Brothers You Should be Following on Twitter (Part 2)

By now, your Twitter life must have made some strides since the first part of this series was published.  You have been inspired by Leroy Jenkins’ hard-hitting poetry, or maybe you finished your summer on an insane high by bumping one of DJ Mundo’s mixes.  At the very least, you have seen that Karl ”¡OYE!” Iglesias is running for the title ‘BEST HIP HOP / RAP Artist in MILWAUKEE’ (for which, by the way, he needs your votes : http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=118587001575532).

That said, it is time for the second edition. While the series retains an entertainment edge, we have ventured to profile brothers involved in phalanthropy and business as well. So here goes, 5 more brothers worth taking note of!

1)       Alex “F.L.A.S.H.” Polanco

#22 “Bad Boy” Gamma Gamma, University of Central Florida (Fall ’07)

Co-Founder: S.T.E.P.S. Orlando

Brother Polanco currently works as the head Teacher/Counselor for an Alternative Suspension Program for at-risk youth grades K-12 in the Orange County Public School system. Students attend the program if they have been suspended from school for 3-10 days. They attend on school days during their suspension just like regular school. During their stay, they are tutored on schoolwork, taught life-skills, and importance of education so that they may not be suspended again. The program usually has 10-15 students in attendance each day.

During the summer, Bro. Polanco worked at the Juvenile Assessment Center of Orange County as the instructor of a Summer Truancy Program.  The program is designed for students who missed 40 or more days during the previous school year. Many of the youth in attendance have criminal records, come from poor neighborhoods, and place no value in education.  Thus, some miss up to 160 days of the school year.  In this program, he works with some of the deputies of Orange County Sheriff’s Office. The program lasts 2 weeks and about 20 students attend.

Starting this school year, Brother Polanco, alongside his brother, Pablo “an-Noor” Imad Saba, (aka Leroy Jenkins) will be launching S.T.E.P.S. - Striving To Enhance Personal Success.  They founded the program last April as a way to positively affect the youth in their community through mentors. The program will start as a club in the nearby High School close to UCF.  The program is designed for 11 and 12 grade males who need positive male mentors, preferably college students. The program will also live by its name and include a step team.  The program will also serve as Gamma Gamma’s philanthropy.  Brothers from the chapter will mentor the boys; taking them on tours of the university, doing community service with them, studying with them, as well as having a weekly club meeting at the school.

Add Alex: http://www.facebook.com/hotbutter

Follow Alex: http://twitter.com/#!/hotbutterman

2)       Martin ‘Combatiente’ Rivera

#25 ‘Aristocratic’ Alpha Gamma, Grand Valley State University (Sp. ’09)

Founder of Cambyo.Co

The Cambyo Community Initiative is on the verge of revolutionizing student activism.  Started by Brother Rivera and with the efforts and support of brothers and non-brothers alike, Cambyo is headed for astronomical heights.

“We wanted to take the next step in student leadership.  We wanted to get the work that students do to better their communities noticed and appreciated.  What started out as months of sleepless nights, a couple work checks, and a whole lot of inspiration became Cambyo Community Organizing. On April 27^th, 2011 we launched the first version of our site; colorless, plain, but with a whole lot of intention.  Now, almost 5 months later we have articles from almost every public university in the state of Michigan.  Most importantly, all have been submitted voluntarily.  Our movement continues to grow due to the support of students who change the world every day, who believe that this world can always be a little better and that it is up to us to make it better.  With the services provided by Cambyo Community Organizing we hope to inspire others to get up, get active, and change the world!”- Bro. Martin Rivera

Follow the movement in English and Spanish by visiting:

Check Cambyo out: www.cambyo.co

Like Cambyo: www.facebook.com/cambyodotco/

Follow Cambyo: www.twitter.com/cambyocommunity

www.cambyo.tumblr.com

3)       Anthony ‘Dough’ Ochoa

#1. ‘Korrupt’ Kappa Alpha, University of Arizona (Sp. ’97)

Co-Founder: Greek Nation

If you have seen a member of the purple family in their glorious regalia, chances are you have seen Greek Nation.  If you have had the pleasure of attending a national SLB event, you have probably wished that you had brought enough money to buy every last member of your chapter a little something from Greek Nation’s table.  At the risk of saying too much, Greek Nation has served our organization and others very well.

