Now with School Underway, Project ENRICH Swings into Action

On August 22, the school year kicked off in Prince George's County. But just a day into the new school year, a large earthquake rocked the metro area and shut down county schools for several days to assess damage. No sooner than students returned to school, a major hurricane whipped up in the Caribbean and lashed the mid-Atlantic region, again closing schools. Now that school is finally underway after the disasters, students from around the county are signing up for Gamma Pi's revamped Project ENRICH college prep program.

Parents, Students at 2020-11 Convocation

The program will hold an Opening Convocation on Saturday, September 24, at the Center for Learning and Technology (Room 102) at Bowie State University. With the exception of a $25 application fee, Project ENRICH is free and open to all Prince George's County students. Students begin the program in ninth grade and complete it upon high school graduation. Once a month throughout the school year, students participate in a series of workshops, lectures and exercises on time management, study skills, writing and critical thinking and the college application process.

This is more than just a new year for Project ENRICH. Brother Willie Hines is the new director and the program has a new Web site (http://www.projectenrich.org/) that now allows students to register online. Project ENRICH has also moved into social media on Facebook (search 'Project ENRICH') and Twitter (www.twitter.com/projectenrich). New director Bro. Hines, along with Bro. Brett Blake, who works with Project ENRICH and also the chapter's Public Relations team, recently completed an on-camera interview about this year's Project ENRICH program for Gamma Pi TV. You can view that interview below and also on the Project ENRICH Web site.

The first official monthly session is Saturday, October 8, at Bowie State's Thurgood Marshall Library. Some changes are planned for the curriculum this coming year.

Word about Project ENRICH is spreading fast to county school administrators and faculty as well as students and parents. Persons interested in the program can sign up on the Web site or contact program officials through the new online home for more information.

If you know a student who would benefit from Project ENRICH, select any of the social media icons or the e-mail share function at the end of this post to send it to your own Facebook or Twitter accounts,or to e-mail around to family, friends or fellow educators.

Gamma Pi and Omega Psi Phi Prepare for Centennial 5K Event for Prostate Cancer

Bro. Reggie Thomas

African American men are profoundly affected by prostate cancer. When it comes to prostate cancer, African American men have the world's highest incidence and mortality rates. These are our Omega Brothers, our fathers, grandfathers, our blood brothers, nephews and co-workers. These are men in our church and the men active throughout our communities. Omega men understand this plight real well and that is why Omega Brothers across the country are gearing up now for the Centennial 5K Run/Walk to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer as part of the upcoming Centennial Celebration of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. in Washington, D.C.

Brother Reginald Thomas, of Gamma Pi chapter, is among the lead planners for this historic event set against the backdrop of an historic celebration for Omega Psi Phi. It is a first for any Conclave and a symbol of Omega Psi Phi's commitment to Uplift in the community in the form of health awareness and education.
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Brother Thomas, who pledged Xi Psi chapter at South Carolina State University, took some time recently to give a Q&A interview on the upcoming July 30 event to try and interest Brothers to put it on their calendars now for the Centennial week or commit to pledging financial support through sponsoring a participant or making a donation. Below is the interview with Brother Thomas.

 Q.  What is the Centennial 5K Run/Walk and when, and where will it be held?
A.  The Centennial 5K (3.1 miles) Run/Walk is a family focused event for all Brothers and their families coming to the 100th Centennial Anniversary of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. It will be held on the beautiful and historic campus of Howard University, the birthday place of Omega, Saturday, July 30, 2011, 8:00 a.m.  Pre-race activities start at 7:30 a.m.

Q.  How did this get linked to the Centennial?  What is the significance?
A.  Myself and group of other Brothers from various chapters across the nation realized that we wanted to do something more than just throw a great party at our national conventions. We also realize that we as men need to become more health focused.  So we did our first major 5K Run/Walk event in Little Rock Arkansas following the 2006 Grand Conclave in honor of the Little Rock Nine 50th Anniversary in 2007 and it was a great success (see Little Rock Photo gallery).  We believe as we honor our proud past that we must put something in place for the next 100 years and want this event to set the stage for future health related Conclave events that the entire community can participate in regardless of what city we're conduct our conventions.

