The Super Chapter Loses Another Super Brother - a Gamma Pi Icon, Bro. Steven Walls

Brothers in Gamma Pi Chapter are still struggling to absorb some shocking and sobering news going into the weekend of August 2. When we lose a key leader, especially someone who has made long-term contributions, we talk about how a sturdy tree of Omega has fallen. In this case, the sudden loss of Bro. Steven Walls, the only Gamma Pi member to serve as Basileus during two different eras, is about the loss of a Brother who is as sturdy a tree in Omega as they come. Bro. Walls passed way unexpectedly on Friday, August 2. Brothers will be grieving and remembering for a very long time. Among those grieving is his own blood-brother, Bro. Lovell Walls, who is a Gamma Pi chapter member. 

Bro. Steven Walls most recently served as Basileus during back-to-back terms in 2019-20 and 2020-21. His first service as Basileus was 1998-2000. He was the first Gamma Pi-initiated Brother to become Basileus of The Super Chapter. To date, no other member in the chapter's 50-year history (March 5, 1973) has served in the Basileus role for a second separate stint covering more than two decades after the first go-round. Bro. Timothy McIntosh, a charter member and the first Gamma Pi Basileus, came back for a second stint in the next decade after his 1973-74 initial service.

Bro. Walls (left) is interviewed
on local TV in June 2020

While Bro. Walls was often the one leading the Omega Memorial Services for departed Brothers, was the first-choice soloist when it came time for Brothers to sing Omega Dear, was THE resident historian and parliamentarian for Gamma Pi Chapter and was all knowing about every little detail of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. as a rabid student of Omega history (he probably knew the Social Security numbers of each of the Founders), he will also be remembered for his dedication to seeing to it that Gamma Pi kept social action on the front burner under his leadership. He never wavered. He also served at the District and international levels.

Bro. Walls orchestrated one of Gamma Pi's most successful and farthest-reaching social action projects in chapter history just several years ago. In 2020 at the outset of the global pandemic when lockdowns began, Bro. Walls set up a months-long "machine-like" assembly line food preparation and delivery service led and executed by Gamma Pi along with some Brothers who came to help from other chapters. Over the course of more than a year, following his vision, The Super Chapter distributed free food packages weekly to more than 80,000 Prince George's County families suffering financially from the impact of the pandemic, as many found themselves out of work or unable to go out and shop for themselves due to the public heath risk.

During the food drives that lasted beyond 2021, Bro. Walls risked his own health and safety by donning a cloth mask and showing up every week at whatever school or church Gamma Pi was distributing packages. In between, he spent hours on the phone pulling people together across the community, from politicians to pastors to nonprofit partners. Because of the success and reach of the food drives, Gamma Pi Chapter was named the Large Graduate Chapter of the Year for the 2019-2020 Fraternity Year for the entire Second District. The chapter's work attracted local TV coverage. Bro. Walls was interviewed on-air during a weekend food giveaway at DeMatha High School in 2020 (see photo above) and also in 2021 when Gamma Pi held a one-year anniversary food drive event in District Heights (link below). 

The complete food giveaway project was captured in articles and photos in the chapter's annual Second District Achievement Week scrapbook. The aforementioned Chapter of the Year award was presented to him at the 2021 Second District Conference in Pittsburgh. Bro. then-Basileus Walls also used the chapter's own Community UPLIFT TV show in June 2021, broadcast on Comcast and Verizon FiOS, to promote the food drives and also announce that the chapter had won the prestigious award.

Below are links to both TV news interviews from 2021. In the top interview, Bro. Walls, sadly, in the interview, pays public respects to another stalwart chapter member who Gamma Pi had just experienced the sudden loss of, in the person of Bro. William "364" Reese. During COVID, the chapter's Community UPLIFT show was filmed via Zoom from home. The studio was closed during the two years Bro. Walls served as Basileus.

Finally, as we all look back at all the leadership achievements and his every good-natured demeanor with the Brothers, there is one takeaway from Bro. Walls that all of Gamma Pi will remember about him as the days and years go by. At every committee meeting, every chapter meeting, and at every chapter or Fraternity activity, when he stood up to talk, whether he was presenting a report, answering a question or asking a question about Fraternity business, he prefaced every statement and remark and answer with, "Giving thanks and honor to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." That was his signature tagline. He would not make his business point until he made that point. He's probably already hard at work for The Supreme Basileus. You can bet he's set up the agenda for the next Omega Chapter meeting.

