STEEL SHARPENS STEEL
Spring 2016
sword & spear in this issue
Is consciousness returning to hip hop? a master’s degree. Sound investment?
the jazz mantalking with fellowman bashiri asad and indy soul
mental illness We Can No Longer Afford To Ignore It
“G Spear of Shaka” -Fl. Jamille Jones
sword & spear
2423 maryland avenue, baltimore, maryland 21218
“We’ve come this far by faith” Editor in Chief: Stuart Frazier Art Designer/ Layout: Floyd Brantley Marketing Food Writer: Chris Smith Music Writer: Eric M. Greene Photographers: Floyd Brantley Artwork: G Spear of Shaka Pg 1, Jamille Jones Yasuke! Pg 21, Joel Bynum
visit our website @ www.groove-phi-groove.com
Follow the Sword & Spear on social media for more news, stories and content.
table of contents president’s message LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
4 5 master’s as an investment
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The S&S talks about Groove and Jazz with Jazz singer Fl. Bashiri Asad
the jazz man
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COVER STORY Mental illness is a problem in Black America we can no longer ignore. The effects on the community are devastating and affects the community for generations. It lies at the root of many of the issues we face today.
Gold coast chapter chapter campaigns against domestic violence
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one mic IS CONSCIOUSNESS RETURNING TO MAINSTREAM HIP HOP?
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president’s message
l . d e n n i s t h o m a s 11th national president, groove phi groove, sfi.
My Brothers of Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship, Inc., I greet you in full recognition that “we’ve come this far by faith.” Thank you for the patience you’ve shown in allowing me the opportunity to continue the process of working to improve our Fellowship of Brothers. Many of you are continuing to work diligently in your respective regions and chapters to fulfill our stated purpose which simply is to work to build intelligent and effective leaders. I commend each of you for the work that you’re doing and the commitment and sacrifice that each of you are making to insure that our Fellowship remains relevant. I want each of you to know that today our National website is finally being launched and can be viewed at the new domain site www. groove-phi-groove.com. Fl. Chris Hill and the IT Committee have worked extensively to help to improve our website and I would like to personally thank them for their time and energy in getting us our new electronic look. The committee is going to continue to add enhancements in the coming days which will help facilitate communication via Google apps, membership services and chapter and regional news. The legacy domains gphig.org, gphig. com, and groove-phi-groove.org, will remain available for registered member’s use through February 29, 2016. To log in the Members Only section of the new site each member who was registered on the old website will receive an email indicating that your new username will be the email address you used to register on that site. Please email Chris Hill at Christopher.hill@ gphig.org for assistance with establishing a new
profile and log in. On March 1, 2016 the new national website is targeted for productive use by all members and the public (that will include making payments online). On that date all of the above domain names will be directed to the updated site. Since taking office my administration has been working to complete the following tasks: • National fundraising initiative to raise $250,000 to $500,000 over the next five years so that the Groove Fund can give scholarships to high school boys and the Groove Community Service Foundation can fund programs that will assist with leadership development that will make a difference in the communities we serve. When the money is raised each active chapter will be able to access the funds by submitting a proposal to those respective foundations. I have asked Past National President Vic Henderson to lead this effort. • Google Apps platform is currently being used by members of the Directorate. This very useful tool allows for video conferencing, document and screen sharing and many other effective platforms that will facilitate ease of internal communication. The IT Committee is working to establish a training program that will be disseminated to the Regions and then to individual active chapters. • Directorate Meeting April 8th, 9th & 10th in Washington, DC. This very important (continued Pg 20)
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editor’s note
t u a r t f r a z i Editor in Chief, Sword & Spear
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Greetings Brothers, Another season is upon us and Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship, Inc. has been through many changes already. With the onset of a new administration, our expansion of chapters on the African continent, and continual community advocacy, G Phi G is poised to succeed this year. Since the spotlight is on us, the organization and each individual brother must be introspective and search for their truly authentic self. Surely, by recognizing and embracing our true selves, we can take the steps necessary to ensure a fulfilling and engaging organization. Additionally, as leaders of the community, we must set an example of authenticity for those looking towards us. Our children, our peers, our coworkers and supporters. It is imperative they see us for who we really are and not another façade destined to flip the script at the drop of a hat. We must let our principles guide us as we continue working for a better society. Others can find courage to truly be authentic when they see that radiance coming off of ourselves. Too often we are bombarded by phony images, whether personally, politically, or spiritually. On the surface, it appears that all is well, but underneath the veil lies a debilitating corrosi-