Q.  Why should we as Omega Men care about this event?
A.  Our health is one of the most important gifts from God and it is our duty to take care of our bodies and lead our families by example.  Additionally, Omega Men have always been at the forefront of Social Action issues affecting our community and the greater community at large.  Prostate Cancer affect African American men 70% more than any other ethnic group in America and we must and can bring greater awareness for our brothers to get check early.

Q.  How does an Omega Man participate--what role can we play individually in making this a success for the Conclave?
A.  We need Omega Men to start training now with daily walks or runs so that they can be confident that they can actually do it.  Also we desperately need brothers to register to participate in this event online at www.active.com, keyword "Centennial".  We will also have hard copy registration forms available as well.  You can register as a "chapter", "a line", "district", it doesn't matter, just register.  Individual and collective participation by registration will make this a success.  We also need  brothers to assist as volunteers to man water points and help with race set-up, music, photographer, etc.  There is a definite need for assistance.  We currently have more women registering for this event than Brothers by leaps and bounds.

Q.  Is there a fund raising goal for this event?
A.  Our goal is to raise $10,000.00 for the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN).  In fact, all checks will be made and paid directly to PHEN for transparency.  Brothers and chapters can help us reach this goal by making pledges and supporting this event through sponsorships. 

Q.  Where can Brothers learn more about this upcoming event?
A.  Brothers can go to www.active.com, use keyword search "Centennial" and all the information will pop up.  We also have a Facebook Account and you can call the Co-Chairs, myself, Reggie Thomas, (301) 326-3658 cell, or Steve Coles (202) 387-8857.   We only have a limited number of  "Under Armor" quality T-shirts made for this event and when they're gone, that's it.  So Brothers please, please, register.

Click here for more information on Prostate Cancer from the National Cancer Institute. There's more cancer information for African Americans at this link as well.

Brothers at the recent Washington, D.C. Run/Walk for breast cancer



                                        



The Super Chapter Promotes Healthy Living and Opportunities for Youth at Today's Event

Only The Super Chapter could do it this way. Today, Gamma Pi chapter combined the annual Charles Drew Blood Drive and Health Fair with the monthly gathering of Que Kidz Dayz into one super community Uplift event at The Kentlands Community Center in Landover.

Dental Van at today's blood drive/health fair

A number of people in the neighborhood turned out for the Blood Drive and Health Fair event to take advantage of knowledgeable experts and published literature on health prevention and education. As in previous years, the American Red Cross sponsored a van to accept blood donations on-site. And for the first time ever, Gamma Pi included a Dental Health van on site at the Health Fair. Two dentists in the chapter, Bro. Ed Chappelle, DDS and Bro.Wayman Brown, DDS, helped oversee the operation of the dental van.

Visitors to the Gamma Pi Blood Drive/Health Fair were able to get cholesterol and blood pressure checks, diabetes information, prevention and screening information on many other diseases that afflict minority communities, as well as  nutrition and diet information from on-site representatives and from an array of pamphlets and other publications that they could take home. That of course included the dental information and check-ups available through the van.  The men in the house got a special expert presentation on prostate cancer from a visiting physician. Prostate cancer afflicts African American men (in incidence and mortality) more than any other population group.

Info for the taking

Meanwhile, the youth who participate in Gamma Pi's successful Que Kidz Dayz program were treated to some free golf lessons from chapter Brothers, who assembled the youths into smaller groups on putting greens and a driving range located on the grounds of the Kentland Community Center. The youth, many who are underprivileged, were excited to learn about a non-traditional sport to which they are not always exposed to. Some of the youths from Que Kidz Dayz held a golf club for the first time. Somebody in the bunch could be the next "Tiger"!

Bros. listen to prostate presentation

There was also a youth martial arts demonstration and a Zumba fitness demonstration.

As is often said, this is the side of Omega Psi Phi few people see or acknowledge. All across the world, individual chapters work with local communities to provide Uplift through social service activities and projects that create opportunities and address needs for seniors, youths and needy families. It happens day-in and day-out in Gamma Pi and chapters worldwide, often without any fanfare.

