About the Program

Bright Minds RVA Chess Program, a component of the Bernice E. Travers Foundation was created in 2020 by Bernice Travers and Fleming Samuels as an education, motivation and life planning initiative for inner city youths.

The Bright Minds Chess Classes and Tournament teaches youth to develop abilities that can be transferred into positive life skills. Our chess classes are taught in a friendly learning environment by experienced chess instructors. We prepare the students not only to achieve academically in schools, but, prepare them for tournaments and higher education. Our partnerships with colleges and universities, Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia exposes the young students to life learning skills with a focus on motivation toward higher education, career exploration and success.

OUR MISSION

The mission of the Bright Minds RVA Chess Program is to empower students through chess. Bright Minds was created to help students develop emotional intelligence, improve their grades, develop positive behaviors and envision paths to success.

OUR VISION

Bright Minds is an education, motivation, and life planning project. The end goal is to help students improve their grades, develop positive behaviors, and pursue the paths of success, one move at a time with the skills they acquire while playing chess.

Why chess?

Chess is “the Ultimate Mind Game.” It is a strategy game that improves concentration, teaches critical thinking, strategic planning, pattern recognition, and analysis of actions and consequences. Chess is a game that enhances self-esteem and develop skills that transcends into good decision making. Bright Minds teaches skills that will help a student at any age “succeed” socially and academically.