ROAD Mentoring Program - April 16, 2011

Please join us on Saturday, April 16, 2011 for our ROAD mentoring program on "Teaching Teens How to Start a Business and Manage Money".

Talent Hunt Program

On Friday evening March 25, 2011, the men of the Xi Lambda Lambda Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. hosted the annual Talent Hunt Program at the Nyack Center located in Nyack, NY.  There were eleven extremely talented participants, eight solo artists who spoke so eloquently or sang their hearts out or musicians who mesmerized the audience by showing their mastery on the saxophone and electric guitar.  The three visual artists showcased a wide range of expression with clever drawings to ceramic sculptures.  With well over 100 people in attendance, they were treated to a magnificent display of young talent which made the judges job of selecting just one a difficult task.  However, in the end - the judges select Ms. Brianna Martin the overall winner, a vocalist whose rendition of R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly" was outstanding.  She is a junior at Ramapo High School in Spring Valley, NY with hopes of attending Syracuse University in the Fall of 2012.  In addition, Meagan Washington, a sophomore at the Academy of Mt. Saint Ursula, was the winner for visual arts.  These ladies will be representing Xi Lambda Lambda Chapter at the 63rd 2nd District Conference in Cherry Hill, NJ on Saturday, April 30, 2011.

We would also like to give special recognition to all of our talented young people from throughout Rockland County, NY.  They all took the stage with a level of confidence that far exceeded their young ages.  They provided the audience with a level of showmanship and poise that left all in attendance beaming with community pride.  The list of performers were:

• Brianna Martin (Singer)
• Meagan Washington (Visual artist)
• Jaenique Hurlock (Dramatic reading)
• Hernz Laguerre (Dramatic reading)
• Pascale Jean-Giles (Singer)
• Caleb "Skip" Caming (Guitar player)
• Bryant Jackson (Saxophone player)
• Casey Jacobs (Singer)
• Michaelle Vilsa (Singer)
• Kenard Grey (Visual artist)
• Jodelyne Courtney Gray (Visual artist)

We would like to also thank the judges whose personal experience in the creative arts field proved invaluable as they made a final determination on the participants.

• Bro. Richard Clarke
• Dr. Stella Marrs
• Ms. Shirley Crabbe
• Ms. Dreena Dixon

ROAD Mentoring Program - March 19, 2011

On March 19, 2011, the brothers of Xi Lambda Lambda chapter held a ROAD mentoring session at the YMCA that was attended by 12 mentees.  Brothers McGloster, McGlesh, Dinkins, Long and Jenkins exercised (weight lifting and cardiovascular) and played basketball with the young men.  A few of the mentees exercised in the pool.

Charles R. Drew Blood Drive

On Friday, February 25, 2011, Xi Lambda Lambda Chapter hosted our Charles R. Drew Blood Drive at Pilgrim Baptist Church in Nyack, NY.  On this weather challenged day (winds of up to 50 mph), we managed to collect a total of 23 pints of blood and expand the Bone Marrow Registry by 15 names.  This was our most successful Blood Drive to date and puts our total amount of blood collected, at over 50 pints.

Jazz Brunch and Silent Auction

On Sunday, February 20, 2011, the chapter sponsored its Annual Jazz Brunch at Casa Mia Manor House located at 577 Route 303 in Blauvelt, NY.  The time of the event was 2pm until 6pm. 

The music was performed by Chip Shelton and his Peacetime Band.  All that were in attendance agreed that the venue was beautiful, the service was great and the food was outstanding and plentiful. 

This year's auction was the most successful of all our previous auctions. Mainly in part that there was no cost outlay by the chapter.  The prizes that were raffled off included a poster by David Hammons, a night stay at the Pearl River Hilton, lunch at the Woodcliff Lake Hilton, a body massage at the Fountain Spa, a Gary Goldburg consultation and cigar, a financial book Best Business Estate, a $50 gift certificate at Off the Hook, dinner with the Gordon's at CEJJES, and two New York Knicks tickets.  Bro. Gerald Inman, entertaining way of getting the audience involved netted the chapter $1050 in raffle sales.

All proceeds from this event support the Rockland Omega Community Development Foundation (ROCDEF) scholarships and other community service projects.  The brunch was established in 2007 to raise money for college scholarships and to invest in community service projects. ROCDEF looks for opportunities in the community to fund grassroots and hands-on projects such as Rockland Omega AcaDemy (ROAD), which works with teenager boys, and encourages self-esteem, good study habits, the pursuit of higher education and being civic-minded. The Foundation is recognized as a 501c3 organization.

ROAD Mentoring Program - Black History Month

On February 19, 2011, The ROAD mentoring program sponsored a Black History Month program at Finkelstein library. Twenty-six mentees were in attendance. The program opened with a prayer. Brother Carl Jenkins presented a slide show of Omega Men starting with the Founders combined with other notable members of Omega. The program continued with the mentees reading their essays on the topic of "An African American Male that influenced them in their life". Assemblywomen Ellen Jaffe presented 4 of the mentees with state assembly proclamations. County Legislature Bro. Toney Earl addressed the young men with a speech on African American History. The guest speaker for the program was retired-NBA player Rafael Addison who provided the mentees with talk on life issues.

Xi Lambda Lambda Chapter History

The Xi Lambda Lambda Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. was chartered in Pomona, New York (Rockland County) on September 25, 2003 by a group of graduate and professional men.  They had a vision of organizing a chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc which would serve the growing county and community.  In February 2003, through perseverance, brothers instrumental in founding the new chapter were Dennis McGloster (Beta Alpha Alpha, 2001); Melvyn Davis (Beta Alpha Alpha, 1990); Edmund Gordon (Alpha, 1940); Hannibal Holmes (Beta Alpha Alpha, 1986); Bryon Hurlock (Xi Phi, 1984); Gerald Inman (Chi Delta, 1974); Michael Johnson (Beta Alpha Alpha, 1999); T. Ed McBride (Xi Phi, 1992); Michael Peterson (Beta Delta Delta, 1989); Chris Sampson (Beta Alpha Alpha, 1990); David Smith (Zeta, 1963); David Smith, Jr. (Omicron Sigma, 1991); and Herbert Thomas (Phi Upsilon, 1975).

The Supreme Council assigned the chapter name "Xi Lambda Lambda" on November 21, 2003.  The first official meeting of Xi Lambda Lambda Chapter was held at the Louis Kurtz Civic Center in Spring Valley, NY. 

Rockland Omega Community DEvelopment Foundation, Inc. (ROCDEF)

The Rockland Omega Community DEvelopment Foundation (ROCDEF) is a New York 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that was formed as a financial tax-exempt entity to generate funds for Xi Lambda Lambda chapter programs.  Funds generated will be used to provide college scholarships to high school seniors in and around Rockland County, NY.  A portion of these funds will be used to support various programs of Xi Lambda Lambda such as supplemental educational programs that include, but are not limited to, tutoring, mentoring, educational and cultural trips and seminars.

Rockland Omega AcaDemy (ROAD) Mentoring Program

In March of 2007, the brothers of the Xi Lambda Lambda chapter established the Rockland Omega AcaDemy (ROAD) mentoring program for African American / Latino young men in grades 5th - 11th.  The program encompasses public speaking, financial literacy classes, study skills, etiquette training and a host of other skills - we feel will help the young men prosper and thrive in this challenging world.  The program is funded in part through grants by our tax-exempt financial arm, the Rockland Omega Community DEvelopment Foundation, Inc. a 501(c)(3) corporation.