There's No Talent Hunt Like Gamma Pi's Talent Hunt

Overall winner Kenji Yokote

Where else can you see or hear a cello player, classical dancers, sparkling vocalists, various instrumentalists, and stunning samples of breathtaking artwork? Only at Gamma Pi Chapter’s Annual Omega Talent Hunt program. And this year, as usual, the young people participating in the show brought the house down with some scintillating performances and art presentations on Saturday afternoon, March 9, at Charles Flowers High School in Springdale, MD. 

She's got real talent

In a span of three hours 19 students representing five local schools entertained and demonstrated why in Prince George’s County, “we’ve got talent.” All were high school students from grades 9-12. For their families and other observers, it was an uplifting and emotional time as they saw the outcome from many hours of grueling work and dedication the students put in over the months practicing and honing their skills, getting ready for the big day. The final participants were selected from tryouts in February.

While all the participants received trophies, the overall winner was Kenji Yokote, an 11th grader from Georgetown Day School who skillfully played the selection, “Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor,” on his attention-grabbing cello, which was clearly the largest handheld instrument in the show. He had an accompanist. Honors were also given to winners in the various categories: dance, vocals, instrumental classical and art. As the overall winner, Yokote will represent Gamma Pi Chapter in the 2024 Second District Talent Hunt competition that will be held April 25-28 during the 76th Second District meeting at Valley Forge, PA.

Voice of a star

“We have such a great collection of talented students here in Prince George’s County,” said Bro. William Lloyd, who is Gamma Pi’s Talent Hunt chairman. “Every year the students get better and better, and they never cease to amaze me. I believe this was one of the best shows we have had in years.”

Category winners were as follows: Ibukun Akinterinwa (Art), Kendyll Melton (Vocal), Angel Obidike (Dance), Jordan Javon (Piano Classical), Elijah Aluko (Piano Jazz), Joseph Bayote (Instrumental Classical). Cash prizes amounted to $300 for category winners, $200 for second place and $300 for third place.

One of the offbeat highlights of the occasion was the entertaining comic relief provided by Bro. George Montgomery, who served as emcee. Bro. Montgomery kept the crowd loose with his karaoke-style singing and “name that tune” back-and-forth in between the breaks. Each time, he took the audience down memory lane with a different decade in R&B music, including the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and into the 2000s. Bro. Montgomery, like the students, received a rousing round of applause at the end.

This year’s Talent Hunt marked the second consecutive year the program has returned to in-person status after three years of video on-demand during the pandemic.

Photos by Bro. George DuBose

Bro. Basileus Eric Fields

Bro. William Lloyd, Chairman

Bro. George Montgomery, Emcee

 

 

Gamma Pi's Bro. Teddy Taylor Named to Prestigious Diplomatic Board

by Bro. Kyle Randolph Bacon

HONOLULU (March 1, 2024) Antony J. Blinken, the US Secretary of State, has recently announced the appointment of five new members to the Board of Governors of the East-West Center. Among the newly appointed members is Ambassador (Ret.) Brother Teddy Taylor, a prominent figure in the Gamma Pi Chapter. Brother Taylor had a distinguished 40-year career in the US Foreign Service, having served in various parts of the world, including Central America, Europe, the Caribbean, the South Pacific, and Africa. From 2009-20012, Brother Taylor served concurrently as the United States Ambassador to the Republics of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.   

 

Bro. Taylor held several other noteworthy positions, including Consul General in Cape Town, South Africa, Diplomat in Residence at Howard University and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Human Resources, in the latter assignment, Ambassador Taylor was responsible for overseeing the activities of a global multi-national human capital footprint of 75,000 personnel and a budget of over $3 billion. With his extensive experience and impressive track record, Bro. Ambassador Taylor is a valuable addition to the Board of Governors of the East-West Center.

 

“ I want to thank Secretary Blinken for the opportunity to serve once again. Serving the nation is always a humbling honor," said Bro. Taylor. "I enthusiastically look forward to working with colleagues fulfill the Center’s mission."

