Gamma Xi Phi

The Fraternity for Artists and Creators

Author: Gamma Xi Phi

  • Gamma Xi Phi Welcomes Seven New Members in Washington, DC, Maryland, and North Carolina

    Gamma Xi Phi Welcomes Seven New Members in Washington, DC, Maryland, and North Carolina

    October 10 initiation marks a new chapter of growth for the national arts fraternity, including Epsilon Chapter’s first new members since 2020.

    WASHINGTON, DC — Gamma Xi Phi, the professional fraternity for artists and creators, welcomed seven new members during an initiation held October 10, 2026, representing the District of Columbia, Maryland, and North Carolina. The newest members join a growing community of artists, educators, and cultural leaders committed to advancing the arts through service.

    The seven initiates bring an impressive range of professional experiences and artistic disciplines to the fraternity, including creative writing, journalism, theater, visual arts, filmmaking, arts education, and nonprofit leadership.

    The initiates join three chapters: Beta Chapter in Washington, DC; Epsilon Chapter in the Baltimore metropolitan area; and Phi Chapter in northeastern North Carolina.

    The initiation also marks an important milestone for Epsilon Chapter, which last welcomed new members in early 2020, shortly before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The addition of three accomplished professionals represents a renewed opportunity for growth and fellowship within the Baltimore-area chapter.

    Meet the New Members

    Beta Chapter — Washington, DC

    Aaliyah El-Amin

    Aaliyah El-Amin is a published poet, literary organizer, and founder of You Are Write Here, a writing collective dedicated to strengthening the literary community in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Through readings, workshops, writing sessions, and other programs, her organization has connected with nearly 900 people worldwide.

    Her poetry has appeared in several literary anthologies, and she has participated in workshops associated with Cave Canem and the Brooklyn Women of Color Writers Workshop. She is also a member of Federal Poets and Maryland Humanities.

    Inspired by Toni Morrison’s encouragement to write the books one wishes existed, El-Amin has dedicated herself to building the infrastructure that allows writers to flourish.

    For El-Amin, membership in Gamma Xi Phi represents an opportunity to expand that work alongside other artists committed to community building and service.

    Catherine Frost

    Catherine “Cat” Frost is a theater-maker, educator, and arts administrator whose work spans playwriting, arts education, and cultural programming.

    Frost’s accomplishments include receiving the Ninth Annual Gaffney Playwriting Award from the University of California San Diego, being selected as a Lambda Literary Fellow, and serving as a Local Theatre Resident at the Kennedy Center. Frost has also worked as a teaching artist with the National Portrait Gallery, Shakespeare Theatre Company, and Smithsonian’s Discovery Theater.

    Frost joins Gamma Xi Phi with a particular interest in nurturing relationships among Black artists and strengthening the institutions and communities that sustain their work.

    “I’m most fulfilled in positions where I nurture connections and share resources, especially with other Black artists,” Frost said. “I believe Gamma Xi Phi is that spot where I can lend my time and talents.”

    Chad Eric Smith

    Chad Eric Smith is an actor, filmmaker, producer, and communications executive with more than 15 years of experience in higher education, public art, and the performing arts.

    Smith serves as the inaugural Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing for Howard University’s Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts. Previously, he served as Senior Director of Communications and Brand Management at Mural Arts Philadelphia.

    He is also the Board President of Theatre Horizon, founder of MisterDuke Productions, and a 2023 graduate of Leadership Philadelphia.

    Smith is particularly drawn to Gamma Xi Phi’s vision of artists as leaders who advance justice and strengthen their communities.

    “I have always believed that artists have the capacity—and, in many ways, the responsibility—to do more than create compelling work,” Smith said. “We can help shape how communities understand themselves, challenge inequity, expand whose stories are valued, and imagine possibilities that institutions and systems have not yet realized.”

    Epsilon Chapter — Baltimore, Maryland

    DeWitt Cooper III

    DeWitt Cooper III is a performing arts educator, director, choreographer, and mentor whose professional philosophy emphasizes the transformative power of artistic expression.

    Throughout his career, Cooper has worked to develop emerging performers through disciplined training, cultural awareness, professionalism, and artistic excellence. His work emphasizes the preservation and celebration of Black artistry while expanding opportunities for underserved performers.