Americans' lives are made better each day by Omega men, but few know it. For example, millions of lives are saved annually because an Omega man, Dr. Charles Drew, discovered blood plasma. It is what Gamma Pi and Omega Psi Phi are preparing to celebrate in a few weeks as the Omega Psi Phi Centennial Celebration approaches.

Congratulations to Bro. Orlando McDowell (Que Kidz Dayz) and Bro. Dr.Kevin Ford (Blood Drive/Health Fair) for organizing today's activities. Below are some video highlights from today's program.

Gamma Pi Hosts Community Seniors at Saturday Afternoon Banquet

A full house at Saturday's program

On Saturday afternoon, June 11, while temperatures outside flirted with 90-degrees, it was warm on the inside of the hearts of close to  100 senior citizens (including some  family) gathered at the Gethsemane United Methodist Church in Capitol Heights. It was the annual Seniors Banquet that the men of Gamma Pi chapter sponsor each June at the church as its way of reaching out to the often-forgotten elderly.

In many African American communities, senior citizens are more economically challenged than their counterparts from other communities and many of them outlive their family and close friends and are sometimes left to fend for themselves with little contact with the outside world.

The Super Chapter's banquet has become a "red letter" day on many Prince George's County seniors' calendars. You would think after more than 20 years of holding the banquet, it would become routine. But every year, the Brothers bring different and new twists to the event, and the atmosphere is always charged. Each year, seniors look forward to it with more and more anticipation and to them, it is like Christmas. One would only have to look at the smiles and laughs spread across the room to know that Gamma Pi was welcomed and embraced. It was also an emotional lift for the seniors, many past 80 years old and struggling with health challenges. In fact, the chapter recognized the oldest woman (95) and oldest man (83) among the audience, both who seemed to be in excellent shape for any age.

Barbara Givens (right) talks to seniors 

For the banquet, Brothers purchased and prepared food on site, waited the seniors' tables, and put on a dynamic program for the seniors that combined the nutritional food with "spiritual food" as well as the everyday "you-need-to-know" information that many seniors appreciate Gamma Pi bringing to their attention each year.  In that regard the program included a stirring sermon on "Raising Your Voice" from keynote speaker and  Gamma Pi's Bro. Rev. Rodney Barnes (video excerpt below), and a presentation on domestic violence and "seniors stalking" from Barbara Givens. She is a local seniors advocate who heads a program in the Bladensburg area. She explained a program that allows elderly persons to "talk through" and "work out" past abuse. Many elderly persons are the target of various kinds of abuse even in their senior years.

Others on the program included Gamma Pi Basileus Bro. Gordon Everett, Second District Chaplain Bro. Dr. Gerald Folsom, Bro. Rev.Tony Lee, Bro. Terry Rogers, who co-chairs Social Action for the chapter, Emcee Bro. Bill Reese and Bro. Dr. George Edwards, who led the music. Bro. Phil Ferguson, a former member of the church who helped put together the program for Gamma Pi for so many years and has now passed on to Omega chapter, was remembered Saturday. The all-Gamma Pi kitchen staff was also recognized headed by Bro. Greg Johnson.

Seniors listening intently

Just to show how much seniors were paying attention yesterday, right at the close of the program after the Benediction had been given, one of the seniors raised a hand and said, "we didn't hear that Omega song." So Bro. Dr. Edwards rose to his feet and quickly assembled the Brothers at the front of the room and the sweet sounds of "Omega Dear" soon filled the place. The seniors were then ready to leave and they went home happy. Gamma Pi never forgets the seniors and the seniors don't forget Gamma Pi.

The Gamma Pi Senior Citizens' Banquet began and was held at the First Baptist Church of Highland Park in Landover by Gamma Pi’s Founders for a number of years. It was later moved by the late Bro. Ferguson to Gethsemane.

Listen to Gamma Pi Brother William Talbert, who was the lead organizer of yesterday's successful banquet, talk on video about the history of the event and explain why Gamma Pi chapter gives time to seniors in the community: