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

WATCH THE CURRENT EPISODE HERE

WATCH ALL PAST EPISODES HERE

                                       

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

***

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

CLICK ON THE FILE ABOVE TO WATCH THE CTV STORY

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE GAMMA PI CHORALE

CLICK ON THE FILE ABOVE FOR A ROUSING REVIEW

 

Another Successful Project ENRICH Year Closes With Annual Scholarship Banquet

The Memorial Day weekend is generally considered the unofficial start of the summer vacation season. But when it comes to our young people's education, Gamma Pi never takes a vacation. That is why the Brothers who work with Project ENRICH and the Charles Drew Memorial Scholarship Fund were all  "on duty" Saturday at the National Wildlife Visitors Center in Laurel along with a full contingent of parents and students for the Third Annual Scholarship Banquet.

The purpose of the scholarship banquet was to recognize seniors who received more than $5 million in scholarship funds this year, including 10 students from Prince George's County schools of which three were from Project ENRICH who received $3,000 each from the Charles Drew Memorial Scholarship Fund. In addition, the program honored essay contest winners who competed at all four grade levels (9-12) in April, as well as the Parent of the Year and the School of the Year for the just-completed 2024-25 academic calendar. 

This year's class was comprised of 35 seniors, 32 juniors, 22 sophomores and 14 freshmen, according to program chairman Bro. Dr. George Montgomery, Jr. These students come from 25 local schools.

American Urban Radio Network White House beat reporter Ebony McMorris brought forth a strong and interesting keynote speech that connected with students and parents. Her message centered on students -- and their parents -- seeing themselves through the lens of success, talent, and prosperity. " Speaking metaphorically about the power of the lens, she challenged the students, especially the seniors, to capture their stories, shape their images and keep the "focus" on their stories. "Each of you were born at the right time and chosen for a time such as this. What will you do with the lens that you have been given?"

Students also heard from Charles Drew chairman Bro. Brett Blake, along with vice chair Bro. Willie Hines, Bro. Dr. John Howard, Bro. Brian K. Long, former program director Bro. James Riley, Jr. and Gamma Pi Basileus Bro. Eric Fields, who reminded students that getting a scholarship was about more than just the money but also about the responsibility to use it to achieve success.

This year Project ENRICH will celebrate 40 years. It began with a plan to close the education gap between Black and White students. In the program's existence, a total of 922 students have completed Project ENRICH with a 100% college placement rate. Also during this time the Charles Drew Memorial Scholarship Fund has awarded $1.5 million to deserving Prince George's County seniors and Project ENRICH scholars.

At the end of the program, students and families enjoyed a hearty catered meal at the venue. You can see more photos here. You can also view, download and save the official program guide at this link.

"Day of Remembrance" Recalls Departed Members of the Gamma Pi Family

Gamma Pi Brothers pose with families

Every year, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. honors its departed members with areawide Memorial Services. This year, the Gamma Pi Chapter took it a step further by organizing a chapter Memorial Service that paid tribute to Brothers who have entered Omega Chapter as well as family members of chapter Brothers who have gone on. The service was held on Saturday, March 22, at Mount Nebo AME Zion Church in Bowie, where Bro. Dr. Gerald Folsom serves as pastor.

More than 100 Brothers and family members turned out for the occasion. It was anything but solemn. It was uplifting, inspirational and celebratory of the lives that had been lived. The tone was set by Bro. Lt. Gen. (ret.) Rev. R. Scott Dingle, who brought a message of hope and help to the families and Brothers who are all left behind as survivors. Tears were replaced with laughter and fond memories. The focus was on recent passings from the past few years. 

Bro. Rev. Dingle delivers the Word 

With the subject "Pick Up Your Harp," Bro. Dingle encouraged the gathered to continue singing their song despite the grief from their losses, acknowledging that while grief is never-ending, it can be buttressed with the praise of "singing your song" with your harp. Bro. Rev Dingle received a Gamma Pi Scroll of Honor from the Basileus, Bro. Eric Fields.

Bro. Dingle's message obviously resonated. Many of the family members who got up to speak about their loved during the end of the program referenced his remarks and the hope and peace he gave them with The Word. The symbol of the harp was powerful.

The program included musical selections, a poem, a marking of the occasion as well as remarks from Basileus Fields and religious leaders in the chapter. Also, the families were moved when the names on the Scroll of Remembrance slowly flashed up on the screen.

Congrats to Brothers Reginald Thomas and Ronald Swann, co-chairs of the chapter's Protocol Committee, for organizing the event which was the vision of Gamma Pi Basileus Fields. 

Photos courtesy of Brothers John Robinson, Kevin Briscoe and Don Cook

MORE PHOTOS HERE

These are all members of the program team

Bro. Basileus addresses the crowd 

Bro. Rev. Dingle shows off
 Scroll of Honor

Family member  recalls memories