    Cooper hopes to contribute to Gamma Xi Phi through mentorship, artistic collaboration, and educational opportunities for emerging artists, including potential partnerships to establish scholarship support for arts programs. He also looks forward to building relationships with fellow artists who understand the unique responsibilities and challenges of creative careers.

    E. L. Briscoe

    E. L. Briscoe is a visual artist and professor at Morgan State University, where he serves as Coordinator of the Visual Arts Program in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts.

    A native of Charles County, Maryland, Briscoe earned his bachelor’s degree from Morgan State University in 1996 and his Master of Fine Arts from Howard University in 1998.

    His artwork is represented in several distinguished collections, including the James E. Lewis Museum of Art, the David C. Driskell Center, the Jean and Robert Steele Collection of African American Prints, and the African American Museum of Art in Dallas, Texas.

    Briscoe sees Gamma Xi Phi as a platform for increasing public understanding of the arts and the contributions of working artists.

    Shernay Williams

    Shernay Williams is an award-winning journalist, content strategist, educator, and creative entrepreneur with 15 years of experience working across newsrooms, nonprofit organizations, startups, and corporations.

    Williams currently serves as an events manager and moderator for Word In Black, a national news organization focused on Black communities. She is also a media professor at Loyola University Maryland and provides media entrepreneurship training through the Institute for Independent Journalists, the National Association of Black Journalists, and her company, The StorySuite.

    In addition to her work in journalism and education, Williams designs earrings and bangles.

    “I’d like to serve the community through Gamma Xi Phi by leading workshops, events and initiatives that encourage literacy and expand arts access for young people and adults,” Williams said.

    Phi Chapter — Northeastern North Carolina

    Chanelle Owens-Henson

    Chanelle Owens-Henson is an author, visual artist, content creator, skilled tradesperson, and autism advocate whose work reflects a distinctive combination of creativity, entrepreneurship, and community engagement.

    Originally from Largo, Maryland, Owens-Henson is a mother of three whose talents extend across electrical work, plumbing, carpentry, writing, visual arts, and independent publishing.

    Through her creative platforms and advocacy, she works to empower others and amplify important voices.

    “Adding Gamma Xi Phi allows me to expand both personally and professionally while strengthening my leadership,” Owens-Henson said. “I look forward to opening new doors, building meaningful connections, and using my journey to inspire others.”

    A Shared Commitment to Art, Fellowship, and Service

    Although their professional backgrounds and creative disciplines vary, Gamma Xi Phi’s newest members share a commitment to using their talents to enrich the communities around them. Together, they bring new perspectives and expertise to the fraternity’s work in arts education, mentorship, literacy, institutional development, and civic engagement.

    a quote from our national president hunter irby

    “It is wonderful to see Gamma Xi Phi initiate new members who demonstrate exceptional merit and artistic talent, each committed to serving their communities and advancing the arts.

    I am proud to call them members of our fine fraternity and can not wait to see them grow as Brothers, Sisters and Gammas in our organization.

    As WE GROW, we are “Uniting the World, one artist at a time’.”

    About Gamma Xi Phi

    Gamma Xi Phi is a national community of artists and creators dedicated to advancing the arts through fellowship, professional development, and community service.

    The fraternity brings together individuals working in a wide variety of artistic disciplines, creating opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, leadership, and service. Its members seek to build a world in which artists are valued as thoughtful and justice-oriented leaders in their communities and careers.

    Gamma Xi Phi welcomes members from all backgrounds, identities, and artistic disciplines, recognizing the power of creativity to strengthen communities and inspire positive social change.

  • Kappa Chapter of Gamma Xi Phi Initiates New Members

    Kappa Chapter of Gamma Xi Phi Initiates New Members

    Kappa Chapter of Gamma Xi Phi Welcomes Distinguished New Line of Artists and Educators.

    CHICAGO, IL — July 2, 2026 — On Saturday, June 27, 2026, the Kappa Chapter of Gamma Xi Phi, the international professional fraternity for artists and creators, proudly welcomed four distinguished artists, educators, and scholars into the fraternity during an inspiring initiation ceremony celebrating artistic excellence, scholarship, and service.

