Super Chapter Members Share Tips with Youth for Dreaming Big Career Goals

Bro Andrew Gibson talks to students

For the men of Gamma Pi chapter, nothing could be more about Scholarship and Uplift than reaching out personally to young students in our middle and high schools. Whether through the chapter’s flagship educational program, Project ENRICH, or through request by local schools for the men to come do Career Day or to talk to young black males about success and achievement, the chapter relishes such opportunities. Gamma Pi combined those opportunities over the holidays when it participated in a local high school Career Day and also sponsored the annual Career Showcase during a recent Project ENRICH Saturday.

Tyrese McAllister, wife of Bro.Anthony McAllister
 shares her career story with students 

The first event was held on December 3, when a contingent of Brothers from The Super Chapter visited with students at the high school level at Riverdale Baptist School in Upper Marlboro, Md. for a “Career Day” presentation. With a group of Brothers representing a diverse group of career backgrounds, from education to business to government, law and medicine, the Super Chapter has an excellent stable of men who all serve as positive career role models for today's students.

Among those presenting was Brother Anthony Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of Stewart Financial Services.  Brother Stewart is a statewide business star, having been named one of Maryland's Most Admired CEO's last summer by The Daily Record, a business and legal publication.  His focus was relaying to the students how he developed his financial and entrepreneurial expertise, encouraging them to aim higher in the same vein. The young students also heard from chapter members who are experts in veterinary medicine, sale and marketing, education, real estate and business and other entrepreneurs.

Brother Anthony Stewart talks finances with students

Right after the holiday, the Brothers kicked off the New Year with the annual Career Showcase sponsored by the chapter’s Project ENRICH program. Held at Bowie State once a month, the program helps prepare students and families over a four-year period (ninth through 12^th grades) for careers in college. On January 9, the chapter organized the annual Career Showcase. Several professionals from the community joined with Fraternity members in presenting a half-day look at various career options and the educational requirements for those jobs.

The Project ENRICH students heard from an actuary, a health care services administrator, an FBI special agent, an IT Auditor for the Federal Reserve Board, a management consultant and a forensic psychologist. As exciting as the various careers sounded, it was all about preparation. What courses do you take in college? What do you do in high school to get prepared? How much money can you earn? How many years of schooling are required to enter various career fields? How much travel is involved?  How do you get internship experience? Brother Willie Hines is director of the program.

The Ques posing for a photo at Riverdale

“When it comes to our young people and the Cardinal Principle of Scholarship, nothing could be more important than helping guide the talents and interests of our young people into productive, well-paying careers,” said Gamma Pi Basileus Brother Brian K. Long. “Ultimately that is the goal we all share in promoting Scholarship not only in Gamma Pi, but in the entire Fraternity.”

For Gamma Pi, UPLIFT Over the Holidays Means Thanksgiving Baskets and Christmas Toys

                                    Information contributed by Brother Mel White

The Brothers of Gamma Pi have been on the move during the Holiday Season helping bring good cheer and tangible holiday gifts to some of Prince George’s County’s most needy residents in communities where the chapter has anchored much of its work.

The work began on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, November 24, with the delivery of close to 100 complete turkey dinners to seniors in the Windsor Crossing complex in Suitland, Md. Each dinner consisted of a 12-14 lb turkey, mixed vegetables, green beans, candied yam patties, and a sweet potato pie. The Brothers of the Super Chapter joined by Friendship Charities Foundation, the brothers from Lambda Gamma Gamma chapter and local students. You cannot imagine the looks on the faces of residents who answered the knock at their door to large packages of Thanksgiving meals ready-to-cook. Because the turkeys are purchased frozen, the two-day lead time is perfect for the seniors to prepare their Thanksgiving dinner.

Precisely a week later, Gamma Pi Brothers helped get families ready for Christmas by sponsoring the annual Christmas Toy Drive for the Suitland community, held December 1 at Suitland Elementary School. Again, Gamma Pi joined forces with Lambda Gamma Gamma and the Friendship Charities Foundation to give away some 100 toys for boys and girls between the ages of 3 and 13.

As many people know, Royal Purple and Old Gold are the colors representing Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. For this reason, the only red and white in the house was that worn by Santa Claus, who, as always, delighted the youth by making his list and checking it twice with the young children who shared their Christmas Wish Lists with him.Happy Holidays from The Super Chapter!!

