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

Gamma Pi Chapter Kicks Off the 50th Year With An Awe-Inspiring Achievement Week

 

For the Brothers of Gamma Pi Chapter, the 2022 Achievement week program was a special milestone for The Super Chapter. It was the first time the chapter held its entire Achievement Week program in person since COVID emerged in early 2020.

 Two key highlights of Achievement Week ’22 were the community awards program held on November 14 at the University of Maryland and the always-anticipated Brothers Only dinner that was held on the evening of November 11 at the Lake Presidential Golf Club in Upper Marlboro. Both events drew a full house.

 Brothers from Gamma Pi, along with Brothers as guests from other chapters, joined together for an interesting, informative and exciting dinner program that offer the perfect atmosphere for Brothers to engage in fellowship and celebrate the Founders Day and Achievement Week period. Bro. Amir Shareef, Second District First Vice Representative, served as Master of Ceremonies. Past Second District Representative Bro. Milton Harrison attended as a special guest.

This year’s Achievement Week theme, “Omega Men Promoting a Harmonious Future Through Friendship and Service," came through in the message of keynote speaker past Second District Representative Bro. James “Scrappy” Jordan, who talked about the precious value of Friendship from a personal level during the Brothers Only Dinner. Bro. Jordan recounted the role of Brothers in helping along his recovery from a health crisis and a coma several years ago. The personal Uplift from Brothers that he described is the same Uplift that can revive and strengthen our communities. Bro. Basileus Richard Allison II also used the occasion to recognize members of his leadership teams for their support of him and the chapter’s operations.

Many members of the local community attended the evening awards program on the Maryland campus. This was the program where the so-called “hardware” was handed out to deserving Brothers in the chapter as well as to outstanding leaders in the community. Just as Bro. Jordan’s message at the Brothers Only dinner, the message at the awards program was about how award winners embodied Uplift of local, national and world communities through their work.

Congratulations to the Achievement week award winners:

• Omega Man of the Year: Basileus Richard Allison II
• Superior Service: Bro. John Morgan, Jr.
• Founders Award: Bro. Edward High II
• Citizen of the Year: Bro. Anthony J. McAllister
• Religious Leader of the Year: Rev. Tony Lee (Community of Hope AME Church, Hillcrest Heights, MD)
• Educator of the Year: Bro. Regie Pickett
• Student Athlete of the Year: Karmarre J. Lawrence
• Essay Winner: Elizabeth Oduro

Congratulations also to Bros. Terence Hare and Tommie Boone, who as co-chairs led the planning and execution of a memorable Achievement Week program for The Super Chapter.

"Achievement Week is an opportunity to recognize the good work that has been done as well as look ahead to the work that remains,” said Bro. Basileus Allison.

Voices of the Founders Help Gamma Pi Chapter Prepare to Celebrate 50 Years

Charter members in early 1970's photo

As Gamma Pi Chapter moves toward its 50th Anniversary date of March 5, members of the Chapter are starting to hear voices. Voices, that is, of the Charter Members who started it all in 1973 as they look back at the early 1970s and Gamma Pi's bold beginnings in Prince George's County, MD that planted the seed for what today is now called "The Super Chapter." 

Surviving members of the original 21 charter members who birthed the chapter are pridefully speaking out and reminiscing on the chapter's noble start through a new video series called, "Que-versations - Meet the Charter Members." The video series is a collection of individual interviews with the charter members by Gamma Pi's Public Relations committee.

To date, four charter members have been interviewed. They are Brothers Tim McIntosh, the chapter's first-ever Basileus; Don Herring; John Robinson and Clemmie Solomon. Their video interviews are posted on the chapter's website (www.gammapi.org/videos) and are also available on the chapter's
YouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/gammapichapter ). Brothers Anthony Kelly and Reggie Pickett are members of the chapter's Public Relations committee. 

Bro. Tim McIntosh talls to Bro. Reggie Pickett

These first four interviews are part of a continuing series that will take place until every available charter member has been interviewed. So far, those who have been interviewed have done so from their homes. The interviews are all solo and range from 30-50 minutes in length.

Get your popcorn ready, grab the remote and get ready to tune into some fascinating Omega Psi Phi history from Gamma Pi Chapter. Stay tuned for information about upcoming activities later this year as we mark 50 years of Brotherhood and Service in Prince George's County.

Bro. Clemmie Solomon chats with Bro. Anthony Kelly

Bro. John Robinson and Bro. Kelly

Bro. Don Herring, Sr. and Bro. Pickett

Gamma Pi Brings Mental Health Into Focus at Awareness Event to Combat the Stigma and Share Useful Information

There are taboo subjects and then there are taboo subjects. In the African American community, mental health is a taboo subject, and especially when it comes to Black men. Members of the Gamma Pi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. did their best to bring this subject out into the open during a mental health seminar on Saturday, October 29, at the Jones-Hill House fieldhouse on the campus of the University of Maryland. The purpose of the two-hour session was to educate about the impact and challenges of mental health in the African-American community, especially regarding Black men.