    The chapter’s newest members are:

    • Vincent Singleton, an award-winning filmmaker, cinematographer, and Assistant Professor and Director of Media and Technology at Loyola University Chicago. His work as a filmmaker and educator has earned national and international recognition for its innovative storytelling and commitment to cultivating emerging artists.
    • Kent Ross Brooks, an acclaimed theatre artist, director, and educator at Northwestern University. His extensive career in performance, directing, and actor training has influenced generations of theatre practitioners and communicators.
    • Karla Rae Fuller, a scholar, author, and Associate Professor at Columbia College Chicago. Her research and publications examining race, media, and Black cultural representation have made significant contributions to the fields of communication and media studies.
    • Kamesha Khan, a director, educator, and professor at Chicago State University whose work in theatre arts, education, and community engagement continues to inspire artists while expanding opportunities for creative expression throughout Chicago.

    Collectively, these accomplished professionals represent excellence across filmmaking, theatre, visual arts, higher education, media studies, and community engagement. Their induction into Gamma Xi Phi strengthens the Kappa Chapter’s mission to advance artistic practice through fellowship, scholarship, leadership, and service.

    The initiation ceremony culminated in a memorable Odean Performance, an interdisciplinary celebration of the arts that reflected Gamma Xi Phi’s commitment to creative expression. Guests experienced an engaging artist talk with the production’s director, an inspiring ceremonial address, original poetry, vocal performances, live instrumental music, a film presentation, and an intimate piano mini-concert. The evening beautifully demonstrated the power of the arts to educate, heal, connect, and inspire.

    Gamma Xi Phi is an international professional fraternity dedicated to artists and creators across disciplines, fostering fellowship, philanthropy, artistic excellence, and community engagement. Through its members, the fraternity continues to build bridges between artists, educators, scholars, and cultural leaders while advancing opportunities for creative collaboration and public service.

    The Kappa Chapter, located on Chicago’s south side, looks forward to the leadership, scholarship, and artistic vision these new members will contribute as the fraternity continues its mission of strengthening artists and communities throughout Chicago and beyond.

    Gamma Xi Phi’s Public Motto: “Uniting the World, One Artist at a Time.”

  • Gamma Xi Phi Remembers Honorary Brother Allen “Uzikee” Nelson

    Artist. Sculptor. Engineer. Cultural Icon.

    We the artists of Gamma Xi Phi regret to announce the passing of Brother Allen “Uzikee” Nelson, September 22nd, 2026.

    Brother Nelson was a sculptor, educator, and former engineering faculty member of the University of the District of Columbia, located in Washington D.C.’s 4th Ward. His art, crafted from steel and glass, brought African-inspired works to the area.

    He has created many works in his life, the most notable being “(Here I stand) In the Spirit of Paul Robeson”, “Saint Dennard: The Edifying Spirit”, and “Doc”. Most of his art work can be seen around Washington D.C. 

    Brother Nelson was a Spring 2015 Honorary initiate of Gamma Xi Phi.

    We will remember Brother Nelson for his works, his life, his community impact, and we cherish the memory and rich legacy he leaves us all  with.

  • Theta Chapter Brings Dance to the Forefront

    Theta Chapter Brings Dance to the Forefront

    Durham, North Carolina- Theta Chapter doesn’t tip toe around giving the gift of Dance Education

    DURHAM- Gamma Xi Phi, Theta Chapter brought together internationally recognized Black male dance educators and performers to discuss the past and potential of Black men in the world of dance September 24 during a virtual program.

    The program, facilitated by Thomas F. DeFrantz, research professor in the Department of African and African American Studies at Duke University, featured a conversation between renowned dancers Willie Hinton and M. Clayton Barrier. The trio discussed the relevance and necessity of Black men being a force in the world of dance. Participants learned about the impact fellow Black male dancers made on them spotlighting local legends Chuck Davis and Mel Tomlinson and as well as their goals to encourage the next generation.

    “The conversation was empowering and edifying. Our goal in bringing together members of a community engaged in the work of carrying on the legacy of Black men in dance was to raise awareness of the importance Black men play in the craft. The panelists achieved that and more,” La Toya Hankins, Gamma Xi Phi national secretary and Theta Chapter program director said.

