Upsilon 65th Annual Scholarship Dance<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Paerson, N.J. February 13, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of Lambda Upsilon<br />
Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. hosted its 65th Anniversary<br />
Scholarship Dance. <strong>The</strong> event was well attended and had over 300 guests.<br />
<strong>The</strong> attendees were entertained with a live band and DJ. Numerous other<br />
Brothers and dignitaries attended the event and they all enjoyed great fel-<br />
Lambda Upsilon Brothers attending the 65th Annual Scholarship Dance<br />
Lambda Upsilon <strong>2016</strong> Talent Hunt<br />
lowship and great food. Lambda Upsilon was chartered in Paterson N.J.<br />
in 1951 and has been a leader in servicing Paterson N.J. <strong>The</strong> services<br />
include book bag giveaways; food drives, mentoring programs and a host<br />
of other activities.<br />
Lambda Upsilon Brothers with Talent Hunt Winner Ms. Mi Angel McKenzie<br />
Paterson, N.J. March 19, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of Lambda Upsilon Chapter<br />
of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. hosted the <strong>2016</strong> Talent Hut Program<br />
at Rosa Parks High School.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re were over 15 contestants from various schools in the contest and the<br />
contestants varied from singing, visual artist and acting. Ms. Mi Angel<br />
McKenzie won this years contest with her vocal performance. All guest<br />
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enjoyed the talent displayed by the youth of Paterson, N.J. and surrounding<br />
areas.<br />
As part of its internationally mandated programs, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity,<br />
Inc. hosts an annual talent program to provide exposure, encouragement<br />
and financial assistance to talented youth. Ms. Mi Angel McKenzie<br />
will have an opportunity to compete in a the 68th 2nd District <strong>Conference</strong>.<br />
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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
Lambda Upsilon Omega Teens Trip to Brooklyn Nets Game<br />
Lambda Upsilon Brothers with Omega Teens attending Brooklyn Nets game at the Barclay Center<br />
Brooklyn, NY. March 26, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of Lambda Upsilon<br />
Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. participated in a field trip with<br />
the Omega Teens. <strong>The</strong> Omega Teens Mentoring Program goal is to provide<br />
UPLIFT to young males and help them achieve their fullest potential.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Omega Teens traveled to Brooklyn, N.Y. and had an opportunity to<br />
visit the basketball court of the Brooklyn Nets. <strong>The</strong>y also enjoyed a city<br />
basketball league championship game and had a chance to enjoy lunch in<br />
Brooklyn. <strong>The</strong> trip also gave the kids an opportunity to see the Brooklyn<br />
Nets play the Indiana Pacers.<br />
<strong>The</strong> trip gave a bonding opportunity for the Omega Teens and their Mentors<br />
to have an opportunity to discuss relevant issues impacting the teens.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Paterson Division of Recreation’s Benjie E. Wimberly sponsored the<br />
trip and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. provided allowances for lunch.<br />
Omega Teens of Lambda Upsilon of Paterson N.J. meet every Thursday at<br />
the Reverend Dr. Frank Napier Academy at 5:30 pm.<br />
Lambda Upsilon Health Care Enrollment Drive<br />
Paterson, NJ. January 26, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers<br />
of Lambda Upsilon Chapter of Omega Psi<br />
Phi Fraternity, Inc. in partnership with the U.S.<br />
Department of Health and Human Services/Administration<br />
for Children and Families, Paterson<br />
Team H.O.P.E. and Assemblyman Benjie E.<br />
Wimberly recently hosted a Healthcare Enrollment<br />
Drive in Paterson.<br />
As part of its internationally mandated programs,<br />
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. coordinates activities<br />
that promote good health practices.<br />
Residents were given the opportunity to speak<br />
with Certified Application Counselors trained to<br />
help applicants review, understand and compare<br />
all options and costs. Lambda Upsilon was able<br />
to register those in need of valuable health insurance.<br />
Health Care Worker enrolling client for Health Care<br />
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Voice of the Second District<br />
Mu Rho Donates $1,000 to Anne Arundel Community College<br />
Arnold, MD. December 5, 2015. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of<br />
Mu Rho Chapter donated $1,000 to Anne Arundel<br />
Community College’s Black Male Initiative, which<br />
provides mentorship and support to minority male<br />
students to help them achieve academic and social<br />
success. Students that participate in this group have<br />
the opportunity to participate in monthly roundtable<br />
discussions, participate at the annual BMI summit,<br />
understand how life skills will assist them in obtaining<br />
a degree and being better prepared for life after<br />
college. Mu Rho Chapter Brothers mentor these students<br />
and prepare them for success. Brother James<br />
Payton stated, “It is a great feeling being able to help<br />
the younger generation move forward and assist<br />
them in transforming their lives.” <strong>The</strong> Black Male<br />
Initiative has been at the campus of Anne Arundel<br />
Community College for the past 6 years and as a<br />
result, it has seen the number of particpants increase<br />
each year.<br />
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Mu Rho Talent Hunt<br />
Back Row:James Payton, Erik Hunter and James Trapp,<br />
Middle Row: Dewight Johnson, Jeffery Diggs, Basileus;<br />
Leon Thomas, AACC Student Achievement and<br />
Success Program Advisor; and Eric Johnson, and Front<br />
Row:Charles Hall, AACC President Dr. Dawn Lindsay<br />
and Larry M. Johnson<br />
Mu Rho Brothers with Talent Hunt Participants<br />
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Glen Burnie, MD March 5, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Mu Rho Chapter hosted their<br />
Talent Hunt at Southgate Elementary School. This event proved that there<br />
is talent in Anne Arundel County. Singers and instrumentalists came and<br />
showed their talent. Many of the instrumentalists were All-County Band<br />
members as well. <strong>The</strong> Old Mill High School Step Team came out and performed.<br />
<strong>The</strong> audience enjoyed their performance. Brother David Jackson<br />
stated, ”<strong>The</strong> competition continues to improve year after year.” Brother<br />
Dwight Johnson was the Master of Ceremony. Brothers Mitchell Coates<br />
and Joseph Buchanan were the co-chairs of the event and did an excellent<br />
job. Everyone is looking forward to next year.<br />
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Voice of the Second District<br />
Omicron Iota S.T.E.M Mentoring Program Continues To Grow<br />
Omicron Iota Brothers with STEM mentees at the Connecticut Science Center<br />
Mount Vernon, NY. February 27, <strong>2016</strong>. Omicron Iota Chapter’s “Uplifting<br />
Minds” Mentoring Program, which is designed to engage young male<br />
students’ ages 9 to 12 in meaningful, purposeful and relevant S.T.E.M<br />
(Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) activities, was issued<br />
a $2,000 grant by Mount Vernon City Hall to continue to help expand<br />
this growing program.<br />
Over the last year, the Brothers of Omicron Iota have succeeded in building<br />
awareness about STEM for students and their parents, demonstrated to<br />
students how much fun these disciplines can be and have shown students<br />
how these disciplines are inherent in many of the things they do every day.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Uplifting Minds Mentoring Program started this year off with a field<br />
trip to <strong>The</strong> Connecticut Science Center in Hartford, CT. Students were<br />
able to explore over one hundred hands-on exhibits including moving objects<br />
with wind power, building robots, new alternative energy technology<br />
and how muscles and bones work together , just to name a few.<br />
As we move on during the school semester, the Chapter will hold monthly<br />
workshops that focus on STEM education, research projects on STEM<br />
themes and STEM extra-curricular activities.<br />
Omicron Chi Founder Brother Donald Van Blake<br />
“A Living Legend”<br />
Plainfield, NJ. March <strong>2016</strong>. Donald Van Blake was born August 9, 1921,<br />
in Plainfield, NJ at Muhlenberg Hospital to Henry and Harriet Ellen Van<br />
Blake. Bro. Van Blake, a Buffalo Soldier, originally was a member of<br />
the U.S. 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, formed on<br />
September 21, 1866 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. <strong>The</strong> “Negro Cavalry”<br />
nickname was given by the Native American tribes they fought; the term<br />
eventually became synonymous with all of the African-American regiments<br />
formed in 1866. Bro. Donald Van Blake is one of the last remaining<br />
Buffalo Soldiers. Upon discharge in 1945, Bro. Van Blake attended<br />
Hampton Institute — now Hampton University — on the G.I. Bill. While<br />
at Hampton he was initiated into Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated,<br />
Gamma Epsilon Chapter. On April 7, 1955, Bro. Van Blake, along with<br />
eleven other men, chartered Omicron Chi Chapter in Plainfield, NJ. Bro<br />
Van Blake is the last living charter member.<br />
Brother Van Blake is one of the most decorated tennis coaches ever, yet<br />
he didn’t start playing until he was 55. This ambassador of tennis in<br />
Plainfield, NJ, is known for the slogan “Tennis, Tennis, Tennis everyone”<br />
which is inscribed on the monument in front of the Donald Van Blake Tennis<br />
Courts. His big projects have always been in the schools, including<br />
gym classes and after school programs, and on playgrounds and in parks.<br />
<strong>The</strong> whole focus has been to get kids off the streets and onto the courts.<br />
He wasn’t looking for champions, just more kids to get into the game.<br />
He loved it when kids came through the program and made the varsity<br />
squads but he never wanted to lose track of those who didn’t make it. He<br />
