Checkmating Violence in Chicago
The Chicago Public Schools and Renaissance Knights Chess Foundation, in partnership with the Chicago Police Department, developed the Cops & Kids Chess initiative as a year-round program for 5 – 12th grade students where police officers and student engage in health positive activities utilizing restorative justice practices to bridge the divide. Programming includes after-school classes, summer programs, tournaments, special events and more.
The program is intended to promote non-violence and increase positive relationships with youth and police officers while utilizing the game of chess as the vehicle for engagement.
Programs are operated within select police districts in communities in need across the city.
Objectives
- Promote non-violence
- Promote family and community engagement
- Increase positive relations between youth and police officers
- Provide fun, rewarding, and safe out of school time activities
- Foster ongoing relationships between students and police officers
- Provide a safe and welcoming environment
- Develop academic, social and life skills
- Support Chicago Public Schools’ chess programs
- Career awareness in law enforcement
- Develop academic, social and life skills
After-School Clubs
By establishing and supporting after-school chess programs within police districts in communities in need and working with the Chicago Police Department, beat police officers visit these clubs on a weekly basis to interact with the children. These clubs bring the academic benefit of chess to children while providing them with positive social groups, goals and aspirations, and allow disadvantaged children to expand their minds in a way that alleviate social pressures in a safe environment.
Chess Tournaments
Sponsored by the Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Police Department, and the Renaissance Knights Foundation, the showcase event for the initiative is open to players in grades 5-12 from the Chicago area to participate in free of charge. The tournament is a team event where students are partnered with a police officer or law enforcement personnel to form teams. The teams then compete in a 4-round no elimination tournament in the Spring at Guaranteed Rate Field.; home of the Chicago White Sox.
Support and Partners
Using a cooperation model, we have accomplish our goals through a coordinated effort. The Initiative is driven though strategic partnerships and support from key political, community and business leaders, parents and the students.
Donate
Consider making a donation today to help us provide additional engagement opportunities to students from Chicago communities in need? We have many levels of giving.