    A little about our key guest panelists for this event:

    Willie Hinton

    Hinton, a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and current instructor at Carolina Ballet in Raleigh, recalls his start in the world of dance at Enloe High School in Raleigh, NC when he dealt with the perception from fellow male students who were engaged in athletics while he participated in dance class. Their curiosity evolved into respect as they were able to view the work that went into his study thanks to his dance class located in a room over the high school gym featured a window for students to observe. Hinton obtained his first professional job shortly after college graduation and, since then, has performed with The Rebecca Kelly Dance Company and Dance Kaleidoscope. Hinton has also been engaged as an educator as Artist in Residence at North Carolina State University and North Carolina Central University.

    M. Clayton Barrier

    Panelist Barrier, a graduate of North Carolina Centra University, cites Hinton as one of the forces that has impacted his dance journey. The Durham native has created hundred individual choreographic works including a murder mystery piece he created that only the dancer tapped to be the murder knew the answer to the whodunnit. He currently serves as an educator at the Longleaf School of the Arts. He is also a member of the National Dance Educator Organization.

    DeFrantz and panelists discussed the imposter syndrome of not believing in the strength of one’s talent, how support from fellow artists makes in success and the power of Black male involvement in the craft.

    “Dance is a salad that everyone can eat from, and Blackness is just part of the expression. It is history, it is a form of documentation, and it is spiritual.” Hinton said.

    The Black Men in Dance program event is part of the Gamma Xi Phi’s National Program of I SWEAR-Service, Wellness, Edification, Advocacy, and Recognition.

    Gamma Xi Phi was established in 2010 at Ramapo College to provide a fraternal outlet for students engaged in the arts. Today it maintains a presence of working artists from Vancouver, British Columbia, to the northeastern and southern regions of the United States.

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  • Newark Chapter Adds four

    Newark Chapter Adds four

    NEWARK, NJ- The Gamma Chapter of Gamma Xi Phi, a professional fraternity for artists serving Newark, New Jersey, initiated four new members on Saturday, October 15, 2022. This occasion marked the first in-person ceremony in the fraternity since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This infusion of creators and innovators expands the organization’s membership and places it on a continued path of celebrating “Art, Society & Justice: For Decades to Come.”

    The new members are visual artists, educators, writers, actors, poets, and arts administrators, representing the largest cohort of members in the chapter’s history.

    The new initiates are:

    Gamma Attorious Renee Augustin wears a black head wrap and looks off in the distance. Drying roses are hung upside-down on a wall behind them.

    Gamma Attorious Renee Augustin, a nonbinary (they/them), queer, performance poet, filmmaker, and educator from Wanamassa, New Jersey. Their work focuses on transformation and community, and their hope is for their art to serve as a catalyst in the liberation of all people from oppressive systems. Attorious received their poetry MFA at Rutgers University-Newark. They are the host of Lampblack’s Instagram Live Series, “The Inky Bulb” and an artist-in-residence with New Jersey Performing Arts Center, where they were co-artistic director of NJPAC’s 2021 performance “Phronesis: A Focus on Frequency.”

    A portrait of Gamma Tasha Grant, wearing a gold head wrap.

    Gamma Tasha Grant (they/she) is an Afro-Costa Rican queer and non-binary multi-disciplinary arts & social justice educator, applied theatre practitioner, and cultural worker from Newark, New Jersey. Tasha has worked in education, activism, youth development, and gender and sexuality education as a facilitator, devised theatre director, teaching artist, high school teacher, and college lecturer. They are the founder and Artistic Director of Maroon Theatre Project, a New Jersey-based Black feminist theatre collective that creates programming and curriculum that fosters critical consciousness, activism, and healing in youth through the arts. Rooted in liberatory pedagogy, Tasha works to reimagine theatre-making and education by focusing on young peoples’ social-emotional development and providing them with access to social justice and political education. Tasha prioritizes queer, transgender, and non-binary youth of color to create affirming spaces for multi-marginalized youth. Currently, they serve on the editorial board for Youth Theatre Journal and holds a BA from Utica University in Psychology, with a minor in Theatre, and an MA in Educational Theatre for Colleges & Communities from New York University.