on that rots away any positivity we initially witnessed. There is nothing on this planet that is absolutely perfect, but we can always strive to be better than we were yesterday. To do that, it is imperative we, as an organization and as individuals know ourselves and be willing to work with who we are at the current level. We must face reality and deal with facts. Only then can Groove Phi Groove truly propel to magnanimous and amazing heights. In Brotherhood Always, Fl. Stuart Frazier Editor-in-Chief Sword & Spear
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sword & spear Special Message from the president
July 8, 2016 To: The Membership of Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship, Inc. My Brothers, I greet you in full recognition that “we come this far by faith”. This has been an unbelievably challenging week for all of us as we’ve had to once again witness the shooting deaths of two Black Men, Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Philando Castile in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. I’m sure that each of you were as disgusted as I was to watch what was shown on the video feeds and played out on television news programs and the internet. It is extremely difficult to makes sense of these senseless deaths. The number of Black lives taken nationwide by police shootings this year alone is disturbing. There are numerous issues that are contributing factors to the current state that we find ourselves in as Americans today. What has recently compounded the tragedies mentioned is the shooting death of five Dallas, Texas police officers and the wounding of seven other officers and two civilians. Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship, Inc. extends our heart felt sympathy to the families of all those who lost their lives in these three separate incidents. It is our prayer that justice be equally levied against all those who are at fault in these deaths. Our organization denounces all acts of violence of any kind. As college educated men, each of us have pledged to uphold our stated purpose which is to “promote academic awareness and good ethical standards, to promote unity and fellowship among college men, to create intelligent and effective leadership, and to study and help alleviate the social and economic problems concerning boys and men in order to improve the stature of mankind.” As we struggle with the senseless events of this week we must turn our attention to what we can do as an organization to make meaningful and relevant differences in the communities that we live. The current state of our country requires that we step up and truly commit to what we stated is our purpose. I urge each chapter and member to come together and collaborate on developing meaningful, impactful and relevant ways to effectuate positive change. I look forward to seeing and discussing the plans and results of your efforts. I pray that each of you and your families are in good health and are at peace with the Creator.
In the spirit of Brotherhood I remain committed,
Dennis K. Thomas 11th National President Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship, Inc.
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#altonsterling W
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Spring 2016 9 Davis, Kenny Parker and Donald Byrd, Fellowman Bashiri is quickly rising in the jazz arena with his brand of “Indy soul”. Bashiri has been performing professionally since 2009 and in that time has shared
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We as members of Groove are all familiar with the popular chant “Groove Phi covers the water,” that we all sing when we get together at local and national events. However I believe that few really understand just how significant that is when it comes to the membership’s professional range in society. We know about many of our notable members who have become excelled in sports, politics, education and business, but with this particular story we bring yet another notable member within the field of music. Fl. Bashiri Asad GKA Lionheart (Winter 2001, CSU, Marauder Chapter), continues that legacy in a genre that knows no shortage of legends. With such notable luminaries such as Wynton Marsailes, Kenny G, Miles
the stage with some of the most recognized names in music industry such as: Lalah Hathaway, Musiq Soulchild, Kindred The Family Soul, Carmen Rogers and a host of others. Acknowledging that each of us have a priceless gift that we must connect to and share with the world, Bashiri has been cultivating a relationship with his voice since childhood. From shoo-wop style singing groups and classical vocal training, to performances local and abroad, his vocal prowess has been growing into the soul-stirring entity it is known for today. The influences of Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke, and Otis Redding echo in his performance, and those coupled with
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his own strength and passion have come together to create his version of true soul music, termed “IndySoul,� his contribution to putting Indianapolis on the national jazz map. Seeking to join the ranks of other independent artists looking to breathe new life into the soul music scene, Bashiri has begun to make a name for himself, not just around the region, but around the world. Humble in his approach, relentless in his delivery, you have to experience it to truly understand Fl. Asad, even with the talent he had found himself surrounded by, still remains a humble individual, and still remains active with the fellowship. He represents what it means to be a member of Groove and continues a tradition of maintaining that excellence and grooving at some of the highest levels. You can find out more information at the places listed.
