Chess + S.T.E.M.A. + Hip-Hop = Bum Rush the Boards
Connecting chess and hip-hop culture, we aim to cultivate critical thinking in the minds of the youth and encourage them to think about their futures in the strategic manner of a chess game. Bum Rush the Boards will consist of rounds of team-based tournament play for intermediate and advanced youth, ages 5-23 interspersed with individual tournament rounds for youth beginners and rounds for adults. Between rounds, there will be workshops to give chess players the opportunity to have hands-on learning experiences based on the core elements of hip-hop culture. Participants will also participate in S.T.E.M.A -based workshops, in a series called “Engineering a Culture.” These workshops are designed to cultivate interest in S.T.E.M.A. because together, these areas of study and employment constitute key components of the creative economy, one of the largest employment sectors in the United States.