    A portrait of Brother Jaquair Gillette, wearing a green shirt.

    Born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey, Brother Jaquair Gillette is a graduate of Ramapo College of New Jersey. He is an actor, poet, producer, and community artivist. He recently released his festival award-winning film “3rd & 4th Chapters.” He has been featured in roles in plays and television shows such as August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson for Now Theatre, Inc., Orange is The New Black, Godfather of Harlem, Tommy, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, FBI, and Law & Order: Organized Crime. He recently released his debut spoken word poetry book entitled Defiance & Desperation available on numerous eBook platforms. In addition, He is a three-time featured poet at the legendary Nuyorican Poets Cafe in NYC. He is the annual open mic host of Paterson Poetry Festival and has performed in poetry cafes and venues across the U.S from New York City to Los Angeles. Jaquair continues to stay active in his hometown of Paterson as a commissioner on the Paterson Arts Exchange and as an associate producer for The Urban Blackboard Program for Public Access Television.

    A portrait of Dontae T. Muse

    Gamma Dontae T. Muse is the owner of the award-winning Above Art Studios in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He is also the best-selling author of Tripping Over Canvases: How to Open Your Own Art Gallery with No Prior Experience. Dontae has participated as an advisor to or on the boards of New Jersey Art Administrators of Color, Institute of Music for Children, Black Girls Who Paint, Blk Art House, National Endowment for the Arts, New Brunswick HeART Festival, New Brunswick NAACP, Arts New Brunswick (Art Council), and Morris Arts.  He is also an advocate for fair access to health insurance for artists and fair payment to artists for artistic services, and curates the movements #nostarvingartists and #paytheartist.

    Augustin said they connected with Gamma Xi Phi’s principles. “They build up to the expansion of Gammas as individuals and community through intentional creation, service, and gathering.”

    Muse stated, “I hope that I can add valuable relationships that can help procure more resources to better serve the artist community.”

    Gamma Xi Phi was founded on October 7, 2010, on the campus of Ramapo College. The purpose of the organization is to honor the achievements of artists through fellowship, philanthropy, social justice, and service.

  • “Art & Fear” Gamma Xi Phi’s First International Chapter Collaboration

    “Art & Fear” Gamma Xi Phi’s First International Chapter Collaboration

    DOTHAN, AL- Gamma XI Phi, the fraternity for artists and creators, is elated to have a union of the Iota Chapters in this Wellness Event!

    On August 27th, 2022, the Iota and Epsilon Iota Chapters of Gamma Xi Phi had their first collaboration event discussing the book: Art and Fear by Robert Bayles and Ted Orland. This event was helmed by Gamma Xi Phi Sisters, Toni Toney and Jen Samson. The former, a new member of the Iota Chapter, which covers the Montgomery and Southeast Alabama, and the latter, the Program Director of Epsilon Iota Chapter, which currently covers Canada and all future international members.

    The event covered the first five chapters of the book: The Nature of Art and Fear, The Actual Fears of Art, Fear and the Self, Fear About Others, and Finding Your Voice in Your Work. Using these opening chapters to home in on the endeavors of a singular artist will go through. Iota and Epsilon Iota Chapters also wanted to cover the subject of “Artists needing other Artists”. This subject bringing the importance of an artist’s need of community and like-minded souls when creating pieces.

     Being held in an open-forum style of discussion, each of the 20 participants were able to speak freely on each chapter and participate through the chat. This giving all the opportunity to talk about how they resonated with the ideas brought to the table by the hosts or if having read the book, offering quotes and their personal experiences to the audience.

    This collaboration event was a night of fun, communication, connection, and bonding.

    Art and Fear: A Discussion is a Wellness Event and part of Gamma Xi Phi’s I SWEAR National Program, which focuses on Service, Wellness, Edification, Advocacy and Recognition.

    Gamma Xi Phi was founded on October 7, 2010, on the campus of Ramapo College. The purpose of the organization is to honor the achievements of artists through fellowship, philanthropy, social justice and service.

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  • Arts Fraternity Charts New Artistic Paths With Three New Chapters

    Arts Fraternity Charts New Artistic Paths With Three New Chapters

    CONWAY, NC- Gamma XI Phi, the fraternity for artists and creators, initiated seventeen new members July 31, 2022, during a virtual ceremony. The infusion of creators and innovators expands the organization’s membership and places it on a continued path of celebrating “Art, Society & Justice: For Decades to Come.”