Facebook: The Official Bashiri Asad Fan Page Instagram: @Indysoulhead Twitter: Bashiri08 Bandcamp: www.bashiriasad.bandcamp. com Reverbnation: www.reverbnation.com/bashiriasad Blog/Website: www.bashiriasadmusic.com
Spring 2016 11
Is getting your Master’s a
sound Investment?
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Master’s degree programs are the ugly stepchild of higher education. They don’t get a lot of respect, but they do a lot of the work around the house. They bind a university to its local community. They provide business, industry and government with specifically trained employees. They provide a handy stepping stone into terminal degree programs such as the doctorate. They’re massively profitable. They just don’t win a lot of accolades. A university’s prestige, power, and reputation rarely come from its master’s programs. The master’s degree option falls between the credential and the doctorate. A credential is faster and easier to get, yet is sufficient to prove specialized knowledge of a subject. The doctorate is a research degree, and theoretically proves that the holder can permanently stay atop developments in their field. So the master’s is a middle child, neither the quickest nor the best. The master’s degree is often called a practitioner’s degree, providing the latest techniques in its field, but going light on theory. These practicing professionals, so the story goes, are the best sort of faculty for conveying current practices. The real reason universities use them is that they are cheaper than tenure-track faculty.
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There are three good reasons to get a master’s degree: 1. Because you are simply fascinated by a topic, and want to study it beyond the bachelor’s degree level. 2. To prepare for a career move, and prove specialized knowledge to a current or future employer. 3. To prepare for entry into a doctoral program. However, you do not need a master’s degree to get into most doctoral programs. In a few fields of study, among them, social work, international relations and business, the tradition is to get a master’s first and then go into a doctoral program, but in most other fields one can go directly into a Ph.D. program with a bachelor’s degree. You can apply, sure, but if they don’t know you already, they won’t take you even if you are an outstanding student. One really good function of a master’s degree, however, is to clean a spotty academic record. If your undergraduate experience was a bit rocky, but now you have your footing as a scholar, getting a master’s degree and performing consistently (continued on page 17)
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“It takes the courage of a warrior to ask for help...� -VA Medical Center
silent killers:
mental illness in the black community
Spring 2016 13
We need to discuss mental illness. Why you say? Because it affects every one of us directly or indirectly in some way. Regardless of how much we as a whole attempt to deny its existence, it will not go away. When we do acknowlege it, we tend to have our own ideas of what mental illness means. Mental illness does not automatically mean that someone who is suffering from one form or another is crazy. It simply means that individuals are living with challenging conditions that affect their daily lives in a way that is no different than someone living with cancer or diabetes. However, there is one thing about mental illness that is different than the others. When one is suffering long enough and it gets severe enough, it can take what would be an otherwise rational person and make them turn to the unthinkable just to stop the suffering.
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Mental illnesses such as major depression do not discriminate against, age, race, gender or social status, and do not always show obvious signs.
mental illness in the black community f l .
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sword & spear senior staff writer
Yes, I mean the “S” word. And it happens a lot more often than we would like to think. And someone who did go that route did not do it out of selfishness, or disregard for others feelings. It’s actually quite the opposite. They simply wanted the suffering to stop. Mental illness is not just one thing. There are dozens of conditions that we can suffer from and some are even gender specific. This has been a taboo subject in our communities for generations, because no one wants to think that something is wrong with their child, or that they need to take crazy medication because of some chemical imbalance. But we need to. We must. Because not talking about it is literally killing us-- especially Black men. The most common forms of mental illness range from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder,
major depression, and PTSD. The most common of these is major depression. Since this is the most common this article will focus on that one specifically, and one of those reasons is this: depression is what is known as a co morbid condition. If depression is detected in an individual then there is a high chance that it’s a symptom of something else occurring as well. According to Anxiety and Depression Association of America, approximatley seven percent of all Americans age eighteen and older suffer from some form of depression at some point in time in their lives (Facts and Statistics/adaa.org). Some suffer for a particular period of time, while others live with it their whole lives. This is the form that is known as major or chronic depression, and it can manifest itself in a myriad of ways making it difficult to detect from one individual to the next.
