Swing Phi Swing Social Fellowship, Inc. (SS) is an African-American non-profit social fellowship for female students, as opposed to a traditional Greek-lettered sorority. It was founded in 1969 at Winston Salem State University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It has more than fifty undergraduate and graduate chapters across the United States, mostly affiliated with historical Black colleges and universities.
History Swing Phi Swing was founded at Winston Salem State University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on April 4, 1969, the first anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Its founders were twelve African-American women, helped by the brothers of Groove Phi Groove.
The twelve founders were:
The founders wanted to challenge the traditional Black Greek-lettered organizations by creating a fellowship of women committed to community service, promoting and achieving academic excellence, and strengthening community involvement and engagement through culturally conscious events and activities. Thus, their group was an alternative to sororities and actively criticized the missions and programming of Black Greek letter organizations. Swing Phi Swing was incorporated in North Carolina in February 1971.
During the 1970s, Swing Phi Swing's membership grew as Black college women across the South, the Midwest and the East Coast heard of an afro-centric organization; the organization and its members were more political and were "invested in Afrocentricity and Black Power". IChapters were started at prominent historically Black colleges and universities such as Hampton University (Hampton Institute), Morgan State University, Tuskegee University, Wilberforce University, Shaw University and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
Swing Phi Swing grew so quickly that it was difficult to keep up with processing new memberships. In 1982, the society decided to discontinue intact of undergraduate members so that it could focus on establishing the group at the national level. In addition, the new collegiate members were close in age to the founders and "did not show deference to their elders". In the spring 1992, new members were admitted at Pennsylvania State University and the University of Pennsylvania, marking the return of undergraduate chapters. By the end of 1999, Swing Phi Swing had 5,000 members. nationwide. In 2008, it had 20,000 members.
On April 4, 2019, Swing Phi Swing celebrated their 50th anniversary in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Ten of the surviving founders attended the convention and were present to dedicate a monument to the organization on the campus of Winston-Salem State University. Swing Phi Swing also made a $25,000 donation to the university for a scholarship fund.
Swing has chartered over fifty graduate and undergraduate chapters throughout the United States. As of 2016, it has over 10,000 members. It is the sister organization of Groove Phi Grove.
Symbols Swing Phi Swing is an acronym for Sisters With Interest Never Gone (Swing), Promoting Higher Intelligence (Phi), and Supporting Women In Need of Growth (Swing).
Swing Phi Swing's motto is "Perseverance by Virtue". Its colors are white and black. Its members are called the Swings.
Activities Swing Phi Swing is focused on community service. Its national initiatives include African American health, Global Outreach & Optimism in the Diaspora, mentoring, and Supplies for Success which provides resources to students and teachers.
Governance
The National Organization of Swing Phi Swing Social Fellowship is managed and operated by a Board of Directors and Executive Officers, consisting of a national president, vice president, graduate affairs officer, undergraduate affairs officer, historian, media affairs and public relations, corresponding secretary, recording secretary, parliamentarian, and undergraduate representation. Its national office is located in Dearborn, Michigan.
Chapters Undergraduate chapters Following are the undergraduate chapters of Swing Phi Swing, with active chapters indicated in bold and inactive chapters in italics.