    The new members are visual artists, educators, writers, actors, arts administrators and filmmakers. While their talents may run the artistic gamut, according to National President Rashid Darden, which unites them is their character.

    “These are men and women of integrity who have devoted their lives to the arts in some way.  We believe that their zeal for the arts and for justice will unite them with one another and with all the members of the fraternity.”

    Members were inducted into two existing city-wide chapters and chartered three new chapters located in New Orleans, LA, Philadelphia, PA, and Atlanta, GA.  The organization also inducted members into chapters that serves the South Atlantic Region and Southwestern Region.

    Eight embers became part of the Delta Chapter based in New York City. The members induction represents the largest intake of members into a single chapter since Gamma Xi Phi founding in 2010.

    • Cristina Lynn Acevedo
    • Timothy Benston
    • Shawnasia Black
    • Luisa Maria Butler 
    • Secile Doseau
    • DeMarius “Champ” Kilpatrick
    • Kayla Sharon Smith
    • Husein Yatabarry

    Doseau said she connected with Gamma Xi Phi’s focus on philanthropy. 

    “I’ve always loved helping people and my community in any way I can. It’s always given me a certain comfort or joy and it’s something that I believe I will enjoy doing with Gamma Xi Phi.”

    Theta Chapter which serves the Raleigh/Durham area added three new members

    • Dasan Ahanu
    • Jonathan Issac Champion
    • Leslie Cunningham

    “My hopes for my own career during my journey with Gamma Xi Phi will be to grow as a spiritual being, a woman, an artist, business owner and philanthropist. My goal will be to stay open to learning, be a good friend and collaborator with my Gammas, and serve my community with passion.” Cunningham said.

    The Beta Lambda Chapter which serves the South Atlantic Region at Large added member Marla Taviano who is based in Columbia, SC

    Regina Renee Nyègbeh became a charter member of the Delta Lambda chapter which serves the Southwest Regional-At-Large. She is based in Denver, CO 

    Ansel Augustine became a charter member of the Lambda Chapter which will serve the New Orleans area.

    Herman Beavers charted the Mu chapter which will be based in Philadelphia.

    Nsenga Burton and Tiffany Jade Lezama became charter members of the Nu chapter in Atlanta, GA.

    Augustine said he hopes to be able to create another avenue to serve and advocate from those in the New Orleans area that have struggled for recognition.

    “My hope with becoming a member of Gamma Xi Phi is to create new partners to assist with helping preserve what makes New Orleans unique and sacred.”

    Darden said he feels good about the organization’s newest members contributing to the organization plan grow and thrive.

    “The Summer 2022 class has a wide range of gifts that will invest in Gamma Xi Phi for decades to come. From Marla and Regina Renee’s deep love of literature to Timothy’s penchant for capturing everyday beauty through his camera lens. Besides the new members’ artistic experiences, there are several with experiences in the nonprofit sector and the fraternal world–these are experiences that will continue to bolster GXP’s standing among professional fraternities.”

    Gamma Xi Phi was founded on October 7, 2010, on the campus of Ramapo College. The purpose of the organization is to honor the achievements of artists through fellowship, philanthropy, social justice and service.

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  • Theta Chapter Hosts Mental Health Panel

    Theta Chapter Hosts Mental Health Panel

    DURHAM- Theta Chapter of Gamma Xi Phi, a fraternity for artists which serves the Raleigh/Durham area, invited the public to Relax and Relate during a virtual program on May 22.

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  • Beta Lambda partners with APO Alumni to provide Black Books to rural jail

    Beta Lambda partners with APO Alumni to provide Black Books to rural jail

    During Black History Month 2022, the Beta Lambda Chapter of Gamma Xi Phi, serving rural and remote areas of the South Atlantic Region, partnered with the Mu Alpha Alumni Association of Alpha Phi Omega to provide over 90 books for the Northampton County (NC) Detention Center and to the Free Minds Book Club and Writing Workshop for incarcerated youth.

