Category: News

A new chapter of Gamma Xi Phi has come to the Midwest.

Gamma Xi Phi, the nation’s leading fraternity for artists, chartered its Kappa Chapter in Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday, June 12, 2021, with two members:  Venise Keys and Dionne Victoria.  The local movement began during the height of the pandemic in the Fall of 2020, when informal meetings were held with interested working artists in the community.

Those initial meetings crystallized into an official interest group, organized on April 21, 2021, and fulfilled the requirements for chartering in record time.  The former members of The Artists of South Side Chicago are now the fraternity’s tenth single-letter chapter.

“It is a privilege to do community service through the arts with ambitious Black and Brown creators,” said Ms. Keys, who serves as the chapter’s chartering Program Director. “I am excited to give back to our youth who need creative mentors and representations of success in the arts as professionals.”

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 honor the achievements of artists through fellowship, philanthropy, social justice, and service.

Venise Keys (www.artofvenisekeys.com) was raised on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Bradley University in 2013 and her Master of Fine Arts degree with a Graduate Certificate in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Illinois State University in 2016. While finishing her MFA, Venise served as adjunct faculty of art at Illinois Central College and Bradley University. Shortly after, she completed a painting and mixed media artist residency at the School of Visual Art in New York in 2017. Venise lectured her studio research on the role of the Black artist and Black Feminist theory at Dillard University, and it was published in the scholarly journal, Kalfou: Comparative and Relational Ethnic Studies. She currently works in the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago as the full-time visual art teacher at Art In Motion Creative Charter School.

Dionne Victoria (www.dionnevictoria.com, www.wehealheal.org) is a Chicago artist who shares that her artwork is a meditative tool to heal and express the internal landscape of the soul in an external world. Her artwork can be viewed nationally, and she has exhibited internationally. Dionne Victoria has exhibited in the United States Library of Congress, as well as in the Museum of Science and Industry on numerous occasions. Currently, her art can be viewed at the Zhou B Art Center, where her studio is located. She is a co-founder of The Healing Academy and currently fuses art with science by teaching middle school science, also at Art In Motion Creative Charter School.

The Beta Chapter of Gamma Xi Phi, the professional fraternity for artists in Washington, DC, initiated eight new members in a ceremony on Sunday, May 2, 2021. Among the initiates were a filmmaker, photographer and videographer, a DJ, and three emerging artists attending Georgetown University.

Beta Chapter of Gamma Xi Phi was established in 2011 to artistically serve communities in the District of Columbia. It is the chapter of initiation of three past national presidents of the organization.

Jalen Arthur is a rapper, singer, songwriter from the southside of Chicago. He found his passion for music at a young age, writing his first song at eight years old. Jalen’s music takes hip-hop and infuses it with a flurry of genres such as pop, R&B, and electronic to form his own sound that he calls Space Rap. Being a Gen-Zer, Jalen experienced hip-hop as a kid from the lens of lyrical rappers and the movement of trap and SoundCloud rap. His style draws upon both eras of hip-hop, mixing witty and lyrical bars with upbeat trap beats. His biggest influences include Nicki Minaj, Juice Wrld, Drake, Ariana Grande, and The Weeknd.

Jabari Butler is a writer, musician, filmmaker, and audio engineer from New York City. His main craft is music production and audio engineering but says that his true professional passion is “creation of all kinds.” He is currently a producer and engineer for a podcast on higher education for Elon University. Jabari is also pursuing a career as an artist, which involves music production, video production, social media management, and public relations.

Izuo-Ere “Mimi” Digifa is the founder and CEO of Flolango cosmetic line, an artist, and the author of Izuo- (Savior), a collection of poetry encompassing the totality of many human life experiences. Originally from Nigeria, Mimi came to the United States via the Niger Delta Scholarship Award on a full study abroad scholarship from the Office of the President. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from the University of Lynchburg in the Spring of 2017.  She is a member of the 2020 cohort of the Community Family Life Services Speakers Bureau and a graduate of the 2020 class of the Pivot Program at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. Her most recent project, Flolango, is a cosmetics line which is aimed at empowering people through positive messages and poetry included on the inner packaging of the makeup products.

Fatima Dyfan is a graduating Senior at Georgetown University receiving her degree in African American Studies and Government with a minor in Theatre Performance Studies. Fatima, a black radical feminist in the making, has a long history in theatre-making, and hopes to take her new understandings of imagination and power to create new work. She is the President of the Omicron Pi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

Kendall Frost is a mobile streaming senior project coordinator, photographer, and filmmaker based in metropolitan Washington, DC. He is a Howard University alumnus with a degree in television production. He has a strong background in photography, videography, video broadcasting, and editing operations with over 14 years of experience.  Kendall is passionate about his family, artistry development, and community service. He is currently present in the community through youth mentorship and is an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.  Kendall was born in Queens, New York.

