Elder J.B. Brockman: Brewing Better Politics at the Kappa Koffeehouse – Episode 66
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If you’ve ever walked into a political event bracing yourself for fireworks, name-calling, or that awkward feeling of “Why did I come to this?”, you’re not alone.
Most of us have been conditioned to believe that politics has to be ugly. That campaigns are supposed to be mud fights. That candidates win by tearing each other down. That regular citizens like you and me are supposed to just pick a side, yell at the TV, and share a few spicy memes.
But what if politics could feel different?
What if you could walk into a room, sit down with your neighbors, listen to candidates calmly explain their vision, ask your own questions, and walk out feeling more hopeful and better informed—not exhausted and angry?
That’s exactly what Elder J.B. Brockman and the Conyers-Covington Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. are trying to do with the Kappa Koffeehouse Town Hall forums.
In Episode 66 of The Town Square Podcast, I sat down with Elder J.B. Brockman, Chairman of the Political and Civic Action Committee (PCAC) for the Conyers-Covington Alumni Chapter (CCAC) of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. We talked about his personal journey in ministry, his 45-year commitment to Kappa Alpha Psi, and the powerful, nonpartisan civic work their chapter is doing in Rockdale and Newton counties.
Most of all, we talked about what it looks like to bring people together in that “messy middle” where real conversations, real learning, and real solutions can actually happen.
Meet Elder J.B. Brockman: Minister, Mentor, “Boots on the Ground”
Anytime someone walks into the studio with the title “Elder” on their name tag, you know you’re in for a deeper conversation. For Elder Brockman, “Elder” isn’t a nickname. It’s not a cute moniker or fraternity title. It’s a calling.
He shared that while he was baptized as a young man, he fully committed his life to Jesus Christ in 1986. A few years later, in 1989, he answered the call to ministry. By 1993, he was a licensed and ordained minister. And in August of 2023, he was ordained as an elder in his church.
Elder Brockman serves at Victorious Life Church in Conyers, tucked just off Highway 138, behind the post office and not far from the old movie theater. In that role, he doesn’t just “sit on the front row.” He carries significant pastoral responsibility:
Providing spiritual leadership and guidance
Teaching and praying for members
Offering pastoral care and support
Helping resolve disputes
Assisting the pastor with assigned duties
Officiating homegoings and funerals
Leading an altar team that prays for people during altar calls each Sunday
In other words, when Elder Brockman walks into a room—whether it’s a church sanctuary or a civic town hall—he’s thinking like a shepherd. He wants people to feel safe, heard, and cared for. That pastoral heart would become a defining feature of the way he leads in civic spaces, too.
From Benedict College to a Lifelong Brotherhood
Long before “Elder” came before his name, young J.B. was a college student at Benedict College, a small HBCU in Columbia, South Carolina.
Picture a campus buzzing with activity. Among the athletes, student government leaders, and scholars, there was a group of young men who caught his eye—not because they were throwing the biggest parties, but because of their service and leadership.
They were members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
“I saw these young men on campus that were doing community service. They were leaders in athletics, in student government, and they were achievers in their academics. They were well-respected gentlemen, always doing things to help students around the campus.”
He was drawn in by their charisma, their respect in the community, and their clear commitment to something bigger than themselves. He thought, “I think I could lend my little talents to that organization and see what we can do together as a team.”
That’s how his journey into Kappa Alpha Psi began—spring of 1980—and he’s been walking with that brotherhood ever since.
The fraternity’s motto is: “Achievement in every field of human endeavor.”
That line grabbed him. These weren’t just social guys wearing letters. They were achievers—men who wanted to make an impact wherever they went.
And for Elder Brockman, that idea of achievement with purpose became a through-line in his life: in ministry, in brotherhood, and in civic engagement.
What Makes Black Greek Life Different? (Hint: It Doesn’t End at Graduation.)
One of the things we unpacked together in this conversation is how Black Greek-letter organizations—the fraternities and sororities often associated with HBCUs—operate differently than many people assume.
A lot of folks think of fraternities and sororities as four-year college experiences that end at graduation. You get your photos, your memories, maybe a few stories you can’t tell in public, and you move on.
But in organizations like Kappa Alpha Psi, that’s not the case.
“You are a brother for life.”
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. was founded on January 5, 1911, at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. It started as Kappa Alpha Nu and later, in 1915, officially became Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. That’s where the nickname “Nupes” comes from—a nod to that original name.
