2008 Youth Leadership Award Northwest Philadelphia Community Apprecition Awards

Accepting the "2008 Youth Leadership Award" during the "2nd Annual Northwest Community Appreciation Awards Dinner"

I returned to Philadelphia this weekend to accept the “2008 Youth Leadership Award” during the 2nd Annual Northwest Philadelphia Community Appreciation Awards on Friday, September 19th, 2008. The dinner was organized by Pennsylvania State Representative Cherelle Parker. This award is given to “individuals whose work in the community has not only served to enhance their own personal interests, but has had a tremendous impact on the community at large.”

If someone would have told me years ago that later on in my life I would be a leader of a non-profit and that I would take on an active role in my community, I would be bewildered by their statement. In my acceptance speech I noted, “I’m living to tell the story of how we were able to overcome human injustice and I want to encourage everyone in attendance to continue to lead a life committed to that story.”

Thank you Pennsylvania State Representative Cherelle Parker and the committee who selected me for this award. I’m very humble and grateful to have received such an honor for my service to the community that I love.

HUMP WEDNESDAYS AT MOREHOUSE

I just experienced my first ever “HUMP WEDNESDAY” at Morehouse. Every wednesday Morehouse organizes a “mid week block party, {called}Hump Wednesday….Good music, food, and vendors often accompany this hump day event and it draws crowds from all over the Atlanta University Center (Morehouse, Spelman and Clark Atlanta University). Specific organizations put on the Hump Wednesdays each week.”

Basically, its just a time for the entire Morehouse community to get together with other students from the AUC to have a good time and take a break from studying in the middle of the week. For the first time ever, I had the opportunity to observe a fraternity and sorority stroll and step off. For many good reasons, Bates does not allow fraternity and sororities on campus, however, it was great to experience this here at Morehouse.

Take a look at a few photos.

OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY

Spelman College freshmen stroll team HH MU BETA

DANCE COMPETITIONS

Morehouse orientation program

I cannot disclose to you all of what went on during Morehouse’s orientation program, however, I can tell you that’s its quite unique and much different from Bates. Students are introduced to college and residential life; however they are also introduced to the history, legacy, and meaning of being a Morehouse man. I believe Morehouse’s orientation program could best be described as a college “induction, initiation, and introduction” process into the college, while at Bates orientation complete focuses on helping students understand their place as a college student in general. Here are some of the program’s highlights

 Welcome to House- A program designed to introduce students to pillars and meaning behind being a student at Morehouse

Opening Assembly- Welcome by President Robert M. Franklin

 Expectations of the Man of Morehouse

 Morehouse College Historical perspectives

  Parent parting ceremony

 Spirit Night

Olive Branch Program A program set to unite students in the Atlanta University consortium, which consists of Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, and Morehouse College.

Yours in the struggle, I am

Brother Phillips