Looking at Que Kidz Dayz in Action -- A Day in the Life of ...

By Brother Kevin Greenwood

The Que Kidz event on Saturday, January 25th was a success as there were a total of 15 students that took part in the Social Action Program. The morning started with a breakfast of waffles, sausage and milk that was served by the members of the Gamma Pi Super Chapter. During the breakfast Immediate Past Basileus Gordon Everett, Brothers Damon Moats, Otis Fowler, Teddy Taylor, Kerry Wilson, D Ward, Robert Akuoko and Cruiz Alexander spoke to the students and discussed the importance of education and providing service to their communities.

The first service activity led by Brother Donald Belle consisted of the young men and Brothers Albert Slack, Anthony Kelly, and Marcus Whitfield discussing the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Everyone involved walked away learning something new about Dr. King and the civil rights movement. Brother Jeff Adkisson discussed the lives of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr and Rosa Parks with the younger students followed by a coloring activity. The younger students were fully engaged and participated with enthusiasm and vigor.

Keeping with the theme of service, the young men enthusiastically completed a service project by cleaning the Kentland Community Center exercise room. Sweeping the floors, wiping down the exercise machines, and cleaning the mirrors were some of the activities completed. The kids remarked that they felt really good having an impact on their neighborhood by helping to maintain the community center. The students took pride in knowing that they were instrumental in cleaning up an area that many of the residents in their community use on a regular basis

Brothers David White and Chris Flemming donated their Wii systems for the day so the students could participate in a few friendly games of Wii Bowling and Tennis as a part of the Physical Fitness component of the program.

The students were then served turkey and cheese sandwiches prepared by Brothers McCory King, Milton Ware and Terrance Prince. During the lunch Brothers Orlando McDowell, Rick Allison, Kevin “Buster” Briscoe, Albert Slack and many others spoke to the students about the importance of healthy eating, education and the importance of understanding our history. Brother Kevin Greenwood gave the students a research assignment that will be due by the next Que Kidz program in February. The research activity will challenge each student to find an African American person that contributed to Black History. The activity will give each student the opportunity to conduct research and share their findings in an oratory format.

To end the event each student was asked to give their thoughts for the day’s activities and their feedback illustrated that they had a better understanding of what community service is all about. They also said they learned about many of the African Americans that played major roles in the Civil Rights Movement, as well as those that contributed to the history of the United States.  All photos by Brother David White.

In True "Super Chapter" Fashion, Brothers Reach Out to Youth with Education Message

Brothers Dr. Foy and Powell at DuVal High School

Scholarship is #1 with Gamma Pi chapter as it is one of the Four Cardinal Principles of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.  From its Project ENRICH initiative preparing students for college to its Que Kidz Dayz program to expose underserved children to recreation, cultural and educational opportunities on Saturdays, Gamma Pi invests a lot in the welfare of young people throughout Prince George's County.

Recently, the chapter showed its commitment to education through efforts outside the scope of those two ongoing programs that have won the chapter awards for Social Action. Two highly regarded and highly committed Brothers -- one through the invitation of another Brother -- on their own reached out to youth to carry forward the message about Scholarship.

Dr. Harrison Foy, a veterinarian in the Washington, D.C. metro area, talked about his career and educational preparedness to a group of honor students at a February 6 assembly at Prince George's County's DuVal High School in Lanham. Dr. Foy operates NMotion mobile veterinary care services and is eager to see more young African Americans enter this challenging and wide-open field, jut as he did along with his wife and now a daughter,who is in veterinary medical school.

Brother Dr. Foy was invited to speak by Brother Dameon Powell, who heads up the Guidance Department at DuVal and also is the school's head football coach. Brother Powell's hardworking team finished 10-2 in the 2013 season and ended a great run in the second round of the state 4-A playoffs.

In the other endeavor, Brother Dameon Goins, one of the up-an-coming stars in education as new Principal at Gaywood Elementary in the Lanhanm-Seabrook community, used his powerful delivery and motivational abilities to connect with young African American males during a recent Raising Kings conference. When Brother Goins speaks, young teenagers, especially African American males, listen up because they relate to his "get real" approach and laying it on the line. The video below is an excerpt of his full presentation.

Brother Goins was named Educator of the year by Gamma Pi chapter during the 40th Anniversary Achievement Week 2013 program held last November. He always reminds students about his three C's -- Success starts with Character, Choices and Comrades.

Gamma Pi and Omega Psi Phi salutes these Brothers for reaching back and lifting up through Scholarship because they believe in and can reach our youth.

