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Tom Joyner’s All State Family Reunion
At Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center
Kissimmee Florida (near Orlando)
free
Orrin “Checkmate” Hudson Takes Chessboard to Reach Families at Orlando Event; Several Media Outlets Focusing On Organization’s Work
STONE MOUNTAIN, GA – When radio personality Tom Joyner opens his All State Family Reunion Labor Day weekend event in Kissimmee, FL, he will be joined by a long list of celebrities and entertainers. One guest will have a special message to convey to the open-to-the-public-audience visiting the event. Orrin “Checkmate” Hudson, founder and CEO of Be Someone Inc., will be using his life-sized chessboard to teach young people and their family members that success is accomplished “one move at a time.”
“I can’t be more excited and pleased to be asked by Tom Joyner and his organization to participate in this uniquely exciting event,” explains Hudson. “This will allow me to reach a new audience with my messages of ‘thinking ahead,’ ‘every move whether it be on the chess board or in life, has a consequence,’ ‘brains before bullets,’ and ‘heads up, pants up, grades up, never give up.’”
Hudson was interviewed by Joyner in October 2016 on the radio star’s syndicated Morning Show. That on-air discussion is alive and well in the chess champion’s memory. There to discuss how he served as a chess consultant for the Disney movie, “Queen of Katwe,” Hudson recalls, “Appearing on Joyner’s program was one of the most rewarding interviews in my career. Tom Joyner is an all-time legend in radio broadcasting, so to be able to talk to him about my background, Be Someone, and my organization’s goal was the best day of my life.”
Hudson has often been the focus of media attention throughout his Be Someone career but the Joyner appearance has sparked a rash of interest including a new interview with Tom Joyner on the Morning Show, August 28 Tuesday at 7:45
a.m. He will also be appearing on Good Day Orlando, Thursday, and will be interviewed by CBS Orlando, Friday. Atlanta’s CBS 46 also covered a recent training session conducted by the chess champ and aired it this week.
But for now, Hudson’s attention is on this weekend’s Tom Joyner event. Hudson stresses, “To be a part of his exciting Family Reunion is a dream come true.” The event, billed as “the largest party for African American families,” will feature four days – August 31- September 3 – of star-studded entertainment, celebrity appearances, and an array of presenters offering products and programs of special interest to this community. It will be held at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Kissimmee, near Orlando, and is free. Details are available at the Family Reunion web site.
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FAMILY REUNION 2-2-2
The Expo will be divided into nine separate zones including College and Community; Health and Beauty; Retail; Arts and Culture; Entertainment; and Kids and Teens. Hudson and his chessboard(s) will be found in the Kids and Teen zone. “I will be engaging all-comers who wish to challenge me to a game,” says the chess master. He hopes to compete against 12 competitors simultaneously if space allows. “While I’m competing, I’m teaching.”
Hudson has spent the last 17 years never missing an opportunity to teach how young people – many of them at risk youngsters – can control their own destinies by thinking ahead, understanding the consequences for their actions and being givers, not takers in life. Hudson explains he learned the hard way as a high school student growing up in inner city Birmingham.
“I was lost but saved by a teacher who taught me how to play chess. I truly believe this teacher and this game not only changed but saved my life,” he stresses. “Now, it’s my turn to teach and save others.”
Since Hudson opened Be Someone’s doors in 2001 he has taught more than 60,000 students, not only in his hometown of Stone Mountain but across the nation, that they own the ability to be productive, successful members of society by developing their “God-given” unique talents. “I focus my instruction on a simple concept: Follow champions, become a champion. Follow chumps, become a…,” Hudson says without finishing his sentence.
Speaking about the upcoming All State Tom Joyner Family Reunion, Hudson says enthusiastically, “What an incredible opportunity to reach and touch more young people with my messages of personal responsibility, self-determination and accomplishment. I’m so excited, it’s hard to sleep at night!”
More information about Orrin “Checkmate” Hudson and his organization can be found at www.BeSomeone.org.
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