Brother Donald Van Blake at the Tennis Courts named in his honor<br />
wanted every kid to be able to play it for recreation now and in later years.<br />
In 2008, Brother Van Blake was inducted into the Junior Tennis Foundation’s<br />
Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame for his contributions to the tennis community.<br />
Bro Van Blake is a very active and vocal member of Omicron Chi<br />
Chapter. He is a true american hero…a true living legend!<br />
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Voice of the Second District<br />
Brother John Piercy, III Promoted to New Jersey Department of<br />
Corrections Office of Transitional Services Leadership Team<br />
Trenton, NJ. February 6, <strong>2016</strong>. Brother John W. Piercy, III. was promoted<br />
to the position of Program Specialist 3 within the New Jersey Department<br />
of Corrections Office of Transitional Services. <strong>The</strong> goal of the<br />
Office of Transitional Services is to implement a seamless continuum of<br />
care for offenders utilizing cost-effective, proven practices system-wide<br />
that increase offenders’ abilities and motivation to practice responsible,<br />
crime-free behavior. <strong>The</strong> office has oversight over the Social Services Departments<br />
within the NJDOC. <strong>The</strong> mission of the Office of Transitional<br />
Services is to enhance public safety by reducing the risk that offenders<br />
will reoffend and return to prison by providing comprehensive services<br />
from the time they enter prison through their reintegration back into society.<br />
As Program Specialist 3, he will be responsible for the implementation,<br />
management and daily operations of the Successful Transition and<br />
Reentry Series (S.T.A.R.S.) program which prepares offenders for reentry<br />
into society, and assisting with specific goals. He also serves as a liaison<br />
between the NJDOC and public, private, and community groups.<br />
Prior to his promotion, Bro. Piercy served as an Assistant Social Work<br />
Supervisor within the Office of Transitional Services. He also served as<br />
a Social Worker 2 at Garden State Youth Correctional Facility in Yardville,<br />
NJ, and as a Training Officer and Work Release Coordinator at the<br />
Riverside Regional Jail in Hopewell, VA. He has a total of 16 years of<br />
correctional experience. Bro. Piercy was initiated at the Nu Nu Chapter of<br />
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity in 2007. He is married to the lovely Mrs. April<br />
M. Piercy. <strong>The</strong>y are the proud parents of one son who is a college freshman.<br />
Brother Piercy is a dual Life Member (IHQ, 2nd District), and currently<br />
serves as a Deputy Corridor Representative, Corridor IV (State of<br />
New Jersey) and is Past Director of Public Relations for Nu Nu Chapter.<br />
Brother John Piercy, III<br />
Nu Omicron Chapter Hosts the “College Experience” Program<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
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Brothers Taameir Drew and Travis Bazile display information about the Fraternity and the Nu Omicron Chapter<br />
Queens, NY. February 27, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of Nu Omicron Chapter<br />
in Queens, NY participated in a “College Experience” program hosted<br />
by the Greater Allen AME Cathedral Church on Saturday, in Jamaica,<br />
Queens. During the program, over 20 middle and high school students<br />
along with their families were told about the various contributions of fraternities<br />
and sororities in the community and globally.<br />
One of the main purposes of the program were for the Brothers to encouraging<br />
the youth to go college and provide them with relevant scholarship<br />
information. <strong>The</strong> event allowed many students who may not have otherwise<br />
been exposed to college life, an opportunity to look through the lens<br />
of those who experienced it firsthand.<br />
<strong>The</strong> chapter also used the opportunity to uplift the community regarding<br />
various community service projects that the chapter hosts throughout the<br />
year. <strong>The</strong> Brothers lead a discussion about the rich history of the Fraternity<br />
with emphasis on one of the mandated programs; Voter Registration,<br />
Education and Mobilization. <strong>The</strong> chapter provided an environment for<br />
open dialogue and honest answers with enthused young people. <strong>The</strong> program<br />
ended with the Brothers showcasing their enthusiasm and “Omega<br />
Soul” via with a “hop”/step exhibition for the audience.<br />
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Omicron Chi Black History Month Initiative<br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
Plainfield, NJ. February 1st – 29th, <strong>2016</strong>. Omicron Chi Chapter developed<br />
a new daily Facebook initiative, during the <strong>2016</strong> Black History<br />
Month. <strong>The</strong> purpose of the initiative was to honor and recognize the<br />
accomplishments of past and present men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity,<br />
Inc. and their contributions to society. This effort highlighted the works<br />
of great champions of our fraternity including Bro. Charles R. Drew, Bro.<br />
Sterling Allen Brown, Bro. Walter Mazyck, Bro. James Mercer Langston<br />
Hughes and Omicron Chi Chapter’s very own Bro. Donald Van Blake.<br />
Bro. Van Blake is one of the last living Buffalo Soldiers and is a Junior<br />
Clark, NJ. Sunday, March 13, <strong>2016</strong>. Omicron Xi Chapter conducted its<br />
formal observance of Memorial Service at Fairfield Cemetery (1100 East<br />
Broad Street Westfield NJ 07090) at cemetery plot of the most Honorable<br />
Bro. James S. Avery (Omega Psi Phi Fraternity28th Grand Basileus).<br />
Omicron Chi Black History Month Collage<br />
Tennis Eastern Foundation Hall of Fame Inductee. Bro. Van Blake also,<br />
along with eleven other men, chartered Omicron Chi Chapter on April<br />
7, 1955. Bro. Van Blake’s post, accumulated over 1000 likes and 195<br />
direct shares on Facebook. Bro. Van Blake’s post was also noticed by<br />
our fraternity’s very own Grand Basileus Bro. Antonio Knox, who, within<br />
days, honored Bro. Van Blake through an article on the IHQ’s website<br />
front page.<br />
To read the full list of honorees, visit Omicron Chi Chapter’s Facebook<br />
Page at www.Facebook.com/omicronchiques<br />
Omicron Chi Memorial Service Observance and Weekend Brunch<br />
Omicron Chi Chapter Brothers enjoyed a hearty meal at Chili’s Bar and<br />
Grill (225 Central Avenue, Clark, NJ 07066) as our Memorial Service<br />
weekend culminated with a focus on friendship. “Behold, how good and<br />
how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”<br />
Omicron Chi Brothers fellowship at Memorial Service Weekend Brunch.<br />
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Voice of the Second District<br />
Omicron Chi Memorial Service Weekend<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
OX Brothers Chris Smith, John Metz, and Lenny Watkins visit widow<br />
Ms. Gladys Faison wife of Brother Langston Faison (Omega Chapter)<br />
Paterson, NJ. March 12 – 13, <strong>2016</strong>. Omicron Chi has established a new<br />
tradition of observing our mandated Memorial Service program with an<br />
entire weekend of events. Memorial Service Weekend consists of the<br />
following: <strong>The</strong> “To Artina Initiative”, Sunday Morning Worship Service,<br />
Memorial Service Observance, and a Brotherhood Brunch. This year’s<br />
weekend was led by OX chapter Chaplain, Bro. Husan Abdul-Ghani.<br />
Omicron Chi’s “To Artina Initiative”<br />
Union County, NJ. Saturday, March 12, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of the<br />
Mighty OX began our annual Memorial Service Weekend by visiting our<br />
Omicron Chi widows. We have affectionately named this unique program<br />
“To Artina Initiative”. Our goal is to let the widows know that we<br />
still cared about them and we are concerned about them. Widows were<br />
visited by individual teams which consisted of a Senior/Elder Brother<br />
(Team Captain), a recently Reclaimed Brother, and a Neophyte to best<br />
OX Brothers Leon Smith (Basileus) and John Tucker during visit with<br />
Ms. Brenda, widow of Brother Curtis Jackson (Omega Chapter)<br />
represent our beloved Fraternity and Chapter. This year’s team captains<br />
were: Bro. John Metz, Bro. James Key Jr., Bro. Horace Baldwin, Bro.<br />
Byron Ward, Bro. JohnTucker, and Bro. Mike Smith. During the visits,<br />
we presented each Quette a bouquet of flowers and greeting card (signed<br />
by Chapter Brothers) along with an OX overview DVD and/or a recent<br />
copy of our OX newsletter. In return, the ladies shared wonderful stories<br />
of the past about themselves and our fallen Brothers as well as provided<br />
us an update on the latest activities of their grandchildren. Unfortunately,<br />
this year we had a number of widows that were ill and not available for<br />
visitation. In those cases, we are in contact with their families and will<br />
plan visits in the near future. We also sent a greeting card to the out of<br />
town widows, and a designated Brother visited with them by telephone.<br />
All-in-all this program is extremely fulfilling and enriching for both the<br />
widows as well as the Brothers.<br />
Omicron Chi Sunday Morning Worship Service<br />
Brothers of Omicron Chi with Pastor Rev. Dr. J. Michael Sanders (center, 2nd row) of Fountain Baptist Church<br />
Summit, NJ. Sunday, March 13, <strong>2016</strong>. Omicron Chi Brothers worshipped<br />
at Fountain Baptist Church located at 116 Glenside Ave, Summit,<br />
NJ 07901 (hosted by the OX’s very own Bro. Horace Baldwin). At least<br />
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18 Brothers were in attendance to fellowship and give God praise. Basileus<br />
Leon Smith made a presentation to the Pastor Dr. J. Michael Sanders<br />
in the form of a donation to the Church’s Scholarship Fund<br />
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Voice of the Second District<br />
Omicron Chi Celebrates Legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.<br />
Plainfield, NJ. Saturday, January 16, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of Omicron<br />
Chi Chapter in conjunction with Hubbard Middle School of Plainfield and<br />
<strong>The</strong> Four Pillars Foundation successfully held its Annual Rev. Dr. Martin<br />