Spring 2016 15 So with that I have a confession: I am one of those Black men that live with chronic depression. In fact I know of at least two other brothers that openly admit they suffer from this condition and advocate for its awareness. I, like millions of other Black men in the country, had my feelings and biases about people who dealt with those conditions and labeled them as crazy. On occasion some people close to me even suggested that I may be depressed, but like many of other Black men, I openly and quickly rejected that notion, up until eight years before that diagnosis was confirmed with the VA. By that time there was no denying that something was wrong. And since that day I took it upon myself to be a major advocate to educate and spread awareness about this illness. So what is depression? According to the website depressiontoolkit.org, depression is “a serious illness caused by changes in brain chemistry.” When we tend to think about somebody that says that they are feeling depressed, often the first thing that we think is that they must be feeling sad or down, and that it is a momentary thing. All they have to do is wait it out and everything will be better eventually. Now while the latter may be true in part, what’s misunderstood about that is that depression is cyclical. Just because someone is joking and laughing and appear to be having a good time does not always mean that they are happy and all is right in the world. This is one of the main reasons when people lose family members or friends to suicide it comes as a shock because, “they simply don’t understand why they would do something like that,” or that “they didn’t look the type.” Among men, there is a definite reason for that. And not necessarily a good one.
In most cultures around the globe, there are certain societal norms that govern what is acceptable for men. Anything that is outside of that is considered “not masculine.” Chief among those norms are talking about emotions or feelings. Since we were created to be warriors, we are expected to be able to take
stress in stride regardless of how it affects us and keep it moving. This is especially Black men, due to our experiences in this country. No other group of people on the planet have been subjected to the horrors we have faced. With that, we as men have developed a sense of pride in that the world can throw whatever it wants at us and yet still we rise. However, there is an ironic twist to this: If anyone has an excuse to be depressed it is definitely us! That pride we developed is simply a defense mechanism so that we don’t
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appear weak in the judgmental eyes of the world. So now we know that depression is a serious condition. What many don’t know is that it is as much physical as it is mental. Symptoms of depression on the physical can range from loss of appetite, feelings of lethargy, fatigue, getting sick, and even joint pains. So when we begin to experience these things, we tend to consider that the problem may be physical in its origin and attempt to treat it as such. But ultimately that simply leads to the untreated condition to linger on unchecked.
Physical Problems: • Tiredness or lack of energy • Unexplained aches and pains • Changes in appetite • Weight loss/gain • Changes in sleep patterns • Sexual problems
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, then go and talk to a mental health care professional right away. There are other resources on the web that you can check out for information pertaining to depression and mental illness. Or you can start with my page the No Way But Up Foundation on Facebook, for information on how you can make living with Some of the more common symptoms of depression easier, or to help you find infordepression include but are not limited to the mation that will help to educate and spread following signs: awareness of this crippling condition. At then end of the day, this is one thing that Feelings: we cannot afford to ignore anymore. Yes it is • Sadness a somewhat uncomfortable topic to discuss, • Hopelessness but it is one that indeeds need to brought to • Guilt the forefront. In a future article I will be ex• Moodiness plaining just how unchecked/untreated mental • Angry outbursts illness affect our communities. But it all starts • Loss of interest in friends, family and with beginning a dialogue. favorite activities including sex Admitting that you are depressed does not Thoughts: mean that you are weak, or that your man• Trouble concentrating hood, pride and dignity are being called into • Trouble making decisions question. It simply means that something is • Trouble remembering wrong and it needs to be addressed. • Thoughts of self harm • Delusions and/or hallucinations Sometimes, it does indeed take the courage of a warrior to ask for help. Behaviors: F. Lennis Brantley • Withdrawing from people Senior Staff Writer • Substance abuse • Missing work, school or other commitments • Attempts to harm yourself
