By Alexia McKay
Florida Courier
This month, the city of Tampa will be painted purple and gold for the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity’s 84th Grand Conclave.
The biennial convention takes place June 26-July 2. It will bring thousands of Omega fraternity members, community leaders, dignitaries and celebrities together for a week of fellowship, activism, mentorship, community service and a celebration of arts, wellness and social action.
More than 8,000 fraternity members from around the world are registered for the convention. This year’s theme for the convention is “Conclave with a Purpose.’’
Alvin “Al’’ Sheriff, chapter president of the Pi Iota Omega Psi Phi Chapter in Tampa and a Bethune-Cookman University graduate says he is looking forward to welcoming his brothers to the Tampa Bay Area and compares the event to a college homecoming or the Super Bowl.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to mix and mingle,” said Sheriff, who was initiated into the fraternity in 1995. “Look at what we can do. Think about the programs and community. It’s a business as well, so it’s the business of our fraternity.”
The political climate of Florida made the fraternity’s move to host their convention questionable to others.
“We had initially expected our conclave here in 2020,” Sheriff told the Florida Courier. “However the world shifted, but we stayed resolute and true to the course.”
Lionel Bryant, another B-CU graduate and 1983 initiate, echoed Sheriff’s comments, reflecting on the controversial policies of Gov. Ron DeSantis, which included the altering of Black history courses and the banning of books.
“There was a little pushback on even making this convention happen after our governor had some controversial decisions,” Bryant said. “But obviously, in our fraternity, one of the major principles is to not run from situations or not run from problems, but to meet them squarely face to face.”
Career fair and public events
Aside from handling the fraternity’s business, other activities will include a youth leadership conference, an African American book drive, a silent march and rally and various panels on topics such as STEM, voter registration and leadership as well as a career fair and a step show. Many of the events are open to the public.
Erik C. Smith, a Duke University Spring 1990 initiate of the fraternity, told the Courier he is looking forward to the reunion with his brothers.
“Fellowshipping with my brothers locally, nationally and internationally with a common cause of moving us forward as a community,’’ Smith said. “More specifically connecting brothers that I know from around the world to build stronger bonds that are truly life altering.”
Marckell Smith, a fall 2018 initiate, says being around his friends he met in college, who are also members, and supporting one another through the different phases in their lives has been priceless. He’s looking forward to making new memories with them at the conclave.
“Some of them I haven’t seen in years,” said Smith, “and I can’t wait to be back around them and renew my spirit and letting the fellowship and genuine friendships that are life lasting be a reminder to me of being a part of why I joined my organization in the first place.”
There will be a number of activities organized by non-Omegas.
The Tampa Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. will be hosting the Que brothers at their Red Hot Rooftop Party on June 28 in Ybor City.
“The Tampa Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is excited to host a social event welcoming attendees, guests and visitors to Tampa for the 84th Grand Conclave for Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc,” chapter president Dr. Tayanna Richardson told the Courier. “We extend sincere congratulations to the Pi Iota Chapter for their steadfast dedication to planning an extraordinary conclave despite the initial postponement in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
‘A different lens of Black excellence’
Although most are looking forward to the social activities, Bryant and Sheriff are both excited about the representation and message it will show to youth, particularly young Black boys and men.
“A lot of the students that I work with, they hear, and they see the dancing and the TikTok and stepping and hopping,” said Bryant, a 35 year-career teacher and coach in the Tampa Bay area. “But they don’t really understand that they’re going to see probably 8,000 professional African American men in business attire, taking care of serious issues The business of Omega is very important.”
Sheriff added, “If you think about Omega and the construct of manhood, scholarship, perseverance and uplift, that’s our four cardinal principles. I look forward to showing folks in this community, a different lens of Black excellence.
The last time the fraternity had a convention in Florida was in 1982 in Miami. According to Bryant, the upcoming conclave is expected to bring the largest attendance on record, including their bicentennial.
“Everybody was excited about coming to Florida, as well as the Tampa Bay area,” Bryant added. “They’ve been watching videos of Super Bowls, parades and different events that we’ve hosted. So, a lot of the nationwide brothers were very excited about coming to the U.S.
To learn more about the Grand Conclave, visit the fraternity’s website at oppf.org.
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