ChapterCharter date and rangeInstitutionLocationStatusGrooveWinston-Salem State UniversityWinston-Salem, North CarolinaActiveAbeo NeemaUniversity of MichiganAnn Arbor, MichiganInactiveAggieNorth Carolina A&T State UniversityGreensboro, North CarolinaInactiveAinka Makeda Marali MoliehiPennsylvania State UniversityState College, PennsylvaniaInactiveAs-AslumWilberforce UniversityWilberforce, OhioInactiveAndile EngaraUniversity of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboro, North CarolinaInactiveAwon Egbe Obirin OtitoGrambling State UniversityGrambling, LouisianaInactiveEbonyBenedict CollegeColumbia, South CarolinaInactiveSouth Carolina State UniversityOrangeburg, South CarolinaEndesha Baraka EagleCoppin State UniversityBaltimore, MarylandInactiveGendaga Bimbisha TabuLincoln UniversityLincoln University, Lower Oxford Township, PennsylvaniaActiveGoldenJohnson C. Smith UniversityCharlotte, North CarolinaInactiveHarambee IIClark Atlanta UniversityAtlanta, GeorgiaInactiveSpelman CollegeKwanzaaTexas Southern University Houston, TexasInactiveMaatkare Hatshepsut BulldogBowie State UniversityBowie, MarylandInactiveMaisha New BirthUniversity of Maryland Eastern ShorePrincess Anne, MarylandActiveMaraabeDrexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaInactiveRosemont CollegeRosemont, PennsylvaniaTemple UniversityPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaMarali Nubia BearMorgan State UniversityBaltimore, MarylandActiveTowson UniversityTowson, MarylandUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore CountyCatonsville, MarylandMasika Ghayda NiaraCollege of New RochelleNew Rochelle, New YorkInactiveMatumaini Ya Baadaye Buffalo State University Buffalo, New YorkInactiveMuntuShaw UniversityRaleigh, North CarolinaActiveNandiRutgers UniversityInactiveNakawa WarriorsEastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MichiganInactiveNdada Amuka Kwa PinduaAdelphi UniversityGarden City, New YorkActiveNdada Vumilia Daima InukaMercy UniversityDobbs Ferry, New YorkActiveNdada Weuse PandaBloomfield CollegeBloomfield, New JerseyActiveKean UniversityMontclair State UniversityMontclair, New JerseyNehanda Bison Howard University Washington, D.C.InactiveNguvu Katika Mwanzo MpyaLoyola University New OrleansNew Orleans, LouisianaInactiveNyawela Chic WolverineCheyney University of PennsylvaniaCheyney, PennsylvaniaInactiveNkijhaSt. Augustine's UniversityRaleigh, North CarolinaInactiveOdu IfaVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VirginiaInactiveOritaPrairie View A&M UniversityPrairie View, TexasActivePrairie View A&M University. (1976). Coronation of Miss Prairie View November 4, 1976. Retrieved from Prairie View A&M University Digital Commons.Osei Fola SimbaSyracuse UniversitySyracuse, New YorkInactiveSOBUNorth Carolina Central UniversityDurham, North CarolinaInactiveSpartanNorfolk State UniversityNorfolk, VirginiaInactiveSubira ChemwuapuJohnson & Wales UniversityProvidence, Rhode IslandActiveSUNYUniversity at Albany, SUNYAlbany, New YorkInactiveSiyandaEast Carolina UniversityGreenville, North CarolinaInactive UmojaLivingstone CollegeSalisbury, North CarolinaInactiveUpendaHampton UniversityHampton, VirginiaInactiveVikingElizabeth City State UniversityElizabeth City, North CarolinaInactiveWantu Virginia State University Ettrick, VirginiaInactive
Graduate chapters Following are the graduate chapters of Swing Phi Swing, with active chapters indicated in bold and inactive chapters in italics.
ChapterCharter date and rangeLocationStatusAjeyaCentral New JerseyActiveAnan TendajiYpsilanti, MichiganActiveAshanti ZuriAtlanta, GeorgiaInactiveAtlanta1983Atlanta, GeorgiaActiveBostonBoston, MassachusettsInactiveCentral CarolinaDurham, North CarolinaActiveRaleigh, North CarolinaCharlotteCharlotte, North CarolinaActiveDada Rafiki Tri-CountyPennsylvaniaActiveDC MetroWashington, D.C.ActiveDetroitDetroit, MichiganActiveDFWDallas-Fort Worth, TexasInactiveGarden StateNorthern New JerseyActiveGreater New York & ConnecticutConnecticutActiveNew YorkHampton RoadsHampton Roads, VirginiaInactiveHaraambe NssaFayetteville, North CarolinaActiveHoustonHouston, TexasActiveImani KuumbaNew JerseyActiveKemet PAPennsylvaniaActiveLos AngelesLos Angeles, CaliforniaActiveMid SouthMemphis, TennesseeInactiveNew Jersey Zuri Obinrin Abike Aye'New JerseyActiveNia MarylandBaltimore, MarylandActiveNiara AtanipendaGreensboro, North CarolinaActiveHigh Point, North CarolinaOkimma DelawareDelawareActivePaidamoyo PotomacMarylandActiveVirginiaWashington, D.C.PalmettoCharleston, South CarolinaActivePhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaActivePortlandPortland, OregonActiveRaleighRaleigh, North CarolinaActiveRichmondRichmond, VirginiaInactiveRukiya Busara Piedmont TriadWinston-Salem, North CarolinaActiveSankofaLas Vegas, NevadaActiveSC NkirukaSouth CarolinaActiveSiku Mpya Sunshine StateFloridaActiveTri-StateConnecticutActiveNew JerseyNew York
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