Luther King, Jr. Celebration. This free celebration entitled “Delivering<br />
<strong>The</strong> Dream” was held at Hubbard Middle School as part of its “Day of<br />
Service” honoring Dr. King. Morning events/initiatives included mural<br />
painting, media center re-organization, general school beautification and<br />
drives for coats, books, and non-perishable food.<br />
<strong>The</strong> afternoon program included performances from InSpira Performing<br />
Arts Center, Emerson <strong>The</strong>ater Group, <strong>The</strong> Delta GEMS, <strong>The</strong> Omicron Chi<br />
Essay Contest Winner and Talent Hunt Finalists, and New Jersey Orators.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Talent Hunt included vocal and instrumental music, dance, drama<br />
and visual arts. Students from four Plainfield public schools were honored<br />
for exemplary academic performance and community service. <strong>The</strong> ladies<br />
of the Central Jersey Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma <strong>The</strong>ta Sorority,<br />
Inc. presented information about the Delta GEMS and the Delta Academy.<br />
Members of Omicron Chi informed the audience about its youth<br />
mentoring program, Omega Leadership Institute (OLI) as well as distibuted<br />
information about its Scholarship Program. Teen volunteers from the<br />
Greater Union County Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. served<br />
as moderators, backstage staff and ushers. <strong>The</strong> program was closed with<br />
words of inspiration from Bro. Minister Morris Lucky, a member of Omicron<br />
Chi who formerly chaired the Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King,<br />
Jr. Celebration for many years.<br />
Over 30 members of Omicron Chi Chapter and over 200 patrons from<br />
throughout Central New Jersey area came out to support this outstanding<br />
community event. Co-chairmen for this year’s event were Brothers Delrecole<br />
Gales and Fred Harris.<br />
Omicron Chi Talent Hunt winners Kennedy Smith (l) and<br />
Courtney Culp (r) with Basileus Leon Smith (c)<br />
Upsilon Alpha Achievement Week Activities<br />
Atlantic City, NJ. November 2015.Upsilon Alpha Chapter, in the Second<br />
District, has been extremely uplifting with its community involvement<br />
in Atlantic City and the vicinity.<br />
Scholarship awards were presented to six (6) graduating high school seniors,<br />
who were accepted and then attended an institution of higher education.<br />
<strong>The</strong> students were Kevin Allen, Atlantic City High School, now attending<br />
Stockton University; Taylor Epps, Cedar Creek High School, now<br />
attending Syracuse University; Nasir Harris, Atlantic County Institute of<br />
Technology, now attending Temple University; Jordan Ingrum, Oakcrest<br />
High School, now attending Atlantic Cape Community College; Kiana<br />
Jones, Atlantic City High School, now attending Newark College of Arts<br />
and Sciences; and, Michelangelo Williams, Cedar Creek High School,<br />
now attending Rowan University. Each student received $500 in the fall<br />
upon submitting information that they were actually enrolled in and attending<br />
classes at an institution of higher learning.<br />
Achievement Week was celebrated in November through a brunch at the<br />
Mays Landing Country Club, Mays Landing, New Jersey via recognizing<br />
people in the community who exemplify the Four Cardinal Principles of<br />
the Fraternity – Manhood, Troy Jackson; Scholarship, Uriah McClain;<br />
Perseverance, Linda Steele; and Uplift, Charles Wilson. Additionally,<br />
the Fraternity recognized the Citizen of the year, Charisse Fizer, and the<br />
Omega Man of the Year, Brother Michael C. Epps, Esq.<br />
During the Thanksgiving Holiday Season, Upsilon Alpha provided baskets<br />
with a complete Thanksgiving dinner, including all the trimmings,<br />
for fifteen (15) families in Atlantic City through a partnership with the<br />
Pennsylvania Avenue School as a place of distribution.<br />
Upsilon Alpha is busy working on an Affordable Care Act project, scheduled<br />
for Saturday, January 30, <strong>2016</strong>, at the Usry Day Care Center in Atlantic<br />
City. <strong>The</strong> building is named after Brother James Usry, who was<br />
the first African American Mayor in the City of Atlantic City. Further,<br />
the Chapter is working on their Annual Talent Hunt, scheduled on Friday,<br />
February 12, <strong>2016</strong>, at Stockton University, Memorial Service in March,<br />
annual feeding the homeless project at the Salvation Army in March, Annual<br />
Golf Outing project scheduled by May 15, <strong>2016</strong>. Brothers are asked<br />
to visit our website: theupsilonalphaques.org for more information/applications<br />
for the various activities. More photos on pg. 53.<br />
52<br />
Upsilon Alpha Scholarship Recipients<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
Omicron Chi - Omega Leadership Institute (OLI)<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
New Brunswick, NJ. Sunday, February 21, <strong>2016</strong>. “That’s what ‘My<br />
Brother’s Keeper’ is all about. Helping more of our young people stay<br />
on track. Providing the support they need to think more broadly about<br />
their future. Building on what works – when it works, in those critical life<br />
hanging moments. “President Barack Obama, February 27, 2014.”<br />
Millions of young African-American males continue to face persistent<br />
gaps in opportunity that prevent them from reaching their potential and<br />
contributing fully to their communities and the economy. <strong>The</strong>se disparities<br />
affect not only individuals, but our economy as a whole, through lost<br />
productivity and economic potential. In order for the United States to<br />
successfully compete in a 21st-century global economy, all of America’s<br />
youth must have the opportunity to be safe, healthy, educated, and prepared<br />
to succeed in their careers.<br />
In the aftermath of the Trayvon Martin verdict, President Barack Obama<br />
called for all Americans to bolster our efforts in investing in young men<br />
of color by showing them that we care about them and that we are serious<br />
about assisting them to reach their full potential. In 2015, Omicron<br />
chapter received the “President’s Community Service Award” for outstanding<br />
community action in relationship to President’s Obama’s Fatherhood<br />
Initiative. With the establishment and implementation of the Omega<br />
Leadership Institute (OLI), the Omicron Chi chapter of Omega Psi Phi<br />
Fraternity, Inc. is answering the President’s “call to duty”.<br />
Omicron Chi chapter established <strong>The</strong> Omega Leadership Institute (OLI)<br />
to provide college bound young men of color (14-18 years old) in the<br />
Central New Jersey area with the encouragement, leadership skills, and<br />
support to make meaningful contributions to their communities. Through<br />
intensive leadership development sessions, the OLI exposes student participants<br />
to higher education and will include motivational speakers, leadership<br />
exercises, small group sessions, interactive workshops, and access<br />
to business professionals and community leaders.<br />
Omicron Chi chapter Basileus, Bro. Leon Smith shares that “ <strong>The</strong> OLI<br />
will develop the next generation of young men of color as leaders for the<br />
public, private, non-profit, and entrepreneurial sectors with an expected<br />
outcome of transformational impact on our communities.” <strong>The</strong> program<br />
will be conducted in the Spring of each year and consists of a 10 week<br />
leadership development curriculum developed and administered by the<br />
members of Omicron Chi chapter and external partners.<br />
<strong>The</strong> OLI committee accepted 14 intelligent and enthusiastic young men<br />
into the <strong>2016</strong> program. <strong>The</strong> <strong>2016</strong> OLI program has been highlighted by<br />
workshop modules on Defining Manhood, the “Art of Debate”, and Social<br />
Entrepreneurship. Bro Malcolm Jenkins of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles<br />
is scheduled to visit the OX OLI program to speak with the participants<br />
about his personal journey, career in the NFL, and his Foundation, <strong>The</strong><br />
Malcolm Jenkins Foundation.<br />
In Central New Jersey many young people of color struggle to succeed<br />
due to obstacles at many stages of their lives. <strong>The</strong> Men of Omicron Chi<br />
chapter have made in an imperative to improve opportunities for all youth<br />
and for young men of color in particular. <strong>The</strong> men of the “Mighty OX”<br />
believe that through the implementation of high-impact programs like the<br />
OLI, that we can not only improve the outcomes of young men of color<br />
their and communities but that we can also substantially boost the U.S.<br />
economy as a whole.<br />
“When students leave an OLI program, they have a focus and a vision for<br />
their future. <strong>The</strong>y are more energized to become involved in their schools<br />
and communities and are more tolerant and open-minded of those around<br />
them” said Bro Tim Brown, OLI Head Coach.<br />
Brother Delrecole Gales leads a disscussion with OLI Scholars<br />
Brother Clinton Hall teaches OLI Scholars the Art of Debating<br />
Upsilon Alpha Man of the Year BrotherMichael Epps, Esq. ( in color)<br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
Upsilon Alpha prepare food baskets for needy families at Thanksgiving<br />
53
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Psi Lambda Lambda Talent Hunt Competition<br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
Psi Lambda Lambda Talent Hunt Participants<br />
Harlem, New York. March 5, <strong>2016</strong> <strong>The</strong> Brothers of Psi Lambda Lambda<br />
held their <strong>2016</strong> Talent Hunt Competition on March 5th, <strong>2016</strong> at Countee<br />
Cullen Library in the auditorium. Six students competed in dance, vocal<br />
performance, oral recitation, and visual arts.<br />
Brother Chris Mercado, Bro. Shawn Brannon, and Bro. Dana Farmer<br />
served as judges. In third place was the dancer Jevon Martin. <strong>The</strong> second<br />
place winning contestant was Joran Bembry, competing in visual arts.<br />
And our first place winner was the dancer, Cody Goudeau.<br />
<strong>The</strong> event was attended by Psi Lambda Lambda Chapter Brothers Boyce,<br />