Spring 2016 17 (Master’s cont.) well will fix that problem forever. Pursuing a master’s degree out of a desire for knowledge is certainly justified. If you are fascinated by a particular 16th century poet, or a particular molecular reaction, then a master’s degree would let you really focus on that topic out of simple curiosity. You don’t have to have a career-related reason to pursue these topics at the master’s level. A doctoral program, however, has a much larger educational goal. I like to say that the master’s degree is like dating. You can do it because it is fun. But getting a doctorate is like getting married in a Catholic church in a Latin American country. It’s an enduring commitment, whether it’s the Ph.D., M.D., J.D., Pharm.D., or whatever, you don’t get a doctorate just for fun. One of the main reasons people pursue a master’s degree is to impress upon an employer that they have the intelligence, drive, and specific knowledge set to perform in an advanced employment opportunity. As the world becomes more and more complex, it is clear to me that many employees will have to return to university and get a second master’s degree at some point before retirement. A master’s degree will have an expiration date, say, of 12 to 15 years. Every decade or two, if you want to stay in the game, you may have to get another. We live in an increasingly credentialized society. If you find yourself on the job market by chance or by choice, you need to have your credentials in order. So pursuing the master’s degree is simply career insurance. If you look to the cubicle to the right, and the cubicle to the left, and both of those workers have an advanced degree and you don’t, you’re behind the curve. That’s an extraordi-
narily prudent motivation to pursue the master’s degree. As to the question of whether the master’s degree is a good investment, literally, the evidence is clear. On average, it certainly is. A study done a decade ago found that people who earn a master’s degree will pay taxes on an additional $400,000 in income over their lifetimes, in spite of any time spent out of the labor market to pursue the degree itself (Bureau of Labor Statistics). A more recent report finds that master’s degree holders earned $10,329 more than baccalaureate degree holders in 2005 (Bureau of Labor Statistics). These averages may not hold for you. You may beat them or fall short. And it is important to note that this increased income is weighted toward business and engineering. A student in one of my workshops once asked me, “Should I borrow $40,000 to get an MFA in dance?” Well, maybe not. A really cool poster showing unemployment rates and income by degree attainment is available at http://www.postsecondary.org/ archives/Posters/EducationTraining.pdf . You can view it for free, or buy one and put it on the wall to motivate you in your educational goals. There are so many options now to get a master’s degree. There are +1 programs that give you a master’s degree in one year of specialized study past a bachelor’s program. There are evening and weekend models for busy professionals. There are online and distributed learning formats tailored to every lifestyle and contingency. Whether your motivation is career advancement or just wanting to see if you go to (continued, pg 21)
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one mic FL. ERIC M. GREENE MUSIC WRITER, S&S
IS CONSCIOUSNESS RETURNING
TO MAINSTREAM HIP HOP? With artists such as Kendrick Lamar finding commercial success, the question is starting to loom. Is “conscious” hip-hop returning to the mainstream airwaves? Many communities at this moment are enthralled in the Black Lives Matter movement and hip-hop is delivering a vocal outlet.
Within the circle of hip-hop heads in our neighborhoods, the messages that many of the underground artists that give us these songs have been what many fans have wanted for a long time: music that can inspire us to uplift our people. Tracks like, Which Side Are You On by Talib Kweli and Alright by Kendrick Lamar have become an anthem for the movement. From the golden generation of hip-hop, artists like Public Enemy and KRS-ONE provided inspiration and conscious lyrics. Now that trend seems to be coming back. It may not be as popular as some would like for today’s music scene, but if you seek out the music, you will find it! What are your thoughts on this? Hashtag your response to this topic at #hiphopConsciousness on our facebook page Sword and Spear Online. (top)Kendrick Lamar, (bottom) Talib Kweli
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groove international:
Gold Coast Chapter against domestic violence Achievers Ghana took it upon themselves to speak to women, children and parents of the “Mamobi” district, a suburb in Accra, about raising awareness of human rights. This kind of intervention and community involvement can help reduce violence in Ghana..
On the twenty- first of September 2015 Ghanian fellowmen marked World Peace Day as the brothers of the Gold Coast Chapter joined hands with local organizations Achievers Ghana, Project Abroad and World Reader, to help reduce domestic violence in Ghana. One key purpose of Groove Phi Groove is to create effective leadership and to alleviate social and economic problems in the society in order to improve the stature of mankind. On World Peace Day, the Gold Coast chapter and
National Volunteers’ Day is an annual celebration observed in Ghana to promote and show appreciation for volunteerism. The manner of celebration varies and this time brothers of the Gold Coast Chapter painted the pavements to beautify the roads. This initiative is to help in building a better Ghana. The Groove work in Ghana never stops. In the Ashanti Region, the brothers of the proposed Kumasi Graduate Chapter. held a clothing drive at the Kumasi Children’s Home on Saturday, September 26th. Many more projects are slated for these communities as we propagate the values of Groove Phi Groove in the Motherland.
