78th Second District Conference of Omega Psi Phi: They Said It Would Be A Big Deal, But It Was Bigger Than That!

Photo by David Sierra

You know how it goes, you get ready to host an event and you tell everyone, "this is going to be big!" Nine times out of 10, it ends up being just OK and not living up to the hype. But in the case of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. 78th Second District Conference held at the National Harbor Maryland, April 30-May 3, it was everything that was expected and more. It clearly was and will go down in Omega history as the GDOAT - the Greatest District Meeting Of All Time!

There was a record number of Fraternity members in attendance (more than 1,100 registrations, the limit), celebrity speakers, high-profile social action activities conducted throughout the local community during the conference, and lots of first-class entertainment and social options. In what amounted to three full days, the Brothers from The Mighty Second District packed a ton of business activities and community and social events into a short time frame that practically amounted to an extended weekend.

Bros. Laurence Hawkins and Terrance Hare
 of Gamma Pi get award from
39th District Rep. Bro. Amir Shareef

For Omega, the annual District Conference also represents the election of officers and the formal transition of leadership for the new year, Bro. Amir Shareef presided over the conference as the outgoing, two-term District Representative for the five-state region. Bro. Leon Smith II of Omicron Chi chapter in Plainfield, NJ, moved into the role as the new and 40th District Representative after serving as First Vice District Representative.

For the Brothers of Gamma Pi and Iota Mu Mu chapters, it was the culmination of eight solid months of planning. Bro. Richard Allison II of Gamma Pi served as District Marshal overseeing the planning and organization.

For Gamma Pi, the district conference had an especially exciting ending as The Super Chapter was named Large Graduate Chapter of the Year for 2024-25 by the Second District Achievement Week Committee. Gamma Pi was selected for the award based on the contents of its comprehensive scrapbook detailing all of its social action and community service activities during that particular year.

The Brothers of Gamma Pi humbly accepted the prestigious award and are moving forward with pride to represent all of the hardworking Brothers of the Mighty Second District in the competition for International Graduate Chapter of the Year. That award will be given at the upcoming 85th Grand Conclave in Cincinnati in July-August. The Second District snakes through New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland.

Brothers listen in during a session

The highlight of the National Harbor conference was the Public Forum. The star-studded event was attended by a packed, no-seats-available audience numbering above 1,000 persons -- many from the public -- and featured Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, U.S. Representative James Clyburn and famed trial attorney Benjamin Crump, who discussed the political climate and civic responsibility in the wake of the upcoming mid-term elections in November. Maryland head football coach Michael Locksley introduced the governor. Clyburn, Crump and Locksley are members of the fraternity.

During the conference, groups of Omega men peeled off from the official meeting to complete a variety of community service projects in Prince George's County: a gun buyback with Prince George's County Police, an expungement fair, donation of wheelchairs to a seniors residential complex, a STEM program for county high school students, held on-site blood drive  and PSA screening events and orchestrated the the always-anticipated districtwide Omega Talent Hunt, which was won by a contestant from Theta Xi Nu Chapter in Fort Washington, MD. Brothers also visited local women's and men's shelters in Prince George's County on Wednesday, April 29, a day before the conference officially began. The gun buyback was covered by WUSA Channel 9 and CTV  News and included an on-camera interviews with Bros. Tiresias McCall and Rick Allison.

Bro. Leon Smith II
40th District Rep.

In addition to the prestigious Large Graduate Chapter of the Year Award, Gamma Pi was also honored with several other citations for its social action work in the community during the past year.

On the social side, a Marchdown and three separate late-night parties -- including one featuring DCVYBE Band live -- all were sold out. Pi Chapter of Morgan State won the Marchdown and will represent the Second District at the Conclave in Cincinnati. The Undergrad Party. The Friday Night Groove. The Black Party all sold out. There was no more room in the house.

And, the usually quiet ecumenical service, normally held on Sunday morning, was a big hit in the Saturday morning time slot and featured the strong voices of the Gamma Pi Chorale (watch video).

Clearly the 78th District Conference weekend was a very successful weekend with record-setting attendance but also with a mix of activities for every individual taste and preference for Brothers along with their family and friends and the local community.