Bond, Bolden, McGill, and Payton. <strong>The</strong> families of our contestants along<br />
with members of the Harlem community were also in attendance.<br />
Psi Lambda Lambda Voter Registration Drive<br />
Harlem, NY. January 17, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of Psi Lambda Lambda<br />
Chapter participated in two Voter Registration drives during the Martin<br />
Luther King holiday weekend, Sunday, January 17, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Apollo<br />
<strong>The</strong>ater was the 1st Voter Registration event held in conjunction with the<br />
NAACP Legal Defense Fund (not present on site) during the event, Race<br />
and Privilege: Exploring MLK’s Two Americas. <strong>The</strong> Brothers in attendance<br />
were the following: Bros. Donnell Bolden, Edison Bond (Basileus),<br />
Shawn Brannon, Dana Farmer, and Steve Phillips. During this free event,<br />
Psi Lambda Lambda was able to register 5 new voters, while handing out<br />
5 additional registration forms. Mr. Ade Williams, Associate Director of<br />
54<br />
Psi Lambda LambdaBrothers Manning the VoterRegistration Table<br />
Community Programs for <strong>The</strong> Apollo <strong>The</strong>ater, was impressed by the enthusiasm<br />
of <strong>The</strong> Men of Omega as guest entered the venue.<br />
<strong>The</strong> 2nd Voter Registration event took place during the National Action<br />
Network Policy Forum on Monday, January 18th at <strong>The</strong> House of Justice<br />
in Harlem. Many influential politicians spoke during this standing<br />
room only event, including Gov. Cuomo, NYC Mayor DeBlasio, NY U.S.<br />
Senators Schumer & Gillibrand, NYC District Attorney Vance, NY Attorney<br />
General Schneiderman, NY State Assembly Speaker Hastie, Bronx<br />
Borough President Diaz, Jr., Manhattan Borough President Brewer, etc.<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
Columbia, MD. February 27, <strong>2016</strong>. Howard County Pan-Hellenic and<br />
Black History Expo Core Committee sponsored a Black History program<br />
second to none at Wilde Lake High School. Tau Pi Brothers Charles Mitchell,<br />
Eric Astrop and Kurt Wall are members of the Committees. Brothers<br />
Richard Negri and Howard Nicholas also made significant contributions.<br />
Each of the Divine 9 and Black Organizations had a display table to showcase<br />
the history of their fraternity, sorority, or organization. Bro. Richard<br />
Layne, the chapter curator, did an excellent job in providing pictures, placards,<br />
and art for public display. Many of the visitors were very surprised to<br />
know that many of our Omega Men were trailblazers in African American<br />
History. We had displays of Omega Men in Arts & Entertainment; Astronauts;<br />
Civil Rights; Education; Military; Ministry; Politics; and Sports. A<br />
Tau Pi <strong>2016</strong> Black Expo<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
major eye opener to our audience was the names of 23 Omega Men who<br />
were recipients of the NAACP signature Spingarn Medal Award. To top it<br />
off, we also had a list and pictures of Omega Men who have been honored<br />
in the series of the United States Postal Services Black Heritage Stamp.<br />
In addition to the aforementioned during the month of February, Tau Pi<br />
Chapter has had a relationship with Howard County Library to display<br />
our history in their lobby glass cases and other public counters. Displays<br />
were set up in two of the Columbia, MD libraries – Main Library adjacent<br />
to Merriweather Pavillion and Cradlerock Branch. To cap it off, we were<br />
able to have displays in the new state of the art library, Millers Library, in<br />
Ellicott City. Special thanks to Bro. Richard Layne for his commitment<br />
and hard work.<br />
Tau Pi Black Expo Showcase<br />
Tau Pi Talent Hunt Competition<br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
Tau Pi Basileus Dr. Henry Jenkins (l) and Talent Hunt Chair Kelly Williamson (r) present Jeffery Cottman (c) the First Place Trophy<br />
Columbia, MD – March 20, <strong>2016</strong>. Chairman Bro. Kelly Williamson<br />
welcomed guests who convened at Hammond High School located in<br />
Columbia, MD. <strong>The</strong> event consisted of 16 contestants. <strong>The</strong> performing<br />
categories were instrumental, vocal, dance and speech/drama.<br />
Bro. Phillip Anderson acted as emcee.<br />
Instrumental Performers – Andrew De La Cruz and Alexander T. Lang<br />
from Wilde Lake HS, Columbia, MD.Vocal Performers – Corey Reaves<br />
and Beny Medina from Wilde Lake HS, Columbia, MD. Makenna Burns<br />
from Hammond HS, Columbia, MD. Malachi White from Archbishop<br />
Spalding HS.<br />
Dance Performer – Jeffrey Cottman from Century HS, Sykesville, MD<br />
Speech/Drama Performer – Justin Boddie from Carver Center HS from<br />
Baltimore County<br />
Winners were 1st Place – Jeffrey Cottman; 2nd Place – Makenna Burns;<br />
3rd Place – Beny Medina.<br />
We were honored to have as our judges Mrs. Charmaine Flanagan, Mrs.<br />
Patrice Williamson, Ms. Kendra Banks and performer Ms. Kanika Feaster.<br />
At the conclusion of the program, we were treated to a performance by<br />
recording artist Ms. Kanika Feaster. She also offered encouraging remarks<br />
to all contestants to stay focus in their craft; learn the history of their craft;<br />
and work very diligently at their craft.<br />
For the fourth year, our 2012 Fall Line – Damage Control – has spearheaded<br />
this mandatory program. <strong>The</strong>y are Brothers Gary Tuggle, Howard<br />
Nicholas, Eric Astrop, Brandon Bell, Corey Powell, Derrick Knight,<br />
Rasheed Williams, Rick Flanagan, Eddie Porcher and Kelly Williamson.<br />
Assisting them this year was Bro. Eric Hebron, Richard Negri and Allen<br />
Hankinson.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Bell family, father and son Tau Pi Brothers Danny and Brandon Bell,<br />
owns multiple McDonald Restaurants in Howard County. Bro. Brandon<br />
Bell presented each contestant with a food gift card.<br />
55
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Columbia, MD. February 13, <strong>2016</strong>. Tau Pi Brother Jerin Wall-Thame<br />
was extremely disturbed and frustrated in reading and seeing on television<br />
the awful water conditions in Flint, MI. To put his frustration into action,<br />
he put together a group composed of Cory Brim of the Sugar Rim Bar and<br />
Hip Hop for Food. <strong>The</strong>ir mission was to visit businesses in the Washington,<br />
DC metro area and collect bottle water.<br />
Upon collecting a sizeable amount of water, they loaded a truck and drove<br />
to Flint, MI. When they arrived in Flint, MI they dropped off water to<br />
various churches and shelters. Upon delivering water, it was disheartening<br />
to hear the stories of the residents. <strong>The</strong> situation had impacted their<br />
daily hygiene, food preparation and of course their daily water intake.<br />
Many shared that they also received skin rashes and other health issues<br />
from the contamination.<br />
<strong>The</strong> water situation has had an extreme negative effect on businesses,<br />
schools and public places. Due to this severe condition, it has forced closure<br />
of many establishments. Many people have left the area. However,<br />
many cannot afford to relocate.<br />
<strong>The</strong> communities of Flint, MI are extremely dependent on charitable organizations<br />
such as Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. for support. All levels<br />
of government and other organizations are sorely needed to provide assistance<br />
and help them get through this disaster.<br />
Tau Pi Water Donation to Flint, MI<br />
Tau Pi Mid YearMentoring<br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
Tau Pi Brother Jerin Wall-Thame at the Water Collection Site<br />
Ms Tayna Holland making Mid Year Presentations to to Tau Pi Mentoring Program Participants<br />
Columbia, MD. February 20, <strong>2016</strong>. Tau Pi Chapter Mentoring Initiative<br />
held its Mentee Mid-year Celebration at Guilford Elementary School<br />
in Columbia, Maryland. Tau Pi Chapter’s Mentoring Initiative has been<br />
mentoring elementary, middle and high school African American Males<br />
in Howard County since 1994. <strong>The</strong> Mid-Year Mentee Celebration was attended<br />
by mentees, mentees family members and special guests.<br />
<strong>The</strong> purpose of the Celebration was to recognize the outstanding performance<br />
of mentees during the first and second quarters of this school year<br />
and to enhance mentee self-esteem. Awardees received certificates of excellence<br />
and other forms of recognition for their academic achievements.<br />
Within the philosophy that “ It takes a village to raise a child”, special<br />
tokens of appreciation were given two Educators for their presentations to<br />
high school mentees and their parents regarding SAT English and FASFA<br />
preparation techniques. <strong>The</strong>y were DST Mrs. Madonna Brown-Miles, a<br />
counselor in Montgomery County School System and AKA Ms. Aleisha<br />
Lanfair, a teacher in Prince Georges County School System.<br />
Special Celebration Presentations were given by <strong>The</strong>ta Mu Mu Bro. Carlos<br />
Dunmoodie varsity football coach at Centennial High School, Columbia<br />
Maryland and Mr. Richard Ryan, former PTA President at Ducketts<br />
Elementary School, Elkridge Maryland. Bro. Dunmoodie presentation<br />
stressed the importance of academic success relative to athletic endeavors,<br />
while Mr. Ryan presentation stressed the need for parent involvement<br />
in the education process of their students.<br />
We were honored to have as a special guest was 88 years old Bro. Carl<br />
Haggins. Bro. Haggins was one of the founders of our Mentoring Program.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Celebration closing comments were given by Tau Pi Chapter Basileus<br />
Dr. Henry Jenkins, Jr. who reinforced Tau Pi Chapter’s commitment to the<br />
Mentoring Initiative.<br />
56<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
Columbia, MD. January 18, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of Tau Pi Chapter and<br />
Howard County Iota Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,<br />
Inc. coordinated an excellent food drive. On a blistery cold day,<br />
their collaborative effort resulted in the collection of around 200 nonperishable<br />
items. <strong>The</strong> food was donated to Howard County Food Bank.<br />
