History of Xi Nu Nu Graduate Chapter
West Valley Quez
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
On November 17th, 1911, at Howard University three undergraduate students Brother Edgar Amos Love, Brother Oscar James Cooper, Brother Frank Coleman, and their undergraduate adviser Brother (Dr.) Ernest Everett Just established Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. The Founders of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. had a vision for the growth of the Fraternity. The vision was to expand the brand of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. across the United States and later internationally. Thus, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. expanded westward to the Pacific Coast, and in 1941 the 17th Grand Basileus Z. Alexander Looby approved the creation of the 12th District in Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Thus, upholding the vision of the Founders of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., 14 Brothers in the West Valley of Phoenix, Arizona, met on Thursday July 15th, 2021. The meeting was to discuss how to best serve West Valley communities in the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area. The 14 Brothers who decided to meet were Brother Terry Williams, Brother Bryant Jones, Brother Mark Washington, Brother Barry Kimmons, Brother Allison Reed, Brother Demond Bradford II, Brother Jermaine Sampson, Brother Courtney Boss, Brother Gustavus Lawler, Brother Fulwood Blackburn, Brother Charles Williams, Brother Reginald Harrell, Brother Arnold McCrary, Kevin Scott and Brother Derrick Golden. These 15 Brothers later became the Charter members of Xi Nu Nu Graduate Chapter, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
During the meeting, these 14 Brothers recognized that Maricopa County, AZ is 9,224 square miles and the 4th largest County in the United States. The population in Maricopa County, AZ is 4.6 million residents with a black population of 558,000 residents. The Graduate Chapter, Phi Iota was the only Graduate Chapter in Phoenix, AZ for over 77 years. Phi Iota Graduate Chapter due to the massive growth in the Phoenix metropolitan area, focused all its resources to the East Valley, Central Phoenix, and South Phoenix communities. Thus, the West Valley of Phoenix, AZ was being underserved because of the lack of resources, and the brand of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. needed to be established. In addition, Brothers who lived in the West Valley of Phoenix, AZ had to drive 52 miles one way and 104 miles roundtrip to all Phi Iota Graduate Chapter meetings, and community service events.
This caused numerous West Valley Brothers to become either non-financial, non-participants, or unreclaimable due to the distance of travel. Brothers were also concerned because there was no footprint to promote the brand of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. in the West Valley of Phoenix, AZ. Thus, the Brothers decided it was time the brand of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. be established in the West Valley. Thereafter, the 14 Brothers conducted a second meeting the following week. During the second meeting, the 14 Brothers voted to submit a Chapter Charter application. The Brothers began completing the Charter application and written justification for starting a second Graduate Chapter to present to the 34th 12th District Representative Brother Kwame Dow for approval. After completing the Charter application and the justification for starting a second Graduate Chapter, Brother Barry Kimmons approached Brother Dow. Brother Kimmons and Brother Dow had a brief conversation about starting a second Graduate Chapter, while attending the Annual Brother Charles C. Peevy History Workshop on Saturday August 28th, 2021. Brother Dow asked a series of questions, and informed Brother Kimmons to submit the Charter application for his review.
Brother Dow after reviewing the justification for starting a second Graduate Chapter, conducted a Zoom Video conference with 6 of the 14 tentative Charter members. The 6 Brothers were Brother Williams, Brother Jones, Brother Kimmons, Brother Boss, Brother Reed, and Brother McCary. The meeting was also attended by the 12th District 1st Vice-District Representative Brother Andrew Davis, and the Mountain West Area Representative Brother (Dr.) Andre Denson. The purpose of the meeting was to further examine the reasons for starting a second Graduate Chapter, the plan for the growth of the proposed new Chapter, the cities that the brand would be established, and what infrastructure would support the new Chapter. After the meeting, Brother Dow informed Brother Davis to set up a meeting with the Phi Iota Graduate Chapter leadership, and representatives for the proposed West Valley Phoenix, AZ Graduate Chapter.
The Brothers in attendance representing the Phi Iota Graduate Chapter leadership were Basileus Brother Larry Lopes, Vice-Basileus Brother Jeffrey Birthright, and Keeper of Peace Brother Stacey Ellis. The meeting was to discuss the views of the Phi Iota Graduate Chapter leadership and their support for a second Graduate Chapter in the West Valley of Phoenix, AZ. The Phi Iota Graduate Chapter leadership at the meeting, agreed to support a second Graduate Chapter in Phoenix, AZ. Next, Brother Dow conducted an evaluation process. The process lasted a month and a half. Brother Dow evaluation entailed reviewing a strategic and sustainability plan, speaking to the West Valley Brothers a third time about their Charter application and further conversations with the leadership of Phi Iota Graduate Chapter.