“Greek Nation is an online Greek Store catering to all fraternities and sororities.  The company modestly began in July 2000 by Yahna Awazu (Sigma Lambda Gamma) and Anthony Ochoa.  Since then, the business has grown from the two original owners to a staff of 6 full-time and 3 part-time employees.  The main headquarters is located in Skokie, Illinois with another satellite office in Seattle, Washington.”

Visit Greek Nation: http://www.GreekNation.com/

Like Greek Nation: http://www.facebook.com/greeknation/

Follow Greek Nation: Twitter: @greeknation01

4 & 5) The Emoticons 

The next two brothers are a collective, and it is only right that they occupy numbers 4 and 5.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFexkFldBNE&feature=player_embedded/

• The Emoticons are an Urban and Electronic Music Production Duo based out of Florida and Chicago. They specialize in Hip Hop, Reggaeton, Pop, Reggae, R&B, and Electronic production. They have been featured on Promo Only in the past and currently have music on sale on iTunes as well as in heavy rotation on AOL Radio, Music Choice, and Satellite Radio. At the end of 2010, their main act (JL Madskillz) acquired a deal with Interscope Digital for Distribution on iTunes.The Emoticons is made up of two pieces, DJ LM and D’Jesus. Both have diverse cultural backgrounds. DJ LM (Luis Montanez) is Half Panamanian and Half Puerto Rican with heavy Influences of Reggaeton, Hip-Hop, Club, and Top 40. D’Jesus (Gabriel De Jesus) is Puerto Rican on both sides and his influences come from Electronic, Hip-Hop, Rock, and Classical Music.

4)       Luis ‘Productor’ Montanes  (DJ LM)

#66 ‘Ruthless’ Rho Alpha, Florida State University (Fall ’04)

Brother Luis encompasses the ideals of hard work and dedication.  In spring 2004, he acquired a Certificate in Radio & Television Production as well as a License in Broadcast from La Universidad Tecnica de la Comunicacion in Panama City, Panama.

In spring 2007, he graduated with a BS in Information Technology from Florida State University.  Over 3 years ago he started a company called Black & Denim Apparel (Apparel for the Brave…Since 1986) with Brother Roberto “Curioso” Torres (@RobertoATorres) of Rho Alpha Chapter and Brother Michael “Desafiador” Gil (@MrGi1) of Zeta Beta Chapter.

In addition to his commitment to scholarship, musical talents and business acumen, Bro. Luis has been integral in establishing the SLB brand around Florida.  In 2007, he created the SLB2007 Recruitment Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSr9WKSDEjc/) with one of my Chapter Brothers (Alejandro “El Cangri” Arenas #77 – @DOUBLED7G7TS on Twitter).

He was also the Membership Educator for the Founding Line of the Georgia Southern University, and has also been on the Southeast RBOD. Beyond a doubt, Bro. Luis’s star is one that other brother’s stars aspire to be as bright as.

Follow DJ LM on twitter: www.twitter.com/DeejayLM

Follow Black & Denim Apparel:@BlackAndDenim

Visit Black & Denim Apparel: http://www.blackanddenim.com/

5)       Gabriel ‘Compositor’ De Jesus (D’Jesus)

#88 ‘Ruthless’ Rho Alpha, Florida State University (Fall 07)

As with his prophyte above, Bro. Gabriel has held up the banner of Sigma Lambda Beta majestically. He attended the Florida State University from 2006-2011. There, He studied classical Trumpet under Grammy Award-winning Trumpeter Christopher Moore, Bryan Goff (former VP of the International Trumpet Guild), and Jonathan Stites (Principal Trumpet for the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra). He also studied Orchestral Composition under the premiere Czech composer, and Guggenheim Foundation Fellow Ladislav Kubik.

In spring 2011, He graduated with a Double Bachelor’s in Music in both Music Composition and Music Theory. His musical career has been recently crowned by the iTunes release of his EP of Electronic music (Electro, House, Dubstep), entitled “The Emoticons”

Bro. Gabriel was the Membership Educator in Charge of the Founding Line for the University of North Florida, with Bro. Luis as one of his AMEs.

Follow D’Jesus at http://www.twitter.com/thedjesus
Read the Emoticons’ blog: http://www.the-emoticons.com/
Like the emoticons fb page:http://www.facebook.com/EmoticonsMusic

So there you have it. May the fires that guide us to Beta excellence remain well-lit!

(If you, or a brother you know, are interested in being profiled, e-mail me at shingi@eliluminador.com)

Related posts:

1. Brothers to Follow on Twitter, Part 1
2. SLB on Twitter
3. Alpha Beta Programming: Community Spotlight