<strong>The</strong> event was coordinated by Bro. Howard Nicholas II. He was supported<br />
by Brothers Devore Irick, Basileus Henry Jenkins, Jr., Jason Sumter,<br />
Gary Tuggle, Edward Porcher, Shawn Lamb, Richard Negri, Trini House,<br />
Milton Darby and Richard Flanagan.<br />
<strong>The</strong> venue for the food drive was in front of Giant Food Store located in<br />
the Owen Brown Shopping Center in Columbia, MD. <strong>The</strong> Tau Pi brothers<br />
and AKAs were so pleased with the outcome that they plan on holding<br />
this event again next year. It is an excellent community service project<br />
to know that the fruit of your labor will feed those that are less fortunate<br />
and homeless.<br />
Tau Pi MLK Day Food Drive<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Tau Pi Brothers participating at the MLK Day Food Drive<br />
Tau Pi lectures Black History to Students<br />
Tau Pi Brothers Philip Anderson III and Richard Negri lecture to Students at<br />
Dr. Carter G. Woodson Elementary and Middle School<br />
Columbia, MD. February 22, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Project 5, 2015 Fall Neophytes<br />
of Tau Pi Chapter organized and presented at Dr. Carter G. Woodson<br />
Elementary and Middle School in Baltimore, MD an outstanding Black<br />
History program. Brothers Philip Anderson III and Richard Negri spearheaded<br />
the effort.<br />
Brothers spoke on the history of our beloved fraternity and the significant<br />
contributions, brothers past and present, have made to the world at large.<br />
Many within our young audience were very surprised to know that many<br />
of our Omega Men were trailblazers in African American History.<br />
Various Omega Men in Arts & Entertainment; Astronauts; Civil Rights;<br />
Education; Military; Ministry; Politics; and Sports were presented.<br />
A major key point to our young audience was that with the same commitment<br />
and hard work, they too can be like many of the Omega Men<br />
presented before them.<br />
<strong>The</strong>ta Mu Mu EMBODI<br />
Randallstown, MD. March <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of <strong>The</strong>ta Mu Mu chapter<br />
partnered with the women in the Delta Sigma <strong>The</strong>ta, Baltimore County<br />
Alumnae Chapter EMBODI program. Members of the chapter engaged<br />
in small discussion with black male students on “Manhood” and what<br />
it means to them. <strong>The</strong> student was able to ask questions and get a better<br />
understanding and working definition manhood from the member’s<br />
perspective. <strong>The</strong> brothers use this opportunity to discuss proper grooming<br />
and discuss hygiene. As a bonus, the young men were also taught how to<br />
tie neckties and were given neckties at the conclusion of the workshop.<br />
<strong>The</strong>ta Mu Mu Brother teaching boys to tie neckties<br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
57
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
<strong>The</strong>ta Mu Mu Talent Hunt Competition<br />
Baltimore, MD. March <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of <strong>The</strong>ta Mu Mu held their<br />
<strong>2016</strong> Talent Hunt at the world famous Arena Players <strong>The</strong>ater. Baltimore’s<br />
Arena Players is the oldest continually performing and historically African-American<br />
Community <strong>The</strong>ater in the United States. From its humble<br />
beginnings in 1953, by a small aspiring group of ambitious fledgling actors,<br />
Arena Players has a proud history of community service and outstanding<br />
dramatic achievements. <strong>The</strong>ta Mu Mu wanted to use this venue<br />
to acclimate students in the Baltimore community to this historic site. <strong>The</strong><br />
evening was hosted by Actor/Comedian and Vice Basileus Stacey Carver<br />
who has been the visionary of the Growth of <strong>The</strong>ta Mu Mu’s Talent Hunt<br />
<strong>The</strong> event feature 4 visual artists and 7 Performing Artist. <strong>The</strong> presentation<br />
of the arts showcased some of the best talents on the East Coast. At<br />
the end of the evening $1,000 in Scholarships were awarded Tyler Moore<br />
(Polytechnic) - Visual Arts and DaVontay Haynie (School for the Arts) -<br />
Performing Arts. <strong>The</strong> packed audience left the arena pleased by the talent<br />
displayed.<br />
TMM Talent Hunt Participant<br />
<strong>The</strong>ta Mu Mu Transforming Lives Through <strong>The</strong>ater<br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
Baltimore, MD. March <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of <strong>The</strong>ta Mu Mu Chapter<br />
collaborated with Transforming Lives through <strong>The</strong>atre to put on a performing<br />
arts program to focus on mental illness and suicide prevention.<br />
<strong>The</strong> program entitled “<strong>The</strong> End of <strong>The</strong> Rope” was a one woman show performed<br />
by Radience Pittman focusing on the lives on several individuals<br />
who battling Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenic, Paranoia, PTSD, OCD and<br />
Clinical Depression. <strong>The</strong> social action committee of <strong>The</strong>ta Mu Mu Chapter<br />
wanted to use this program as a platform to bring awareness to issues<br />
that has plagued the African American community. <strong>The</strong>re was standing<br />
room only for this event. At the conclusion of the program the brothers<br />
open up for dialogue with the audience. Mental Health clinicians were<br />
available to respond to inquiries of the audience.<br />
Xi Lambda Lambda Read In<br />
Ms. Radience Pittman performing one of her skits on a person with Depression<br />
XLL Brothers with Summit Park Librarian Ms. Elizabeth Hurley at the Read In<br />
Rockland County, NY. February 12, 20016. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of Xi Lambda<br />
Lambda participated in the East Ramapo School, Rockland County, New<br />
York, District’s “Read In”. <strong>The</strong> “Read In” was held at the Summit Park<br />
Elementary School. For the one-day event, Ms. Elizabeth Hurley, the<br />
school’s librarian, invited community organizations to read to classes<br />
throughout the day.<br />
Members of the Rockland Ques were assigned classes ranging from 3rd –<br />
5th graders. <strong>The</strong> students were full of enthusiasm during the event. Floyd<br />
Long, Basileus, stated “Summit Park’s “Read In” mission was aligned<br />
58<br />
with our Assault on Illiteracy Social Action Program. I’m thankful the<br />
chapter was involved with the youth of our community. <strong>The</strong> XiLL Brothers<br />
made it interactive to keep the students engaged. Principal and Delta<br />
Sigma <strong>The</strong>ta sorority member, Ms. Kim Hewlitt, was very appreciative<br />
for the Rockland Ques’ participation in this meaningful event.<br />
Chapter Participants were Floyd Long, Basileus, Antonio Dinkins, Immediate<br />
Past, Rockland County Legislator Toney Earl, Dennis McGloster,<br />
Editor, Nyron McLeish.<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
Xi Lambda Lambda Achievement Week<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Ms. Alexandreena “Dreena” Dixon receiving the XLL Citizen of the Year Award<br />
Suffern, New York, November 22, 2015. <strong>The</strong> shining light of Omega<br />
was beaming proudly as the men of the Mighty Xi Lambda Lambda<br />
Chapter, Home of the Rockland Ques host their annual Achievement<br />
Week Program on the beautiful campus of Rockland Community College.<br />
<strong>The</strong> turnout was magnificent as we honored our 2015 Rockland County<br />
Person of the Year:<br />
Ms. Alexandreena “Dreena” Dixon is a true leader and humanitarian.<br />
Seeking innovated ways to put African culture into willing hands, she<br />
founded Chiku Awali African Dance Company of Rockland, Inc. in 2003<br />
and renamed it Chiku Awali African Dance, Arts & Culture, Inc. in 2008.<br />
<strong>The</strong> nonprofit organization brings the art of African dancing, drumming,<br />
storytelling and craft making to the County of Rockland, N.Y.<br />
Under the aegis of Chiku Awali Dreena, as known to family and friends,<br />
developed a Rites of Passage for Young Men. <strong>The</strong> program takes young<br />
adolescent males on a yearlong journey of self-fulfillment through monthly<br />
workshops that improve self-esteem and empower them to seek greatness<br />
As a former New York State prison warden, Dreena has seen the difference<br />
a guiding hand can make early in life and is dedicated to empowering<br />
the community’s youth. Through her affiliation with Alpha Kappa<br />
Alpha Sorority, Inc., Pi Psi Omega Chapter, Dreena has worked diligently<br />
to bring youth-oriented programs to the County of Rockland. She organized<br />
Rockland County’s first children’s step show and conducted math<br />
and science competitions that encouraged African-American youngsters<br />
to master these subjects.<br />
Our 2015 Citizen of <strong>The</strong> Year, Brother Byron Hurt is a Long Island native<br />
and an award-winning documentary filmmaker, published writer, antisexist<br />
activist, and lecturer. Hurt is also the former host of the Emmynominated<br />
series, “REEL WORKS with BYRON HURT.” His documentary,<br />
“Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes” premiered at the Sundance<br />
Film Festival and broadcast on the PBS series Independent Lens.<br />
<strong>The</strong> former Northeastern University football quarterback was also a<br />
founding member of the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) program,<br />
the leading college-based rape and domestic violence prevention initiative<br />
for college and professional athletics. Hurt also served as an Associate<br />
Director of the first gender violence prevention program in the United<br />
States Marine Corps.<br />
Byron’s writings have been published in several anthologies, including<br />
Michael Eric Dyson’s “Know What I Mean?” Kevin Powell’s “<strong>The</strong> Black<br />
Male Handbook,” and Shira Tarrant’s “Men Speak Out.” In the media,<br />
<strong>The</strong> New York Times, <strong>The</strong> Wall Street Journal, <strong>The</strong> L.A. Times, O Magazine,<br />
Mother Jones, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, <strong>The</strong> Philadelphia<br />
Tribune, <strong>The</strong> Final Call, AllHipHop.com, MSNBC, NPR, CNN, Access<br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
Hollywood, MTV, BET, ABC News World Tonight, Black Enterprise, C-<br />