Courtney Savoy Harper is a practicing art professional specializing in mural illustrations and company branding.  Her work can be found on 85-foot school walls and embassies.  She is also a 14-year veteran art teacher at Calvin Coolidge Senior High School in Northwest Washington, DC. She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority; the funder and founder of the annual Savoy Legacy Scholarship; and the sponsor of many art initiatives like Design District and Art Club for students to develop the love of community service and giving back. Courtney was born in Washington and raised in Columbia, Maryland, and currently lives in Mount Rainier, Maryland, with her husband and son.   She is an alumna of Hampton University and George Washington University.

William Brandon Murray, known professionally as DJ Big B, is a native Washingtonian who began his journey as a DJ in early 2018. Having the desire to be a DJ since childhood and enjoying a career outside of the arts, he finally decided to take the steps to fulfill his dreams a few years ago.  He has now emerged as a “go-to” DJ for virtual events throughout the pandemic, from his Friday night virtual parties to special events like Gamma Xi Phi’s Tenth Anniversary “Battle Royale” party, celebrating the music of Michael Jackson and Prince.  Brandon is also a deacon at Faith City Church under Senior Pastor Yusef L. Fletcher, Sr.  Brandon views DJing as a means to bring people together in fun and in fellowship.

Monda Raquel Webb is an award-winning author, filmmaker, and poet. In 2015, she wrote, directed, and produced her first short film, “Zoo (Volkerschau),” which has won 11 U.S. and International Film Festival Awards, including awards from Spain and Indonesia for Best Short (film), Best Script, Excellence Award, Best International Short, and other categories. In 2019, Monda’s second film “Pooch Sitter” hit the festival circuit with over a dozen screenings and an award for Best Poster. Team Pooch gave $1,600 to non-profit organizations focused on homelessness and women and children. Thematically, Monda creates literary and visual art that celebrates humanity.

The Delta Chapter of Gamma Xi Phi, the professional fraternity for artists in New York, New York, welcomed three new members in a ceremony on Sunday, May 2, 2021.

The Program Director of Delta Chapter is Steven Van Patten, an author, publisher, and stage manager.  Of the initiation, he says “I’m very excited about today. The new blood will be just the thing we need, especially as we claw back to a normal that lets the arts industry thrive again.”

Dupé Ajayi launches innovative marketing campaigns that ignite intersectional audiences.  After working in production at MTV, ABC News, and BET she transitioned into the non-profit arena as a branding and marketing specialist. She has since worked for several corporate, NPO and governmental agencies.  As Senior Strategist, Intersectional Marketing & Partnerships for The Shed, she is excited to ensure it is a radically welcoming institution by cultivating partnerships with schools, government agencies, corporate entities and more.   Dupé is credentialed by NYU’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies in PR and Marketing for NPOs. She enjoys running and growing orchids.

Dana Bingham-Guanilo is the visionary behind Makeda FilmWorks, the Brooklyn-based production house inspiring creativity, conversation, and a fresh outlook on the world around us. Propelled by a lifelong curiosity for authentic stories, Dana’s wide-ranging experience has shaped her specific brand of riveting narrative created precisely for the screen. She received a degree in Film Production from Howard University and a masters in video Production from New York Institute of Technology. She lives in Brooklyn with her family and occasional production crew, husband Yuri and pups Champ and Rocky.

Director Seyi Peter-Thomas grew up in London before moving to Washington, DC. He attended the prestigious Duke Ellington School of Arts, where his passion for filmmaking led him to NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. There, his affinity for strong characters, comedic timing and vivid cinematography began to emerge. Seyi began writing and directing On-Air Promos at MTV, and his partnership with the network yielded a prolific body of work. His MTV Digital Abuse campaign became the centerpiece of President Obama’s Conference on Bullying Prevention, and he won an Emmy Award for The Kaiser Foundation’s Condom Factory PSAs. In 2019, Seyi earned his second Emmy for directing a series of spots for Nickelodeon in honor of Black History Month. Seyi’s work has also been honored with the CLIO Gold award, AICP Next Award, Creativity’s Platinum Award, a Webby, and features in the Cannes New Director’s Showcase, the Cannes Lions Festival, and permanent residence at MoMA.