Today, the fraternity boasts:
700+ undergraduate chapters across the country
Well over 150,000 members (and growing)
A presence in virtually every major city in the United States
But the fraternity is not just made up of undergraduates.
Once a member leaves college, he doesn’t leave Kappa. He transitions into an alumni chapter—and that’s where the Conyers-Covington Alumni Chapter (CCAC) comes in.
Founded in 2011, the CCAC serves Rockdale and Newton counties. And while they may “only” have about 45 members, that number is deceiving.
As Elder Brockman put it, they’re “power packed.”
Their members include:
Pastors and ministers
Judges
Doctors and dentists
Lawyers
Superintendents and educators
School principals
College presidents
When Kappa Alpha Psi says “achievement in every field of human endeavor,” they mean it.
A High Bar: Achievement, Service, and Accountability
One of the most striking things about Kappa Alpha Psi, particularly at the alumni level, is the standard they maintain for membership.
To join an alumni chapter like CCAC, a man must:
Have a four-year college degree
Demonstrate a track record of achievement
Show evidence of service and community involvement
“Most of the men who join our organization are already walking in achievement. What we do is we take that achievement, we cultivate it. We take your leadership skills and help get you more developed.”
This is not an organization for people who just want to put on a red jacket and attend photo ops.
In fact, when a young man once asked Elder Brockman where he could “get one of those red jackets,” Elder had to gently remind him: not just anyone can wear that jacket. There’s a story, a standard, and a responsibility behind it.
Kappa Alpha Psi’s five core objectives drive everything they do. They aim to:
Unite college men of culture, patriotism, and honor
Encourage honorable achievement
Promote the spiritual, social, intellectual, and moral welfare of its members
Assist the aims of colleges and universities
Inspire service in the public interest
In other words, being a Kappa isn’t about status—it’s about service and stewardship.
And that mindset is exactly what birthed what may be one of the most important civic projects in our local community: the Kappa Koffeehouse.
The Conyers-Covington Alumni Chapter: Busy on Purpose
Before we dive into the Kappa Coffee House, it’s worth understanding the broader work of the Conyers-Covington Alumni Chapter.
CCAC is committed to making a meaningful impact in Rockdale and Newton counties through three main lanes:
Mentoring
Civic engagement
Community service
Their programs and initiatives include:
1. Guide Right & Kappa League (Mentoring)
The Guide Right program—anchored by Kappa League—is their youth mentoring arm.
It serves young men ages 6 to 22
It emphasizes leadership, character building, academic achievement, and service
It exposes young men to positive role models and real-world opportunities
For many young men, this is their first exposure to structured mentorship and an organized brotherhood that encourages them to imagine a life bigger than what they see in front of them.
2. Senior Citizens Involvement
CCAC also has a senior citizens committee that partners with local efforts like the City of Covington’s Mayor’s Walkand senior programs at Turner Lake Recreation Center.
You’ll find them:
Handing out bottled water at community walks
Volunteering at senior events
Offering help and support to older adults in the community
It’s a reminder that community uplift isn’t just about the next generation—it’s about honoring the ones who came before us, too.
3. Health & Wellness
The chapter is serious about health and wellness—not just for themselves, but for the community.
Many members, like Elder Brockman, work out regularly (he’s in the gym five days a week)
They recently hosted an inaugural 5K run in Rockdale County
They partner with local organizations and colleges to offer health screenings, including prostate screenings for men
4. Community Service & Food Support
Through their community service committee, CCAC participates in:
Food drives and food pantries
Partnerships with other local organizations to serve people in need
Service projects throughout Rockdale and Newton that quietly—but tangibly—make life better for families
And then, of course, there is their Political and Civic Action Committee, chaired by Elder Brockman, which operates the Kappa Koffeehouse forums.
The Kappa Koffeehouse: Town Halls Done Differently
My first real encounter with Elder Brockman and CCAC was at a Kappa Coffee House event—a town hall-style forum for political candidates.
Let me be honest: I walked in with my own assumptions.
I knew Kappa Alpha Psi is a historically Black fraternity. In today’s political climate, it’s easy to assume that anything connected to Black Greek life, civic engagement, and politics must automatically tilt in one partisan direction.
So, I expected a certain flavor of political lean.
What I got instead completely disarmed my assumptions.
The Kappa Koffeehouse was:
Nonpartisan
Non-combative
Well-structured
Fair to every candidate
Centered on the issues, not political theater
Elder Brockman served as the emcee, and he did it with a mix of warmth, humor, backbone, and pastoral presence. At one point, during a particularly tense sheriff’s race, a candidate started drifting off into a kind of sidestepping answer.
