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Kappa Omega members (from left) Ronnie Devan, Michael Elby, Dr. John Gumby Sr., Jesse Rawls Sr., Lance Freeman
Kappa Omega men usually wear business attire: jackets and ties. They are known to dress up even for chapter meetings alone.
Today, however, they came in sport sweaters, button-downs, and turtlenecks from “Omega Casual,” all in the colors of fraternity purple and gold.
Several men admitted that they seldom leave their homes without clothing emblazoned with the Greek letter Kappa Omega.
“Wherever you go, you see so many strong men,” fraternity member Michael Elby said.
The Harrisburg Kappa Omega Chapter is part of the National Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, a historically black fraternity. The Harrisburg Group’s self-proclaimed “Capital City Quest” he founded in 1923 as a graduate chapter for college-educated men to find fellowship and serve their communities.
No discussion of Harrisburg’s history is complete without mentioning the historical Kappa Omega figure. Their names are on schools, monuments and buildings. Today’s members are making history, as are doctors, lawyers, principals, city officials, business owners and educators.
“Your postman may be Omega Man. We have men of so many different professions,” said member Lance Freeman. “We’re everywhere.”
The chapter celebrated its 100th anniversary in January, recognizing decades of consistent service and its impact on the community.
“For 100 years, this community has been a gathering of African-American men and educated men who have done a lot to improve the community,” says Freeman.
influential men
Omega Psi Phi was founded in 1911 at Howard University, a historically black university in Washington, DC. Harrisburg’s graduate chapter began some ten years later and has grown to include prominent local figures such as former Dauphin County Mayor Attorney James Rowland Sr. and his Jr. Such as Justice Clarence Morrison and Dr. Charles Crampton.
The chapter currently has approximately 100 members from Harrisburg, York, Lancaster, Redding, and other municipalities in central Pennsylvania.
Harrisburg’s Dr. John Gumby Sr. is a former school district teacher and principal who was an Omega Man for 55 years. He was also the district’s first black high school football coach and remembers when the community threatened to cancel the season. In difficult times, his friendly brother was there.
“Omega gave me a chance that no one else gave me. ‘That’s why I love this fraternity and my brothers.'”
Fellowship and brotherhood are built into the organization. It’s right in the name. Omega Sci Phi represents the characters in the phrase “Friendship is essential to the soul.”
Brothers like Gumby and others have come to realize the truth of that statement over the years.
Chapter peacekeeper Jesse Rawls Sr. said:
uplifting community
Community members can recognize the chapter from the Fraternity Hall on State Street in Harrisburg. While holding meetings and community events inside the building, much of our members’ time and effort is focused outside the walls of the building. One of their core principles is “exaltation”. This has been demonstrated through his 100 years of community service to the organization.
The Fraternity has supported COVID vaccination clinics, voter registration, Big Brothers Big Sisters mentorships, blood donations, scholarship programs, and other volunteer opportunities. For years, men have served regularly at the Bethesda Women’s Mission, hosting meals, donating gifts, and serving breakfast.
“What matters to me is what you do in the community,” Freeman said. “It’s important.”
Men also recognize their responsibility as role models in the community.
“You never know who’s watching you,” said Rawls. “It’s so important to show manhood and how you treat yourself. Every day we live it, walk it, show our kids that you can be successful in life.” .”
A ten-year member of the chapter, Ronnie Devan, was once one of the children in the fraternity who looked up to men who were teachers, coaches, and principals.
“Growing up, there were a lot of Omega men,” Devan said. You can see how influential Omega Psi-Phi is in Berg.”
As the Harrisburg Chapter celebrated its 100th anniversary, members shared stories of how their brotherhood supported them through a variety of hardships, including the death of a family member, life-threatening illness, and becoming a single father. Did. Over the years they became a family.
But they also want the organization’s mission to continue to reach beyond its members and the Harrisburg community through their service.
“We have been making a difference in our communities for 100 years,” says Freeman. “We want to continue to be part of the change in Harrisburg.”
The Kappa Omega Branch of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity’s Fraternity House is located at 2020 State St. in Harrisburg. For more information, see: www.kappaomegaques.org.
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