11 minute read
SMM “History from the other Gill
The Brothers of the Sigma Mu Mu Chapter (Loudoun County Ques) of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., kicked off Black History Month on Saturday, February 6, 2021, with a Brotherhood Forum: “Some Omega History from the Other Gill.” Brother Dr. Walter Gill (5 Pi 1957) honored the brothers with plentiful and necessary “Omega Oil.”
Brother Gill welcomed the brothers with an enthusiastic greeting. Then he proceeded to educate them about the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the legacy of his father, and the impact he had on his life and the fraternity. The younger Gill skillfully connected and interwove his father’s and his youth, his father as athlete, scholar, and “Tuskegee Airman,” their time at Morgan State College, little known information about the writing of the second history book, testimony from Pi Chapter brothers, and the first seven decades of cooperation between Pi and Pi Omega chapters. Merged into the presentation were comments about Omega from brothers James Forrest (1958), James Watts (1961), Lonnie Liston Smith (1958), and Oliver Jackson. Brother Smith’s time at Morgan College and in Baltimore musically, and Brother Jackson asking Malcolm X to speak at Morgan in 1962 which he did, grew the greatest interest. After the hour and a half presentation, a question and answer were held, then photographs of all who had signed-on.
Sigma Mu Mu Chapter is under the leadership of Basileus Robert Myles, Jr. More than 120 brothers assembled on zoom from six districts throughout the Fraternity to hear “The Other Gill.” Officials at the presentation were Third District Representative Brother Conrado Morgan, some District Officer’s, and Brother Norman Senior, Interim International Editor of the Oracle. The gathering was also honored with the presence of First Vice Grand Basileus Ricky Lewis who delivered opening remarks and closed with “My Lamp is Full.”
(Much of the information in the Power Point presentation about Pi Omega and Pi chapters is in Brother Dr. Gill’s book, “Yesteryear.” For more information, e-mail Brother Gill at urbanprofessor@aol.com)
Article prepared by Robert Myles, Basileus
Brother John Rivers Appointed Board Trustee for Cisco Foundation
Brother John Rivers, a member of Upsilon Nu chapter, has been appointed to the Board of Trustees for the Cisco Foundation. This is a significant appointment, as the Cisco Foundation oversees an endowment of over $200 million dollars, with the aim of supporting community and non-profit initiatives around the world. Brother Rivers was reared in Sussex, Virginia and became a member of the fraternity in 2018. Brother Rivers is a past AKRS and currently leads the Media Committee for Upsilon Nu, as well as other committee memberships.
The appointment is for two years, where during his tenure as a Board Trustee, Brother Rivers plans to focus on Education (STEM) and Global Climate Disruption. “This is a major personal and professional accomplishment for me; as great as any promotion or career award I’ve ever received. In addition to the ability to influence the direction of our $200 M endowment, it’s also an incredible opportunity to align with many very high ranking corporate executives, open the door for additional career progression, and pave a way for others who will follow”, stated Brother Rivers. The Cisco Foundation was established in 1997 by a gift from Cisco. Cisco and the Cisco Foundation partner with nonprofits, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and communitybased organizations to carry out many of Cisco’s Corporate Social Responsibility programs.
A distinct legal entity, the Cisco Foundation makes cash grants by invitation to nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations according to criteria and guidelines aligned with Cisco’s overall nonprofit investment strategy. Cisco is a corporate leader and committed to full spectrum diversity at all levels and aspects of the corporation. This appointment to the Cisco Foundation is a demonstration of that commitment and a direct effort to improve the diversity of this team. Its very much a clear representation of Cisco “walking it’s talk”.
“In this role, I seek the opportunity to influence the direction of our funding and help insure our minority and underserved communities are well represented in our efforts. I have a particular interest in Education (STEM) and Global Climate Disruption,” continued Brother Rivers. My current duties as Director, Area Services Sales, are not directly impacted by this appointment, as I retain responsibility of leading my team of sales professionals towards our annual $550 M sales target. However, my increased responsibilities include quarterly board meetings, ongoing review of grant and funding proposals and allocations, as well as input and feedback on the future direction of the Foundation.
Upsilon Nu Richmond Raceway COVID-19 Vaccine
Brothers of Upsilon Nu distribute paperwork to attendees entering the Main exit at the Raceway Center for 2nd COVID-19 dose Henrico County, Virginia, Saturday, February 27, 2021, Upsilon Nu participated in the Richmond Raceway event to provide the seniors with the COVID-19 vaccine. The event allowed for about 5,000 people to get their second dose. This was the first group of people, outside of first responders and teachers, to get their second shot, according to Henrico County leaders.
"At this time, only people 75 and over were eligible to participate in the COVID-19 vaccination at this event, based on receiving their first dose" said Henrico County Manager John Vithoulkas. "We hope as we get into it and get more vaccine to be able to push those numbers down to 65 and older." It is good to see events like this increasing across the state, because Virginia ranked as one of the lowest states in vaccinations, which raised many eyebrows, since the Virginia has a 100% Democratic control. It was good to see some of the Brothers in person, besides on ZOOM, even though we had to social distance, it was good to get out as a group and represent Upsilon Nu.
