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No cost 6 week Chess and Leadership classes for seniors
From 1:00pm until 1:50pm
At Online / Zoom #917-5764-1421
When Orrin "Checkmate" Hudson holds one of his "Get In the Game" chess classes, his audience normally is a group of young people in the 8 years to 18-years-old range. That will change soon as Hudson opens his chess board and reveals his winning strategies to DeKalb County seniors. Hudson, the founder and CEO of the non-profit Be Someone Inc., uses the game of chess to teach life lessons to young people and he feels the game is also a perfect fit for seniors. "Life should be a continuous learning experience and age should not be a disqualifier when it comes to tackling something new or improving skills," he explains.
Since 2000, The Be Someone program has provided instruction on the game of chess to more than 77,000 young people. One of the primary goals of the program is to teach students that there are consequences for every move they make- whether it is on a chess board or in life.
Presented on behalf of the DeKalb Human Services Department, Hudson will deliver his virtual classes Tuesdays and Thursdays for six weeks starting September 1, 2020. The chess champion presented a similar summer virtual program to scores DeKalb youngsters through the County’s Virtual Village over the summer months. He is especially excited about interacting with his senior audience. "These folks," explains Hudson, “have a zest for living and they are eager to learn something new." He added he challenged several of seniors a few years ago and looking forward to this virtual opportunity.
There are many benefits to playing chess. "Let’s start with the obvious," Hudson says, "chess is mentally stimulating. Simply put, this game exercises the brain and that is especially important for seniors so that they can stay mentally sharp. "The Be Someone founder added there are several other benefits for senior players: Chess improves cognition; all you need to play is an affordable chess board and pieces; playing the game connects seniors with others, young and old alike; it relieves stress; learning something new is good for the health; it provides self-confidence and that is important for seniors; and the game is, as Hudson emphasizes, "just a lot of fun." "I can't wait for this class to begin. If it is a success - as I know it will be - it will be something we can offer virtually to a multitude of audiences of all ages not only locally but throughout the country. To join the zoom meeting click the button below.