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Delta Chapter Welcomes the Fall 2018 Class

Delta Chapter Welcomes the Fall 2018 Class

October 9, 2018 Sharnell Bryan , , No comments

The Delta Chapter of Gamma Xi Phi inducted two new members on October 7, 2018, the fraternity’s 8th Founders Day. Delta Chapter was chartered on October 8, 2016, and services the five boroughs of New York City. The newest members were initiated in a ceremony attended by members of Alpha Chapter at Ramapo College of New Jersey, Beta Chapter of Washington, DC, and Gamma Chapter of Newark, New Jersey. The ceremony was officiated by National President Sharnell Bryan.

Baron Wright is CEO and Founder of CreateX Retreats, a lifestyle experience company and BaronArts, a leadership development and creative arts system. As a Certified Coach with over a decade of coaching, analysis, and management experience, he uses creative strategies to achieve breakthrough results for his clients. Baron is a professional recording, spoken, and performance artist, graphic designer, and motivational speaker who is a recipient of the Nations United Award for Creativity, Out Hip Hop Award and Excellence in Photography. He inspires people to find the power in their voice and to live a life of their design. He is passionate about empowering people to develop their personal life’s vision to create passion, clarity & certainty.

Steven Van Patten is a celebrated writer and Brooklyn native. He has penned five novels; The Brookwater’s Curse trilogy is about an 1860s Georgia plantation slave who becomes a vampire. Killer Genius: She Kills Because She Cares, features a hyper intelligent black woman who becomes a serial killer. The sequel, Killer Genius 2: Attack of The Gym Rats dropped in late 2018. Van Patten’s short horror fiction has appeared in Hell’s Kitties, Shadows of Deathlehem and New York State of Fright. He also has a children’s book, Rudy’s Night Out, which is loosely based on the childhood of one of the characters from the Brookwater’s Curse series.

Gamma Xi Phi was founded on October 7, 2010, by Ramapo College men and women who were interested in creating strong bonds between students pursuing artistic careers. The purpose of the fraternity is to unite collegiate and professional artists in the spirit of fellowship and perpetual artistic growth. Gamma Xi Phi promotes philanthropy and service to the arts, brotherhood among all artists, and leadership development in artistic professions through collegiate and community outreach to people of color across the world.

In remarks following the ceremony, President Sharnell Bryan expressed the significance of welcoming new members on the 8th anniversary of Gamma Xi Phi’s founding. “We look forward to working with our newest Brothers, and I am very glad to have been a part of their introduction to Gamma Xi Phi. We are a young organization, but with the support of our members, I am looking forward to more outstanding work and representation of who we are.”

 

 

Sharnell BryanDelta Chapter Welcomes the Fall 2018 Class
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Delta Chapter Established in New York City

Delta Chapter Established in New York City

November 14, 2016 Gamma Xi Phi , , No comments

Gamma Xi Phi, the professional fraternity for artists, announces the chartering of its newest chapter. Delta Chapter, chartered on October 8, 2016, will serve the five boroughs of New York City.

Five new members were initiated in a ceremony attended by members of the National Board of Trustees, honorary members, and Brothers and Sisters from Alpha Chapter at Ramapo College of New Jersey and Beta Chapter in the District of Columbia.  

Gamma Xi PhiDelta Chapter Established in New York City
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Gamma Xi Phi Members Celebrate Fifth Anniversary of Founding

Gamma Xi Phi Members Celebrate Fifth Anniversary of Founding

October 9, 2015 Gamma Xi Phi , , No comments

On Wednesday, October 7, 2015, chapters of Gamma Xi Phi Professional Arts Fraternity participated in local celebrations commemorating the fifth anniversary of the founding of the organization.  Since that first day at Ramapo College of New Jersey, Gamma Xi Phi has grown in membership and in number of chapters.  Nationally, the fraternity took to social media to celebrate its birthday.  Locally, members assembled with one another in fellowship, toasting to the past and looking forward to a brighter future.

