The Omegan Conference Edition 2016

Voice of the Second District
Xi Lambda Lambda Achievement Week
The Omegan
Ms. Alexandreena “Dreena” Dixon receiving the XLL Citizen of the Year Award
Suffern, New York, November 22, 2015. The shining light of Omega
was beaming proudly as the men of the Mighty Xi Lambda Lambda
Chapter, Home of the Rockland Ques host their annual Achievement
Week Program on the beautiful campus of Rockland Community College.
The turnout was magnificent as we honored our 2015 Rockland County
Person of the Year:
Ms. Alexandreena “Dreena” Dixon is a true leader and humanitarian.
Seeking innovated ways to put African culture into willing hands, she
founded Chiku Awali African Dance Company of Rockland, Inc. in 2003
and renamed it Chiku Awali African Dance, Arts & Culture, Inc. in 2008.
The nonprofit organization brings the art of African dancing, drumming,
storytelling and craft making to the County of Rockland, N.Y.
Under the aegis of Chiku Awali Dreena, as known to family and friends,
developed a Rites of Passage for Young Men. The program takes young
adolescent males on a yearlong journey of self-fulfillment through monthly
workshops that improve self-esteem and empower them to seek greatness
As a former New York State prison warden, Dreena has seen the difference
a guiding hand can make early in life and is dedicated to empowering
the community’s youth. Through her affiliation with Alpha Kappa
Alpha Sorority, Inc., Pi Psi Omega Chapter, Dreena has worked diligently
to bring youth-oriented programs to the County of Rockland. She organized
Rockland County’s first children’s step show and conducted math
and science competitions that encouraged African-American youngsters
to master these subjects.
Our 2015 Citizen of The Year, Brother Byron Hurt is a Long Island native
and an award-winning documentary filmmaker, published writer, antisexist
activist, and lecturer. Hurt is also the former host of the Emmynominated
series, “REEL WORKS with BYRON HURT.” His documentary,
“Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes” premiered at the Sundance
Film Festival and broadcast on the PBS series Independent Lens.
The former Northeastern University football quarterback was also a
founding member of the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) program,
the leading college-based rape and domestic violence prevention initiative
for college and professional athletics. Hurt also served as an Associate
Director of the first gender violence prevention program in the United
States Marine Corps.
Byron’s writings have been published in several anthologies, including
Michael Eric Dyson’s “Know What I Mean?” Kevin Powell’s “The Black
Male Handbook,” and Shira Tarrant’s “Men Speak Out.” In the media,
The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The L.A. Times, O Magazine,
Mother Jones, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, The Philadelphia
Tribune, The Final Call, AllHipHop.com, MSNBC, NPR, CNN, Access
www.opp2d.org
Hollywood, MTV, BET, ABC News World Tonight, Black Enterprise, C-
Span, and many other outlets have featured Byron’s work.
Byron’s latest film, Soul Food Junkies is critically acclaimed and won the
CNN Best Documentary award at the American Black Film Festival and
zine, Mother Jones, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, The Philadelphia
Tribune, The Final Call, AllHipHop.com, MSNBC, NPR, CNN, Access
Hollywood, MTV, BET, ABC News World Tonight, Black Enterprise, C-
Span, and many other outlets have featured Byron’s work.
Byron’s latest film, Soul Food Junkies is critically acclaimed and won the
CNN Best Documentary award at the American Black Film Festival and
Best Documentary at the Urbanworld Film Festival in New York City.
The film premiered nationally on PBS’ Emmy award-winning series, Independent
Lens in 2013.
A member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, Hurt is In production
for his upcoming film about hazing.
Learn more about Byron Hurt at www.BHurt.com. ; Find him on Facebook
and on Twitter @byronhurt.
Our 2015 Omega Man of the Year Award was given to our beloved Immediate
Past Basileus Brother Antonio “Tony” Dinkins was initiated into
this great organization in the Fall 1983, Delta Mu Chapter. Tony has made
extraordinary contributions to the organization throughout the years and
our chapter by representing us well and spare heading the charge. Brother
Dinkins has committed himself tirelessly towards the Rockland County
community and has preserve and has channeled the same efforts from his
entrepreneurship role by strategizing the needs assessments of the community
with continuous partnership with the Rockland County Chapter.
Professionally, Tony is President/CEO of Unlimited Events & Marketing,
Inc., a full service (unbundled) promotional and event marketing agency
that is dedicated to providing professional turnkey solutions that are second
to none. Based in Yonkers, New York, Tony’s company motto, which
exudes throughout his entire U.S. operation, is “No borders. No boundaries.”
.” Currently, Unlimited Events & Marketing Inc. focuses on Special
Event Management and Marketing. Tony has developed tremendous
resources and relationships, and as a result, he has earned the reputation
for getting the job done. Tony believes in giving back to the community
and making a difference. His work in the community includes coaching
the 2006/07 St. Paul’s Athletic League’s 5th & 6th grade boys Championship
Team and the 2008/09 Saint Paul’s CYO (West) 7th Grade Team in
Rockland County, NY.
Special thanks to the Achievement Week Committee members for putting
together an outstanding program (Brothers Tony Burrows, Antonio
Deseamours) under the leadership of the newly elected Basileus Brother
Floyd Long.
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