Elder gently but firmly stepped in:
“With all due respect, that’s not what the question was.”
It wasn’t rude. It wasn’t aggressive. It was accountability with respect.
And that’s the heart of the Kappa Koffeehouse.
Not a Debate. A Conversation.
One of the most important distinctions Elder makes is this:
“This is not a debate.”
The Kappa Koffeehouse is intentionally designed as:
An intimate sit-down meeting
In a nonpartisan environment
That is non-combative
Where issues take center stage instead of candidate attacks
Citizens submit questions—often written on cards. These are passed to a moderator or panelist who then poses them to the candidates, who are referred to as “guest panelists.”
The candidates are instructed to speak to the audience, not to each other. They aren’t there to score points off their opponent—they’re there to present their vision for the community.
“You’re not answering your opponent. You’re answering the citizens who came to hear your vision.”
Because of this format, citizens can:
Ask meaningful, specific questions
Hear candidates explain their stance without shouting matches
Get answers in real time
Leave with clarity instead of confusion
Over and over again, Elder shared, people come up to him after these forums and say:
“Thank you for providing a space where I can come in, hear, see, and listen without all the negative chatter.”
Boots on the Ground, Not Thumbs on a Keyboard
Elder describes the Political and Civic Action Committee as “boots on the ground.”
Their job is to:
Attend community meetings—political and civic
Listen to what’s being discussed
Build trust with citizens
Be a resource for accurate information
Inform, educate, and engage people in the community
People call Elder because they know he listens. They know he’s present. They know he’s “boots on the ground”—not just another voice shouting from the sidelines.
But what gives his words weight is not just his personality—it’s the credibility of the organization behind him.
People know that Kappa Alpha Psi in this community is:
Nonpartisan
Respected
Consistent
And serious about achievement and service
That credibility matters in a time when trust in institutions is at an all-time low.
Nonpartisan by Design
It’s important to say this clearly:
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and the Conyers-Covington Alumni Chapter do not endorse candidates or align with a political party.
They are explicitly nonpartisan.
Whether you’re:
Republican
Democrat
Independent
Or something else entirely
—you’re welcome at the Kappa Koffeehouse.
This sets them apart from many civic spaces that have become de facto extensions of one party or the other. Instead, Kappa Koffeehouse forums are built to be a place where:
Citizens can hear from all sides
Candidates of different parties share the same stage
Respectful dialogue replaces mudslinging
In a world that desperately needs more “messy middle” spaces—places where people of differing views can still sit down, talk, and listen—the Kappa Koffeehouse is leading the way right here in Rockdale and Newton counties.
“You’ll Never Pull This Off” (Challenge Accepted.)
When CCAC started putting on these nonpartisan forums, not everyone believed they could do it.
“We were told there’s no way you’re going to be able to pull this off.”
They were told:
You can’t bring that many candidates into the same room
It’ll devolve into arguing
People won’t come
It’ll be a logistical nightmare
But they didn’t just pull it off—they raised the bar.
In the spring of 2024, they hosted what Elder describes as the largest town hall meeting in the history of Rockdale County:
24 candidates in one forum
A line wrapped around the building
People had to be turned away because they couldn’t fit everyone inside
For an organization whose motto is achievement in every field of human endeavor, this was more than an event. It was a statement:
“Oh no, not only are we going to pull this off, but we’re also going to do it well.
And they did.
Word is spreading, too. People come to a Kappa Koffeehouse forum once, and next time they bring ten more people with them.
Looking Ahead: 2026 and a Possible Governor’s Forum
If you think what they’ve done so far is impressive, just wait.
As we head toward 2026, Elder shared that CCAC is already in the exploratory phase of something big:
a possible “Meet the Candidates” town hall for the Georgia governor’s race.
Nothing is finalized yet, but the fact that people are asking them to consider taking on something of that magnitude says a lot.
“We have become the go-to premiere group for quality town hall meetings in the community. That’s what we’re known for.”
They’re also looking at more local races in our area:
Open seats in the Georgia House of Representatives
An open State Senate seat
Local races that directly impact the daily lives of Newton and Rockdale residents
As their reputation grows, so does the demand. Elder mentioned they’ve even been asked about doing follow-up forumson topics like community safety and mental health after highly successful events in both Rockdale and Newton.
