Shabazz+Graduate+Chapter

=The Conscience of MALIK Fraternity: =
 * The Shabazz Kingdom **

__**What is the Shabazz Kingdom?**__ The Shabazz Kingdom of the MALIK Fraternity, Inc. is **the graduate, professional** and **alumni chapters** (kingdoms), **consolidated into one entity**: **Shabazz**.

__**What are the requirements to join the Shabazz Kingdom?**__ a.) High School diploma (or GED) with at least 5 years of professional working experience, or b.) Associate’s degree with at least 4 years professional working experience, or c.) Bachelor’s degree with at least 3 years professional working experience.
 * 1) Any man at least 22 years of age or more.
 * 2) Commitment to the development of the MALIK Mission & Rhetoric.
 * 3) Minimum Education of:

__ **Why utilize the Shabazz concept and name?** __ Utilizing the Shabazz concept and name ends the confusion over the term Graduate, Professional or Alumni. As membership into our Fraternity is also open to interested and professional men who may not have graduated or attended college, this enables a palatable approach to entrance into our glorious fraternity. You will not have to be a graduate or alumni to be a Shabazz MALIK. It is the hope that those men in the community who have always been MALIK material but never had an opportunity or were never exposed to our organization will now have the option to join our ranks and expand the organization. "We are opening the organization up to the bus drivers, lawyers, doctors, mailmen, teachers, professors, barbers, community service directors, plumbers, construction workers, brothers, uncles, fathers, cousins who should be MALIKs."

__**Was there a reason why the title "Shabazz" was specifically selected to represent the Fraternity's graduate, professional, & alumni chapters?**__ Definitely. The title **Shabazz** was chosen as a symbolic gesture for the name of these professional Kingdoms. **Shabazz** is the last name of our Shining Black Prince, El Hajj **Malik** el **Shabazz**. Our Shining Prince went through many pauper to king experiences that embodied what we as men and as an organization should uphold and continue to develop. We are all **Maliks**. We are and will continue to be called by that name. By entering the Shabazz Kingdom, the Fraternity will symbolically be coming full circle, thus completing his name i.e. the undergraduate chapters of the Fraternity are known as **MALIK chapters** and the graduate/professional/alumni chapters are known as **SHABAZZ chapters -** thus putting it all together: **MALIK SHABAZZ**. The **MALIK SHABAZZ chapters of MALIK Fraternity** thus illustrate a direct and symbolic connection to our Shining Prince El Hajj **MALIK** El-**SHABAZZ**.

__** Is there a literal translation for the name Shabazz? **__ Yes. Just as MALIK in Swahili/Arabic symbolically means "King", **Sha'b'azz** in Arabic symbolically means "**a people, mighty and glorious"**.

__**How Are Shabazz Chapters named?**__ Shabazz Kingdoms are identified by their geographic locations i.e. NYC Shabazz, New Jersey Shabazz, Long Island Shabazz, D.C.- Maryland Shabazz, etc. Not only does this easily identify them as graduate/professional/alumni chapters, but also easily differentiates them from the undergraduate MALIK chapters.

__**When was the Shabazz Graduate Concept approved?**__ The **Work Plan** and **Nomenclature** was approved and passed by vote by the general membership at the 2002 National MALIK Convention. The **Shabazz Constitution** was approved and passed by vote by the general membership at the 2003 National MALIK Convention.

__**When was the first Shabazz chapter started and who were the founding members?**__
 * On March 6th 2004, the Shabazz Kingdom was officially chartered and inducted in Harlem, NYC.
 * 17 Brothers participated in the first Shabazz ceremony. After the ceremony they recited the oath, were sworn in and thus made Fraternity history by becoming the founding members of the Fraternity's first graduate/professional/alumni chapter: The **NYC Shabazz Chapter**.



__**Shabazz Chapters:**__
 * **New York City Shabazz -** []
 * **New Jersey Shabazz -** http://www.njmalik.org
 * **Westchester Shabazz** (Westchester County, NY) - []
 * **Long Island Shabazz** (Long Island, NY) - []
 * **Maryland/DC Shabazz**

__**Where do I find out more information and details regarding the entire Shabazz concept, structure, history, documents, founding members, and complete story?**__ Thought you'd never ask. Please see below, under **"SHABAZZ: The Complete Story"**.

=__**"SHABAZZ: The Complete Story"**__=

In 2001-2002, the Supreme Pledge Captain Luqman Khalfani developed a workplan and engaged the brotherhood with the objective of creating and sustaining the Professional Arm of the Fraternity known as SHABAZZ Kingdoms.

__**The Work Plan**__ Goals: Timeline: o Development of criteria for membership, incentives etc. o Creation of an Officer Protocol and Nomenclature (President, Vice President, Secretary etc.) // The name **Shabazz** be chosen as a symbolic gesture for the name of these Kingdoms. Shabazz is the last name of our Shining Black Prince, El Hajj Malik el Shabazz. Our Shining Prince went through many pauper to king experiences that embodied what we as men and as an organization should uphold and continue to develop. We are all Maliks. We are and will continue to be called by that name. By entering the Shabazz Kingdom, we will be coming full circle, thus completing his name and our mission in Manhood, Achievement, Leadership, Integrity and Knowledge. Everything that is done in the name of MALIK should be about progression. Especially when Man Progressing to Be a King has always been our beacon in our quest for betterment of who we are as men. //
 * Maintain/Re-establish activity among graduate and alumni brothers of the Fraternity in advancing, serving and encouraging the ideals of Manhood, Achievement, Leadership, Integrity and Knowledge.
 * Develop professional level programs including educational, social, community and family oriented service projects centered around Self development, Success and Service to Humanity.
 * Create and enhance a diverse network for career development and personal advancement for graduate/alumni and undergraduate brothers.
 * Provide guidance and support to undergraduate kingdoms through liaison activities.
 * Supply an opportunity for initiation for non-undergraduate men into the Fraternity through recruitment efforts and a Shabazz Initiation process sanctioned by the Office of the National Supreme Pledge Captain.
 * March-May 2002 (by the Office of Supreme Captain)
 * Contact with interested and dedicated Alumni Brothers to be Project Field Representatives.
 * Pinpoint 1-3 target areas for development of Shabazz Kingdoms
 * Initial areas are: Westchester, New Jersey, Brooklyn, Queens & Long Island.
 * Assist in the coordination of these Shabazz Kingdom Development Groups.
 * June-August 2002 (by the Shabazz Kingdom Development Groups/Interested Parties)