"I’m thrilled that Gamma Pi was awarded the Second District 2024-25 Large Graduate Chapter of the Year," said Basileus Bro. Terrance Hare. "These accolades and the great execution of the conference are a testament to the hard work and commitment of the Gamma Pi brothers. It’s truly inspiring to see what we can accomplish together!"

           GAMMA PI and the SECOND DISTRICT ON LOCAL TV

WUSA Channel 9 Local News April 30, 2026

CTV LOCAL NEWS - April 30, 2026

ACCESS ADDITIONAL PHOTOS AND VIDEO CLIPS HERE

FROM BROS. DAVID SIERRA, GEORGE DUBOSE, RONALD YOUNG

                    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Grand Basileus Ricky Lewis, left

Waiting for the Public Forum 

Bro. Coach Michael Locksley

Bro Eric Fields greets Attorney Ben Crump

Brother giving blood at the American Red Cross drive

    

U.S. Rep. Bro. James Clyburn (D-SC)

at book signing

50-year-plus Brothers with their new gold jackets

Brothers taking care of business

Brothers pose with police after gun buyback

THE SCRAMBLE IS ON! For Tickets, Passes, Connections, Hotel Rooms, Schedules ...The Omega Psi Phi District Conference is Almost Here

Updated on April 24, 2026

Watch this short clip and you will be making plans
 to meet us at the National Harbor on April 30!!!

It's less than a month away. Excitement is beginning to build up throughout the DMV. People are making calls, sending frantic emails and texting until their fingers hurt. As the big event draws nigh, everybody is trying to sink their hooks into the upcoming happenings at the five-state 78th Second District Conference of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. that will take place at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at the fabulous National Harbor of Maryland April 30-May 3. It's already being billed as the GDOAT - the Greatest District Conference of All Time!

Is it too late for Brothers to register? Where does the public get information? Where is everything being held? What's on tap for the entertainment and where do I get tickets? Can I bring my friends to the events? I heard about the March Down ... when and where?

Brothers of Omega are finalizing plans to make this the biggest weekend the area has seen in years at one of the most exciting venues along the Atlantic Coast.

WORD is getting out that Omega Psi Phi is coming to town for business. Yes, it's about business, but in the course of the entire weekend, which is expected to draw more than 3,000 Omegas to the National Harbor, there will be downtime and entertainment for everyone. DMV residents are looking to experience the full vibe from the conference.

Even local TV has the "411" on the upcoming conference. Below is a link to a TV broadcast about the conference featuring the two leads on the planning, Bro. Amir Shareef, who leads the Second District as the elected District Representative, and Bro. Richard Allison II, who is the District Marshal. Both are members of Gamma Pi Chapter.

Both Shareef and Allison were interviewed about the conference on Gamma Pi Chapter's local public access TV show, "Community UPLIFT," which is broadcast every Friday (7 p.m.) and Saturday (4 p.m.) on Comcast (Ch. 76) and Verizon (42) in Prince George's County and worldwide via livestream at www.pgctv.org.

OMEGA MEN CAN STILL REGISTER FOR FULL OR WEEKEND PACKAGES HERE   

                                      

          WATCH THE FULL SPECIAL EPISODES OF COMMUNITY UPLIFT 

    PART II OF THE SERIES - ACTIVITIES, DATES, TIMES

                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                     

Project ENRICH Closes the Year with Essay Presentations and a Final "Check"

On Saturday,  April 4, while working away at the home of the flock he oversees, Greater Mount Nebo AME Church in Bowie, MD Bro. Rev. Dr. Gerald Folsom was called to come into the sanctuary where he was escorted down to the pulpit by two familiar Omega men from Gamma Pi chapter. They weren't asking him to preach (though he is always ready!), but they instead wanted to say thanks and present him with a gift. 

With a symbolic oversized check, Project ENRICH director Bro. Dr. George Montgomery along with Basileus Bro. Terance Hare and Bro. John Howard presented Bro. Rev. Dr. Folsom a $1,500 check from the Charles Drew Memorial Scholarship Fund as a way of saying thanks for his church coming to Project ENRICH's rescue by providing  a meeting place for several months. The situation developed after Project ENRICH was essentially "forced out" of a federal facility that was suddenly closed during the long government shutdown that occurred during a federal budget battle last fall. 