Gamma Xi PhiGamma Xi Phi Members Celebrate Fifth Anniversary of Founding
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Happy Fifth Anniversary, Gamma Xi Phi

Happy Fifth Anniversary, Gamma Xi Phi

October 7, 2015 Gamma Xi Phi , , No comments

 

Rashid Darden, National President of Gamma Xi Phi

Rashid Darden, National President of Gamma Xi Phi

In 2110, by the grace of God, someone will call my name as the 3rd National President of a century-old fraternity for artists.  Perhaps there will be some three dimensional portrait of me in a historical exhibit with all the other past National Presidents.  Maybe there will be some bullet points with the major accomplishments of my administration.  If I’m lucky, someone will be there, not who remembers me, but remembers someone who remembers me.

But one thing is certain:  I will not be alive in 2110.  So I’d better do a damn good job at being a National President if I want to be remembered.  I’d better make sure that every Founders’ Day is a milestone for our beloved fraternity.

Today, Gamma Xi Phi is five years old.  Students attending Ramapo College of New Jersey came together five years ago with an idea for a new fraternity, one established for artists of all crafts.  Years later, the fraternity has already grown into something far greater in size and scope than our original members could have expected.  It has experienced this growth because it is fundamentally a good organization that has come at the right time.

I am proud of each and every one of our members, from the charter members of Alpha Chapter to our newest initiates.  Gamma Xi Phi Brothers and Sisters are on the move, sculpting monuments in Washington, performing on tour in Europe and Africa, studying in graduate programs in New York, and hosting popular podcasts in New Jersey.  We have done a lot in five years and we are not stopping any time soon.  Through the years, Gamma will grow in size, in strength, and in influence due to our wonderful members.

But we can’t do it alone.  To our families, friends, and supporters:  If you believe, as we do, that Gamma Xi Phi is a good organization, we ask that you spread this simple message to the artists in your life:

You are not alone.  There is an organization out there for men and women in the arts.  They are waiting for you.  They need you, and while you might not know it now, you need them as well.  They are a group of great folks: literary artists, visual artists, performing artists, and professionals in arts-serving careers.  They have an awesome national program of artistic service that I think you’d like.  Check them out:  www.GammaXiPhi.com.

Gamma Xi Phi will exist in 2110, certainly without me, but I must do my part to make sure that it is a greater organization than I could have imagined. If you are an artist, join us.  If you are a friend, help us.  These past five years have been a nice start, but we have only just begun to build our legacy.

Happy fifth anniversary to my Brothers and Sisters.  Thank you, one and all.

Rashid Darden,
National President

 

 

Gamma Xi PhiHappy Fifth Anniversary, Gamma Xi Phi
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Celebrating National Arts & Humanities Month

Celebrating National Arts & Humanities Month

October 1, 2015 Gamma Xi Phi , , , , No comments

Every stroke of the brush, stitch of the needle, or moment of the memoir uniquely marks our society and contributes to our national character.  This month, we recognize the ways the arts and humanities have forever changed our country, and we recommit to ensuring every American has the opportunity and the freedom to question, discover, and create. — Barack Obama, President of the United States of America

Washington, District of Columbia, October 1, 2015 – Gamma Xi Phi, the professional fraternity for artists, is participating in National Arts & Humanities Month, an annual celebration of culture coordinated by Americans for the Arts, through local and national programs and projects. Gamma Xi Phi members will commemorate the 30th anniversary of National Arts and Humanities Month by sharing their favorite works of art on social media with the tag #ShareYourArt, participating in local “Creative Conversations” with artists and arts administrators, and by celebrating the founding of Gamma Xi Phi in local chapter events on October 7, 2015.

Gamma Xi PhiCelebrating National Arts & Humanities Month
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Rashid Darden Elected to Lead Arts Fraternity

Rashid Darden Elected to Lead Arts Fraternity

June 15, 2015 Gamma Xi Phi , , No comments

Philadelphia, PA, June 14, 2015— Gamma Xi Phi, the professional fraternity for artists, elected novelist Rashid Darden as National President at the fraternity’s biennial convention on June 13, 2015, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Several other members were also elected or reelected at that time.

Gamma Xi PhiRashid Darden Elected to Lead Arts Fraternity
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