Span, and many other outlets have featured Byron’s work.<br />
Byron’s latest film, Soul Food Junkies is critically acclaimed and won the<br />
CNN Best Documentary award at the American Black Film Festival and<br />
zine, Mother Jones, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, <strong>The</strong> Philadelphia<br />
Tribune, <strong>The</strong> Final Call, AllHipHop.com, MSNBC, NPR, CNN, Access<br />
Hollywood, MTV, BET, ABC News World Tonight, Black Enterprise, C-<br />
Span, and many other outlets have featured Byron’s work.<br />
Byron’s latest film, Soul Food Junkies is critically acclaimed and won the<br />
CNN Best Documentary award at the American Black Film Festival and<br />
Best Documentary at the Urbanworld Film Festival in New York City.<br />
<strong>The</strong> film premiered nationally on PBS’ Emmy award-winning series, Independent<br />
Lens in 2013.<br />
A member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, Hurt is In production<br />
for his upcoming film about hazing.<br />
Learn more about Byron Hurt at www.BHurt.com. ; Find him on Facebook<br />
and on Twitter @byronhurt.<br />
Our 2015 Omega Man of the Year Award was given to our beloved Immediate<br />
Past Basileus Brother Antonio “Tony” Dinkins was initiated into<br />
this great organization in the Fall 1983, Delta Mu Chapter. Tony has made<br />
extraordinary contributions to the organization throughout the years and<br />
our chapter by representing us well and spare heading the charge. Brother<br />
Dinkins has committed himself tirelessly towards the Rockland County<br />
community and has preserve and has channeled the same efforts from his<br />
entrepreneurship role by strategizing the needs assessments of the community<br />
with continuous partnership with the Rockland County Chapter.<br />
Professionally, Tony is President/CEO of Unlimited Events & Marketing,<br />
Inc., a full service (unbundled) promotional and event marketing agency<br />
that is dedicated to providing professional turnkey solutions that are second<br />
to none. Based in Yonkers, New York, Tony’s company motto, which<br />
exudes throughout his entire U.S. operation, is “No borders. No boundaries.”<br />
.” Currently, Unlimited Events & Marketing Inc. focuses on Special<br />
Event Management and Marketing. Tony has developed tremendous<br />
resources and relationships, and as a result, he has earned the reputation<br />
for getting the job done. Tony believes in giving back to the community<br />
and making a difference. His work in the community includes coaching<br />
the 2006/07 St. Paul’s Athletic League’s 5th & 6th grade boys Championship<br />
Team and the 2008/09 Saint Paul’s CYO (West) 7th Grade Team in<br />
Rockland County, NY.<br />
Special thanks to the Achievement Week Committee members for putting<br />
together an outstanding program (Brothers Tony Burrows, Antonio<br />
Deseamours) under the leadership of the newly elected Basileus Brother<br />
Floyd Long.<br />
59
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Xi Lambda Lambda Talent Hunt Competition<br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
Suffern, NY. March 19, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of the Xi Lambda Lambda<br />
chapter, <strong>The</strong> Rockland Ques, of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. held their<br />
annual Talent Hunt Competition on Saturday, March 19, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> program<br />
was held at Rockland Community College, Student Union in Suffern,<br />
New York. We had 19 participants along with an audience slightly<br />
over 100 people. <strong>The</strong> talent ranged from spoken word artist to visual artists<br />
to a jazz drummer to a classical cellist. <strong>The</strong> day’s proceeding began<br />
with one of the judges and saxophonist Mr. Herve Alexandre playing the<br />
Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing”.<br />
This was followed by the judges then the audience viewing and discussing<br />
the visual art displays with the related art participants. <strong>The</strong> performance<br />
cam e next with an assortment of different styles entertaining is all. We<br />
had a gospel tune “Take me to the King” to Broadway tunes written by the<br />
great writing team of Ebb and Kander to a classical tune by Bach entitled,<br />
“Celli Suite V, to two (2) African American oriented spoken words artists<br />
XLL Brothers with 1st Place Talent Hunt Winner Daniel Agusto<br />
performing pieces that focused on our ancestry and black women. All of<br />
the participants were outstanding and very professional.<br />
Our winners were: 1st Place- Daniel Agusto (Cello) $350, 2nd Place-Melissa<br />
Denizard (Spoken Word) $150,<br />
3rd Place- Beder Peralta Ramirez (Visual Artist) $75.<br />
Each Talent Hunt participant was also given a medal with the inscription<br />
“<strong>2016</strong> XI LAMBDA LAMBDA TALENT HUNT” participant. <strong>The</strong><br />
overall winner, Daniel Agusto was also given a silver medium size cup<br />
as a reward for his winning the competition. After the show the performers<br />
and audience were provided food and beverages courtesy of the Xi<br />
Lambda Lambda and Meleacon Restaurant in the Bronx, New York. <strong>The</strong><br />
Xi Lambda Lambda Talent Hunt Competition was co-chaired by Bros.<br />
Antonio Desamours and Dennis McGloster. Bro. Floyd Long, Jr. is the<br />
Basileus of Xi Lambda Lambda.<br />
XLL Brothers with Talent Hunt Participants<br />
Xi Lambda Lambda Career Day<br />
Spring Valley, NY. February 4, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of Xi Lambda<br />
Lambda Chapter participated in a Career Day program at Spring Valley<br />
High School in Spring Valley, NY on Thursday, February 4, <strong>2016</strong>. <strong>The</strong><br />
goal of the Spring Valley Career Day program was to create a critical link<br />
between the classroom and the workplace by allow students to explore<br />
various career options so that they can make informed educational and<br />
60<br />
career choices.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Brothers of Xi Lambda Lambda Chapter had the opportunity to expose<br />
students to different careers by sharing their backgrounds on the type<br />
of education required for their specific careers. Students also observed<br />
how English, Math, Problem solving, teamwork, and other basic skills<br />
learned in the classroom are used on the job.<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
Xi Phi Blake Ansari Book Drive and Flint Water Social Action<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Harlem, NY. February 25, <strong>2016</strong>: <strong>The</strong> Xi Phi Social Action Committee<br />
hosted a multi-purposed fundraiser benefitting two note worthy causes;<br />
one locally and the other in another part of the country. <strong>The</strong> first cause -<br />
<strong>The</strong> Blake Ansari Mini Library Drive, was created and named after an 8<br />
year old Harlem resident. Young Mr. Ansari created this charity to collect<br />
children’s books for children residing in NYC’s homeless shelters. His<br />
goal each year is to collect 1000 books to give to the shelters.<br />
<strong>The</strong> second cause was for the purpose of collecting cases of water for<br />
distribution to the people of Flint, Michigan. <strong>The</strong> Brothers of Xi Phi along<br />
with other local Men of Omega, friends, family and other associates gathered<br />
at Streetbird NYC, a local Harlem establishment.<br />
Streetbird NYC graciously allowed Xi Phi chapter members and guests to<br />
Xi Phi Brothers at Streetbird NYC collecting books and water for Flint, MI.<br />
Xi Phi Black College Tour<br />
fellowship and contribute to both causes, even contributing a free appetizer<br />
to every guest who either donated 3 children’s books or a minimum<br />
of a $5 cash donation. At the conclusion the event, $500.00 cash was collected<br />
in total for the purchase of cases water and nearly 300 books to go<br />
to the city’s children currently residing in homeless shelters.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Brothers of Xi Phi chapter thanked all of our guests and host location<br />
Streetbird NYC for their generosity and accommodations for the purpose<br />
of both endeavors. With the money raised, Xi Phi chapter was able to<br />
purchase and ship over 3 pallets of bottled water to the people of Flint.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Brothers of Xi Phi Chapter will personally deliver books collected to<br />
Mr. Ansari and his team.<br />
Harlem, NY. March 6, <strong>2016</strong>. For 26 years the Brothers of Xi Phi Chapter<br />
of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. have created the opportunity for high<br />
school students primarily from New York City, to visit the campuses of<br />
Historically Black Colleges & Universities.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Xi Phi Chapter planning committee members and tour chaperones,<br />
representing Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Delta Sigma<br />
<strong>The</strong>ta Sorority Incorporated, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated, Sigma<br />
Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated and Alumnae representing Hampton<br />
University respectively, formally interviewed over 60 high school students<br />
regarding their interest in attending the <strong>2016</strong> black college tour,<br />
their academic / leadership qualities and career goals. 45 students were<br />
formally selected to participate in this endeavor.<br />
Prior to the actual tour, all 45 high school students enthusiastically participated<br />
in four pre-tour workshops that included team building activities<br />
and overviews regarding the history of historically black colleges &<br />
universities, the financial aid process, college life (focusing on first year<br />
related experiences as undergraduate students), career exploration and diversity.<br />
Following the pre-tour workshops, students and chaperones traveled to<br />
the states of Tennessee to visit the campuses of Tennessee State and Fisk<br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
Universities, Georgia where they visited Morehouse College, Spelman<br />
College and Clark Atlanta University and Virginia to visit Virginia State<br />
University as well as Hampton University. <strong>The</strong> tour concluded with visits<br />
to Howard University in Washington D.C. & Morgan State University in<br />
