Project ENRICH Ends Another Successful Year on a High Note

To hear Antoinette Mason tell it, she did not want to be there in the first place. Not at the start. She absolutely hated coming to Project ENRICH and only came to the program, as a ninth grader, because she had to. But on yesterday she was able to look back and see a lot of personal growth and growing confidence in her own abilities as she heads off to college. Mason was named winner of the "Perseverance" award for the senior class by Brother Lucien Cox, who heads the seniors group. She was among a number of students who joined parents, friends and members of Gamma Pi for the closing ceremony for Project ENRICH to mark the end of the 2012-13 academic year.

Project ENRICH Seniors

More than 100 people packed a large room at Vista Gardens in Bowie for a fantastic program that highlighted the year, recognized the achievements of outstanding students and gave a vision for their future -- especially the seniors. Director Willie Hines, a longtime member of Gamma Pi, also offered a look into the future of Project ENRICH next year as the program looks to continue its expansion and also welcome in a new freshman class next August. One component he hopes to build into next year's program is more independent study where students can self-tailor more of their activities.

Saluting the Seniors

Yesterday, the focus was on the program's seniors and what the four years of participation has ingrained in them as they prepare for college. That was a way of reaching back to the juniors, sophomores and freshman about what to look forward to as they continue their high school studies toward college. The seniors took turns recalling their Project ENRICH experiences through the four years: field trips,college tours, career day talks and of course the annual April essay contest. The seniors passed along advice to the students they are believing behind and evoked a specials sense of pride as they announced their college choices for the Fall: Morgan State University, Towson University, Maryland-Eastern Shore, Frostburg State, Virginia State and even faraway paces like the University of Alabama and Tennessee, where one student is enrolled in a joint program at Fisk University-Vanderbilt University.

The Gamma Pi Project ENRICH Support Team 

A recent alumnus of the program, Nathan Jones, offered an inspirational talk about being prepared and how Project ENRICH helped him make the transition from high school to college, where he is a rising sophomore at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. A parent, Cecilia Lawrence, also spoke to the group about the benefits she realized through the participation of her son who is a rising junior. Brother Ikey Staton, Gamma Pi Vice Basileus, brought greetings on behalf of Brother Gordon Everett, Sr., Basileus.

MacKenzie Summer was given the top honor yesterday by being named the "#1 senior" in Project ENRICH. In addition to her and Antoinette Mason (Perseverance award winner), other senior award winners were Miracle Iweala (Manhood), Adam Pinkney (Scholarship) and Cesi Taboada (Uplift). Brother Cox personally pledged $800 of his own money toward tuition for the four award winners -- $200 for each winner representing the Omega Psi Phi Four Cardinal Principles: Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance and Uplift.

Winners of the annual essay contest were also recognized for each grade level. Freshmen: Rudy Jules, Donovan Fowler (First place); Gammon Gresham (Second); Willie Hines (Third).  Sophomores: Brandon Jones (First), Makyla Massie (second), and Aaron Lorenzo (Third). Juniors: Shayne Dennis (|First); Niaye Greene, Brittany Jennings (Second); Chidera Ken-anueyiagu (Third). Seniors: MacKenzie Summer (First); Ragime Young (Second); Cesi Taboada, Miracle Iweale (Third)

Celebrating "40" With a Commitment to Scholarship

For Gamma Pi, which is celebrating 40 years, Project ENRICH represeinnts the chapter's commitment to the Cardinal Principle of Scholarship. It is operated in conjunction with the academic year and focuses on students in the Prince George's County schools. The students meet one week a month at Bowie State University for lectures, activities, informational sessions and hearing from experts about college financial aid and scholarships.

In addition to Brothers Hines and Cox, the Project ENRICH teams also consists of Brothers Lawrence Branch, Otis Fowler, Brett Blake and Don Norwood (Juniors), 

You can watch the entire Project ENRICH closing ceremony on the Web at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/gamma-pi-on-location. The program was broadcast live and is 65 minutes long. Also, visit Project ENRICH on the web at www.projectenrich.org or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/projectenrichprogram

Here are some photos from the event provided by Brother Norwood:

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Merry Christmas From Gamma Pi - In April

When the call comes in from local organizers to Gamma Pi to participate in the annual Christmas In April project, the Brothers from the Super Chapter answer mightily. The Brothers grab hammers, nails, drills, shovels and even gardening tools and come on the scene ready to help a neighbor in distress with home repairs. It was no different Saturday morning April 27 as the Brothers converged on a home in Capitol Heights, Maryland to help a senior citizen.