 

The East-West Center fosters mutual understanding and better relationships between the United States, Asia, and the Pacific. The Center, established in 1960 by the US Congress, is an independent, public, nonprofit organization that promotes cooperative study, research, and dialogue among individuals from these regions.

 

As a resource for information and analysis, the Center brings diverse groups of people together to exchange views, build expertise, and develop policy options. To fulfill its mission, the Center receives funding from the US government and additional support from the region's private agencies, individuals, foundations, corporations, and governments.

 

The East-West Center contributes to advancing peace and prosperity by promoting mutual understanding and cooperation among its stakeholders.

Read Bro. Taylor's Medium blog post from 2015 when he was stationed in Cape Town, South Africa as the U.S. Consul General: "Seven Months on the Move"

 Bro. Taylor with current U.N. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield (left)
 and Ambassador Joyce Barr upon their State Department retirements in 2017

The Brothers of Gamma Pi Work to Serve the Community As Part of Omega Psi Phi's "Project 5000"

Bros. George DuBose (left) and Basileus Bro. Eric Fields
with State Sen. Joanne Benson at food drive

During the days leading up to the Christmas Holiday Season, the Brothers of Gamma Pi Chapter did not take a holiday from community service. As part of a special Social Action initiative throughout the Fraternity's Second District (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania), Gamma Pi spent those days feeding needy families, senior citizens, and healthcare first responders. We also contributed to a local charity and donated "gently used" personal items to citizens in need throughout the region.

All of this activity is organized under a Second District Social Action Project called "Project 5000." All chapters in the District are required to participate. Last year through Project 5000, Second District chapters fed 25,479 people, contributed $10,616 to the Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and donated 344 pairs of gently used eyeglasses to Lion's Club International along with 1,590 pairs of gently used shoes to the Soles4Souls organization. The goal for Project 5000 this year is to exceed those numbers for the 2023-24 Fraternity Year.

Bro. Michael Colbert delivers food 

To meet this year's goals, each chapter is asked to feed at least 500 people, donate $500 to the respective state Sickle Cell Disease Association, and collect 100 pairs of gently worn eyeglasses and 100 pairs of gently worn shoes for persons in need. Although the deadline is not until April 1, 2024, Gamma Pi Chapter completed these tasks over the holiday period. As of December 22, Gamma Pi fed 2200 families, donated $500 to the Maryland Sickle Cell Disease Association, and collected and donated 125 pairs of lightly used shoes to DSW for Soles4Souls as well as 115 pairs of lightly used eyeglasses to the Lions Club for distribution to persons in need.

 "The Brothers of Gamma Pi responded like we always do to community needs -- with intensity and haste," said Basileus Bro. Eric Fields. "While there are numerical goals we must meet, we never look at this as solely about numbers. We see the people behind the numbers. As Omega men, we are conditioned to serve."

Gamma Pi Chapter has an extensive Social Action program that is performing community service activities throughout Prince George's County each month. For more information, visit our chapter Website at http://www.gammapi.org

 

Brothers have collected a bag full of "soles for souls"

These eyeglasses are headed to new homes

Those are some big turkeys!

Completing a day's work

Putting the Exclamation Point on 50 Fantastic Years!

Fifty years. Half a century. Two generations. However you choose to measure it, Gamma Pi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc has been around five decades. Brothers who were there at the beginning remember 8-track stereo players, dashikis, Apple caps, vinyl 45- and 33-speed records and wide-leg bellbottom pants. And don't forget the "Deuce-and-a-quarters" and Cadillac Eldorados that cruised the streets with fur-coated steering wheels, clip-on TV antennas and "diamond in the back" windows.

When this chapter was birthed into existence in Prince George's County, Md., it was also a time of turmoil in America's inner cities caused by racial strife due to inequality. Through it all over the past five decades, Gamma Pi has truly made its home in Prince George's County and the county has truly made a home for Gamma Pi, known by its deserved moniker, The Super Chapter.

These and many more specific and vivid memories of Gamma Pi helping to better the lives of families, children and seniors throughout the years in the county was celebrated recently as the chapter closed out its 50th year with a communitywide gala Saturday night, November 11, at 7 p.m. at The College Park Marriot.

