Cops & Kids Chess Initiative

Promoting Non-Violence and Positive Engagement

The Chicago Public Schools, Renaissance Knights Chess Foundation, in partnership with the Chicago Police Department, developed the Cops & Kids (C&K) Chess initiative. C&K is a year-round after-school program for elementary (5-8) and high school students which includes 2 tournaments with student and police officers and Criminal Justice professionals. The program is intended to promote peace in the home, schools and communities by increasing positive relationships between youth and police officers while utilizing the game of chess as the vehicle for engagement. The initiative utilizes Restorative Justice Practices to empower students through respect, responsibility, relationship-building, while teaching how to resolve conflicts through cooperative and constructive ways.

Goal

To afford additional engagement opportunities to students from diverse communities throughout the city and employ Police officers to serve as mentors and role models through chess centered programs. We achieve our goal by recognizing the many outcomes and skills that chess provides our youth, using chess to foster positive engagement and relationship with the Chicago police and youth from diverse communities throughout the city of Chicago.

Importance of chess

We recognize the many outcomes and skills that students acquire from chess; such as strategy, analytical, critical thinking, team building, math concepts and life skills to name a few. Chess serves as the vehicle to engage and foster positive relationships with the Chicago police, law enforcement and criminal justice professionals.

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 Tournament & Events

Sponsored by the Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Police Department, and the Renaissance Knights Foundation, the showcase events for the initiative is open to students that participate in the after-school clubs from the Chicago. The annual tournament in December takes place at the CPD Headquarters building 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. Our annual showcase event takes place in May at Guaranteed Rate Field where students are partnered with a police officer or law enforcement personnel and participate in various activities.

Support and Partners

We accomplish our goals through a coordinated effort using a cooperation model. We drive the initiative though strategic partnerships and support from key political, community and business leaders, parents and the children.