People age 75 and over wait in line to receive a Pfizer vaccine inside Old Dominion Building at the Richmond Raceway
Pi Lambda Lambda’s Fatherhood Initiative Virtual Father & Family Easter Celebration
Pi Lambda Lambda (PLL) Chapter, Third District, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. On Saturday April 3rd at 1:00 pm, The Fatherhood Initiative Committee presented The Virtual Father & Family Easter Celebration. The Fatherhood Intiative sought to put fathers on display and demonstrate the power that fatherhood can bring to the family. Through the life experiences of PLL Fathers, we were able to bring to life the true nature of what fatherhood is all about. The Father & Family Easter Celebration is not only a celebration of Easter but a showcase of Fathers and the role they play in their families. Opening words by 3rd District Representative Bro Conrado Morgan and PLL Basileus Bro Jeffery Allen, spoke of their father’s examples and the significance of their roles in their own families. FI Committee members Bro Darryl Barnett II, Bro Johnni Hamilton and FI Committee Co-Chairman Bro William Vaughn Jr. spoke on how important their Fathers were in their lives and how their roles influenced them to be the best Fathers they could be. PLL Chaplain Bro Timothy Butler gave an amazing sermonette on Easter: “The Resurrection of Christ and the sacrifice of the Father and The Son so that all sins are forgiven”. PLL Omega U Senior, Jawuan Hill did an amazing performance of Luther Vandross’s “Dance With My Father” as pictures of PLL brothers and their families were displayed in a moving slide show. To round out the event, Bro Darryl Barnett II and his son Darryl Barnett III did The Parent/Child Oath to commit their father/son bond. In closing, Bro Warren Simmons Sr, spoke of the Father’s role in the modern family and the effects of social media on the children of today.
Even within the limited scope of Covid-19 guidelines, PLL Fatherhood Initiative Committee was still able to successfully promote and pay tribute to the impact of Fatherhood. Please enjoy the presentation of PLL Fatherhood Initiative Committee’s Father and Family Easter Celebration. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KaNktGpPPjXRwRzCWkHAjLbcy3PTNwa0/view?usp=drive_web
Pi Lambda Lambda (PLL) Chapter, Third District, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. On Saturday May 1st, Pi Lambda Lambda Health Initiatives Committee, in observance of Covid-19 guidelines, held a virtual “Brother, You’re on My Mind” (BYOMM) event on mental health – “Get Your Mind Right: An In-Depth Discussion on Uplifting and Preserving Your Mental Health”.
The event was organized by Brother Dr. Mario Anderson, Vice-Chair of the Health Initiatives Committee, and Brother Johnathan Thomas, the Committee Chair. The event was an open and honest dialogue about mental health issues and combatting the stigma of asking for help to deal with those issues.
Brother Anderson coordinated several excellent speakers to address different mental health topics. Ms. Shelly Pollard, the “Brother, You’re on My Mind” Liaison from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities spoke on the BYOMM program and its partnership with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. She also relayed a touching story about her mother’s personal battle with mental health issues and how that impacted her family.
Dr. Jim Monestime, a psychiatrist working on Fort Belvoir, Virginia, presented “The Brain, Brothers and Behavior”, which focused on the brain as an organ. Dr. Monestime spoke on how stress effects the brain and manifests that stress through our behavior and actions (“fight vs flight”, quick reactions), the impact of technology on our mental capabilities (weaker memories, shortened attention spans), and how we can keep our brains in shape (reducing stress, exercising, slowing our lives down, and more). In all, the presentation shed light on a subject that has languished in the shadows for far too long and provided some tools to help us help ourselves, as well as to help those around us who may be suffering in silence.
The day’s highlight was the discussion with Mr. C. Victor Herbin, IV, a graduating senior at Charles J. Colgan High school in Manassas, Virginia and president of his school’s Omega U chapter (Omega U is Pi Lambda Lambda’s youth mentoring program). Mr. Herbin spoke about his book, “"It Should Not Be Normal . . . the Normalization of Suicide”, which addresses teenage suicide and mental illness. Mr. Herbin spoke of how his book arose from his coping with a friend’s suicide during his sophomore year in high school, and the impact it’s had on some of his peers who’ve read it. He also talked about the many stressor of being a young adult, to include peer pressure, pressure from adults, and just being a young black male and having to stay on point “at all times, because ‘all times’ could be my last time” he said.
Dr. Diakima Y. Thomas-Davis and Dr. Rhodesia McMillian closed the session with their presentation, “A Public Health Crisis: Children, Adolescent and Adult Mental Health”. Dr. Thomas-Davis, an 11year public health professional, spoke about adolescent mental health from a mentoring perspective, as she has mentored hundreds of teens and young adults from community centers to jails. She provided some harrowing statistics of how boys are more likely than girls to be diagnosed with ADHD, and are more likely to have a mental, behavioral or developmental disorder. She also told a touching story of an encounter with a young man in juvenile lock up whose goal was to become incarcerated so he could see his father. She recommended the following tips if you encounter a young adult who is struggling: meet them where they are in their situation, create a “no judgement zone” for them to talk about their issues; be present with them; and do what is in your power to help.
During this same presentation, Dr. McMillian, a school psychologist with Columbus City Schools in Columbus, Ohio, elaborated on the differences between school psychologists and counselors, and how the school psychologist examines a child’s mental capacity, and helps address the student’s academic challenges and requirements based on that examination. She talked about how the impacts of the pandemic have shown up in schools in her area. “Even our best students, our ‘A’students, who manage stress well are being challenged,” she said. “So just think about those who already had other challenges”.
