Alum's Legacy: Building a School in Africa and Serving Communities Across 2 Continents

The name Adjoa Gzifa conjures elegance, determination, and generosity. A proud York College alumna of the Class of 1988, this "warrior queen" from Jamaica, Queens, has dedicated her life to lifting others, leaving a profound impact on the communities she serves.

The 14th child of Eva and Willie Henry of Sumter, South Carolina, Ms. Gzifa grew up steeped in the values of service and community. Those lessons became her life’s compass, guiding her through college, career, and parenthood, while never losing sight of her mission to help others.

A longtime instructor of Black Studies at CUNY’s York College and LaGuardia Community College, Gzifa is now retired from academia but far from slowing down. She dedicates her time to civic engagement in New York and to children in Oshiyie, Ghana, where she has built a school that continues to expand.

“My journey has always been rooted in justice, service, and education,” she reflects. After the heartbreaking loss of her youngest son, Kelvin Lockhart, in 1995, Gzifa found healing in Ghana. She scattered his ashes at the historic Slave River in Assin Manso and planted a tree in his memory—a living symbol of resilience that she visits every year, inspiring us all with her strength and determination.

Her ties to Ghana deepened as she and her business partner, Barbara Bryant, sponsored tuition for more than 125 children at Oshiyie Primary School. Together, they went on to establish Future Scholars of the World, Inc., a nonprofit that built a K–9 school in the village. Completed in 2020, the campus now includes two school buildings, a library, and a computer center.

In recognition of her impact, Oshiyie leaders enstooled her in 2007 as Queen Mother, bestowing the title Menye Affudua Annon I. Her service has also been celebrated in New York: in 2015, Congressman Gregory Meeks proclaimed April 23 “Adjoa Gzifa Day” in Queens, a date she now dedicates each year to giving back.

Her volunteer work at home is just as impressive. From organizing Thanksgiving dinners to preparing meals for seniors and supporting families during the holidays, Gzifa’s generosity touches thousands. She has served with New York Cares, Habitat for Humanity, the Jamaica Reception Center, and the Queens Community Emergency Response Teams, where she has risen to leadership roles. In 2024, she was promoted to Sergeant with the NYPD Auxiliary Police.

Her contributions have earned her numerous awards, including the Dynamic Duo Award from the Ronald McDonald House in 2023 (shared with volunteer partner Vivian Glover) and the President’s Volunteer Service Award from President Joseph Biden in 2024, recognizing over 4,000 hours of service.

Gzifa’s leadership reaches across organizations: she has chaired Queens Community Board 12, served on the NYC Employment and Training Coalition, and sat on the board of Neighborhood Housing Services of Jamaica. A lifetime member of the York College Alumni Association, she served as President for five years and held roles for over two decades. She is also active in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Theta Iota Omega Chapter, and was inducted into the Chi Alpha Epsilon Honor Society in 2006.

Gzifa credits York College’s early professors for their caring teaching during her undergraduate years. And although she would go on to complete graduate and certificate programs at other institutions, York remains her home and heart.