(thanks to Brothers Don Cook, Tony Kelley and Raphael Terrell for the photos) 

Click here for additional photos from Bro. Terrell

Gamma Pi Gazette - Newsletter - Summer 2015

Gamma Pi Gazette - Newsletter - Summer 2015

Gamma Pi Gives Local Disadvantaged Youth an Early Start to School

Full house for Back To School Event 

Summer is short. It seems like just a few weeks ago that Prince George's County students were saying their goodbyes as the school year came to a close. Now the doors are opening again on Tuesday, August 25. But on Saturday, the Super Chapter helped students and parents in the Kentland Community get a head start on success in the upcoming school year with a standing room only Back To School event that included a Backpack and School Supplies Giveaway.

The Kentland Community Center was packed. All the seats were taken. Young children and parents stood along the back wall of the room, peering over each others' heads to see. They were there to receive not just the much-needed free supplies, but to take in the special messages of inspiration and aspiration that were dished out by members of Gamma Pi -- including one school principal from the chapter -- and of the other partnering organizations. Those organizations were Sisters4Sisters and a local chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.

Partnering for Success

Brothers handing out the supplies 

Even though it was a backpack giveaway,. the underlying purpose was to give students in one of the most economically depressed areas of the county a running start on the school year. The program served to educate and motivate both parents and students to do their best and strive for the top this coming academic year. The emphasis was on parents and students working together for success. So many parents are not involved in their child's education. The Kentland Community is the home of Gamma Pi's Que KidzDayz program that provides fitness, health and cultural to youth from Kentland one Saturday each month.many of Saturday';s participants were from Que Kidz Dayz.

About 200 people attended today's very successful event. In addition to the backpacks, book bags and supplies, students and parents were treated to energetic and moving motivational speeches by Gamma Pi Brothers: Reggie Picket, Damian Goins and Donald Belle.

Brother Pickett brought a strong uplifting message of self-awareness and self-esteem to the students, telling them they were "very important people and you matter. You are just as important as the President of the United States. I am here today to talk to the most important people in the world and that is you.You are world-changers." Brother Pickett, a minister, related the story of being put in the lowest reading group in elementary school and being told he would become "nothing." He talked about how his other would never give up on him,"even after I messed up," and by middle school he had been moved to the Talented and Gifted program.

Gamma Pi men pose with Que Kidz Dayz youth

Brother Goins, an elementary school principal, challenged parents and students to get engaged and stay engaged throughout the school year. He had some strong advice to parents: if students are not pulling their load at school, they should feel a difference in the amenities they have access to at home. And finally, parents should realize they are failing theri children if theyhave "bigger TV's than libraries" at home. "Is the TV in your house larger than your kid's library? If you have a 50-inch screen and your son or daughter has less than 50 books at home, then who's failing?"

Bro. Belle, who is a science coordinator for the Prince George's County Schools, talked about his program as well as an upcoming camping expedition at the county's Camp Schmidt location. The Brothers managed to both excite and educate the crowd. It is clear that nobody does it like Gamma Pi.

A Full Slate of Activities

In addition to the inspirational messages, the community enjoyed a spiritual-focused magic show by The Wonder House Unlimited mother-daughter team, information about county school activities and programs, face painting for the kids and lots of hot dogs, chips and even cotton candy. It was a festive atmosphere that the children will never forget.

The highlight for many of the attendees was an abbreviated "hop show"put on by three of the most recent members to enter Omega Psi Phi through Gamma Pi: Kevin Ford, Jr., Wilbur H. Lucas III and David Jackson. During the step routines, they drew a standing ovation and attracted a few "copycats" in the audience in the process..

Once again, Gamma Pi scores a touchdown for Omega Psi Phi's legendary commitment to Scholarship! Congratulations to Brothers Orlando McDowell, Kevin Greenwood and the entire Que Kidz Dayz crew for planning an outstanding event. Check out these short video clips below.

Click on the Shutterfly link to access 24 additional photos from Bro. Raphael Terrell: Shutterfly Photos

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Bro Reggie Pickett on Having Good Self-Esteem

Bro. Damion Goins Talks About joint Parental-Student Responsibility

Carolyn White-Washington of Sisters4Sisters comments on the success

of the event and on working with Gamma Pi