At the time of the shutdown, Project ENRICH was just a few days away from its next meeting date and faced the real possibility of having to cancel the October session which happened to be the opening session of the 2025-26 academic year.  Once he heard about the crisis, Bro. Rev. Dr. Folsom opened the doors of the church for the October 11 session and the program remained there throughout the program's academic year.  As they say, "the rest is history!"

Meanwhile on Saturday, Project ENRICH students, with many parents gathered, brought down the curtain on a challenging but successful year with their essay presentations. They split into groups by class designation and one-by-one they took turns striding up to the front of the room to give their 3-minute presentations on their assigned topics.

Each student received constructive feedback from a Project ENRICH staff member. The assigned topics were as follows: 

• Explain specific strategies and initiatives to address pressing issues and foster positive change (freshmen);
• Examine the qualities that make for exceptional leaders (sophomores)
• Discuss choosing the right college, major, and career path (juniors)
• Discuss the relationship between career aspirations and the journey towards entrepreneurship (seniors)

The top three essays from each grade will be awarded $500, $400 and $300 respectively. The written essays were graded in advance and the students then had to deliver the essays orally at the April 4 session.

A week prior to the closing session, students attended an HBCU Expo in Washington, D.C.

"Several of our outstanding juniors received on-the-spot college admissions and scholarship offers, with a handful earning full-ride scholarships. This is a testament to their preparation, dedication, and commitment to excellence. Congratulations to these hardworking students," said Bro. Dr. Montgomery, who is finishing up his second year as Project ENRICH Director.

Last year's senior class received a record-high $5.4 million in college scholarships and this year's graduating class has already surpassed that total. The Project ENRICH end-of-the-year scholarship banquet is scheduled for May 28. Follow the Project ENRICH website for more information about the banquet.

FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER: Bro. Ben Greene Gets One Step Closer to Achieving A Huge Academic Goal

When Gamma Pi Brothers do big things, they don't always happen locally. Case in point -- Bro. Ben Greene, who was initiated at Gamma Pi in 2017, left the area more than two years ago to further his studies some 800 miles away from the DMV, at Alabama State University in Montgomery. Today, Bro. Greene has reached a milestone that puts him very close to achieving his goal, which will be marked with a formal ceremony upcoming on Friday, April 24. The program will be livestreamed.

On that date at 4 p.m., Bro. Greene and fellow Doctor of Physical Therapy program classmates will be honored in a white coat and pinning ceremony at Alabama State University, in the Ralph D. Abernathy Building. Because his ceremony is this year, it means that Bro. Greene is in the Class of 2027. Showing off his Omega leadership skills, Bro. Greene is the class president for 2027.

"This is like a rite of passage ceremony as I go into my last year of the program. I'm excited about being one year away from being done," Bro. Greene said in a recent interview. "This accomplishment means I am one step away from my ultimate goal."

Bro. Greene is a 2011 Morehouse College graduate with a B.A. in Kinesiology.

The Physical Therapy program is a three-year academic endeavor which makes one eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Exam administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. A license is needed to practice physical therapy.

Black physical therapists remain significantly underrepresented in the United States, comprising only about 3.6% to 5% of the workforce. This disparity is driven in part by systemic barriers, including limited access to educational pathways and the high cost of training, which restrict entry into the profession. The lack of diversity has meaningful implications for patient care, particularly in communities where culturally competent care and provider trust are essential to improving health outcomes.

The impact of this underrepresentation is reflected in both the pipeline and patient experience. Recent data show that only about 3% of physical therapy graduates are African American, reinforcing the ongoing gap in representation. At the same time, Black patients are up to 44.8% less likely to attend physical therapy for conditions such as arthritis, due in part to structural barriers and longstanding mistrust in the healthcare system. Efforts by organizations such as the American Academy of Physical Therapy, the National Association of Black Physical Therapists (NABPT), and the USC BKNPT Black Alumni Association are working to address these challenges by supporting Black professionals and strengthening pathways into the field.

Gamma Pi sends a huge congratulations to Bro. Greene way down in Alabama, and all the Brothers of the Super Chapter look forward to the day we can call him doctor!