Hosea James Givan II
Hosea graduated with a Bachelors of Arts from Drake University (Des Moines, IA), a Master of Science from Long Island University (Greenvale, NY), a Master of Professional Studies from Alliance Theological Seminary (Nyack, NY), and an Honorary Doctoral of Humane Letters degree from CICA International University. Hosea is currently an adjunct professor in the School of Business at Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY, a political consultant, and a recently retired (June 2020) NYC guidance counselor. In addition, Hosea presently helps provide community leadership as host of a weekly public access TV cable network program, IGNITE! EMPOWER! TRANSFORM!, Commissioner of the Alpha Eagles Basketball League, Co-Chair of the Men's Auxiliary Committee for Jack and Jill, Inc. all in the Bronx, New York. He recently became an official with USA Swimming. The league is played in the recently renovated (September 2015) gym at P.S. 463, Givan secured $500,000 from City Councilperson Helen Diane Foster to renovate the gym. Hosea was motivated to do that due to the death of 4-year old, Lloyd Morgan who was gunned down in a playground 3 blocks from the school. He is also presently a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Zeta Phi Lambda Chapter (Fairfield County, Connecticut). He previously taught special education and is a NYS certified guidance counselor. Hosea served as Executive Director of the NYS Black and Puerto Rican Legislative Caucus, the first Co-Commissioner of the Nike Swoosh All Metro Basketball Tournament, and was a Spokesperson for Chase Manhattan Bank’s Community Development Corporation. He was also an adjunct professor at the College of New Rochelle. As an AAU basketball coach, his 2007 fourth-grade basketball team was seeded #1 in the nation. Hosea has received numerous awards, among them: Malik Fraternity Community Service Award. The Association of College Unions International Leadership Award, Outstanding Man of America, The Negro College Fund’s Fredrick D. Patterson Award for Political Leadership, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity - Community Service Award (NYS), Omega Psi Phi Fraternity - Epsilon Chapter’s Citizen of The Year Award (NYC), Zeta Phi Beta’s Educator of the Year (NY), NY Liberty Service Award, NY Knicks for Community Service, MLK Jr. - Living the Dream Award and a Congressional Achievement Award. Hosea has appeared on various television (i.e. CNN's Black Men, Mean Streets; ABC and FOX) and radio programs, and his experiences have been widely captured in print media. In 2001, Hosea’s life story was a part of a national exhibit “The Long Walk of Freedom,” honoring Youth Activists in NYC. Urban Influence Magazine listed him (along with Jamie Foxx, Wyclef Jean, Mike Tomlin, Chris Paul, Chris Rock, and others) among the 2009 Men of Influence. Hosea in 2011 added to his list of accomplishments a song, he co-wrote with talented balladeer extraordinaire, Xavier Lewis of Atlanta, titled “Give Back.” He is a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and has been a member of the following organizations: Kiwanis, Linden-Brownsville Chapter (Brooklyn, NY), Prince Hall Masons, Wesley Foundation (Board of Director), NAACP, Queens County Martin Luther King Commission, Urban League of Albany (NY), The Black/Korean Mediation Project, York College President Advisory Board, The Queens Black-Jewish People Project and 100 Black Men of Long Island. Hosea has written his first book, "Reach Your Community" to be published in May 2021. Helping to build grassroots organizations, Hosea has impacted thousands of lives through his efforts. However, his primary goal is to impact millions for generations to come through an organization he co-founded in 2009, The National Give Back for Kids Campaign, Inc.! Hosea is married to the dynamic Rachel Cheeks-Givan and they have an amazing daughter, Rebekah. Rebekah is an award-winning public access cable TV host
