The Beautillion provides a positive and enriching environment where participants are recognized for their personal and academic accomplishments and extra-curricular activities. The program culminates with a black tie event, including a performance, dance of the mother and son and his female escort and a tribute to the beaus recognizing their outstanding academic and extra-curricular achievements. In 2008, the Omaha Nebraska Guild Chapter of the National Urban League turned the Beautillion over to the Omega Charitable Foundation of Omaha, a 501(c)(3) corporation, which is the philanthropic arm of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. – Beta Upsilon Chapter in Omaha, NE. For more information on the Beautillion, please visit www.ocfo.org/.
Project Manhood is a group mentoring program designed to assist at risk and disadvantaged youth to learn life skills, to help build character and a sense of contribution as a citizen.
The youth participating in Project Manhood come from various entry points. Since its inception program has been open to any male student within the fifth or sixth grade. Most of the students are identified or recommended by school counselors and teachers as needing further social development.
The objective of Project Manhood is to provide each student with the opportunity to observe and learn interactively, aspects of respect, scholarship and study habits, health and hygiene, leadership and citizenship and peer to peer relationships.
The Omega Psi Phi, Beta Upsilon Chapter will continue to help provide a positive presence in the school and work with the male students who are experiencing educational and social problems. The organization has a proven track record with the Omaha Public School District for promoting educational excellence.
Omega Psi Phi, Beta Upsilon Chapter’s Project Manhood partnership has had an established collaborative relationship with Central Park Elementary for the past 11 years. The members of this fraternity have high expectations of all youth participants and maintain the highest standards of group mentoring.
The program focuses on developing professional skills, devotion to community involvement and activism, as well as social skills. Students will extend their self-understanding and the basic assumptions that guide their actions while promoting high academic standards within the school community, and understand the complexities of entering manhood. Participants will be taught leadership skills and challenged to demonstrate these skills with their peer groups. They will manifest a determination to community involvement through various exercises and opportunities to serve others. Students will engage in workshops geared toward professionalism and economic consciousness and utilize those skills attained in monitored volunteer work and internships. To combat health afflictions typical with the targeted demographic of student, the young men will also be educated on fitness as well as sexual responsibility based on the simple theme of self-respect and preservation.