After Brother Dow evaluation, he approved the Charter application and justification. Brother Dow in his written approval, detailed the process he conducted before making the decision to approve the Charter application. Brother Dow at the end of his written approval stated, “the 14 Brothers assembled are capable of running and sustaining a Chapter in the West Valley of the metropolitan Phoenix, AZ area”. Brother Dow submitted the Charter application and justification to the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Supreme Council for approval on October 5th, 2021. The Supreme Council then met on Wednesday December 15th, 2021 to vote on the Charter application.
After reviewing the Charter justification, the Supreme Council voted to approve the Charter application submitted by the 14 Brothers from the West Valley in Phoenix, AZ. The Graduate Chapter was hence given the Greek Letters, Xi Nu Nu. In addition, a second Graduate Chapter was approved on this day, and given the Greek letters of Omicron Nu Nu located in Austin, TX. History was shared on this day because Alpha Chapter “Mother Pearl” of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. was Chartered on December 15th, 1911. Also, these two Chapters were the only Charters approved by the Supreme Council in 2021.
On January 6th, 2022 Xi Nu Nu Graduate Chapter conducted their first official meeting. The Chapter Officers were Basileus-Brother Terry Williams, Vice Basileus Brother Bryant Jones, Assistant Vice-Basileus Brother Mark Washington, Keeper of Records And Seal-Brother Barry Kimmons, Assistant Keeper of Records And Seal-Brother Allison Reed, Keeper of Finance-Brother Demond Bradford II, Assistant Keeper of Finance-Brother Charles Williams, Chaplain-Brother Jermaine Sampson, Parliamentary-Brother Courtney Boss, and Keeper of Peace-Brother Gustavus Lawlar. The main purpose of the meeting was to establish the road ahead for Xi Nu Nu Graduate Chapter. The road ahead consisted of creating a 501(c)3, collaborating with Phi Iota Graduate Chapter on 3 of the 10 Fraternity mandated programs each year, community service projects, all mandated Fraternity programs, building relationships with the Devine 9, conducting joint community projects with each Devine 9 organization, and the planning for the Xi Nu Nu Graduate Chapter Charter ceremony. In addition, the Chapter created their tag calling themselves the “Iconic Xi Nu Nu” Chapter.
On March 5th, 2022, Xi Nu Nu Graduate Chapter held it’s Charter ceremony. In attendance was the 12th District 1st Vice District Representative Brother Andrew Davis, members of Phi Iota Graduate Chapter, members of the Undergraduate Chapter Alpha Theta; Arizona State University, members of the Graduate Chapter Delta Alpha Alpha; Tucson, AZ, members from each Devine 9 organization, spouses, family, and friends. The Chapter Charter was presented to the Xi Nu Nu Chapter Basileus Brother Terry Williams by the 12th District 1st Vice District Representative Brother Andrew Davis. Brother Davis made the presentation on behalf of the 12th District Representative Brother Kwame Dow who could not attend do to another engagement. Brother Dow presented his remarks via YouTube to the Brothers of Xi Nu Nu Chapter and their guests.
Since it’s Chartering, Xi Nu Nu Graduate Chapter as of 2023 doubled its membership of Brothers for FY 2021-2022 and FY 2022-2023. This included 12 Brothers reclaimed by Xi Nu Nu Graduate Chapter. The Chapter also retained all of its members, and being financial on all 3 levels. Also, Xi Nu Nu Graduate Chapter presently has 37 members for FY 2022-2023. Furthermore, Xi Nu Nu Graduate Chapter conducted over 13 community services projects during FY2021-2022 and 6 as of January 2023 for FY 2022-2023. Some of the projects were walking in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Social Action March, participation in the Stop The Sex Trafficking Walk, meeting with the leadership at Estrella Community College to support student success, packing boxes at the Saint Mary’s Food Bank, clothes drives, voter registration, blood drives, partnering with local high schools to build student relationships for community service, shoe drives for low income individuals, and the homeless. In addition, attended an Aids Awareness conference, conducted a monthly park clean-up project, and hosted a Thanksgiving turkey with sides event at a local church. The Xi Nu Nu Graduate Chapter, of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. motto “Lifting As We Climb” and tag the “Iconic Xi Nu Nu” Chapter aligns with the brand of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and the visions of its Founders.