Bro. Dr. Foy with DuVal principal Alice Swift (2nd left) and others 

Students Learn Firsthand About Government Service at Project ENRICH

National Guard rep talks to parents and students

In recent years, Project ENRICH has shifted its focus to include more information about how students can connect with "the real world" as part of the process of the yearslong transition from high school to productive lives as adults. Whether it was about finding money for college or choosing a career, Director Willie Hines has sought to lead students and their families to more useful information that can help participants make the most intelligent choices about their future.

In December, it was about college costs as Project ENRICH sponsored a college financial aid workshop. January's session, held today, was about career as several guest speakers brought exciting messages about post-collegiate options working for Uncle Sam.

Omega man Ambassador Taylor prepares to speak

About 60 students and parents gathered at the Thurgood Marshall Library at Bowie State University for the Career Showcase program. They heard about the road to rewarding and exciting diplomatic careers working for the U.S. Department of State; serving around the world as a naval officer through education at the U.S. Naval Academy in nearby Annapolis and opportunities through service to the U.S. National Guard.

Not everyone is cut out for careers in Corporate America or in the traditional professions: law and medicine. Today's presentations exposed youth to often-undersold career choices in the U.S. government. The federal sector is sometimes mistakenly viewed as "mundane"and"unexciting." But the information that came out of Career Day showed student that a career with Uncle Sam can be adventurous and well-paying.

U.S. Ambassador Teddy B. Taylor, a member of Gamma Pi chapter, stirred students with his recount of a stellar career spent living in foreign countries, learning multiple languages, negotiating difficult international issues and working for the President and U.S. Secretary of State as a diplomat. A little more than a year removed from three years of service as U.S. Ambassador to the South Pacific nations of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, he challenged Project ENRICH students to take a world view of career options.

Naval Academy Midshipmen address students

"I can promise you this, you will not regret it," Brother Ambassador Taylor said, encouraging students to consider the State Department and work as globetrotting diplomats."When somebody exposes you to a career opportunity, take it. You never know what might happen."

The Naval contingent included several uniformed Midshipmen who each related their own experience and path to the Naval Academy. They talked about the free education, the service commitment to follow as well as he process for applying as well as getting recommendations. One of the Navy presenters was Keenan Reynolds, the school's current superstar NCAA-record-setting quarterback.

To watch a portion of Brother Ambassador Taylor's presentation and a short post-event "shout out" to Gamma Pi and Project ENRICH from Navy's Keenan Reynolds, go to Gamma Pi TV:

Ambassador Teddy Taylor

Keenan Reynolds

You can also watch the live recording of all the Career Day presentations (except the National Guard) on our Ustream Channel. Thanks to Brother Don Cook of the Public Relations Committee for manning the live camera:: Gamma Pi ion Location

Go here to access photos from yesterday by Brother Cook: Career Day Photos

For more information about Project ENRICH and Brother Hines (Director), visit the program on the web:: Project ENRICH

Project ENRICH Returns to Bowie State for December Session

James Copeland, U.S. Department of Education

Project ENRICH exists to help prepare and connect Prince George's County youth to college and life beyond. For many of the program's participants, a key part of that process is experiencing the look and the feel of a college campus while learning good study habits, time management, and about the college selection and application process. On Saturday, December 14, the program returned to its familiar supportive home, Bowie State University. The highlight of the session was a full-fledged College Financial Aid workshop conducted by a representative of the U.S. Department of Education.

For students and parents, finding the money to pay for college is of utmost concern. James Copeland, of the federal Education department, answered many of those questions on Saturday with an in-depth presentation that covered everything from the FAFSA worksheet to creatively seeking scholarships to government loan programs to what kinds of costs to expect for families confronting college for the first time. He even carved out a few minutes in his presentation to warn students about misusing social media and spending too much time with the social calendar once they arrive at college.

Students listen to presentation at Project ENRICH

Copeland, whose visit was arranged by Brother Courtland Smith, who works at the Department of Education, has a fascinating story of his own that he talked about some during the presentation. During his youth, he was in and out of trouble growing up in New York and did not enter college until age 38. Today, at 54, he has an MBA and a doctorate to go along with his undergraduate credentials. He is an "evangelist" for education and after hearing that story, it was easy to see why. He told Project ENRICH youth he was proof that it is never too late to get serious about education.

Parents and students also were advised by Immediate Past Basileus Gordon Everett, Sr. to network through Gamma Pi Brothers and their various alumni associations, as well as churches, nonprofits and other organizations to identify scholarship opportunities. He is president of the Winston-Salem State University National Alumni Association.

In keeping with Project ENRICH's commitment to financial literacy for students, there was also a presentation yesterday on how compounding works in the financial world, especially when applied to the interest one pays or earns.

Thanks to Brother Don Cook for the photos. More photos from Brother Cook are available here on Shutterfly: https://2013decemberprojectenrich.shutterfly.com/.

Watch the bulk of the Financial Aid Presentation on YouTube below: