Gamma Pi's Project ENRICH Program Stunned at Sudden Loss of Stalwart Brother Shortly After Giving Powerful Remarks

During today's closing program for Gamma Pi Chapter's Project ENRICH college prep program, first-year director Bro. James Riley, Jr. was getting the virtual program started when a few minutes in he threw the virtual mic to Bro. William Bill "364" Reese.  Bro. Riley asked Bro. Reese to provide some of his infinite wisdom to departing seniors. It was as routine as it gets during Project ENRICH as program leaders are always called on to provide some Uplift to the students. But nobody can impart the kind of wisdom of Bro. Reese, affectionately called "364" because that is his Life Membership number in Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Bro. Reese has more than 50 years in Omega.

Like a home run hitter getting just the right pitch, Bro Reese, when called upon, gathered himself and smacked the opportunity clear out of the park. It went over the fence and into the stands. He delivered powerful, moving, touching remarks that in retrospect turned out to be his last goodbye to all. After he ended his remarks, he turned from his computer, stood up and walked away as his Web Ex connection remained active and his mic was muted. His camera stayed on.  He was not in view and never came back into view. All that could be seen was his empty leather chair. The word spread quickly throughout Gamma Pi about an hour after the program ended that Bro. Reese had passed -- entering Omega Chapter right after giving the remarks and going off-camera. Today, the shockwaves have been felt like an earthquake tremor in the chapter, in the Fraternity and in the community. 

Bro. Reese (Rho Theta '70), of Waco, Tex., is being remembered tonight as an Omega man's Omega -- loyal to the Fraternity and the Four Cardinal Principles, true to the Brothers till the end. His last words were inspiring and Uplifting to young people at a time when they most needed to hear inspiration and Uplift. His wife Rita worked alongside him at Project ENRICH in 2019 when it was being held in-person at Bowie State University prior to the coronavirus pandemic. Mrs. Reese started a special initiative for Project ENRICH young women called I.N.S.T.A.G.R.A.M while he worked with young men by holding Young Gentlemen sessions to talk about life.

Today's program was broadcast live on Facebook vis WebEx. Below is a video clip of Bro. Reese's excerpted remarks just before his untimely passing. For Gamma Pi, it is the second huge body blow in just the past three months as Immediate Past Basileus Bro. Rev. Tony Lee lost his life to the coronavirus at just age 52 in January while hospitalized.

The Super Chapter Marks One Year of Leading Food Drives by Holding Another Food Giveaway

When Brothers gave out the first few boxes of free food to drive-ups last year in April, shortly after the COVID pandemic was declared, they figured the chapter would do one or two more giveaways and  in a few weeks the battle with COVID would be over. As members of The Super Chapter stood outside in the vast parking lot at Suitland High School on Saturday, April 17 loading cars with yet again food boxes, they could not believe a year later, here they were in the same spot. And the need was as great as ever.

Partners pose for photo during a break

Gamma Pi decided to mark the one-year anniversary of the COVID food giveaways it has been leading throughout Prince George's County by returning to the original location and giving out yet more food as the pandemic raged into its second year. The one difference this time was the promise of newly distributed vaccines.

The Brothers distributed more than 500 food packages that are designed to feed a family of four. As always at these events, cars were lined up early outside the gate before the start time of 11 a.m. Shortly after 1 p.m. the food was all gone. A year later, the need has not subsided as many people remain out of work due to the impact that the highly contagious virus has had on many industries, such as hospitality and retail.

Cars are lined up an hour before the opening

Ironically, Gamma Pi conducted the food drive on the same day as the scheduled monthly chapter meeting, essentially pulling "double duty." It's not the first time the Brothers have taken care of local citizens in the morning before Omega business in the evening.

"This was not a celebration but a commemoration," Gamma Pi Basileus Steven Walls told WTOP radio reporter Valerie Bonk in a taped phone interview from the Suitland site. The chapter food drive attracted the attention of local media. In addition to WTOP radio, Fox 5 NEs covered the food drive and ran a feature story on its 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts later that evening.

Gamma Pi led food drives that fed more than 60,000 families in 2020.

Screenshot from the Fox5 D.C. news story on Gamma Pi

WATCH THE FOX5 TV NEWS SEGMENT

LISTEN TO THE WTOP NEWSRADIO NEWS SEGMENTS

Part 1

Part 2

   

Omega Men on the Move in Gamma Pi Chapter

In the past year, Gamma Pi Chapter has solidified its reputation as a five-star community leader in Prince George's County through its tireless efforts organizing and conducting food drives for families hit hard by food insecurity. Whether it is through job loss or some other financial pressures, the devastation of COVID-19 has impacted real lives and inflicted real pain that has translated into challenges to keep food on the table. Undoubtedly, the large-scale community projects are important to the overall well-being of the community, but what people often do not see about Omega and Gamma Pi are the achievements, contributions and leadership by individual Brothers. These little-known efforts also make the difference!

Here are three recent examples of Gamma Pi's reach into local communities in ways that may not be readily noticed.

Bro. Gordon Everett (Mu Epsilon ’75) and his wife Sharon, who are both alumni of Winston-Salem State University, recently announced the endowment of scholarships in their name for their alma mater. Bro. Everett is a long- time member of Gamma Pi Chapter and a former three-term Basileus. He has also been a leader in the Second District.

The new endowments were announced in July 2020. The Everetts are awarding at least two scholarships annually to deserving WSSU students, in the Everett's name, through the Winston-Salem State University Foundation, which handles special gifts to the school, including endowments and bequeaths. As a result of their award, they were inducted into the WSSU Heritage Society on December 3, 2020.

Bro. Gordon and Sharon Everett

"To be selected for the scholarships, students must apply through the WSSU Financial Aid office. We established an endowment in honor of our love for WSSU which played a major part in our life. Sharon and I met 44 years ago at WSSU and celebrated 40 years of marriage this past August. We wanted to give back to the university and help students that needed some assistance," said Bro. Everett, who served as WSSU National Alumni Association president from 2010 to 2014. "We're doing this in honor of our parents who have taught us to reach back and help others that may have a need.” 

In his career, Bro. Everett is an executive with the National Archives and Records Administration. If you know a promising young student who is deserving and would benefit from receiving an Everett scholarship, have them go to https://www.wssu.edu/admissions/scholarships-and-financial-aid/index.html

Bro. Charles Brooks recently began training as a Deacon at New Chapel Baptist Church in Camp Springs, Md. H An active member of the church for 20 years, Bro. Brooks currently serves as  the Director of the Usher Ministry. He has served on the Board for 12 years and three years as director.

Bro. Charles Brooks -- Deacon in Training

"As a active member of this church and a member of its Usher Board, the desire, capacity to serve others has always been one of my gifts from our Lord and Saviour," said Bro. Brooks. "As a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., we all recognize how important service to our fellow man is to being obedient to the word of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

Bro. Brooks says he has been approached about serving as a Deacon for several years. But it was after a Bible study in February that one of the Deacons reached out to him to consider becoming a candidate.  After prayer and some discussion with his family and with members of the Usher Ministry, he accepted the nomination to begin the training. Training is anticipated to last about six months and upon completion of training, he will be ordained.

Bro. Donatien “Don” Norwood (Gamma Pi ’11) is moving up in the engineering industry. As in way up. Bro. Norwood was recently promoted to Senior Principal at GHT Limited, a leading D.C. Metro area mechanical, engineering and plumbing engineering consulting firm.

Bro. Norwood

As a 15-year veteran of the firm, Bro, Norwood has helped lead the organization’s growth and development into an industry leader. His exploits as an engineer and as a leader have been recognized throughout.  Said firm president Patrick Kunze: “During his tenure with GHT, Don has served an integral role in the development of electrical engineering initiatives at GHT. In addition to electrical design, he leads efforts in mentoring, employee development, training, and team building. As the leader of one of GHT’s Interiors Electrical Sections, Don provides oversight, quality control and leadership for projects. He also provides guidance and support to the firm’s overall design approach, collaborating with corporate leadership to encourage employee training, develop best practices, and provide design resources.

Bro. Norwood is a LEED Accredited Professional who studied electrical engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. In addition, he has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. He is an avid participant in his motorcycle club. He was Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Second District Omega Man of the Year in 2019.

New Year for Project ENRICH Begins With New Era and Continued Coronavirus Challenges

Bro. James Riley, Jr.

Two local leaders who are members of the Fraternity led the way as Gamma Pi Chapter opened Project ENRICH for the 2020-21 academic year.  Just like when the program last got together for its closing ceremony in June, the opening program for this school year began online via videoconferencing due to the coronavirus.

Brothers Rushern Baker, who served as the former Prince George’s County Executive and was a Democratic candidate for Maryland Governor during the 2018 campaign, along with Prince George's County State Del. Nick Charles, set the tone for the year with informative and interesting talks about the importance of civics.

“The students out of this program have gone on to do some terrific things,” said Baker, who gave the opening program key remarks. “We need good young people to follow in our footsteps.” He challenged young people to think about public service and civic engagement with particular focus on local and state office. Bro. Baker also evoked the name of Gamma Pi Chapter’s Bro. Ulysses Currie, who became the highest ranking African American legislator in Maryland as a State Senator and who entered Omega Chapter in 2019 after a long illness. Hoping ti stir interest in the  students, Bro. Del. Charles shared his story of how he began working in his neighborhood homeowner's association at a very young age looking to make a difference, turning that into the desire to serve in an elected capacity. The theme of the opening program was civics.

In addition to hearing from Bro. Baker and Bro. Charles, Project ENRICH students heard from Gamma Pi Basileus Steven Walls, who encouraged them to remain focused on their success despite the unsettling events in the world.

Bro. Rushern Baker

The students also received a briefing from new director Bro. James Riley, Jr. about what the program’s curriculum would be for the year. The monthly focus topics for the year are: Civics (October), Critical Thinking (November), College Timelines and Planning (December), Financial Resources and Debt Planning (January), Entrepreneurship and Interviewing (February),  Mental Health (March), Essay Presentation (April) and Seniors Program (May).

During the two-hour session, students were also introduced to Bro. William “Bill” Reese, who for the second year in a row will lead the Young Men’s Professional Etiquette initiative called MPSU (Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance and Uplift). Mrs. Kaila Randolph, a training official for the federal government, will lead the second-year Young Ladies Professional Etiquette started last year by Ms. Rita Reese.  Team leads this year are Bros. Andrew Clarke and Anthony Smith (freshmen); Bros. Jason Crump and Marlin Godfrey (sophomores); Bros. James Riley and Andrew Gibson (juniors) and Bro. John Howard has the graduating seniors. Bro. Gibson was a Project ENRICH student in the late 1990s while in high school.

Del. Nick Charles

Missing through it all was Bro. Willie Hines, the longtime Project ENRICH director who turned the reins over to Bro. Riley this summer after nearly 10 years at the helm. Bro. Hines, who introduced a lot of innovations to Project ENRICH including the parents’ club and the emphasis on the “30-second elevator speech” and public speaking, is taking a much-deserved break to consider some other education-associated projects for the chapter and Fraternity. Bro. Roland Byrd founded the program for Gamma Pi more than three decades ago.

Kaila Randolph

Through the history of Project ENRICH, Gamma Pi Chapter has helped hundreds and perhaps thousands of students prepare for and succeed in college. The program sponsors a monthly session on Saturday that is normally held on the campus of Bowie State University, which is designed to expose the students to the college environment. During these sessions, students and participating parents learn bout scholarship opportunities, the college application process, selecting a college selecting a major and preparing for campus life. This is done over a four-year period with students entering the program in the ninth grade and continuing through graduation as 12^th graders.

REGISTER NOW FOR PROJECT ENRICH

READ PROFILE OF  NEW DIRECTOR BRO. JAMES RILEY, JR.