Greatly enjoyed attending the planning meeting for 19th Annual Omega Psi Phi Youth Leadership Conference and Mentoring Program (“YLC”) scheduled for 10-27-12 on the campus of the University of Southern California.
The meeting hosted by the mighty men on Tau Tau (Los Angles, CA) chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and the Omega Educational Foundation.
The conference started by Omega Man Ricky Lewis (I met
Brother Lewis last year while working the Steve Harvey Mentoring Weekend ) has provided information and mentorship to over 3400 Black male Youth between the ages of 8-18 in the greater Los Angeles area.
I was throughly impressed with the Tau Tau brother’s deep Enthusiasm for such a Noble Endeavor to love on and encourage young Black males!
Tonight the steering committee group including about 20 professional, college educated Omega Black men who all share two great passions: 1) unwavering love for young Black males; 2) service to their community. It is their love and commitment to service and understanding of their responsibility that prompts these successful men to sacrifice their evenings (the brothers meet twice a month), away from their own families, after a long day at the office to work towards the development of an organized, powerful, and memorable conference for America’s most vulnerable segment of society–Young Black Males.
Additionally, as proof of how serious these Omega’s are about the success of the YLC, the meetings are even open to non members of Omega Psi Phi who are interested the mission of the YLC to instill the principles of manhood, critical thinking, and personal and social responsibilities into young African American males and provide them with tools necessary for self respect, health, and wellness, community leadership and conflict resolution.
Tonight’s group included 86 year old WWII veteran brother Robert S. Hammond who has been actively pursuing Omega’s four cardinal principles of Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance, and Uplift for over 63 years!
In closing, I’m looking forward to an opportunity to present a message that will inform, inspire, and empower the YLC attendees to seek, find, and maximize their educational, social, and economic opportunities. Further, I look forward to doing all I can to help publicize the YLC’s important and necessary work to save young Black men.
For more information, become a sponsor, or volunteer please visit www.omegaeducationalfoundation.org or Ricky Lewis at rickylewis@earthlink.net
Inspired today by the dedication and energy of the educators I met with at the area high schools that will provide students for the Williams/Northeastern Oklahoma Black Lawyers Association Pipeline + Legal Diversity Program over the last few days…Wow…Big Props to BTW’s Anthony L. Marshall, Central’s Dr. Oliver Wallace, McLain’s Dr. Ebony Johnson, and Edison’s Earnest Conyers and Kimberly Thompson…these educators are on the frontline educating our children with sincerity, love, and eagerness…Thank you!!
Looking forward to presenting Friday February 10, 2012 at 2pm at the Black Law Student Rocky Mountain Conference at the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Renaissance Hotel. My goal is to inform, inspire, and empower these law students from Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming that they can start and run a successful legal practice. 
Founded in 1915 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson (Omega Psi Phi Man), the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History (originally called the Study of Negro Life and History) was a ground breaking Black Think Tank of the world’s most prominent Black scholars. The Association worked tirelessly to refute racist and incorrect ideas about African-American culture, life, and history through scholarly research, presentations, and publications. By the way, did you know that Dr. Woodson was also the founder of Black History Month and the bestseller Mis-Education of The Negro. Thank you Bro. Woodson!
While attending the NCAA conference panel discussion about the student athlete experience I was fortunate to capture on video Michigan State all-conference QB discussing the hardships faced by major college football players in relation to obtaining a meaningful education while competing at the highest level. Take a listen for yourself from Wednesday January 11, 2012 event
Love to see stories like this where someone’s hard work and dedication is being rewarded with tangible resources to assist towards their ultimate goal. Without a doubt, our nation will be a better place if we continue to support the Mauri Miller’s of the nation. This is whats possible for our young brothers, and I love it!
http://newsfromyou.indystar.com/posts/miller-thiemann-receive-baker-daniels-2012-diversity-scholarshipsmiller-thiemann-receive-baker-daniels-2012-diversity-scholarships
Q. What is Kwanzaa? Kwanzaa is a unique Afrikan-American celebration that focuses on traditional African values of family, community responsibility, commerce, and self-improvement.
Q. Do you have to be of a certain belief to practice Kwanzaa? No. Kwanzaa is neither political nor religious and despite some grave mis-conceptions Kwanzaa is not a substitute for Christmas. Kwanzaa is simply a time of reaffirming African people, our ancestors, and our culture. All you have to do is believe in the seven guiding African principles that make up Kwanzaa.
Q. What are the seven guiding principles or Nguzo Saba of Kwanzaa?
Q. Where does the word Kwanzaa from? The word Kwanzaa comes from the African language Kiswahili. Kwanzaa literally means “first fruits of the harvest.”
Q. When did Kwanzaa start? Founded in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa has come to be observed by more than 28 million people worldwide.
Q. When is Kwanzaa Celebrated? Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26th to January 1st, and is based on Seven Guiding Principles called the Nguzo Saba.
Q. What symbols are associated with Kwanzaa? Kwanzaa has seven basic symbols and two supplemental ones. Each represents values and concepts reflective of African culture and contributive to community building and reinforcement. The basic symbols are:
“Damario dont you ever forget that what you do in the dark will someday, someway come to the light” This was a lesson that my grandma would drill into my head time and time again. Vernice “Mama” Brown made it clear that I understood that God and the University had a way of catching up and balancing things out. This is the lesson that we all should learn from Yale Universities coach Tom Williams situation. Coach Williams was forced to resign because it came to the “light” that he was not ever a finalist for the one of the most pretigious academic awards–The Rhodes Scholarship–in the world as he claimed on his resume. It was also discovered and he had to admit that he had not spent time with the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers as a free agent as he had previously stated in media interviews.
This is sad because by all reports Coach Williams was very accomplished person (played and graduated from Standford under the great Bill Walsh), a great leader, teacher, and role model for his team, and good coach that was turning around the Yale program. Additionally, I doubt very seriously that either misrepresentation actually was a deciding factor for Yale hiring him as their football coach. I sincerely hope he is able to rebound from this, continue his coaching career, and, most importantly, learn from this experience. I know have.
SongzofSolomon 