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  • Arts Fraternity Welcomes First Honorary Members in Seven Years

    Arts Fraternity Welcomes First Honorary Members in Seven Years

    Gamma Xi Phi, the fraternity for artists and creators, has initiated two honorary members.  They are the first to receive such honors since 2015.

    The initiates, music educator Tamika Walker Kelly and novelist Frederick Smith, were welcomed in an intimate ceremony attended by members of Gamma Xi Phi’s National Board of Trustees and members from the New York and District of Columbia professional chapters, as well as the South Atlantic Region at-large chapter.

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  • National President Appears on Podcasts

    National President Appears on Podcasts

    Rashid Darden, the National President of Gamma Xi Phi, recently appeared on two podcasts.

    First, he appeared on the Poema Podcast, which focuses on spirituality, identity, creativity, and mental health. He spoke with host James Prescott about his own story as a Black man of Queer experience in America. The conversation also touches on ideas about representation in pop culture franchises, such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Superman, and Doctor Who.

    Next, Darden appeared in two episodes of the Whiskey, Jazz, and Leadership podcast hosted by author Galen Bingham. He discussed the history of Gamma Xi Phi and the culture of Black fraternal organizations, his favorite musical influences, and how good leaders show up within organizations.

    Listen below!

    Whiskey, Jazz, & Leadership Podcast

  • Welcoming Ava President

    Welcoming Ava President

    Gamma Xi Phi, the professional fraternity for artists and creators, welcomes Ava President as a communications intern via the Georgetown University Virtual Immersions & Experiential Work (VIEW) Program.

    Ava President is a first-year student at Georgetown University who plans to major in sociology. This Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, native volunteers with DC Reads, the Black Student Alliance, and GU Women of Color. She is passionate about activism and community outreach and is excited to work with Gamma Xi Phi in the realm of communications, design, and branding.

    “Georgetown has a long tradition of training students for leadership in service, inside the classroom and in the community,” National President Rashid Darden said. “I am grateful that Ava has decided to lend her talents to our growing organization.”

    The Georgetown VIEW Program provides real-world professional experiences to students across a multitude of industries, from the nonprofit and public sectors to law, entertainment, media, and business.

    Ava will be responsible for the research and implementation of a media campaign during Black History Month 2022.

    Gamma Xi Phi is an anti-racist, non-hazing, all-gender professional fraternity for artists and creators established in 2010 by undergraduate students attending Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey. Organized on the principles of Philanthropy, Sodality, and Elevation, Gamma Xi Phi seeks to create a world in which artists are valued as thoughtful and justice-oriented leaders in their communities and in their careers.

  • Remembering Sidney Poitier

    Remembering Sidney Poitier

    I want to be at peace internally and continue to feel good most of the time.
    But, yes, you are looking at a man who is relieved. I have nothing more to prove.

    Sidney Poitier to People Magazine in 1980

    Gamma Xi Phi remembers with solemnity the life and achievements of one of the world’s finest men, Sidney Poitier.

    We honor his masterful roles in The Defiant Ones, Lilies of the Field, A Raisin in the Sun, In the Heat of the Night, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, and To Sir, with Love, among many others.

    We acknowledge his direction of nine major films, including Stir Crazy, which was at one time the highest grossing movie directed by a person of African ancestry.

    We note his many accolades, including being the first Black winner (and first Bahamian) of the Academy Award for Best Actor, several Golden Globes, a BAFTA, an Emmy, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Miami.

    We further acknowledge his career as a writer, as a diplomat, and as a board member.

    Finally, we gratefully thank his family members, including his six daughters, for selflessly sharing their father with the world. Gamma Xi Phi shares in your grief while celebrating Mr. Poitier’s many contributions to the arts and to humanity. The artists and creators of this fraternity humbly and gratefully stand upon his shoulders.