To keep up with them, you can visit their website:
www.ccacnupes.org
Click on “Programs and Initiatives” and then the Kappa Koffeehouse tab to see what’s coming up.
They’re also working toward launching a newsletter to keep citizens even more informed and engaged.
Service, Mentorship, and Being a “Solution Agent”
When I asked Elder Brockman what kind of legacy he wanted to leave, his answer wasn’t complicated.
He wants a legacy of service and impact.
Service that puts citizens first
Service that makes sure people are connected to resources
Service that lifts people up and offers real help
Impact that brings about positive change, not just noise
And when it comes to young people—especially young men—he hopes they will:
Find a way to serve.
Find a cause that you’re passionate about. Get involved. Put your hands to the plow.Seek and offer mentorship.
Elder mentors others, and he also has mentors himself. We never outgrow the need for someone ahead of us and someone behind us.Take civic responsibility seriously.
Show up. Attend meetings. Listen. Learn. Ask questions. Hold your leaders accountable in a respectful, informed way.Be a “solution agent.”
This might be my favorite phrase from the entire conversation.
“If you’re going to call me about a problem, then what is the solution to that problem? Don’t call me about the problem if you haven’t thought about the solution.”
We have no shortage of problems in our communities. What we need are solution agents—people who are willing to bring ideas, energy, and creativity to the table instead of just complaints.
The Messy Middle, the Church, and the Coffee House
If you’ve listened to The Town Square Podcast for any length of time, you know we talk a lot about the “messy middle.”
We don’t believe the best answers are found on the far edges of the political spectrum where folks just yell at each other. We believe the best solutions are usually found when:
We sit down together
We listen
We ask honest questions
We avoid caricaturing each other
We are willing to disagree without becoming disagreeable
Elder Brockman’s work with the Kappa Koffeehouse is a living example of that messy middle in action.
He’s a minister of the gospel, a lifelong Kappa man, and a civic leader. He loves his community. He loves his church. He loves the idea of people sitting across from each other—not to win, but to understand.
In a world where national politics has modeled some of the worst behavior imaginable, it’s no surprise that local politics often imitates that ugliness. But it doesn’t have to.
“We’ve got to learn how to lovingly disagree. You can disagree—it’s how you disagree. You don’t have to be disagreeable.”
Amen.
How You Can Get Involved
If you live in Rockdale or Newton County—or even nearby—and you’re tired of:
Drama-filled debates
Social media arguments
Sound bites and spin
…then the Kappa Koffeehouse forums might be exactly what you’ve been looking for.
Here are some practical ways to plug in:
Attend a Kappa Koffeehouse forum.
Watch for announcements at www.ccacnupes.org
Invite a friend or neighbor to come with you
Bring your questions and your curiosity
Support the Conyers-Covington Alumni Chapter.
Share their events with others
Connect young men (ages 6–22) to their Kappa League mentoring program
Partner on community service or health initiatives
Be a “solution agent” where you are.
Don’t just complain about what’s wrong
Show up, speak up, and bring solutions to the table
Model respectful disagreement in your own circles
Stay engaged, not enraged.
Remember: you’re far more likely to run into your local school board member or county commissioner in the grocery store than you are to run into a president or senator.
Build relationships locally. These are the people you’ll worship with, shop beside, and raise kids alongside.
Why This Conversation Matters
Hosting Elder J.B. Brockman on The Town Square Podcast wasn’t just about highlighting a fraternity, a church, or a civic committee.
It was about shining a light on a way of doing politics and community life that is:
Constructive rather than destructive
Grounded rather than sensational
Local rather than distant and abstract
Rooted in service rather than ego
From his days at Benedict College to his ministry at Victorious Life Church; from his decades in Kappa Alpha Psi to his leadership of the Kappa Koffeehouse forums, Elder Brockman has been quietly building a legacy of achievement, service, and solution-focused leadership.
And in a time when it would be easy to give up on politics—or write off entire groups of people—we need examples like his to remind us that there is another way.
A way where:
Candidates respect citizens enough to answer real questions
Citizens respect each other enough to listen without yelling
Organizations step up to host spaces that are truly for the people, not for a party
That’s the kind of work worth celebrating, supporting, and replicating.
If you haven’t listened to Episode 66: Elder J.B. Brockman: Brewing Better Politics at the Kappa Koffeehouse – Episode 66 yet, I hope you’ll take some time to do that.
Then keep your eyes open for the next Kappa Koffeehouse event—because the messy middle is a lot less scary when you realize you’re not standing there alone.
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