Gamma Xi Phi

The Fraternity for Artists and Creators

Tag: Founders’ Day

  • Gamma Xi Phi Celebrates Ten Years of Philanthropy, Sodality, and Elevation

    Gamma Xi Phi Celebrates Ten Years of Philanthropy, Sodality, and Elevation

    [vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Gamma Xi Phi, the fraternity for artists, celebrated its tenth anniversary with a virtual birthday party for its founding chapter on October 7, 2020.  It was a members-only event.

    Alumni from Ramapo College of New Jersey, the birthplace of the fraternity, assembled along with members from chapters serving the District of Columbia, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, and North Carolina.  A slideshow began the evening, with music produced by Alpha Chapter charter member Micaela Moore serving as the soundtrack.  Later on the program, Founders and members had the opportunity to share their thoughts about the origins of the fraternity and the hard work involved in making it sustainable.

    National President Rashid Darden, a novelist, along with other members of the fraternity, feted the founders and early members of Alpha Chapter by sharing stories of their more youthful days.

    Darden also recounted the many accomplishments of the fraternity’s first ten years, with an emphasis on the current year.  Recent accomplishments include the most chapters chartered in a single year, the most initiates initiated in a single year, and the most community members impacted by and engaged with fraternity programming.

    As a special surprise to the membership, Beta Chapter charter member and past National Treasurer Nadia Fisher of Aria del Sole presented a digital painting called Solidarity in honor of the occasion.  The painting represents the sacred values of the organization.

    Gamma Xi Phi was founded at Ramapo College of New Jersey in Mahwah, New Jersey by undergraduate students Malcolm Minor, Ashli Johnson, Tahir Register, and Kanisha Taylor.  The purpose of Gamma Xi Phi is to honor the achievements of artists through fellowship, philanthropy, social justice, and service.  Notable members of the fraternity include poet and activist E. Ethelbert Miller, novelist Melanie S. Hatter, visual artist Nette Forné Thomas, and sculptor Allen Uzikee Nelson.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Gamma Xi Phi Members Celebrate Fifth Anniversary of Founding

    Gamma Xi Phi Members Celebrate Fifth Anniversary of Founding

    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. (more…)

  • Happy Fifth Anniversary, Gamma Xi Phi

    Happy Fifth Anniversary, Gamma Xi Phi

     

    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