Omega Psi Phi Fraternity’s Grand Conclave in Tampa: A gathering of Black excellence

About 10,000 Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated members recently visited Tampa, Florida, for the 84th Grand Conclave. This event is the organization’s bi-annual national conference. Members across the country gather to conduct the fraternity’s business. The week-long celebration saw fraternity brothers do community service, host a youth symposium, donate banned books, and support local businesses. The Pi Iota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi hosted this year’s Grand Conclave. They wanted to leave the right mark on Tampa and make this a conclave with a purpose.

“One of the highlights for me as a local president was how we were intentional with undertaking this activity. We fed over 300 families, and we collected 8400 banned books.  When omega shows up in the community, folks see black excellence,” said Al Sheriff, President of the Pi Iota Chapter.

The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc 84th Grand Conclave occurred on June 26 through July 2 at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, FL. 8500 fraternity members registered for the conference, while 1000 traveled to fellowship. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated is a Black Greek letter organization founded at Howard University on November 17, 1911. Three undergraduates, Edgar Amos Love, Oscar James Cooper, and Frank Coleman, and their advisor, Dr. Ernest Everett Just, assembled an organization to gather college-educated men with similar ideals and characteristics to carry on the fraternity. Through mandated programs like voter registration education and mobilization, talent hunt, and social action. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. serves communities across the world.

Anticipation was high for the Tampa Conclave. Initially, it was supposed to happen in 2020 but was delayed due to COVID-19. The last grand Conclave was in 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the last time in Florida was in 1982 in Miami.

Another challenge Sheriff and the other organizers encountered was members not coming because they were boycotting Florida. Florida Governor Ron Desantis has a series of laws that most deemed incentive and negatively impact Black people. The issue is so severe that the National Association of Black Engineers (NSBE) and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated withdrew from hosting their national conventions in Florida.

Residents and local businesses felt the presence of Omega Psi Phi through the civic and service activities of the organization. Fraternity members donated 8400 banned books. The books will be spread across Florida so communities can access them. A Youth Symposium was held at the convention center for 9th through 12 grade teenagers. Charles Coleman Jr. Esq led the symposium. Some of the panelists in the seminar were former NFL receiver Dr. Nate Hughes and WWE wrestler Titus O’Neil.  They shared with the high schoolers how to prepare for their future.

 The Pi Iota chapter and other groups within the fraternity put together a list of black-owned restaurants for visitors to try. This ensured that tourism dollars went to black-owned businesses, especially those slower in the summer.

“The significant impact of the silent march is not just what’s going on in Florida but what is going on in the world. Our fraternity brother Benjamin Crump was an impactful voice in bringing this conversation to the community and discussing what was really going on. Omega men will always stand strong and push forward,” said Sherif.

The next grand Conclave is scheduled for 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Florida residents can see another large assembly of Omega Psi Phi members this fall at the Florida Statewide Organization Meeting in Orlando, Florida. This annual conference is where all Florida chapters of the fraternity convene to handle fraternity business involving the state. The 84th Grand Conclave was an opportunity for Omega Psi Phi members across the globe to converge to celebrate and do the work the organization is known for in its 112 history.

The most significant activity of the Conclave was the silent march. Omega Psi Phi held a silent march on Friday, June 28, at Curtis Hixon Park. The march’s purpose was to raise awareness of the Black community’s disapproval of the laws and policies that are dismantling DEI programs and keeping Black history out of school curriculums. Attorney and Omega Psi Phi member Benjamin Crump led the march.

“When people see us, they tend to smile and tell us they have a friend or family member who is a part of the fraternity. The one thing about us is our welcoming nature for the community. I tend to think of us as the people’s champ. People gravitate towards us because of our enthusiasm for our fraternity and people in general,” said Derrick Toston, State Representative for the Florida Statewide Organization.

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