Patrons enjoying the gala festivities

Celebration Really Began In March

Gamma Pi's birthdate is March 5, 1973. It was chartered by 21 courageous Omega men who had the nerve and the vision to form the chapter. Last March, the chapter kicked off the 50th celebration with a weekend of initial activities saluting the Charter Members. The weekend in March was highlighted by a Sunday brunch honoring the Charter Members.

This weekend's event puts the capper on what has been a strong year for the Super Chapter. Gamma Pi used the 50th gala to recognize its two leading Achievement Week award recipients within the Fraternity and the local community in conjunction with Founders Day.

Local Journalists Honored

Brother Rev. Laurence Hawkins, Gamma Pi's outgoing Chaplain, was named Omega Man of the Year. 

Journalist Tracee Wilkins

Local TV personality and investigative reporter Tracee Wilkins received the coveted Citizen of the Year award. Members of the Fraternity vote on all of the awards

Each year, Gamma Pi selects a local citizen who has contributed greatly to the betterment of the county through their work. As an investigative journalist for WRC Channel 4 in Washington, D.C., Wilkins, a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., has presented hard-hitting stories about citizen issues with the local police department, challenges in local schools and youth crime and violence. Bro. Rev. Hawkins gained support from the chapter for his daily early morning spiritual lessons.

Gamma Pi also recognized two stalwarts who are responsible for Gamma Pi being the only chapter in Omega Psi Phi with a regularly scheduled over-the-air broadcast television show, "Community UPLIFT," which is broadcast over local cable systems through PGCTV.  Those two persons were David Barnes, who manages the studio at PGCTV, and Denise Roberts, who has served as the show's host since the beginning in 2016.

Luminaries in the House

Bro. Dr. David Marion

A formally dressed crowd of about 600 packed the sold-out ballroom.  Immediate Past Basileus Bro. Dr. David Marion led the celebration as keynote speaker for the evening. He used the occasion to challenge Omega men to continue with our social justice agenda and engage in activism which he reminded the audience was just as important now as it was during the Civil Rights struggles, having been started with the founding of the Fraternity.

An array of elected leaders -- including Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, Rep. Glenn Ivey and  several members of the county council -- were among the crowd. This included state lawmakers Bro. Nick Charles and JoAnne Bensen. In addition to Bro. Dr. Marion, Grand Keeper of Records & Seal Bro. Sherman L. Charles was another international officer who in attendance. Second District 1st Vice District Representative Bro. Amir Shareef, a member of the chapter, was also present. Immediate Past Basileus Bro. Richard Allison II served as emcee for the evening. Just a few weeks ago, Bro. Allison, after two terms, handed the leadership gavel off to new Basileus Bro. Eric Fields, who also addressed the crowd.

At the Brothers Only Dinner 

The night before, Friday, the Brothers of Gamma Pi gathered for their annual Busby-Walker Brothers Only Dinner also at the College Park Marriott. More than 120 Brothers showed up for the members-only occasion. Bro. Clemmie Solomon, one of the Charter Members, served as the keynote speaker and reminded Omega men of the lifelong commitment we all have.

Another Omega Mission Accomplished

"We completed the task. This event could not have happened without each of our Brothers supporting and "Seeing it Through." It was a great job," said Bro. Maurice Calhoun, who chaired the year-long planning committee.

Other Achievement Week Award Winners

Student Athlete of the Year: Christian Blackwell (Bro. Charles Flowers High School)

Essay Contest Winner: Claudia Queen (Acellus Academy)

Religious Leader of the Year: Bro. Glenn Grayer

Educator of the Year: Bro. Wilbur Lucas, Ph. D (Livingstone College)

Superior Service Award: Bro. Darryl Perry

Brigadier General Charles Young Military Award: Bro. Aaron Ajani

Founders Lifetime Achievement Award: Bro. Teddy Taylor

Project ENRICH Chairman Emeritus: Bro. Roland Byrd

Click here to watch the WRC Channel 4 report on reporter Tracee Wilkins' Citizen of the Year award

Photos by Bro. George DuBose