GAMMA Rays

Bro. Richard Allison II, Basileus

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GAMMA PI CHAPTER ENTERS 50th YEAR WITH RENEWED COMMITMENT

Brothers Kick off 2023 With High-Octane Social Action and Social Events

LOOKING BACK AT ACHIEVEMENT WEEK '22: QUE REVUE

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 Presidential Golf Course clubhouse in Upper Marlboro. Both events drew a full house. Brothers visiting from other chapters joined Gamma Pi members for the chapter dinner. Many members of the community attended the awards program.

Each year the Fraternity identifies a theme for Achievement Week. This year’s theme was, “Providing Uplift to Local, National and World Communities." That theme came through in the voices of the guest speakers.

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

Congratulations to all Achievement Week award winners.

GET THE FULL ACHIEVEMENT WEEK STORY HERE

SCENES FROM ACHIEVEMENT WEEK 2022

Photos by Bro. Tyrone Smith

Addressing the Mental Health Challenges of Black Americans

Bringing The Holidays to the Community
Christmas and Thanksgiving

Bro. Coach Mike Locksley Leads Session

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.

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, Dereck E. Davis and Satrick Richardson. READ MORE ON GAMMA PI LIVE

Brothers Hold Blood Drive To Help Build Local Supply

Brother signs up new donor

The Brothers of Gamma Pi Chapter are accustomed to taking the lead on issues that impact the community of Prince George’s County Maryland. That was once again the case on January 14, 2023 as Gamma Pi Chapter initiated, organized and executed a much needed blood drive in Bowie, Maryland.

The 4 hour blood drive saw 43 donors (40 of them from Black Greek Letter Organizations) give a total 35 units of blood (each unit with the potential to save 3 lives). Those 35 units of blood collected can potentially save up to 105 lives. “We need to really come out and support the blood drives. There are so many people who need it,” says Brother Dr. Kevin Ford, a member of Gamma Pi Chapter and the Chairman of Gamma Pi’s Health Initiative Committee. “There is such a shortage in certain areas and especially amongst the African American community, every little bit matters.”

Gamma Pi has really made strong contributions to the health concerns of the residence of Prince George’s County, MD. Bro. Dr. Ford’s leadership and experience has really elevated the chapters’ presence in the community as it relates to meeting the health needs. Gamma Pi has several health initiative events scheduled in 2023 to continue it’s incredible impact in the community.

According to the American Red Cross, www.redcrossblood.org, ‘every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.’ In January of 2022 the Red Cross declared the first ever blood crisis in the nation. The shortage is so dire that doctors now have to decide who receives blood and who will have to wait. This collection of blood can be especially helpful with illnesses such as sickle cell and various cancer types. It can also be useful for blood transfusions and surgeries.

During the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday period, Gamma Pi Chapter hit the streets, bringing cheer and food to its favorite residents in Prince George's County - young children and seniors.

First, Brothers delivered turkey boxes to residents of the Trinity Terrace senior apartments in Temple Hills, MD, on November 21. More than 100 Thanksgiving food packages were trucked in and given away to appreciative seniors who look forward to seeing "The Brothers" every year for Thanksgiving.

On December 21, the Brothers ventured to the Gaywood Elementary School in Lanham, MD, where chapter Brother Damion Goins serves as principal, to bring loads of new Christmas toys to students and other neighborhood children.The toy giveaway was held in the school's multi-purpose room.

Both activities were planned by the chapter's Social Action committee. In nearly every year of its existence, Gamma Pi has provided support and relief to local families with free Thanksgiving meals and Christmas toy giveaways. This is how The Super Chapter rolls when it comes to UPLIFT of the local community!

Brothers preparing to deliver Thanksgiving boxes

At Gaywood Elementary Christmas Toy Giveaway

NEW HEALTH INITIATIVES WEBINAR:
GLAUCOMA AND COMMON EYE DISEASES

Gamma PI's Health Initiative Committee is proud to present a series of webinars aimed at addressing health inequities within the Black and Brown communities in Prince George's County, Maryland. The webinars are led by Kevin Ford, MD, Chair of the Health Initiative Committee, and are held every fourth Saturday at 10 am on Facebook Live. The webinars can be accessed at https://facebook.com/gammapichapter/live/

The webinars cover a range of important health topics such as hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, colon cancer, breast cancer, dementia, and the importance of blood donation. The committee is committed to providing education and raising awareness about health issues that disproportionately affect Black and Brown communities. At right is a link to the January 28 session featuring ophthalmologist Dr. Renee Bovelle discussing Glaucoma and other common eye diseases, which are prevalent among Black and Brown communities.