QPA’s Brotherhood

Queens Preparatory Academy has a number of clubs that support student interests. 

If you’re  interested in becoming a DJ there’s a club. If you’re interested in robotics there’s a club. If you’re interested in journalism, there’s a club. There’s a lot to do here.

However, we also have clubs that empower teens and help them deal with many of the difficult situations that occur in life. One of these is the Brotherhood. 

As the name indicates, this is an all-boys club that empowers young men of any race, ethnicity, and skill, and encourages them to work together to become leaders.

Brotherhood at QPA

Overseen by QPA ‘s Dean Hargrove, the Brotherhood molds its members to be healthy, fit and academically focused individuals. Moreover, Brotherhood members organize and participate in activities to engage and entertain Queens Prep scholars, or more appropriately, “Hype it Up,” and assist teachers during school events. They also work together to keep the community free from disputes. 

According to Brotherhood member Nazheim McPhill, members put a lot of effort into preparing for their activities. They practice for several days before an event in order to be “mentally and physically prepared.” They also work on their confidence and leadership skills to ensure they do their best, and though Mr. Hargrove is tough on them, Nazheim  believes it’s beneficial since he’s preparing them for the future. Members flourish in an atmosphere in which they can express themselves to Mr. Hargrove in ways that “you can’t do in school.” They also  consider him a father figure they may consult for guidance and support.  

Brotherhood members are instructed to be courageous because “once you have courage, leadership kinda flows from that,” said Mr. Hargrove. He believes we are all unique and have different aims, but everyone has the potential to be a leader. He says members work on “supporting each other, and giving valuable insight at the appropriate moment.” 

A perfect example is his son. Mr. Hargrove shared that although his son is a quiet child, he may “still be a leader” because leadership isn’t just about action, but also about the things you say.

Learning Together

When members of Brotherhood get together, the most crucial thing they do is express themselves, which benefits everyone as long as what is said “stays” in the room. Mr. Hargrove has succeeded in fostering a conversational atmosphere where anything is acceptable. One of the group members claimed that due to Mr. Hargrove’s advice and the other members’ encouragement, when they interact with the group they “realize the dumb stuff [they] do,” which sets them on the path to change. 

Mr. Hargrove said that he “wanted to create a program his son could go through” to help him become more socially confident and equipped to handle difficult circumstances. As a result, he founded the Brotherhood as a non-profit organization in the year 2000. Group members learn the soft skills that “society doesn’t teach young men” and he provided “not only for him, but for other young men.” 

When joining the club there are “tons of expectations, ” he said. “There’s an expectation the moment you attempt to join.” He explained that it’s based on the responsibilities of members who came before you. To give context, it means that the person before you had a responsibility to uphold, and once you join the club, you take on that responsibility. An example is someone monitoring the cafe. A new person comes and is required to do what that person did before. Additionally,  the expectation is that you take care of your duties in a responsible manner, which helps you become a more aware and thoughtful individual. 

Why Join?

The Brotherhood appeals to young men because, according to Mr. Hargrove,  “they want to identify with something,” or develop their self-esteem. He also believes everyone has goals they wish to accomplish. Some are more ambitious than others, but the Brotherhood encourages everyone to pursue their goals. Since everyone in the group is a leader, it’s easy to fit in because there are many personalities in the group. People on the outside may attempt to relate to them by saying they can see themselves “in an existing member, and that they want to be like him,” which encourages the idea that if someone who is similar to me can do it, I can too. Mr. Hargrove said, “We have all types of leaders with different qualifications” and they aren’t chosen because of their qualities, but rather for their confidence in joining the Brotherhood. 

Joining the Brotherhood

The Brotherhood meets in room 305 during period 5 (11: 23-12:09) on Advisory days, Monday to Wednesday. According to member Joshua Garcon, they learn important life skills during these sessions, like the importance of looking someone in the eyes when addressing them, and how to give a proper handshake. It helps them move on from being a boy (immature, rowdy, and reckless) to a man (mature, confident, hardworking and more). 

QPA math teacher Mr. S was assigned to the Brotherhood in November to support Mr. Hargrove. However, he states that after seeing the activities they performed, he was invited to join the group and was happy to do so. He wanted to help the young men become “the best men they could be.” As part of the initiation to become a full member, he had to wear a white shirt—the standard uniform before membership—for a month without washing it. Only then could he graduate and wear the orange shirt that officially symbolizes being a member of the group. 

If you or anyone you know wants to join the Brotherhood, contact Mr. Hargrove. The group functions like a family unit that provides life lessons, builds self esteem, and overall, provides an experience that will be of benefit to all young men.