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(Message cont.) leadership meeting is going to focus on collaboration between the National Office, Regions and Committees in order to establish and improve a working relationship amongst the various committees and officers. Fl. Steve Wilkins will be our Facilitator and Training Coordinator. • Our 2016 National Conclave is being held in Charlotte, NC on July 27th – 31st. We want to have a reunion and celebrate the history of our growth in the State of North Carolina. We are asking all brothers to attend especially those who went over in North Carolina. We welcome you to attend all of the planned activities that we have scheduled. We are asking the sisters of Swing Phi Swing to join us in this reunion celebration since the State of North Carolina is the birthplace of their Fellowship. All information can be viewed on our joint website www.thejncc.org. We will conclude the Conclave with a meeting of the Directorate to plan for the remainder of the year as well and the next fiscal year. • Undergraduate Operations and Procedures Manual is being developed by Lupe Bamwo, our 2nd National Vice President along with Jawara Johnson, Director of Undergraduate Affairs and Keifer Lobb, Executive Board Rep. Our goal is to assist Undergraduate Chapters with operating more effectively and strategically.
• National Headquarters, 2453 Maryland Avenue, Baltimore, MD. Our goal is to occupy our National Headquarters as soon as possible. The space is available and we need the resources to upgrade and furnish the offices. Any and all donations to the building fund are encouraged. • The position of National Treasurer is vacant and needs to be filled. The qualifications for the office of Treasurer is a Fellowmen who has a degree in accounting or finance and who is familiar with preparing budgets and performing transactional accounting statements. Please send all names and resume information to me at dennis.thomas@gphig. org or to wesley.ridgeway@gphig.org. • Groove in Ghana & Nigeria - We are planning a trip to Ghana and possibly Nigeria for October 1st- 8th. We will convey all of the details regarding the trip in the next few weeks once they are finalized with the travel agency. The trip will include stops in Accra, Sunyani, Cape Coast and Kumasi. The Elders of the Ashanti Region donated several acres of land to our Fellowship last year during our visit. The land will be used to build a community center (Groove Phi Leadership Academy) in Kumasi. A visit to the site in Kumasi will also be included. The Brothers from Ghana, in conjunction with Fl. Peter Hungiapuko, are planning a trip to Nigeria to establish an interest group in Lagos and God willing we will have members in Nigeria in the very near future. My brothers, I urged each of you to continue to work together in your chapters and your regions
fall 2015 21 (Master’s cont.) the next level, the master’s degree remains a great option. Fl. Chris Smith Senior Staff Writer
Yasuke!
Fl. Joel Bynam, 2016
(Message cont.) and collaborate on meaningful and sustainable projects that will fulfill our stated purpose. We encourage you to continue to focus on undergraduate growth, community service and leadership development. May God continue to bless each one of you as we work to strengthen our Fellowship, ourselves and our communities.
conclave 2016 charlotte, n.c.
I Love Groove Phi, Fl. Dennis Thomas 11th National President
in honor of grooves who served clem grandy- usaf ‘68-’72 gene etchinson- usmc ‘81- ‘01 (ret.) f. lennis brantley- usa ‘93- ‘02 ant anderson justen katzman- usn ‘08- ‘12 joey mcdonald- usar wesley walker- usn (ret.) tiki carrion harold s. Reed jr.- usaf darron ridgeway- usaf dion johnson- ANG Larry James- Stuart Roberston- usn tyrone williamson- usn James gaines- usa
Servicemen and women represent the finest of the population of the U.S., and of that group of individuals only the best have the priviledge of becoming members of Groove Phi Groove, S.F.I. From one veteran to another, much respect. No one understands a vet like another vet. -Fl. F. Lennis Brantley, USA, 1993- 2002
GFG
groove phi groove
social fellowship incorporated
“We’ve come this far by faith”
2423 maryland avenue, baltimore, maryland 21218