Gamma Pi Uses Que Kidz Daze to Demonstrate Motorcycle and Bike Safety

Bro. Norwood and Anointed Horsemen Motorcycle Ministry

On Saturday morning, July 21, the raindrops were falling hard in the metro area as a week of off-and-on storms were cooling down recent extreme heat. In the spirit of true Omega men, the Brothers of Gamma Pi chapter effortlessly turned to "Plan B" when a steady downpour put a damper on a live demonstration of motorcycle and bicycle safety rules using real motorcycles. The bikes would have been driven to the Kentland Community Center where the Que Kidz Daze meets.

"Plan B" was an indoor interactive safety lecture that turned out to be just as much fun to the more than 30 young boys and girls gathered for the July session of Que Kidz Daze. Only one motorcycle (instead of several) was brought to the premises due to the weather, but the kids still had big fun as they always do on Que Kidz Saturdays. Brother Orlando McDowell leads Que Kidz Daz which provides monthly enrichment activities for underprivileged youth in the Kentland area on Saturday mornings.

Youth tries on a motorcycle helmet

Brother Don Norwood, a motorcycle enthusiast and president of the Ebenezer AME Church's Anointed Horsemen Motorcycle Ministry (Fort Washington, MD.), led the presentation. "Show me a left hand turned, everybody...Now how do you signal a right-hand turn,?" Brother Norwood said during his talk, as the kids extended their arms all the way out to signal the left hand turn, but some of them missed the ":trick"of the right hand signal by extending their arms all the way to the right rather than the "L"-shaped signal with the left hand to indicate right turns.

Brother Green's souped-up Harley

The Brothers used motorcycle safety laws as a context to discuss bike safety laws with the youth. For example, other topics included what side of thee road to ride on, what age to be on the sidewalk instead of in traffic, how to properly wear protective gear like a helmet and padding, the ABC's of safety checklist and traffic laws.

Brother Clint Green, who is not a member of the Anointed Horsemen,  was the only one to brave the elements and maneuver his bike to the event (see photo). And just as soon as it appeared the rain had stopped, as the kids prepared to head outside to examine Brother Green's bike as part of the safety lecture, the downpour returned and the Que Kidz Daze contingent remained inside. Read more about Que Kidz Daze on Gamma Pi's web site. Below are some video clips from Saturday:

Gamma Pi and Friendship Charities Partner to Bring American Literature to Papua New Guinean Youth

Demonstrating the global reach of Omega’s commitment to uplifting mankind, Gamma Pi chapter and Friendship Charities Foundation recently partnered to provide Papua New Guinean youth access to American literature with a generous donation of books.

Brother U.S. Ambassador Teddy B. Taylor made the donation on behalf of both organizations to a Papua New Guinea group named the “Voice”.  The Voice is a local non-profit dedicated to mentoring disadvantaged Papua New Guinean youth and is headed by a dynamic young lawyer named Serena Sasingian who left a successful legal practice to begin a crusade to provide the youth of Papua New Guinea with a voice to make a difference in their society.

The Voice’s major program entitled “The Dream” uses a combination of academic, Christian teachings, social service projects and inspirational lectures to prepare young people to become productive, responsible citizens.  Brother Ambassador Taylor became involved with the Voice early in his tenure, routinely speaking to gatherings about the African American experience and sharing life lessons, which can be used in any culture.  The embassy additionally provided the Voice with a twenty thousand dollar grant to specifically establish a mentoring program to better equip high school girls to compete in this male dominated society. 

Originally a program to help better prepare university students for the rigors of citizenship, the Voice is quickly gaining national prominence and recognition for providing Papua New Guinean youth alternatives by which to live fulfilling lives. 

A black democratic nation, of incredible natural beauty and mineral resource wealth, most citizens’ knowledge of The Untied States, and in particular African -Americans is confined to international media coverage, or to the elder generations experience with African American troops stationed in Papua New Guinea during WWII.

Despite the limited coverage, all genres of black music are enjoyed and the hip-hop style of dress is popular.   The generous donation of books will continue to contribute to the positive image of the United States and provide the youth associated with the “Voice” a deeper understanding of the African American experience, which is similar in some ways to their experience as an Australian settlers colony.