December 2020 Edition
Founded in Richmond, Virginia on October 1, 1927, Phi Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., remains committed to the Omega Excellence envisioned by its founders, giving back to Richmond and surrounding counties. Phi Phi - Celebrating 93 Years of Friendship and Fraternity

As the Holiday Season is upon us, may God open our minds to His wonders... our hearts to His love...our lives to His presence. Have a wonderful Holiday Season filled with happiness, health and peace throughout the coming year. The Brothers of Phi Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Bro. Charles Fordham, Jr., Basileus; Bro.Vincent Robertson,Vice Basileus; Bro. Jamal Kelly, Keeper of Records and Seal; Bro. Henry Atkins IV, Keeper of Finance; Bro. Courtney Muse, Chaplin, and Bro. John D. Pride, Editor to the Oracle.
2020 Virtual Achievement Week Celebration 
Phi Phi Chapter
OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY, INC.
ACHIEVEMENT WEEK

Phi Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., celebrated the 109th Anniversary of Omega with its Annual Achievement Week Program on Saturday November 14, 2020 (virtually). The program followed the previous night's social – @ The Hidden Spot.

Achievement Week, one of our mandated programs, is observed each November and it is designed to recognize those individuals at the local and international levels who have contributed to community uplift.
The proud brothers of Omega were welcomed by the Master of Ceremonies, Bro. Kevin Dent who guided us through the program. Bro. Dent rendered the invocation and a moment of silence for our Founders.  After a brief history of Achievement week, Bro. Rayford Harris Jr. introduced his father, Bro. Rayford Harris, Sr., the recipient of the Life Time Achievement Award. Bro. LeRoy Mason, Jr., Chairman of Achievement Week, presented our awards.

THEME: “Omega Men Ushering in Social Change”
Life Time Achievement Award - Bro. Rayford Harris, Sr.

Bro. Rayford Harris Sr., the recipient of the Life Time Achievement Award, exhibits the highest ideals of Omega’s Four Cardinal Principles - Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance and Uplift. Bro. Harris is being recognized for his contributions to the Fraternity at the Chapter, District and International Levels for 71 years of Membership. In addition, for his impact on society that has enhanced the welfare of mankind.

Omega Man of the Year - Bro. Jonathan "Poncho" Miller

Brother Jonathan Miller, the recipient of The Omega Man of the year Award, has served in a manner above and beyond the ordinary participation levels. He's involved in leadership roles regarding the organization, planning and implementation of programs and projects. The Omega Man of the Year Award is presented to a Brother who has made significant contributions to his Chapter, his District and to his community.

Citizen of the Year - Kenneth Barney

Kenneth Barney (Founder of Grace and Mercy Foundation) makes his living cutting hair. But in his spare time, the longtime Richmond barber is on a mission to build solid, safe houses in a community in Haiti where thousands make their homes in tiny ramshackle spaces.
Undergraduate Omega Man of the year - Bro. Darius Whitehurst 

Bro. Whitehurst is being recognized for his significant contributions to his chapter, his District and on the International level of the Fraternity. He has made significant contributions to his College, Virginia Union University and to the Richmond Community.

Founders Award - Bro. LeRoy Mason, Jr.

Brother LeRoy Mason, Jr., exemplifies our Four Cardinal Principles of: Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance and Uplift. He is the embodiment of our motto: "Friendship is Essential to the Soul". The Founders Award is presented to a Brother who has made significant contributions to his Chapter, his District and to his community.

Superior Service - Bro. Charles Fordham

Brother Charles Fordham, has demonstrated a continuous spirit of service toward the fraternity and the Community. He is being recognized for his sustained concern and contributions to the Richmond community and to the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

500 Mile Award - Bro. Vincent Robertson

Attorney Robertson is a decorated, retired Marine Corps veteran. His career spanned twenty years of honorable and faithful service. He served in the Marine Corps as an Infantryman, Intelligence Specialist, Antiterrorism Instructor and Recruiter. Bro. Robertson participated in numerous missions and operations – to include operations in Iraq and Kuwait. He served as an Intelligence Instructor during his final tour of duty. There he trained hundreds of Marines in advanced intelligence analysis. This assignment involved extensive travel to train foreign military forces such as the Polish military general staff and the Estonian Border Forces. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management and Development and Master of Science in Human Resource Management while on active duty.
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. was founded on November 17, 1911 by three Howard University juniors, Bro. Edgar Amos Love, Bro. Oscar James Cooper and Bro. Frank Coleman, and their faculty adviser, Bro. Ernest Everett Just. 
Bro. Vincent Robertson Victorious in Bid for Sussex County Commonwealth's Attorney

It was a night of close calls for several national and local candidates in Tuesday’s 2020 General Election, but not for Bro. Vincent Robertson, who was elected Sussex County Commonwealth's Attorney. Congratulations Bro. Robertson.