Baltimore, MD. before heading back to New York City.<br />
Students were scheduled to visit the campuses of North Carolina A&T<br />
University and Bennett College, however due to inclement weather, tours<br />
of these institutions were canceled. However, students were orientated regarding<br />
what North Carolina A&T University has to offer them by recent<br />
graduates currently residing in New York City.<br />
During the closing workshop, students and parents alike expressed their<br />
sincere gratitude about the learning experience the <strong>2016</strong> black college<br />
tour provided for them and to those who volunteered as chaperones.<br />
In addition, as a special surprise for students and their families, they<br />
received a visit and words of encouragement from Black College Tour<br />
Alum, NFL and Super Bowl Champion Mr. Willie Colon.<br />
As the <strong>2016</strong> Black College Tour concluded, the Brothers of Xi Phi Chapter<br />
were reminded of the importance and lasting effect that this social action<br />
project had on all of its participants and those who attended previously.<br />
61
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
What’s On the Minds of<br />
Omega Men<br />
Opinion/Editorial Section<br />
In my sharing of <strong>The</strong> Omega State of Mind-Part 1, I reflected on several<br />
early experiences that started me on this road with a peculiar Brotherhood.<br />
In particular, witnessing the comradery of men who had been my mentors<br />
and indeed role models; caused me to seek additional information on<br />
Omega. I must admit, that seeing the strong draw that the Men of Omega<br />
had on the ladies, gave me additional reasons to pursue enlightenment on<br />
Omega.<br />
Several days of research in the university library opened a treasure of<br />
historical contributions by Omega Men. Many contributions were ground<br />
breaking at the specific times and are still the foundations for today’s advancements<br />
in multiple fields of study. <strong>The</strong> Newton Model in Chemistry,<br />
H. Poindexter’s cure for “swamp foot” that ravaged our soldiers on the<br />
battlefield, Charles Drew’s research on blood plasma and many more.<br />
While researching Omega, I learned of its Founders and the multiple challenges<br />
that they met. I was impressed by their respective standings in the<br />
Howard University Community and their commitment to each other. In<br />
my reading of their crafting of the Cardinal Principles of the Fraternity<br />
(MANHOOD, SCHOLARSHIP, PERSEVERANCE AND UPLIFT), I<br />
had a mental vision of a square i.e. a square can form a solid foundation<br />
on which to build.<br />
<strong>The</strong> aforementioned experiences created in me, a will which wanted and<br />
a mindset that knew; Omega was where I wanted and knew that I should<br />
be. Thus my Omega journey began. I attended the then “smoker” and<br />
proceeded to fill out the necessary paperwork. Having a GPA of 3.6 in<br />
Economics drew the attention of other fraternities. In particular, I was<br />
heavily recruited by Alpha Phi Alpha and Phi Beta Sigma. One of the<br />
latter offered to pay all of my fees if I would pledge their organization. I<br />
stayed focused on Omega.<br />
During my early tenure at the university, I saw a continuation of some of<br />
the intra vestiges of organizations who sought members via family name,<br />
social economic status, skin tone, texture of the hair et.al. Having been<br />
At the end of fiscal year 2013 (10/31/13) there were 2683 financial members<br />
in the 2nd District. Two year later, at the end of fiscal year 2015<br />
(10/31/15) there were 2692 financial members in the 2nd District. Total<br />
delegate votes were unchanged at 180. However, the voting strength per<br />
Corridor is moving in a direction not commensurate with the financial<br />
support of the District and if left status quo could lead to anarchy. This<br />
sounds strange but let’s look at the numbers. see chart on pg.63.<br />
Summary: Currently the district voting structure is not equitable to the<br />
district corridor financial membership. Example- Corridor I has 42% of<br />
the financial members of the district and only has 22% of the delegate vote<br />
& Corridor IV has 16% of the financial members of the district yet has<br />
25% of the delegate vote. Is this equitable, based on the tax placed on each<br />
corridor chapter and the corridors financial contribution to the district?<br />
<strong>The</strong> total financial Brothers in the 2nd District is + 9 from FY13 – Fy15.<br />
However the Corridor that lost the most members (54 members, - 2.06%),<br />
gained the most votes(3.33%) 6 delegate votes. A Corridor can lose 2%<br />
of district membership and gain 3.3% of the district delegate votes. An<br />
62<br />
An Omega State of Mind Part 2<br />
impacted by such shallow elements in determining a person’s worth; I had<br />
no desire to have those items being a measuring stick for me. I later heard<br />
Founder Edgar A. Love reject these surface measures as well. It has been<br />
so rewarding to know that we were and are of the Omega Kindred Spirit.<br />
I submitted my paperwork and was chosen to be an initiate in the Lampodos”<br />
Club. From the very beginning, the road to Omega was challenging.<br />
<strong>The</strong> mental rigor was substantial, the daily routines in pledging and preparing<br />
for step practices, truly created a “can do and never quit attitude”.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Lampodo activities engendered awareness that one must always have<br />
a plan A, B and C. It brought reality and meaning to the phrase “I am my<br />
Brother’s Keeper.” <strong>The</strong> activities taught lessons of the need to carry another<br />
and sometimes having to be carried. Most of all the members of the<br />
Club learned to work together as a unit.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Club members were constantly charged with being full time students,<br />
maintaining the necessary GPA and fulfilling obligations to the Omega<br />
Men on campus. We also had mandatory ROTC service as per land grant<br />
college/university requirements. <strong>The</strong> forward moving process on the road<br />
to Omega exacted a toll on some members of the Club. <strong>The</strong> thirteen Club<br />
members who had been selected from a pool of forty interested men, was<br />
soon reduced to four. I was in that number when the Saints went marching<br />
in.<br />
At our initiation, after the Light of Omega was revealed to us; we hugged,<br />
laughed and cried, as we “looked back and wondered how we got over.”<br />
Four Omega Men emerged from an interest group of forty and a select<br />
Club of thirteen striving, to begin a lifelong journey in becoming thoroughly<br />
immersed in the true Omega Spirit. My Journey Continues.<br />
<strong>The</strong> 2nd District Voting Structure is Grossly Flawed,<br />
Unfair and Must Be Changed<br />
Dr. Andrew A. Ray<br />
39th Grand Basileus<br />
equitable voting structure would not allow this gross flaw to occur. A loss<br />
of 54 financial members equals a loss of revenue to the district of $2,160.<br />
Each chapter is awarded 2 delegate votes and receives an additional vote<br />
if membership is over 49 members. <strong>The</strong>re are only 14 chapters in the<br />
2nd District with over 49 members - 7 in Corridor I, 2 in Corridor II, 2 in<br />
Corridor III, 3 in Corridor IV. None in Corridors V, VI or VII.<br />
Financial Support of the District: District Dues Tax is $40 per Brother.<br />
FY15 Contribution to District: Corridor I - $46,000 ($40 x 1150), Corridor<br />
II -$6200 ($40 X 155) , Corridor III - $15,320 ($40 x 383) , Corridor<br />
IV - $18,000 ($40 x 450), Corridor V - $15,760 ($40 x 394), Corridor<br />
VI – $4,200 ($40 x 105), Corridor VII - $2,200 ($40 x 55). Corridor I<br />
Brothers financial tax is $28,000 more than Corridor IV but its delegate<br />
voting strength is 5 votes less and increasing when Corridor IV financial<br />
contribution to the district is decreasing. This is the gross flaw in the<br />
2nd District voting system. Corridor I is funding the 2nd District but has<br />
virtually no say in the governance of its financial contribution.<br />
5 years ago, I submitted a recommendation to the Recommendations<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
What’s On the Minds of<br />
Omega Men<br />
Opinion/Editorial Section<br />
<strong>The</strong> 2nd District Voting Structure is Grossly Flawed,<br />
Unfair and Must Be Changed cont.<br />
Committee to change the voting bylaws to reflect the exact same voting<br />
structure of the Conclave/International body. <strong>The</strong> Committee, only meets<br />
at conferences and consist of members primarily from small chapters, rejected<br />
the recommendation due to it being unfair to the small chapters. <strong>The</strong><br />
current structure is grossly unfair to large chapters and Corridor I, in particular.<br />
District Voting is based on Chapters financial membership amounts.<br />
Solutions:<br />
Option I. Each chapter should be awarded 2 votes per chapter- this will<br />
not hurt the small chapter or the large chapter, this is equity. <strong>The</strong> district<br />
receives $107,680 (2692 x $40) in dues taxes from its membership, in<br />
83 chapters, of which 17 are undergrad chapters. Each graduate chapter<br />
should be taxed $1,500 district dues (let the chapter divide the tax among<br />
its membership). Each undergraduate chapter should be taxed $500 district<br />
dues. 66 Grad Chapters x $1500 = $99,000 + 17 Undergrad Chapters<br />
x $500 = $8500. $99,000 + $8500 = $107,500. This would be close to<br />
being an equitable to the unfair taxation placed on large chapters.<br />
Option II. Recommend and Approve a District Bylaw change to reflect<br />
the exact same voting structure of the Conclave/ International Body.<br />
Which is essentially 1 vote per 10 financial members in each chapter.<br />
This solution is fair the Brother because he is equitably represented at<br />
the District level and would enhance the financial structure of district<br />
conferences because 10% of the financial members of the district would<br />
have to register at conferences to receive their chapter voting strength and<br />
conferences would be a financial success by virtue of the district voting<br />
structure. In addition 10% of the 2nd District membership would have the<br />
opportunity to engage in fraternal comradeship and friendship.<br />
Option III. Do nothing. Doing nothing and continuing to let this grossly<br />