Bro. Coach Mike Locksley addresses audience 

The Saturday session featured presentations by three practicing medical professionals and a local married couple who have had their own personal experience with mental health battles. They both now work in the mental health nonprofit sector through the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI). Behind it all was Gamma Pi Chapter member Bro. Coach Mike Locksley, head football coach at the University of Maryland, and the fellow members of his initiation group from Spring 2022: George Montgomery, Phd., Brandon Cannaday, Kelvin Romney, Lee Best, Quentin Wilson, Mfon Etuk, Dwight Rollins, Fred Johnson III, Derek E. Davis and Satrick Richardson.

This group of Omega men have been planning the event since the summer. The formal title of the event was, “Removing the Mask … Making Mental Health a Priority …,..Eliminating the Stigma Surrounding Mental Health in the Black Community So That We May Lift One Another as Black Men.”

“This is a passion for me. Mental illness affects us all. You never know,” said Bro. Locksley  kicking off the day’s program. His opening followed the screening of a much-talked-about video feature that takes an in-depth look at the mental health struggles of his late son, Meiko, who was murdered in Howard County, Md in 2017. The video is entitled “Father Time.” This powerful, moving and emotional film set the tone for the remainder of the program. It drew tears.

The opening presenter, David Driver,MD, who operates a practice in Bethesda, emphasized the various ways in which mental health affects the Black Community and informed the audience that just like with other areas of health, African Americans are disproportionately impacted by mental illness. “Quite often people don’t seek care until they are in crisis.” He provided some valuable information on depression, anxiety, and how people can still be high-functioning with these disorders. Dr. Driver also mentioned that 10% of African Americans have no health insurance and that the ages of 18-24 are where most psychological issues occur.

Presenters share life-saving  information

The audience of about 50 also heard from Kristi Hall, PsyD, who recently became Director of Sports Psychology for the Maryland football team. In her presentation, Dr. Hall stressed that African-American men are experiencing a huge mental health burden, but because of the way the system is set up, many tend not to search for mental health services. She also told the audience that common mental health conditions like schizophrenia, chronic depression and bipolar disorder look differently in African Americana than in other populations. A stumbling block for many African-Americans is the cost of mental health care and the hard reality that many psychologists do not accept insurance. The highlight of Dr. Hall’s presentation that seemed to resonate most with the audience was her introduction of and explanation about the emotional wheel which is used to better identify and understand people’s emotional experience at any given time.

Denisha Carter, PsyD, with MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, talked about her work with children and families including in school-based situations. She explained how African-American churches and pastors are now getting more involved in providing or linking parishioners to mental health services. Previously, this was not an area churches engaged as a part of their social services support agenda.

Audience members look on

Dr. Carter also highlighted a particularly important study for the African-American community that links ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) to mental health issues later in life. These revolve around abuse, neglect and household dysfunction. These conditions are synonymous with what many African American families in underserved communities experience.  What often happens in African American households in relation to the ACES study is that current and older generations will put the damper on mental health care by taking the attitude of, “I had all of these experiences and I turned out OK” (without having treatment).

The final presenters, married couple James and Charnene Freeny, representing NAMI, gave very dramatic snd eye-opening accounts of their personl xtruggles with mental illnes. This including Charnene's two attempted suicides as a young adult and James' psychotic episodes earlier in his life.

Listening to the questions that came from the audience, it was clear that many people are impacted by mental illness in some aspects of their lives, whether family, friends, neighbors or themselves. It was also clear from the questions that the audience was taking in a lot of the very good information that was coming over the transom.

The words on the screeen say it all ...

"Given the overall impact of health disparities on the African American community, we must be vigilant about taking every opportunity to learn about ways to improve both our phiyical and mental health," said Gamma Pi Basileus (president) Bro. Richard Allison II. "This event was about looking closely at our mental health needs first by getting rid of the stigma and then sharing credible information. I'm proud that Gamma Pi Chapter is leading this effort in the community."

Thanks to Gamma Pi’s Spring 2022 group along with the chapter’s Heath Initiatives Committee for organizing a great and truly informative seminar.

For further information, visit these websites:   NAMI Prince George’s County (https://namipgc.org) and the  D.C. Coalition for the Homeless (https://dccfh.org).

Below: Brothers from Gamma Pi and two presenting sorors from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., celebrate unity after participating in and attending the program. Thanks to Bro. Quentin Wilson for these photos. Find more photos and short video clips here.