"My mission as the Commonwealth’s Attorney is to ensure that there is equal justice under the law and to keep our community safe. Unnecessary incarceration wastes taxpayer dollars, damages families, divides communities, and does not reduce but can even increase crime. We can and must do better and I am committed to doing so. I plan to build on the progress of the past six months by instituting even more improvements in our office’s practices and only supporting changes to our laws that achieve both safety and justice. I am committed to transparency and accountability as your Commonwealth’s Attorney".
Message from Bro. Vincent Robertson

I would like to thank all of you for supporting my campaign for Sussex County Commonwealth's Attorney (CA). Brother Basileus, I appreciate your thoughts, support, encouragement, prayers. and most of all, your friendship. This is a huge victory for Phi Phi and Omega as a whole! Read More
Book Review
WALKING WITH THE WIND
Courtesy of Bro. Marvin Jones

Walking With The Wind is the autobiography of John Lewis, a well- known civil rights leader who served in Congress for 34 years before he died in July 2020 of pancreatic cancer. The book includes 500 well- written pages. Special thanks are extended to my daughter, Jamia Jones Garrett for ordering this book for me. She really knows the type of book which I like to read. This book provides an eyewitness account of the civil rights movement. Lewis did not depend upon his memory in order to write this book. In 1996, he went back to Nashville, Selma, Montgomery and Birmingham. Lewis was born in Pike County, Alabama as the third of ten children of sharecroppers. When he was four years old, his parents bought a farm which included 110 acres and a three room house. The main crop was cotton. By taking care of his family’s chickens, he acquired qualities (patience, compassion and nonviolence) that shaped his character and guided him into the heart of the civil rights movement. Read More
THANKSGIVING BASKET GIVE-AWAY
Due to the Pandemic our annual Feeding 500 thanksgiving basket giveaway had to be done differently by using social distancing and in smaller groups. Usually, The feeding 500 consist of giving away over a 1000 baskets to the community but due to COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines found it necessary for individuals involved to be safe by following Governor's state guidelines...
To get the holiday season started and to provide Community Uplift, the Brothers of Phi Phi and Zeta Chapters of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. distributed food baskets to families who attended our Annual Thanksgiving Basket Give-away event.
The brothers gathered at Kroger to delivered Thanksgiving Baskets to the residents. The families who received Thanksgiving baskets were pre-selected by a local agency.
The annual giveaway was created because the brothers wanted to do something in the holiday spirit to help families in the Richmond area who would otherwise not be able to afford and enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS
Domestic Violence is a very serious issue facing our community especially during this horrific Pandemic. The Phi Phi Chapter is doing its part by collaborating with outreach services to help give out very important Domestic Violence Awareness information to our community. On October 23rd 2020, Brothers Shimme, Dion Foxx, and Jon Poncho Miller handed out over 650 Flyers pertaining to information on Domestic Violence and emergency contact information on how to receive help during St. Paul’s Baptist Church Food Distribution. 

Upcoming Event

  • Tuesday December 1, 2020 Virtual Executive Meeting 6:30 pm
  • Wed. December 9th, 2020 Virtual Chapter Meeting 7:00 pm 
  • Friday December 25, 2020 Christmas Day - Merry Christmas
Our Mandated Programs

Achievement Week - Observed each November and is designed to recognize those individuals at the local and international levels who have contributed to community uplift.

Talent Hunt Program - provides exposure, encouragement and financial assistance to talented young people participating in the performing arts. Winners are awarded recognition and may be given college scholarship.

NAACP - Phi Phi maintain a Life Membership in NAACP. All brothers are encouraged to join the NAACP.

Scholarship - Phi Phi provide financial assistance to student members and non-members.

Memorial Service - March 12th of each year Phi Phi conduct an appropriate service to recall the memory of those members who have entered into Omega Chapter.

Health Initiatives - Phi Phi facilitate, participate and coordinate activities that promote good health practices. Some of the programs are the Charles Drew Blood Drive and partnership with the American Diabetes Association.

Social Action - Phi Phi participate in activities that will uplift our community. Some of the activities include: voter registration, Assault on Illiteracy; Habitat for Humanity: mentoring and participation in fundraisers for charitable organizations.

Reclamation and Retention - a concerted effort to retain active brothers and return inactive brothers to full participatory status.

Voter Registration, Education & Mobilization - Phi Phi facilitates and participate in activities that uplift the Richmond community through the power of the vote.
A Publication of Phi Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. 
 John D. Pride, Editor