Under the leadership of Brother Anthony Kelly, who has organized recent Christmas in April projects for the chapter, Brothers from Gamma Pi helped the family at the residence on Orange Tree Court by installing a backyard ramp, a storage shed and by painting and doing yard work.  More than 30 Brothers showed up throughout the morning. The home for this year's project was not experiencing the kind of disrepair the chapter has seen in recent years. But that is because the initial residence Gamma Pi was scheduled to work on was damaged in an overnight fire and Brothers had to regroup at the last minute to the neat brick Orange Tree Court home. But we are Ques and regrouping on short notice is not a problem.Omega men are adaptable and quick-responding.

Throughout the years, Christmas in April has been an important aspect of Gamma Pi's
social action agenda. Brothers have helped local residents in underserved areas by installing drywall, painting, fixing floors, restoring bathrooms, addressing plumbing issues, cleaning up and removing refuse and even performing some carpentry. Many Gamma Pi men can quickly switch from their professional skill to their "background talent," which covers many of the tasks needed for Christmas in April projects.

As the chapter celebrates its 40th year, it is easy to see why Gamma Pi is a three-time Chapter of the Year and Social Action Chapter of the year winner in the Second District. Another job well done.

Celebrating Precious Seniors Birthdays Omega Style

By Brother Tommie Boone

Seniors gather around food and games

The older you get, the more precious and blessed birthdays become. And on March 27, 2013, the seniors of Windsor Crossing were waiting for the men of Omega Psi Phi (specifically Gamma Pi chapter) to dazzle and entertain in leading the monthly Birthday Bash at the residence. After all, the Brothers of Gamma Pi know how to have a good time and they did not disappoint them. 

The Senior Birthday Bash for March was celebrated with cake, ice cream, and several fun games of B-I-N-G-O.  These games not only blessed them with cash prizes and gift cards, but also blessed the Brothers with lots of smiles and laughter.

Time spent with seniors is gratifying and rewarding. All of us hope to achieve that status one day and often our seniors are forgotten.The seniors expressed their gratitude with hugs, cheers and their eagerness for the next visit.We had a great time and saw firsthand another example of what Uplift is all about. Below are some photos from this afternoon of fellowship and fun with those who paved the way for all of us.

Editor's Note: In recent months the Birthday Bash has been handled by Gamma Pi's newest inductees, Genesis X, which joined the Fraternity in the Spring of 2011.

Helping Young People Grow While Showing Them How to Grow Food

Normally, kids don't like to eat their vegetables. It's just not as much fun as hot dogs, hamburgers, fries and potato chips and ice cream. But let those kids "get dirty" and dig big holes in the ground and then plant seeds in the soil and watch those seeds sprout into carrots, tomatoes and peppers,  and their eyes light up. That was how youth in the Kentland Community reacted today when the Brothers of Gamma Pi kicked off spring with a "groundbreaking" event to demonstrate the concepts of gardening by helping youth plant their own garden. Over the next few weeks, the youth will check on and water their gardens and watch dirt turn to nutritious vegetables.

The youth are part of Que Kidz, a special ongoing monthly outreach and enrichment program for disadvantaged children sponsored by  Gamma Pi chapter. Sister4 Sister, a local social service organization also operating in the county, and Patuxent Nursery, jointly sponsored the April 20 groundbreaking with Gamma Pi. Coincidentally, it was timed with Earth Day which is April 22.

During today's program, the youth were able to out into practice what they have learned in recent months about gardening and healthy eating. Those lessons came to life and they were excited. They ripped open plastic bags of soil and poured the contents into planting sacks. They held tiny seeds in their hands. They dug holes and lowered the planting sacks into the ground and even dded a little water. It became "hands on." The weather was just right for gardening. It was a clear, sunny day with just a little breeze.

The focus of QueKidz this year has been the importance of adding healthy foods and natural foods to the diet to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Along with that lesson, the children, ranging in age from 8 to 13, have been exposed to soil cultivation and where fruits and vegetables come from. Their parents may bring them home from Safeway and Gian and other markets, but they start out as seeds in the ground. A few weeks ago the youth were treated to an exciting field trip to the nearby  Patuxent Nursery.

“Many of the youths in this community have never seen or heard of a garden, and what we hope to accomplish with this project is not only to expose them to gardening, but to heighten their curiosity about things they don’t know about which keeps them yearning to learn,” said Brother Orlando McDowell, organizer of QueKidz and a member of Gamma Pi chapter. “Kentland kids generally do not have the same opportunities to get out and enjoy wholesome learning and enrichment activities on a Saturday morning as do kids in more prosperous communities.” The video segment above is one of several posted on Gamma Pi's YouTube channel.