Gamma Pi Men Making Their Collective Mark on Local Communities in Diverse Ways; Area Press Taking Notice

Currie

The media and the public may not be able to put the puzzle together, but members of Gamma Pi chapter can do it easily. That puzzle, when assembled, makes it clear that Gamma Pi men and Omega men are the backbone of the local community.

Barnes

Two members of Gamma Pi chapter, Brother State Sen. Ulysses Currie and Brother Rev. Rodney Barnes, have probably never sat next to one another at a chapter Fraternity meeting. But after recent local feature news reports that focused on their contributions to the community, they they might want to swap their good ideas with one another.
Brother State Sen. Currie, a longtime advocate for Prince George's County at the State House in Annapolis, was cited in the local press for his work securing nearly $400,000 in funds to restore the tracks at Largo High School and at Forestville Academy. Gamma Pi's Brother Rev. Barnes, a 26-year- member of the Montgomery County Police Department, was the subject of a local news feature just last week for his work as an on-site school resources police officer. He and his wife the Rev. Kimberly Brown were also highlighted in the media just weeks ago for their first-ever assignment to serve as Pastor and Assistant Pastor for Gethsemane AME Zion in Landover.

Kornegay

Yet another Gamma Pi Brother, also with a stellar law enforcement career, Brother Demitri Kornegay of the Montgomery County Police Department, has been mentioned in numerous news stories over the years for his contributions as a high-ranking police official, his work as an author and as a sought-after motivational speaker. This Sunday, June 13, Brother Kornegay is preparing to host the 21st "Rites of Passage" Ceremony for at-risk area young men at Galilee Baptist Church in Suitland where he founded the program and serves as a Deacon. Brother Kornegay's "Men Under Construction" initiative gives young men age 14 and older life skills and "home training" that keeps them out of jail and on track to productive lives. Visit Brother Kornegay's website for more information about "Men Under Construction" and about the upcoming Sunday program.

Finally, a one-time Gamma Pi member and longtime member of Omega Psi Phi, Brother Ernest Caldwell, was also featured in the local Gazette just recently. In addition, he was honored on June 5 with a fabulous retirement party in Oxon Hill after more than 40 years as a leader in education in Prince George's County. Brother Caldwell has served as the principal for Crossland High Night School for nearly two decades and is credited with saving many a "lost" student and with devising many innovations in the county's evening school program. He is also an accomplished musician (piano) who along with his wife Frances operates the Caldwell School of Music in the metro area. In addition, he is a longtime church music director.

In an interesting twist of Omega fate, Brother Caldwell was one of the first band and music students of the late father of Brother James Alexander of Gamma Pi when Brother Alexander was just pre-school age while growing up in North Carolina. Later on in their adult lives, through Brother Alexander's father and Brother Caldwell keeping in touch, Brothers Caldwell and Alexander realized they not only lived in the same area but were Fraternity Brothers. They and their families have stayed in touch regularly ever since.