  • Reflections of Re-Emergence: Symphonic Identity (Lashon Fouché solo exhibition)

    Reflections of Re-Emergence: Symphonic Identity (Lashon Fouché solo exhibition)

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    CHICAGO (Winter 2022) – WILD YAMS: Black Mothers Artist Residency at THE cre.æ.tive ROOM is pleased to announce, “Reflections of Re-Emergence: Symphonic Identity,” a Solo Exhibition featuring WILD YAMS Artist and Gamma Xi Phi Sister Lashon Fouché. “Reflections of Re-Emergence: Symphonic Identity” captures the intersections of Black Female Spectatorship, examined through figural symbology, rigorous mark-making, vibrant color palettes, abstract patterns and portraiture. The exhibition is curated by Founders, Clemenstien Love | Wisdom Baty, with select programming highlighting Fouché’s Studio Practice: Artist Talk, OpenStudios, WorkShops, and Performance Art Interventions. The Opening Reception is Friday, January 7th 6:00pm-8:00pm. The exhibition is on view at THE cre.æ.tive ROOM, from January 7- February 19, 2022.

    Fouché stylised elements of color, pattern, and mark-making are multilayered, generating a kinetic flow of evocative feelings-sensibilities. Investigative themes of identity figuration, chromatic relationships and material embellishments add to the complexities of Fouché’s mark-making evolution.  Her current explorations examine non-representational abstractions of the human body and the “Black Gaze.”

    Public Programming:

    THE cre.æ.tive ROOM | 7034 S Martin Luther King Dr, Chicago, IL 60637

    Opening Reception

    January 7, 6:00pm-8:00pm Friday

    Artist Talk

    January 22, Saturday 2:00pm-3:30pm

    Moderated By: Wisdom Baty, WILD YAMS Founder

    Healing WorkShop Series | Creative Rituals of Divinity & Rootwork

    • January 29, Saturday 1:00pm-3:00pm
    • February 5, Saturday 1:00pm-3:00pm
    • February 12, Saturday 1:00pm-3:00pm

    OpenStudio | By Appointment

    • January 14, Friday
    • January 28, Friday
    • February 4, Friday
    • February 11, Friday

    (Contact Lashon Fouché at 773.663.0270, venisekeys925@gmail.com)

    Gallery Hours

    January 14 – February 12, Fridays & Saturdays 10:00am-2:00pm

    Closing Reception

    February 19, 6:00pm-8:00pm Saturday

     

    About: Lashon Fouché

    Sister Venise Lashon Keys | Lashon Fouché (b. Chicago, 1991) is a visual artist, writer, performer, and educator. Fouché activates painting, drawing, objects, printmaking, movement, and writing to commune with her ancestors. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Fine Art with an emphasis in Painting and a Certificate in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Fouché’s consistent imagery and studio research on Black hair paraphernalia i.e combs, bobby pins, etc. began as an homage to her parents’ entrepreneurship in the Chicago hair industry. Fouché utilizes black cultural iconography along with elements of color, pattern, mark-making and abstraction to create dialogue centering notions of beauty, heritage, and resistance. Fouché has exhibited throughout Chicago and nationally.

     

    About: WILD YAMS – Black Mothers Artist Studio Residency at THE cre.æ.tive ROOM

    Introducing a new Studio Partnership, WILD YAMS Black Mothers Artist Residency at THE cre.æ.tive ROOM. WILD YAMS Artist Residency provides sustainable creativity + equity for Black Mother Artists in Chicago.  THE cre.æ.tive ROOM is an Art | Design collaboratorium studio located on Chicago’s southside. TCR Studio Residency Programs provide space + time to “imagine, create, envision” a distinctive Studio Practice platform for Women Creators. This new ongoing Studio Collaboration serves as a creative incubator for WILD YAMS Black Mothers, providing space, time, community, and entrepreneurial resources. A distinctive unified collaboration, both founded by Black Women with missions committed to equity + access through the Arts on the Southside of Chicago for Black Women Creators.

    Media Contact:

    Wisdom Baty, Founder: wisdombaty@gmail.com

    WILD YAMS: Black Mothers Artist Residency

    Clemenstien Love, Founder: info@thecreaetiveroom.com

    THE cre.æ.tive ROOM

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  • Abe the Kid opens for RiFF RAFF at Westcott Theater

    Abe the Kid opens for RiFF RAFF at Westcott Theater

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”5300″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]Abe the Kid, 2021 initiate of Beta Chapter in the District of Columbia, opened for RiFF RAFF at the Westcott Theater in Syracuse, New York.  Nathan Fenningdorf has the story in The Daily Orange.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]