top of page

When a City Believes, Young Minds Take Flight

  • Writer: Destyn White
    Destyn White
  • Jul 22
  • 5 min read

Updated: Jul 24

Press play to listen to the blog as you read. Enjoy!

When Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens declared every year the Year of the Youth, he wasn’t speaking to headlines. He was talking to hearts—the ones too often overlooked, unheard, and unprepared for the complexity of the world they’re inheriting.


Through the Summer Youth Employment Program (led by the Atlanta Department of Labor and Employment Services), Mayor Dickens sought more than summer job placements. He called for preparation. For workforce development. For a new kind of readiness—not just to work, but to lead. That’s when we were called on at Chess & Community —alongside other dedicated youth development programs—to help lead this collective charge toward lasting change. For over 15 years, we’ve walked beside young people, helping them unlock discipline, confidence, and direction through a tested model built on four pillars: Conflict Resolution, Civic Engagement, Critical Thinking, and Problem Solving. These aren’t abstract ideals. They are the soft skills, the leadership tools, and the compass points young people need in a world that often gives them none.


Royal Corps. pitching to judges  (Location: KIPP Atlanta Collegiate)
Royal Corps. pitching to judges  (Location: KIPP Atlanta Collegiate)

For the past four years, our partnership with the City of Atlanta has empowered over 150 youth—some of whom returned this summer as peer coaches. This evolution broadens their vision of what’s possible.


Many came from communities where trauma is woven into daily life—where funerals outnumber graduations, and where emotional control can be the difference between freedom and incarceration, life and death. They carried real loss: friends gone too soon, family members caught in cycles of violence, lives disrupted by a lack of opportunity and direction.


Atlanta Robotics pitching to judges (Location: KIPP Atlanta Collegiate)
Atlanta Robotics pitching to judges (Location: KIPP Atlanta Collegiate)

But despite that, day after day, these young people showed up with a 94% success rate. They learned that chess isn’t just about the board—it’s about seeing structure, understanding systems, and learning how to think critically within them. They debated issues affecting their lives, such as the impact of the music they listen to—gaining the power of a clear voice and a sharp mind. Through our PAWN Accelerator Program, seven robotics business models were developed to explore real planetary applications.


They practiced teamwork & collaboration. They learned to respect different perspectives. They struggled, adapted, refined, and slowly began to see themselves as builders of something greater.


And then came July 3rd. See video below:

That day was not the beginning of their story—it was the reveal.

Held in the heart of the city, the event brought together these teens—once strangers, now teammates—and placed them in front of an audience that included NASA representatives, local business leaders, and philanthropists.


With clarity and courage, 50+ students presented to NASA. They pitched the robotics businesses they’d designed and how their robots can be used for future Moon to Mars missions. They explained how their teams worked through challenges. They made eye contact. They answered questions. They held the room with earned confidence.


These weren’t kids stumbling into a moment. They were young professionals stepping into purpose.


The impact was unmistakable. Mentors watched in awe. Officials leaned in. And the students themselves—some for the first time—saw the reflection of their power in the eyes of those listening.

What happened that day wasn’t magic. It was the result of months of intentional effort, trust built, minds sharpened, and a city investing in youth employment and empowerment.


Group Photo  (Location: KIPP Atlanta Collegiate)
Group Photo  (Location: KIPP Atlanta Collegiate)

Business Leadership

With the students presenting their business models, we saw a powerful opportunity: to take the learning even further. We knew it was vital for them to see what business looks like beyond the pitch deck—to understand the infrastructure, culture, and scale of entrepreneurship in action.


Led by L'Angela S. Lee, we brought the students to the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs—a space that stands as both a creative engine and a sanctuary for business innovation. There, our students were able to witness the behind-the-scenes dynamics of real startups, engage with founders, and envision just how far their own ideas could go.

The Final Bridge


On July 17th, just two weeks after presenting their robotics business, the teens gathered to compete and connect. The day marked the culmination of their summer journey: from preparation to presentation, and now to participation in community healing.


With leadership and support from Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum and the Atlanta Police Department, this event evolved into more than a send-off. It became a living symbol of what progress looks like when trust is built, voices are heard, and people show up.


APD Chief Darin Schierbaum playing chess (left)


The teens arrived with their robotics teams and chess sets to play, to share space, and to complete the bridge that had been quietly built all summer long. Officers from across the city joined in—not as authority figures, but as partners, students, mentors, and competitors.


APD police officers playing chess with students (left)


In the spirit of strategy and dialogue, they sat across from each other at chessboards—officer to student, teammate to teammate.


It was community in motion—a powerful act of mutual respect, where ideas, laughter, and strategy flowed freely. In a world where youth and law enforcement are often portrayed at odds, this moment was a quiet revolution.


Students navigating robots through a path
Students navigating robots through a path

The final bridge wasn’t built with grand speeches. It was built one move at a time—through collaboration, curiosity, and care.


This is what we do at Chess & Community. And this is what’s possible when we’re given the room to do it.

Expansion

This moment represents the culmination of 15 years of careful refinement—a living, breathing example of what our youth development blueprint was always designed to achieve.


If you’re an educator, a civic leader, a foundation director, or someone committed to unlocking the potential in your youth, we invite you to bring this model to your community. We’ll work directly with your students, or train your staff to implement the system with care and integrity.


Because the truth is, when you give young people the tools, the structure, and the trust, they don’t just change the narrative. They become the authors.


ree

Help Us Keep This Momentum Going

This summer's initiative wasn’t a one-time event. It was proof—proof that when you invest in young minds with structure, mentorship, and opportunity, they will rise.

But a transformation like this doesn't happen by chance. It takes intentionality. It takes resources. It takes you.

If you were moved by what you’ve read—if you believe in building a future where young people are equipped not just to survive, but to lead—we invite you to support this work.

Every dollar goes directly toward expanding this model across Georgia and beyond—bringing chess, debate, robotics, entrepreneurship, and emotional intelligence to youth who need it most.

 
 
 

1 Comment


xukivem
Aug 29

Training and support are also part of pdcelectric’s services. They ensure that client teams understand the systems installed, offering guidance and documentation for smooth operation. This educational approach empowers clients to maximize the value of the pdcelectric infrastructure while reducing reliance on external troubleshooting. It’s a thoughtful addition that enhances overall service quality and client satisfaction.

Like

THINK BEFORE YOU MOVE

0E6A2676 (2)_edited_edited_edited_edited

ATLANTA

352 University Ave, SW
W-125
Atlanta, GA 30310

ATHENS

MACON

1093 Eisenhower PKWY
Suite #2
Macon, GA 31206

STAY IN TOUCH

Subscribe to our newsletter • Don’t miss out!

  • email
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • X

Your donation empowers our students to succeed.

Mailing Address
PO Box 48911
Athens, GA 30604

 

Physical Address
465 Huntington Rd | Suite 150
Athens, GA 30606

@2025 - 2026 Chess & Community Inc.

(706) 540-3299

bottom of page