unfair district dues tax disparity continue will result in anarchy. We would<br />
never want Corridor I to petition the International Body to succeed from<br />
the 2nd District and move to the 3rd District, due to an unfair tax and voting<br />
structure. <strong>The</strong> 3rd District would welcome the 100 + votes Corridor<br />
I would bring and the 2nd District would lose its powerful voting status<br />
at Conclave.<br />
<strong>The</strong> loyal Brothers and Chapters of Corridor I would never want to resort<br />
to this course of action but what is their recourse, if nothing is done<br />
to rectify this grossly unfair situation. Continuing to accept a grossly<br />
unfair tax placed upon their respective Chapters and not receiving fair<br />
and equitable voting representation is TAXATION WITHOUT REPRE-<br />
SENTATION.<br />
Please Brothers, be proactive and fix this situation. Do the right thing,<br />
bring equity to the voting structure of the district, for the greater good of<br />
the district. NUMBERS NEVER LIE!<br />
Zanes E. Cypress, Jr.<br />
Director of Public Relations, Second District<br />
LM#7307<br />
Iota Epsilon 1976<br />
Second District Membership and Voting Strength<br />
Comparisons of Fiscal Years 13 and 15 by Corridor<br />
Cor. Membership # # CNG Votes per Cor. % CNG Membership % % CNG % District Voting<br />
fy13 fy15 fy13 fy15 fy13 fy15 fy13 fy15<br />
I 1004 1150 146 40 41 1 37.42 42.72 5.3 22.22 22.78<br />
II 155 155 unc 10 10 unc 5.78 5.76 0.02 5.56 5.56<br />
III 382 383 1 24 26 2 14.24 14.23 -0.01 13.33 14.44<br />
IV 504 450 -54 39 45 6 18.78 16.72 -2.06 21.67 25<br />
V 399 394 -6 37 36 -1 14.87 14.67 -0.20 20.56 20<br />
VI 133 105 -28 15 12 -3 4.96 3.9 -1.06 8.33 6.67<br />
VII 106 55 -51 15 10 -5 3.95 2.04 -1.91 8.33 5.56<br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
Totals 2683 2692 9 180 180 unc<br />
63
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY, INC.<br />
SECOND DISTRICT CONFERENCE<br />
2014-2015 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL<br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
Bro. Milton Harrison<br />
District Representative<br />
C: 301-758-1386<br />
2ndDistrictDR@oppf.org<br />
Bro. Michael Littlejohn<br />
District KRS<br />
C: 702-466-4188<br />
2ndDistrictKRS@oppf.org<br />
Bro. Gerald Folsom<br />
District Chaplain<br />
C: 301-526-5024<br />
2ndDistrictChaplain@oppf.org<br />
Bro. Ephraim Burgess<br />
Undergraduate Representative<br />
C: 410-350-4624<br />
undergradrep1@opp2d.org<br />
Bro. Robert Jamison, Jr.<br />
District Marshall<br />
C: 301-452-1303<br />
2ndDistrictmarshal@opp2d.org<br />
Bro. Ron Moffitt<br />
Dir. Of Public Relations<br />
Emeritus<br />
C: 609-352-4870<br />
rmoffitt@lgrgroup.com<br />
Bro. Carlton Lampkins<br />
1st Vice District Representative<br />
C: 302-545-8044<br />
2ndDistrict1VDR@oppf.org<br />
Bro. Bertrand Harry<br />
District Counselor<br />
C:<br />
2ndDistrictCouncel@oppf.org<br />
Bro. James E. Hicks, Jr.<br />
33rd District Representative<br />
C: 301-641-9755<br />
2ndDistrictIPDR@oppf.org<br />
Bro. Jevon Morgan<br />
Undergraduate Representative<br />
C: 908-884-9361<br />
undergrad2@opp2d.org<br />
Bro. Lee Rideout<br />
Assistant DKF<br />
C:<br />
asstdistrictkf@opp2d.org<br />
Bro. Ernest Cheatham<br />
District Keeper of Peace<br />
C: 609-517-4546<br />
2ndDistrictKOP@oppf.org<br />
Bro Timothy Taylor, Jr.<br />
2nd Vice District Representative<br />
C: 718-781-6121<br />
2ndDistrict2VDR@oppf.org<br />
Bro. Derrick Lowery<br />
District KF<br />
C: 302-562-4228<br />
2ndDistrictKF@oppf.org<br />
Bro. Zanes E. Cypress, Jr.<br />
Director of Public Relations<br />
C: 410-365-2186<br />
2ndDistrictPR@oppf.org<br />
Bro. Derrick Stoudymire<br />
Undergraduate Representative<br />
C: 917-863-8765<br />
undergrad3@opp2d.org<br />
Bro. Jamal Parker<br />
District Photographer<br />
C: 267-973-8966<br />
2nddistrictphotographer@<br />
opp2d.org<br />
Bro. Anthony Jones<br />
Assistant DKRS<br />
C: 215-681-6681<br />
asstdistrictkrs@opp2d.org<br />
2014-2015 SECOND DISTRICT CORRIDOR REPRESENTITIVES<br />
Bro. Duane Adams<br />
Corridor 1 Representative<br />
Ph: (443) 904-9070<br />
corridorrep1@opp2d.org<br />
Bro. Delrecole (Rico) Gales<br />
Corridor 4 Representative<br />
Ph: (908) 463-4655<br />
corridorrep4@opp2d.org<br />
64<br />
Bro. J. Greg Scudder<br />
Corridor 2 Representative<br />
Ph: (302) 494-0194<br />
corridorrep2@opp2d.org<br />
Bro. Kevin Woodhouse<br />
Corridor 5 Representative<br />
Ph: (718) 344-8171<br />
corridorrep5@opp2d.org<br />
Bro. Kenneth Minefield<br />
Corridor 7 Representative<br />
Ph: (412) 512-8788<br />
corridorrep7@opp2d.org<br />
Bro. Robert Manning<br />
Corridor 3 Representative<br />
Ph: (215) 657-1274<br />
corridorrep3@opp2d.org<br />
Bro. Avon White<br />
Corridor 6 Representative<br />
Ph: ( 716) 812-2520<br />
corridorrep6@opp2d.org<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
2014-2015 SECOND DISTRICT COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
ACHIEVEMENT WEEK<br />
Bro. Eric Harley<br />
Ph: (917) 741-3110<br />
achievementweek@opp2d.org<br />
ARTIFACTS & MEMORABILIA<br />
Bro. Alfonso Morrell<br />
Ph: (917) 557-8195<br />
artifacts@opp2d.org<br />
ASSAULT ON ILLITERACY<br />
Bro. John Berkley<br />
Ph: (410) 532-8108<br />
assaultonilliteracy@opp2d.org<br />
BUDGET & FINANCE<br />
Bro. Anthony Young<br />
Ph: (201) 739-7999<br />
budgetfinance@opp2d.org<br />
BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT<br />
Bro. Allen Taylor<br />
Ph: (410) 977-6200<br />
businesseconimic@opp2d.org<br />
CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS<br />
Bro. Troy Priest<br />
Ph: (443) 250-2342<br />
constitutionbylaws@opp2d.org<br />
HEALTH & WELLNESS<br />
Bro. Tony Hayes<br />
Ph: 201-491-1742<br />
healthwellness@opp2d.org<br />
HONOR GUARD<br />
Bro. Keir Pemberton<br />
Ph: (215) 510-4740<br />
honorguard@opp2d.org<br />
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT<br />
Bro. Jeff Givens<br />
Ph: (518) 323-6132<br />
im@opp2d.org<br />
LIFE MEMBERSHIP<br />
Bro. Jeff Covington<br />
Ph: (347) 581-5632<br />
lifemembership@opp2d.org<br />
MEMBERSHIP SELECTION<br />
Bro. Harrison Potts<br />
Ph: (610) 608-5294<br />
membershipselection@opp2d.org<br />
Bro. Robert Manning<br />
Ph: (215) 657-1274<br />
corridor3rep@oppf.org<br />
NAACP & CEF<br />
Bro. Melvern McCottry<br />
Ph:(301) 352-6828<br />
naacp@opp2d.org<br />
NEOPHYTE OLYMPICS<br />
Bro. Troy Manigault<br />
Ph: (301) 717-5288<br />
neophyteolympics@opp2d.org<br />
POLITICAL ACTION<br />
Bro. Luther Clark<br />
Ph: (301) 751-8461<br />
politicalaction@opp2d.org<br />
PROTOCOL<br />
Bro. Charles Mitchell<br />
Ph: (301) 706-6945<br />
protocol@opp2d.org<br />
RECLAMATION<br />
Bro. Jeffery Blanchard<br />
Ph: (732) 439-2990<br />
reclamation@opp2d.org<br />
RECOMMENDATIONS<br />
Bro. Rodney L. Olden<br />
Ph: (914) 632-1941<br />
recommendations@opp2d.org<br />
RESOURCES & SERVICES<br />
Bro. Willie Williams<br />
Ph: (703) 300-7298<br />
resourcesservices@opp2d.org<br />
RETENTION<br />
Bro. William “Bucky” Dent<br />
Ph: (610) 584-4126<br />
retention@opp2d.org<br />
SCHOLARSHIP<br />
Bro. Paul Ramseur II<br />
Ph: (908) 295-5081<br />
scholarship@opp2d.org<br />
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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
2014-2015 SECOND DISTRICT COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN<br />
Voice of the Second District<br />
SITE SELECTION<br />
Bro. Peter Higginbotham<br />
Ph: (202) 421-8506<br />
siteselection@opp2d.org<br />
SOCIAL ACTION<br />
Bro. Kendall Smalls<br />
Ph: (646) 739-4956<br />
socialaction@opp2d.org<br />
TALENT HUNT<br />
Bro. Andrew Huff<br />
Ph: (716) 228-2911<br />
talenthunt@opp2d.org<br />
UNDERGRADUATE/CHAPTER ADVISOR<br />
Bro. Evan Murray<br />
Ph: (443) 413-6273<br />
undergradadvisor@opp2d.org<br />
VIOLENCE PREVENTION<br />
Bro. Gordon Everett<br />
Ph: (240) 535-9173<br />
violenceprevention@opp2d.org<br />
AUDIT<br />
Bro. Nerley Lausier<br />
Ph: (973) 980-5903<br />
Bro. Anthony Proctor<br />
Ph: (202) 251-6467<br />
audit@opp2d.org<br />
<strong>The</strong> True Gentleman<br />
<strong>The</strong> True Gentleman is the man whose conduct proceeds<br />
from good will and an acute sense of propriety, and whose<br />
self-control is equal to all emergencies; who does not make<br />
the poor man conscious of his poverty, obscure man of his<br />
obscurity, or any man of his inferiority or deformity; who<br />
is himself humbled if necessity compels him to humble another;<br />
who does not flatter wealth, cringe before power, or<br />
boast of his own possessions or achievements; who speaks<br />
with frankness but always with sincerity and sympathy;<br />
whose deed follows his word; who thinks of the rights and<br />
feelings of others, rather than his own; and who appears<br />
well in any company, a man with whom honor is sacred<br />
and virtue safe.<br />
John Walter Wayland<br />
66<br />
www.opp2d.org
Voice of the Second District<br />
Suspension List<br />
<strong>The</strong> Brothers listed below are currently SUSPENDED from<br />
the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.pending further investigation.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Omegan</strong><br />
Zeta Psi Nigel Rawlins<br />
Zeta Psi Nathaniel Patillo, III<br />
Psi Epsilon Stephen Brown Jr.<br />
Psi Epsilon Rashon Q. Jackson<br />
Psi Epsilon Burditt Bridge<br />
Psi Epsilon Jacque Scott<br />
Omicron Delta Delta Steven R. Smith<br />
Omicron Delta Delta Wayne D. Comer II<br />
Omega Delta Delta Alexander Zanders<br />
Omega Delta Delta Christopher Banks<br />
Omega Delta Delta Lascelles A. Chambers<br />
Lambda Upsilon Donald W. Showell<br />
Nu Tau Rene Pierre Solomon<br />
Chi Rho Bilal Brown<br />
Chi Rho Leonard W. Wright, III<br />
Chi Rho Charles Obijuru<br />
Chi Rho Marques Cox<br />
Chi Rho Dallas T. Joyner<br />
Chi Rho Julian Irving<br />
Iota Lambda Lambda Claude Mayo<br />
Iota Lambda Lambda Aaron M. Holloman<br />
Kappa David L. Jackson<br />
Kappa Bryan A. Cash<br />
Expulsion List<br />
<strong>The</strong>se men should not be admitted into any formal fraternity meetings.<br />
Failure to adhere to these directives of the DistrictRepresentative will result in<br />
the SUSPENSION of the Brother or Chapter who is in violation of the same.<br />
THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS!!!<br />
Chi Delta Troy D. Montgomery<br />
Chi Delta Andre L. Smith<br />
Chi Delta Kenneth E. Thompson<br />
Delta Mu John K. Walker<br />
Tau Pi Kelvin E. Robinson<br />
www.opp2d.org<br />
67