Swing Phi Swing


Swing Phi Swing Social Fellowship, Inc. 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, 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, Promoting Higher Intelligence, and Supporting Women In Need of Growth.
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 rangeInstitutionLocationStatus
GrooveWinston-Salem State UniversityWinston-Salem, North CarolinaActive
Abeo NeemaUniversity of MichiganAnn Arbor, MichiganInactive
AggieNorth Carolina A&T State UniversityGreensboro, North CarolinaInactive
Ainka Makeda Marali MoliehiPennsylvania State UniversityState College, PennsylvaniaInactive
As-AslumWilberforce UniversityWilberforce, OhioInactive
Andile EngaraUniversity of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboro, North CarolinaInactive
Awon Egbe Obirin OtitoGrambling State UniversityGrambling, LouisianaInactive
EbonyBenedict CollegeColumbia, South CarolinaInactive
EbonySouth Carolina State UniversityOrangeburg, South CarolinaInactive
Endesha Baraka EagleCoppin State UniversityBaltimore, MarylandInactive
Gendaga Bimbisha TabuLincoln UniversityLincoln University, Lower Oxford Township, PennsylvaniaActive
GoldenJohnson C. Smith UniversityCharlotte, North CarolinaInactive
Harambee IIClark Atlanta UniversityAtlanta, GeorgiaInactive
Harambee IISpelman CollegeAtlanta, GeorgiaInactive
KwanzaaTexas Southern UniversityHouston, TexasInactive
Maatkare Hatshepsut BulldogBowie State UniversityBowie, MarylandInactive
Maisha New BirthUniversity of Maryland Eastern ShorePrincess Anne, MarylandActive
MaraabeDrexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaInactive
MaraabeRosemont CollegeRosemont, PennsylvaniaInactive
MaraabeTemple UniversityPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaInactive
MaraabeUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaInactive
Marali Nubia BearMorgan State UniversityBaltimore, MarylandActive
Marali Nubia BearTowson UniversityTowson, MarylandActive
Marali Nubia BearUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore CountyCatonsville, MarylandActive
Masika Ghayda NiaraCollege of New RochelleNew Rochelle, New YorkInactive
Matumaini Ya Baadaye   Buffalo State UniversityBuffalo, New YorkInactive
MuntuShaw UniversityRaleigh, North CarolinaActive
NandiRutgers UniversityInactive
Nakawa WarriorsEastern Michigan UniversityYpsilanti, MichiganInactive
Ndada Amuka Kwa PinduaAdelphi UniversityGarden City, New YorkActive
Ndada Vumilia Daima InukaMercy UniversityDobbs Ferry, New YorkActive
Ndada Weuse PandaBloomfield CollegeBloomfield, New JerseyActive
Ndada Weuse PandaKean UniversityActive
Ndada Weuse PandaMontclair State UniversityMontclair, New JerseyActive
Nehanda BisonHoward UniversityWashington, D.C.Inactive
Nguvu Katika Mwanzo MpyaLoyola University New OrleansNew Orleans, LouisianaInactive
Nyawela Chic WolverineCheyney University of PennsylvaniaCheyney, PennsylvaniaInactive
NkijhaSt. Augustine's UniversityRaleigh, North CarolinaInactive
Odu IfaVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VirginiaInactive
OritaPrairie View A&M UniversityPrairie View, TexasActive
Osei Fola SimbaSyracuse UniversitySyracuse, New YorkInactive
SOBUNorth Carolina Central UniversityDurham, North CarolinaInactive
SpartanNorfolk State UniversityNorfolk, VirginiaInactive
Subira ChemwuapuJohnson & Wales UniversityProvidence, Rhode IslandActive
SUNYUniversity at Albany, SUNYAlbany, New YorkInactive
SiyandaEast Carolina UniversityGreenville, North CarolinaInactive
UmojaLivingstone CollegeSalisbury, North CarolinaInactive
UpendaHampton UniversityHampton, VirginiaInactive
VikingElizabeth City State UniversityElizabeth City, North CarolinaInactive
Wantu Virginia State UniversityEttrick, 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 rangeLocationStatus
AjeyaCentral New JerseyActive
Anan TendajiYpsilanti, MichiganActive
Ashanti ZuriAtlanta, GeorgiaInactive
Atlanta1983Atlanta, GeorgiaActive
BostonBoston, MassachusettsInactive
Central CarolinaDurham, North CarolinaActive
Central CarolinaRaleigh, North CarolinaActive
CharlotteCharlotte, North CarolinaActive
Dada Rafiki Tri-CountyPennsylvaniaActive
DC MetroWashington, D.C.Active
DetroitDetroit, MichiganActive
DFWDallas-Fort Worth, TexasInactive
Garden StateNorthern New JerseyActive
Greater New York & ConnecticutConnecticutActive
Greater New York & ConnecticutNew YorkActive
Hampton RoadsHampton Roads, VirginiaInactive
Haraambe NssaFayetteville, North CarolinaActive
HoustonHouston, TexasActive
Imani KuumbaNew JerseyActive
Kemet PAPennsylvaniaActive
Los AngelesLos Angeles, CaliforniaActive
Mid SouthMemphis, TennesseeInactive
New Jersey Zuri Obinrin Abike Aye'New JerseyActive
Nia MarylandBaltimore, MarylandActive
Niara AtanipendaGreensboro, North CarolinaActive
Niara AtanipendaHigh Point, North CarolinaActive
Okimma DelawareDelawareActive
Paidamoyo PotomacMarylandActive
Paidamoyo PotomacVirginiaActive
Paidamoyo PotomacWashington, D.C.Active
PalmettoCharleston, South CarolinaActive
PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaActive
PortlandPortland, OregonActive
RaleighRaleigh, North CarolinaActive
RichmondRichmond, VirginiaInactive
Rukiya Busara Piedmont TriadWinston-Salem, North CarolinaActive
SankofaLas Vegas, NevadaActive
SC NkirukaSouth CarolinaActive
Siku Mpya Sunshine StateFloridaActive
Tri-StateConnecticutActive
Tri-StateNew JerseyActive
Tri-StateNew YorkActive