The fraternity has assisted with COVID vaccination clinics, voter registration, Big Brothers Big Sisters mentorship, blood drives and scholarship programs, among other volunteer opportunities. One of their core principles is “uplift,” which has played out over the organization’s 100 years of service to their community. While they hold meetings and community events in their building, much of the members’ time and effort is focused outside of the building’s walls. “I’ve established more friendships in this organization than in any other team I’ve been a part of.”Ĭommunity members may recognize the chapter from their fraternity house on State Street in Harrisburg. “It’s just something there that makes you feel very comfortable,” said the chapter’s Keeper of Peace, Jesse Rawls Sr. Omega Psi Phi represents letters in the phrase, “Friendship is Essential to the Soul.”īrothers like Gumby and others have come to realize the truth in that statement over the years. “That’s why I love this fraternity and my brothers.”įellowship and brotherhood are embedded in the organization-it’s right in the name. “Omega gave me a chance when no one else would,” he said. Gumby has had significant academic and professional success during his lifetime, but through both good and challenging times, his fraternity brothers have been there. He also was the school district’s first Black high school football coach and remembers when the community threatened to cancel the season over it.

of Harrisburg, a former school district teacher and principal, has been an Omega man for 55 years. Charles Crampton, among others.Ĭurrently, the chapter includes around 100 members from Harrisburg, York, Lancaster, Reading and other central Pennsylvania municipalities.ĭr. and Jr., former Dauphin County President Judge Clarence Morrison and Dr. Harrisburg’s graduate chapter started about a decade later and would grow to include notable local figures such as attorneys James Rowland Sr. Omega Psi Phi was founded in 1911 at Howard University, a historically black college in Washington, D.C. “There’s an organization of men who have been here in this community for 100 years-African American men, educated men-who have been involved in so many things to uplift their community,” Freeman said. The chapter celebrated its centennial in January, recognizing decades of consistent service and the impact it’s had on the region. We have men in so many different professions,” member Lance Freeman said. Today’s members are making history, as well, as doctors, lawyers, principals, city officials, business owners and educators. Their names are on schools, monuments and buildings. You can’t talk about Harrisburg history without referencing historic Kappa Omega men. The “Capital City Ques,” as the Harrisburg group calls themselves, was established in 1923 as a graduate chapter for college-educated men to find fellowship and serve their community.

The Harrisburg Kappa Omega chapter is part of the national Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, a historically Black fraternal organization. “Everywhere you go, you can see so many strong men,” said fraternity member Michael Elby. It’s a point of pride and a way to recognize fellow brothers around the area-and even country. Some of the men admitted that they rarely leave the house without some article of clothing emblazoned with the Kappa Omega Greek letters. They’re known for dressing up, even just for their chapter meetings.īut, today, they came dressed in “Omega casual,” sporting sweaters, button downs and turtlenecks, all in their fraternity’s colors-purple and gold. Usually, the men of Kappa Omega are dressed in their business attire-jackets and ties. John Gumby Sr., Jesse Rawles Sr., Lance Freeman Kappa Omega members (from left) Lonnie DeVan, Michael Elby, Dr.

Kappa kappa omega psi phi