 Community UPLIFT June 2021 broadcast

Fox 5 TV interview about Gamma Pi's pandemic food drives

Gamma Pi Shows Local Seniors Some Love -- Like No Others Can

If you had asked one of the seniors who attended Saturday’s Gamma Pi Chapter Seniors banquet what was the best part of the afternoon festivities, they would have had a very difficult time making a decision. Some might have said it was the food. No question, hands down, it was another extraordinary down-home Southern style meal purchased and prepared by the Brothers. Others might have said it was the music. Again, no question, as the Gamma Pi Chorale brought down the house in a way that brought to mind some of the great gospel groups of all time. And to some, the best part of the event was the “name that tune” singing game led by energetic stand-in emcee Bro. George Montgomery. And who could not feel the overwhelming spirit from the powerful delivery of The Word by Gamma Pi Chaplain Bro. Rev. Brian King, expounding on the subject ”thorny business?” Frankly, if there was one thing all the attendees agreed on it was that Gamma Pi – the Super Chapter, the ”Ques” – topped itself yet again for another annual seniors banquet.

“It was awesome.” “We had so much fun.”  “I love the male chorus. They sound better than the men at my church!" "I can't wait to come back next year.” This is what was heard from several seniors while they boarded the charter motor coach home after the banquet. Actually, they did not want to leave.

In typical Gamma Pi fashion, Brothers made it look easy on Saturday at Gethsemane United Methodist Church. The entire event, under the planning and direction of Bro Sheku Alieu and his crew, went very smoothly, like clockwork, from the food preparation to the restaurant-style delivery of the piping hot meals to seniors at their tables, to the quality and organization of the entire spiritual and entertainment program. It was Gamma Pi first class -- all the way.

For Gamma Pi Chapter, this is nothing new. Gamma Pi never goes halfway on anything. When it comes to our seniors in Prince George’s County, the Brothers give extra effort. The annual summer banquet is just one of several activities Gamma Pi organizes for seniors – quarterly birthday celebrations, an outdoor cookout, and social events like paint ‘n sip night. The Super Chapter covers the whole county from north to south, from east to west, focusing mainly on pockets of distress wedged in and around the classy neighborhoods of what has become a prosperous enclave for African Americans. Gamma Pi has served residents of all ages all over Prince George's County through five decades. Gamma Pi is Prince George's County.

This year’s senior banquet was the largest ever. It is one of the most popular social action events each year. Typically about 100 seniors attend the event, with many of them traveling by chartered bus. But this year there was absolutely “no more room at the inn” as every single seat in the house was taken and no more extra chairs could be added to the long rows of table.

One thing about Gamma Pi's seniors banquet.  There is no such thing as too many cooks in the kitchen. The kitchen was crowded with Brothers at times -- maybe even packed -- but nobody was standing around.  Brothers each had a role to play and they knew exactly what to do and when and how. It showed in how fast the seniors were served.

It was a great way for Gamma Pi to start the summer for some of the most overlooked and forgotten people in our community -- our elderly citizens. For them, seeing the Gamma Pi Ques coming down the street is more exciting than seeing Santa Clause coming down the chimney on Christmas Day. Only the Super Chapter...the one and only...   

(Photos from Bro. Terance Hare)

WATCH THE GAMMA PI CHORALE BELOW:

God Is Doing Something Wonderful In Me

Show Me The Way

CATCH BRO. REV. BRIAN KING'S SPIRIT-FILLED SERMON  BELOW:

"Thorny Business" (excerpt): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zumq8hhtBm8

Project ENRICH Puts an Exclamation Mark on the Year with Inspirational Scholarship Banquet

Charles Drew Scholarship fund chair Bro. Brett Blake
delivers a scholarship check to a young student

On a steamy Saturday afternoon, friends and family of students who participated in the 2023-24 Project ENRICH banquet sponsored by Gamma Pi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. gathered on May 25 at the Patuxent Wildlife Preserve tucked away in a rural oasis in Prince George’s County to celebrate academic success. It may have seemed strange to have a year-end academic awards program at a wildlife preserve. But actually. it was quite fitting. Just as the preserve is an environment where wildlife are protected and roam freely, Project ENRICH is where the ability to learn is protected and the pursuit of academic achievement runs freely for our local youth.

