Not Before My Parents Chess Club Program

"Improving The Lives Of Those Affected By Violence"

The idea of Chess came to Raydell Lacey, after watching her son Erick Lacey, Sr. playing chess. She found chess to be a great distractor for her son (in the wake of his son's death) and she saw an increase in his analytical, strategic and decision-making skills. Ms. Lacey also saw that Chess helped him cope with his emotions surrounding the killing.

After witnessing an improvement in her son's behavior, Ms. Lacey determined that children and young adults can sit down and work out their differences using strategic moves over the chess board rather than using violence to display their disagreement with their peers. The name Chess Moves Against Violence was birthed and a chess club for the Englewood Community began.

Chess provides a positive distraction from violence, serving as an activity to promote healthy competition and motivation.