For Black History Month, Project ENRICH Students Hear About Life "Down in the Depths" and Then Give Their Own Inspiring Talks

Bro. Capt. Corey Barksdale, U.S. Navy
Keynote Speaker

Gamma Pi’s Project ENRICH college preparatory program kicked off Black History Month with a powerful session highlighting Black historical achievement on Saturday,  February 1, at the National Wildlife Visitors Center in Laurel. This month's session was anchored by two very exciting activities:  a highly inspiring keynote address by naval submarine commander Bro. Capt. Corey Barksdale, and a series of energetic presentations by Project ENRICH students who took turns expounding on the lives and accomplishments of oft-forgotten African American heroes.

More than 100 students and family members attended the February session. On one hand, the purpose of the special program was to bring Black History Month to life with the presence of a real-life African American hero, in the person of Naval Academy alumnus Bro. Barksdale, who told his story about pivoting from the depths of “hanging out with the wrong crowd” in a small town in Virginia to leading young men and women from the depths of a nuclear submarine for the United States Navy. The other consideration for hosting the Black History Month session was to provide Project ENRICH students an opportunity to hone public speaking and presentation skills before a live audience.

Bro. Capt. Barksdale with his son, Bro. McCory King, and
Project ENRICH  director Bro. Dr. George Montgomery

Bro. Capt. Barksdale led off the session with a rousing 20-minute stemwinder weaving together his personal story, his exciting and challenging naval career and training as well as his acquired philosophy about success and failure in a life that has made the best of all the ups and downs to get him to where he is today. Bro. Capt. Barksdale is one of 17 Black Naval officers to command a U.S. Navy submarine. He commanded the nuclear submarine USS Columbia in 2021. 

"Many of the people I hung out with where I grew up are either not here right now, they are locked up in prison or they are not really doing too well in their lives," Bro. Barksdale told the students. "But fortunately I was able to make it out of that environment and turn my life around."

Bro. Capt. Barksdale told the students that one of the people who was very instrumental in encouraging him to redirect his life towards higher pursuits is Gamma Pi chapter's own Bro. McCory King. They grew up together in Matoaca, Virginia in Chesterfield County. Bro. King was in attendance to welcome his homeboy and Frat Brother to Project ENRICH. Bro. Capt. Barksdale now works for the Joint Chiefs at the Pentagon.

In closing, Bro. Capt. Barksdale left the students with this thought: "Each of you has the potential to go far beyond where you think you can go ... Success is not about what you accomplish. It's about how you handle the journey. You've got to have the right attitude. Your attitude is what's going to help you overcome challenges."

This student talks about legendary ABC newsman Max Robinson

During the Black History Month presentations, all of the Project ENRICH students participated. Using Power Point slides projected on large conference style screens, they took turns introducing the audience of parents and friends to lesser known Black History heroes.

The lineup of heroes and their presenters was long but informative. It included the likes of Disney creative engineer Lanny Smoot, inventor Frederick McKinley Jones, Marsha Williams, the first African American woman to earn a Ph D. in Computer Science and Amelia Boynton Robinson, the first African American woman to run for Congress, all under the watchful eye of Project ENRICH chairman Bro. Dr. George Montgomery.

For Gamma Pi, it was a memorable occasion and certainly a high water moment in the 40-plus years of Project ENRICH. To learn more about Project ENRICH, visit the web site.

Below are some other snapshots from the program:

Bro. Capt. Barksdale poses with Omega men

Happy Holidays from Gamma Pi -- The Super Chapter Goes to Work for Thanksgiving and Christmas

Gamma Pi Brothers Take a Break 

at the Holiday Extravaganza

You did not have to get all the way inside Panorama Elementary in Temple Hills, Md on Wednesday night, December 4, to know something big was happening. A huge red fire truck was parked out front with its emergency lights flashing and the engine running. A couple of county police cars were also parked not too far away with their blue and red lights flashing. It may have looked like there was trouble brewing, but not at all. Inside the school building it was all fun and excitement as more than 400 people enjoyed hot food, games, Christmas photos, toy giveaways and time with Santa. Welcome to Gamma Pi Chapter's 2024 Holiday Extravaganza.

