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THIRD DISTRICT
The Third District of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., hosted its first Youth Leadership Conference (YLC) on September 11, 2021, using the virtual zoom platform. The event catered to students primarily from 8th grade to graduating seniors in Virginia and the District of Columbia. In attendance were 129 participants, with 86 being students. The theme of the conference was a focus on Teen Mental Health and the Seeds of Success. The YLC featured guest speakers, Brother Shawn Lacey, Third District First Vice District Representative, and Brother Joe Briggs Esq. of the NFL Players Association. The event kicked off with a prayer from Bishop Enoch Perry and opening remarks from Brother Conrado B. Morgan, Third District Representative.
Brother Shawn Lacey began his career in education in 2000 and transitioned to Loudon County Public Schools, Virginia, in 2010. He became the Principal at Leesburg Elementary in 2018. He spoke to students on the approaches for understanding youth mental health, checking on friends, and finding and locating available resources as applicable.
Brother Lacey delivered an excellent oration to students and parents about common mental health concerns among youth. Additionally, Brother Lacey spoke on the need to reduce stigmas surrounding mental health in Black communities and communities of color, how to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health, and provided the audience with an action plan to help youth who may be facing a mental health problem. This included understanding the local and free resources available to parents, students, teachers, and friends.
Brother Joe Briggs Esq. was a scholarship athlete at Texas Christian University, earning three varsity letters as a committed student leader on campus. After the completion of his externship as a US Senate Legal Fellow, Mr. Briggs was hired by the NFL Players Association to manage their Financial Programs Department. He is currently the Public Policy Counsel of the NFLPA and the first individual to lead the NFLPA Government Relations Department.
Brother Conrado Morgan, Third District Representative, Bro. Joe Briggs Esq, Bro. Shawn Lacey, Third District 1st Vice Representative, Bro. Michael Frazier, Third District FIM Chairman, spoke at the inaugural Third District Youth Leadership Conference on September 11, 2021.
Brother Shawn Lacey, Third District 1VDR, speaking to students as a guest speaker about Teen Mental Health at the inaugural Third District Youth Leadership Conference on September 11, 2021.
Brother Briggs is also a professor at Georgetown University and often speaks on subjects ranging from politics to sports and everything in between. Brother Briggs spoke on the seeds of success. They included preparation, focus, hard work, and dedication. He reminded them that success is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Additional emphasis was placed on knowing at their age or any age; there are opportunities around you. He excited the audience with his words and recapped his message by understanding that others may define success, but it can only be confirmed and felt by you. This event was a historic moment for the Third District Fatherhood Initiative & Mentoring Committee with the successful execution and service to the community. The Third District YLC is available for streaming on the district website at:
www.3rddistrictques.org.
EACH ONE, BRING ONE
The Third District of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. was distinctly honored & rewarded with the International Reclamation & Retention Committee (IRRC) Large District Retention Award to close out the fiscal year 2021.
At the beginning of the fiscal year 2021, the Grand Basileus, Brother Dr. David Marion, issued a goal of 30,000 financial members by October 31, 2021. The IRRC utilized the power of the fraternity’s new database, iQue, to collect all the Brothers’ numbers across every District to help Omega reach that goal. Under the direction of District Representative Brother Conrado B. Morgan and guidance of the District Reclamation & Retention Chairman, Brother Reginald Parker, the Third
District brought home the Large District Retention Award
of $1,000. The hard work and dedication started at the chapter level. This process proved evident because, with such exact data results from IHQ, the Third District was able to present Reclamation and Retention awards and recognitions as a part of its incentive program:
Zeta Omicron - FY21 Large Reclamation Chapter of the Year ($2,000) Sigma Kappa Kappa - FY21 Small Reclamation Chapter of the Year ($1,000) Sigma Mu Mu - FY21 Large Retention Chapter of the Year (83.72%) Omicron Omega - FY21 Small Retention Chapter of the Year (80.95%)
Being the Birthplace of Omega, the Third District continues to exceed the mark and pave the way for reclaiming and retaining our Brothers Please review the 2021-2022 Reclamation and Retention video produced by the 3rd District Representative, Brother Conrado B. Morgan. Congratulations to 3rd District Reclamation and Retention Co-Chairs Brothers Reginald Parker and Frank Borris for being the first district to complete this initiative. Let’s continue to “Each One Bring One” for Omega.
3rd District Reclamation and Retention Video: Click Here
