Richmond, Virginia, Friday, March 1,2019. Upsilon Nu Chapter joined other groups and neighbors in the Read Across America program. The Brothers of Upsilon Nu selected Highland Springs Elementary School as the location for their participation. We have formed a relationship Highland Springs, so it became an easy choice for us from the many requests we received, stated Social Action Chairman Brother James Hunter. Next year we plan to expand our participation to several more schools as we celebrate the birthday of Dr. Seuss.

For those not familiar with the program, the National Education Association's (NEA) Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading. In cities and towns across the nation, teachers, teenagers, librarians, politicians, actors, athletes, parents, grandparents, and others develop NEA's Read Across America activities to bring reading excitement to children of all ages. Governors, mayors, and other elected officials recognize the role reading plays in their communities with proclamations and floor statements.

It is an amazing experience for me reading to the first-grade class. They were transfixed on me from the moment I sat down with my assigned book, “Pig the Winner” by Aaron Blakey. The kids were seated around me and I asked each of them to give me their name and then I introduced myself. As they introduced themselves, I thought to myself, wow, was I ever that young. I made it a point to stop during the reading and asked them questions about what I had read, the hands went up quickly and each student was heard.

Brother John Rivers, also read to a first-grade class as well. His assigned book was “Rainbow Fish”. He also thought the experience was amazing. When he finished, he had the class discuss lessons learned from the book. he read. Though the books we read were not that long, we found ourselves engaged with our classes for over an hour. The teachers were very gracious and let us continue to interact with the kids. Each student was encouraged to speak about the books and were very enthusiastic.

RICHMOND, Virginia, Sunday October 28, 2018, Upsilon Nu Chapter partnered with the Richmond chapter of the NAACP to be a sponsor in the “Crab and Que”, Get Out the Vote Rally and Motorcade. The event is dubbed “JJ’s Crab & Q” for the branch president, James E. “J.J.” Minor III. The purpose of the rally is to rev up interest in the Southside section of the City of Richmond to get out and vote in the November 6, 2018 election. Members of Upsilon Nu and other sponsors of the event met at the Southside Plaza to line up in the motorcade, which then preceded to several neighborhoods in Richmond. There was horn blowing and interaction as the motorcade made its way through the city. Members of the community came out of their homes and apartments and screamed and shouted words of encouragement to the steady chant from the drivers “Vote, Vote, Vote”.

The motorcade ended its parade in Church Hill where the rally was held. The scores in attendance were served crab and bbq along with hotdogs and hamburgers, music and speeches from dignitaries such as the Mayor of the City of Richmond, members of the Richmond Council,  the President of the Board of Education, and the President of the Richmond NAACP. The resounding theme was Get Out and Vote and take someone with you, don’t vote alone.

“Miss Community Clovia”, Clovia Lawrence lead the motorcade a long-time partner of Upsilon Nu commended Upsilon Nu for its continued support of voter registration and active civic involvement.

Bro. Theodore Braggs Jr. the VREM Chairman/Third District Subcommittee, organized the Upsilon Nu involvement with the event. As part of his duties Bro. Braggs has organize several voter registration efforts during the year, most recently at the National Night Out event.

Submitted by Bro. Michael Edwards                                       Pictures by Bro. Jerome Jackson

Richmond, Virginia, Friday October 12, 2018, office of the Mayor of Richmond, Virginia. Upsilon Nu Chapter received one of its greatest recognitions for a year of community service in the Richmond area.

Mayor Levar M. Stoney hosted Upsilon Nu for a photo-op and Proclamation signing to express his gratitude and that of the Richmond community for Upsilon Nu’s community service.

Mayor Stoney recalled that during the “National Night Out”, he attended and gave a speech, how impressed he was to see so many members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. in attendance and not only supporting the event but actively engaging with many of those in attendance.

“I appreciate that Mayor Stoney took time out of his busy schedule to give the chapter the opportunity to meet with him as he signed the Proclamation for “Upsilon Nu Day October 12, 2018”. Mayor Stoney was very cordial and appreciated the community service Upsilon Nu continues to provide to the community” stated Basileus

Michael Swain. Members of the mayor’s executive team were also present to help honor Upsilon Nu at this special award ceremony. Ms. Laura M. Harrison, Senior Assistant to the Mayor's Office thanked Bro. Edwards for working with her to gather all the information required to make the event a successful affair and looked forward to continuing the relationship between Upsilon Nu chapter and the city of Richmond.

Article by Bro. Michael Edwards                                  Pictures by Mayor’s Staff