Bro. John Morgan, Jr. surveys the huge crowd

Once again, the hardest working men in Omega Psi Phi were at it. The Brothers of Gamma Pi Chapter do not let anything or anybody stand in their way when it comes to delivering much-needed services and support to the community, especially when it comes to helping the youngest and oldest among us -- the seniors and the kids. In this case, Gamma Pi, the Super Chapter, was ringing in the holidays with tangible forms of cheer and good tidings.

The Christmas event, organized and executed by the chapter's Social Action committee, was planned for Panorama parents and students but it turned into a community affair. It did not really matter as there was more than enough food, toys and other gifts and Holiday Spirit to go around.

Bro. William "Santa" Lloyd

"I'm glad how it worked out. We had a great partnership with Panorama Elementary. It was a collaborative effort, said Bro. John Morgan, Jr., Social Action chairman for Gamma Pi. "The kids enjoyed it and that's all that counts."

If you stood inside the cafeteria-auditorium, where most all of the action took place, and looked around, there were lines everywhere. Lines for food. Lines for the raffles. Lines for holiday photos. Lines to sit and talk with Santa (Bro. William Lloyd). And lines for toys and Christmas trees. The toys were a wide variety -- motorized cars and trucks, dolls, action figures, games, puzzles and more. And more than a few students and parents could be seen wheeling new bicycles through the crowd. It looked like Christmas came early.

It was evident from the sheer number of people that this was Gamma Pi's largest-ever Christmas party.  The patrons attending the party would have not have fit into two airplanes.

Several local leaders stopped by, including Bro. County Councilman Calvin Hawkins, who said: "This is a prime opportunity for families to come together and celebrate the Christmas season in a safe and festive environment. Great job Gamma Pi!"

Bro. Tiresias McCall delivers

A few days before the Christmas event, the Brothers and Social Action committee helped seniors in the Forestville and Temple Hills communities enjoy Thanksgiving. On Saturday, November 23, a large contingent of Gamma Pi Brothers unloaded, repacked and delivered free Thanksgiving packages containing turkeys and trimmings to more than 100 seniors at Trinity Terrace in Temple Hills and Cheval Court in Forestville. Both dwellings are reserved for seniors.

"Our social action team does a real good job of identifying areas of need and planning activities for us to provide support in those areas," said Basileus Bro. Eric Fields. "We do an even better job of executing those plans when the time comes."

PHOTOS BY BRO. GEORGE DUBOSE

Bro. Basileus Eric Fields and Bro. Councilman Calvin Hawkins 

present turkey to one of the residents

Bro. Kerry Wilson (left) and Vice Basileus Bro. Terrance Hare

 present bicycle to young family at Christmas event

Bro. Morgan and Hare unload Thanksgiving food boxes

Brothers transfer Thanksgiving packages from the truck

Bro. Shake Alieu leads the way with Thanksgiving food boxes

Gamma Pi TV Releases New Episode Highlighting Project ENRICH

The host Denise Roberts and Guests

For nearly 40 years, Gamma Pi Chapter's Project ENRICH college preparatory program has paved the way for more than 900 students in the Greater Prince George's County community to enter and succeed in college. As Project ENRICH swings into high gear for the 2024-25 academic year, Gamma Pi looks back at how the program started and what has kept it going even during the challenges of COVID, in a special episode of the chapter's "Community UPLIFT" over-the-air television show. 

WATCH THE NEW EPISODE HERE.

"Community UPLIFT" airs every Friday (8 p.m.) and Saturday (4 p.m.) on Comcast (Ch. 76) and Verizon FiOS (Ch. 42) cable systems in Prince George's County and surrounding areas. 

The 30-minute Project ENRICH episode debuted on Friday, November 8. It features current program director Bro. Dr. George Montgomery and past directors Bros. Willie Hines and James Riley, Jr., as guests, along with regulars Bro. Basileus Eric Fields and host Denise Roberts.