Essay Winners Show off Awards

During a fast-moving three-hour program, Project ENRICH leadership and parents paid homage to students for progressing through the four-year program, for graduating on to college and it closed out the day by awarding more than $60,000 in college scholarships for the upcoming year.

The program was led by co-directors Bro. James Riley and Bro. George Montgomery, PhD. In attendance was Project ENRICH founder and inaugural director, Bro. Roland Byrd. Bro. Willie Hines, who served as director for 10 years, was also present.

This year marked the return of Project ENRICH to in-person sessions. The pandemic chased Project ENRICH from its longtime home at Bowie State in early 2020 just as they were closing out the 2019-20 academic year. In the time since, it has been meeting virtually the first Saturday of each month.

The keynote speaker, Bro. Jahliel Thurman, host of the hit Aspire TV series “ HBCU 101” and owner of the Yardtalk 101 agency,  brought home some important messages about courage and having the inner strength to succeed after college. As a Chicago native, he matriculated “down south” to Virginian State University because he wanted to attend an HBCU. In his talk, he shared how his own failures grew into the success he is experiencing today. His message to Project ENRICH students: “At some point you will fail and that is OK. Don’t ever give up. Chase your dreams or watch someone else live them.”

Bro. Thurman made this pitch for HBCU’s based on his Virginia State experience: “HBCU teachers want to engage you and meet you where you are to make sure you are successful.”

Keynoter Jahliel Thurman speaks

The keynote set the stage for the always-anticipated awards. A total of 20 students received a total of $60,000 in college scholarships for the coming year from the Charles Drew Memorial Scholarship Fund. Overall, the seniors of 2024 received 24 college offers and were awarded a total of $363,000 in scholarships as a group. Project ENRICH has had 100% college placement since 1985. Maryland State Delegate Ashanti Martinez (Dist. 22) was there to recognize one of the award winners from his district. Gamma Pi has awarded $1.5 million in scholarships since its founding.

Omega men of Project ENRICH, Charles Drew

Others honored were Tara Omotosho, Parent of the Year; Cameron Perkins, of Frederick Douglass High School, Student of the Year; program alumnus Becky Bitar, now with the U.S. State Department, Director’s Award; and Frederick Douglass High was named School of the Year for Project ENRICH.

William “364” Reese Essay winners were also recognized, each receiving stipends ranging from $300-500 that they can carry over each year as long as they participate in the program through the 12^th grade. The winners were Claudia Queen, Brianna Long, Malachi White, Nicholas Steed, Carmen Perkins, Sean Terry and Gillian Boone.

Gamma Pi Basileus Eric Fields closed out the program with words of inspiration. “It’s one thing to have brains in your head. But it’s another thing to use them. Learning is not just filling a bucket it’s lighting a fire. Your parents are counting on you. Do what you’re supposed to do. Make something of yourself.”

PHOTOS BY BRO. DAVID SIERRA

 

 

 

 

 

Investing in Young Men and Their Future: Suits Donation at Benjamin Stoddart Middle School

Brothers display donated suits

by Bro. Kyle Randolph Bacon, PhD

Forestville, MD - Transitioning from middle to high school is a significant moment in a young person's life, marked by rites of passage celebrating their growth and achievements. For many African American middle school males, attending an 8th-grade formal represents a significant milestone. This event, organized by Gamma Pi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., has the potential to foster self-esteem, community belonging, and future aspirations. The Chapter's provision of gently worn suits for these young men of Benjamin Stoddart Middle School in Marlow Heights, MD is not just a gesture, but a tangible way for the community to invest in their success. It sends a powerful message about their worth and the community's shared responsibility in their journey.

First and foremost, the provision of gently worn suits is a tangible expression of dignity and respect. For many young African American males, societal messages often undermine their self-worth, bombarding them with negative stereotypes and limited expectations. However, this simple act of providing suits can be a catalyst for transformation, altering how these young men perceive themselves and how they are perceived by others. It fosters a sense of pride and confidence that is not just critical at this formative age, but also holds the promise of a brighter future.

The Gamma Pi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. initiative also highlights the importance of role models and mentorship. By offering their suits, the fraternity members implicitly serve as role models, demonstrating the importance of giving back and supporting the next generation.  Gamma Pi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is not just preparing young men for a single night by providing these suits. It's a long-term investment in their confidence and future, a potent reminder that these young men are not alone, and a commitment to their ongoing support and development.