Fantastic story in the LA Times! Chess is helping these kids create a positive future in spite of growing up in a community suffering from 45% unemployment. Can any of our CA forum participants provide some more details on the Mendota HS Knuckleheads?
I am involved as the local tournament organizer with the Mendota Chess Team (aka ‘The Knukleheads’). I am not their coach; Vaness French is their coach and assistant TD for Sequoia Chess for Kids. It is a great story!
Mendota is, indeed, a town with no jobs. Rather than ramble on, I’ll answer any questions anyone may have.
Seki,
First let me express my admiration for the job that you and Vaness and Tio Ernie have done with the kids.
Second, I’m interested in what a local tournament organizer does in Mendota, and how your activities facilitate the kids’ chess development. I see from the Sequoia Chess for Kids site that you host local tournaments… Do you, the kids, or the coaches hold fund-raisers to obtain equipment/USCF memberships, etc.? How does the SCK remain afloat financially?
Third, I see you have some good lesson plans on the SCJ site. As I gear up to help a local high school chess club in a lower-middle-class area of town, I’d love to have access to that material (or similar). Is that possible?
All the best,
All content at the Sequoia Chess for Kids website created by me is freely available for all to use.
More later,
Allan (Seki)