"Community UPLIFT" is recorded by Prince George's County TV (PGCTV) at its Largo, MD studio. Gamma Pi started broadcasting the show in 2016. The inaugural episode spotlighted Project ENRICH, which at the time was headed by Bro. Willie Hines and was being held at Bowie State University.

Gamma Pi is the only chapter in the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. that has its own regular, studio-produced TV show.

View past episodes here

 

Gamma Pi Chapter Brings in Achievement Week with Powerful Program and Timely Message

Bro. Lloyd Jordan, 36th Grand Basileus 

Each year, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. looks back and ahead at the progress and promise within the local communities it serves. For the Super Chapter, whose home area is Prince George's County, there was a lot to look to in both directions. Looking back, Gamma Pi recently celebrated 50 years of dedicated service in the Greater Prince George's area, from its successful food drives during the COVID crisis to its Project ENRICH  program that has helped prepare more than 900 students for college over the years. Looking ahead, Gamma Pi is on course to help change the trajectory of even more young lives with new fatherhood and mentoring programs as well as a STEM initiative to help steer youth into high-paying technical careers. All of this was top of mind during the Achievement Week community awards program held at the Harmony Hall Arts Center in Fort Washington, MD on Saturday, November 9 at 3 p.m.

Gamma Pi shows up in a big way for Achievement Week

The theme for this year is, "Omega Men Building a Better Society with Friendship as the Foundation." This year's program was backdropped by a critically important national election that saw many in the African American community questioning the future and wondering if the best days are behind. It was a perfect platform for keynote speaker Bro. Lloyd Jordan, the 36th Grand Basileus of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., who delivered a powerful message of hope, rededication and engagement to a packed house of more than 150 people.

A full house was on hand

"What I want to say to you is something I've lost sleep over for some time. Brothers, it is so important for the Omegas to take over the leadership helm," said Bro. Jordan. "It's who we are because a special respect is given to Omega men. A special duty lies with Omega men. We need to do more. We need to come up with a draft plan and we need to work together."

In making his point, Bro. Jordan described how many other minority communities organized around merchant and business associations to keep their communities viable and create opportunities within, especially during challenging times.

Bro. Jordan was introduced at the podium by Gamma Pi's own Bro. Kenneth Rodgers, who is a past Grand Keeper of Records and Seal as well as a past two-term Second District Representative. Also in attendance was Gamma Pi Basileus Bro. Eric Fields. Keeper of Records and Seal Bro. David Jackson, and Achievement Week chairman Bro. Don Norwood, along with a host of other Brothers and their families.

Charter Member Bro. Tim McIntosh (3rd, left)

In addition to Bro. Jordan's uplifting remarks, Gamma Pi recognized the awarding of $60,000 in college scholarships to local high school seniors for the coming year through the Charles Drew Memorial Scholarship Fund. Also, one of the chapter's most distinguished members, Charter Member Bro. Tim McIntosh, who was also the first Basileus, was awarded his 65-year service pin by Bro. Jordan onstage. And of course, the main purpose of the event was to recognize Achievement Week award winners in the community and in Gamma Pi. Below is the list of honorees:

Community Award Winners

Gamma Pi Essay Winner: Ms. Cameron Perkins

Student Athlete of the Year: Ms. Kayla Greenwood

Educator of the Year: M. Christine Coleman-Warren

Religious Leader of the Year: Pastor Keith Battle

Citizen of the Year: Mr. Keith Turner

Gamma Pi Chapter Award Winners:

Superior Service Award: Bro. William Lloyd

Brigadier Young Military Award: Bro. John Cheatham

Founders Award; Bro. William McCottry

Omega Man of the Year: Bro. Michael Locksley

PHOTOS BY BROTHER GEORGE DUBOSE

Kayla Greenwood

Cameron Perkins

Bro. William Lloyd

Rev. Keith Battle

Keith Turner

Bro. John Cheatham

Christine Coleman-Warren

Bro. William McCottry