// Secondly, utilizing the Shabazz name will end the confusion over the term Graduate or Alumni. As membership may be open to interested and professional men who may not have graduated or attended college, this will enable a palatable approach to enterance into our glorius fraternity. You will not have to be a graduate or alumni to be a Shabazz MALIK. Kingdoms will be identified by their geographic locations i.e. MetroNY Shabazz, NewJersey Shabazz, Long Island Shabazz,D.C.- Maryland etc. //
 * Drafting of a Shabazz Constitution.
 * Organizing of an Annual Work Plan delineating the educational, professional development, financial forecasts and fundraisers to be performed by the Kingdom.
 * September-December 2002
 * Petition for recognition of at least 1-3 Shabazz Kingdoms.
 * Formal recognition of these Kingdoms.
 * 2003 (1st Quarter)
 * Development of a Shabazz Initiation Process.
 * Must be different from an undergraduate process due to the level of development, time constraints, work and familial scheduling.
 * //Initial thoughts include://
 * //Interview process.//
 * //5 Ceremonies emblematic of the Stages: Talib, Pauper, Warrior, Prince, Malik spread over a period of 5 weeks.//
 * //Once the candidate passes the interview of the Kingdom, they undergo a ceremony, which symbolically puts them into the appropriate stage. At the end of each week, they are tested on basic and required knowledge of the organization. Successful completion will grant ascension to next stage/ceremony.//
 * //This is an adaptation of a more appropriate model as we cannot realistically force “grown-ass” men to wear pledge gear, cut corners, line up etc outside in the real world.//
 * Discussion Eligibility Requirements
 * At least 22 years of age
 * Resume/C.V. Submission
 * Formal Application including Membership Fee
 * Recommendations from Active Brothers of a Shabazz Kingdom
 * At a minimum: an Undergraduate Degree (Bachelor’s degree or an Associate’s Degree with at least 3 years professional working experience) or High School degree/equivalent with at least 5 years of professional working experience.
 * Commitment to the development of the MALIK mission and objectives.
 * 2003 (2nd –3rd Quarter)
 * Successful completion of 1st Shabazz Initiation process!

__**THE HISTORY**__ The Alumni membership of the MALIK Fraternity, Inc. has always maintained a focus on the mission and goals of promoting brotherhood, achievement, community service, and the reclamation of the Stolen Legacy. As part of its organizational redevelopment and restructuring plans, the National leadership worked with the alumni members in the spirit of movement and progress, to create an organized outlet for further professional development. On March 6, 2004, the Shabazz Kingdom was officially chartered and inducted in Harlem, NYC. An interim board was voted on with the charge of advancing, serving and encouraging the ideals of Manhood, Achievement, Leadership, Integrity and Knowledge, developing professional level programs including educational, social, community and family oriented service projects, creating and enhance a diverse network for career development and personal advancement for professional and undergraduate brothers.

**Interim Officers were:** Mario Guerrero, Jr. (President), Greg Lucas (Vice-President), David Edwards (Treasurer), the late Duane Nelson (Secretary), Jean Price Mars (Business Development/Community Service Chair). These Interim Officers were officially voted and sworn in by the 2004 Convention. The charter was officially approved by that same Convention

**Brothers in Attendance were:** The late Duane Nelson, Atul Sheffey, Elquemedo Alleyne, Raymond Platts, Lee Best, Mario Guerrero, Jr., Hector Gonzalez, Jr., Everton Lawrence, Eugenio Villareal, David Sang, Okechukwu Echezona, David Edwards, Greg Lucas, Jean Price Mars, Bryon Brown, Bedel Saget, Anderson Seraphin.

The title **Shabazz** was chosen as the name of these professional Kingdoms. Shabazz is the last name of our Shining Black Prince, El Hajj **Malik** el **Shabazz**. Bro. Malcolm’s legacy continues to illustrate the movement through many pauper to king experiences that embody what we as men and as an organization should uphold and continue to develop. Just as MALIK in Swahili/Arabic symbolically means “King”, **// Sha‘b‘azz //** in Arabic means **'A people mighty and glorious.'** The Work Plan and Nomenclature was approved at the 2002 Convention and the Shabazz Constitution was approved at the 2003 Convention.

__**THE GROWTH**__ The National Board provided a number of resources to the NYC Shabazz to foster its growth and development including hosting the first Shabazz website as a part of the national fraternity website with an unique url of www.nyshabazz.org By 2006, the first General Interest meeting was held in Harlem NY at the Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building to usher a new era in the Fraternity.

To take an excerpt from the 2004 Supreme Captain Report:
 * "You will not have to be a graduate or alumni to be a Shabazz MALIK. It is the hope that those men in the community who have always been MALIK material but never had an opportunity or were never exposed to our organization will now have the option to join our ranks and expand the organization. We are opening the organization up to the bus drivers, lawyers, doctors, mailmen, teachers, professors, barbers, community service directors, plumbers, construction workers, brothers, uncles, fathers, cousins who should be MALIKs."**