Gamma Pi's Coach Locksley Engineers a Much-Needed Drive for Mental Health Awareness

On the field, he calls the plays in high-pressure situations looking to get his team on the scoreboard. In life, he calls even tougher plays that help ordinary Americans deal with high-pressure situations brought on by the ups and downs of everyday living. Bro. Coach Michael Locksley, head football coach at the University of Maryland, took his battle against mental illness to the public airwaves recently as a guest on Gamma Pi's "Community UPLIFT" public access television show. The show was taped at PGCTV studios on June 24. Local personality Micheline Bowman served as the host.

Bro. Coach Locksley has become a leading advocate for mental health awareness including shining the spotlight on mental health needs in the African American comunity and in team sports. In fact, mental health counseling is a part of his football program at Maryland. A player on the Terrapins roster has as much access to mental health couseling as he would have to an ortophedist if he had sprained a knee. 

In recent years, Bro. Coach Locksley has sponsored community seminars on mental health in the local area through partnering with the chapter's Health Initiatives Committee. He has been interviewed by numerous media outlets about mental health issues, and his commitment to mental health awareness is driven by a well-publicized tragic personal family story. Bro. Coach Locksley was Gamma Pi Chapter's Omega Man of the Year in 2024.

Also interviewed on the set was Bro. Terrence "T.Wood" Woodbury, of Lambda Gamma Gamma Chapter, who runs a counseling firm, T. Wood and Associates. Bro. Woodbury also devotes time to educating and informing HBCU students on mental health and also leads a popular podcast, Triumphant Moments, about mental health awareness.

Bro. Basileus Eric Fields led off the show with an announcement and interview about Gamma Pi hosting the 78th Second District Conference next April at the Washington National Harbor.

Catch the entire progam when it airs in mid-July. Community UPLIFT is produced by Gamma Pi's Public Relations Committee and airs every Friday at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday at 4:00 p.m. on Comcast (channel 76) and Verizon FiOS (channel 42) in Prince George's County. The entire crew -- including camera operators, audio engineers and teleprompter operators --  is comprised of Gamma Pi members who have been formally trained. Watch this space for more details on the air date!

Thanks to Gamma Pi Brothers William Lloyd, Jeff Edwards, Courtland Smith, Anthony McAllister, Anthony Boyd and Geoffrey Collins for serving as the technical crew.

  

PHOTOS BY GEORGE DUBOSE

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Recordbreaking Success: Gamma Pi Holds The Largest Seniors Banquet In Its History

They came from miles around and by private cars, motor coach and shuttle vans. From all corners of Prince George’s County they came to Crossland High School in Temple Hills on Saturday, June 14, to eat, fellowship, pray and praise and be entertained. Another year, another Seniors Banquet sponsored by Gamma Pi Chapter and Friendship Charities, Inc. Except this time it was bigger than ever. About 300 seniors attended the Saturday June 14 banquet, which is three times the number from last year. This venue was much larger than previous events.

When Gamma Pi hosts our distinguished seniors, our chapter goes all out. There is sweet melodic Gospel music from the Gamma Pi chorale, audience singalongs, fun and games, prizes, and of course a hot hearty meal delivered to their tables by the Brothers of Gamma Pi and Friendship Charities. For Bro. Sheku Alieu, this was his 10th consecutive year organizing the banquet. The experience shows. It gets better each year and this year topped it all.

In addition to the music and games, there is always a Word from Above which this year was brought forth by Gamma Pi Chaplain Bro. Rev. Reggie Pickett. Planting his spiritual flag in Lamentations 3:19-24 (New International Version), Bro. Reggie Picket sent guests home with an assurance of the Lord’s coverage of our lives, despite our hardships and what may be going on in our lives or in society today. “Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed. For His compassion never fails.”

Words alone cannot do justice to the success of this event. below is a collection of video clips and photos from today. Thanks also to  Social Action chair Bro. John Morgan and to Bros. Eric Fields (Gamma Pi Basileus) and Bro. Lucien Cox (Friendship chairman) for coordinating support along with sponsors Wegman’s, Sardi’s and Bro. State Sen. Nick Charles, county councilwoman Krystal Oriadha and Food 4 Thought.

SEE ALL PHOTOS AND VIDEOS FROM BRO. GEORGE DUBOSE

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GAMMA PI on CTV LOCAL NEWS/PREVIEW (June 13, 2025)

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