The links that follow share some of our successes from our very first workshops in Broward County to our current programming. Our most recent report is at the bottom. We invite you to take a look.
We have been working with Broward Education Foundation to deliver workshops and help grow the Next Move chess initiative for all grades and for community programs. Click the dates to read our Next Move reports: Our first report covers October 2014 through May 2015. The second covers June 2015 through December 2016. These are great to share with administrators and potential partners.
IN THE NEWS: The Sun Sentinel ran stories about the Mayors' Chess Challenge events on March 7, 2016 and again on November 17, 2016.
On June 26, 2017, we presented an interim report covering our first six months of operations as The Sunrise Center for Excellence in Chess to the Sunrise City Commission. On August 23, 2017, we presented a supplemental report showing activity from the summer. These are also available for public review; click the links!
IN THE NEWS: An article about our programs is featured in the April 2018 issue of Chess Life, the official magazine of the US Chess Federation.
On June 15, 2018, we compiled a final report to the Broward Sheriff's Office on a grant they provided to help us serve two different audiences: at-risk youth in the community, and young offenders already in the juvenile justice system. You can read that report here. This program has been approved for an additional grant from the Broward Sheriff's Office for 2018-19 and we are working on longer-term funding now.
On June 19, 2018, we delivered a final report to the Sunrise Police Department on a grant they provided which was matched by the Broward Education Foundation. This grant allowed us to serve at-risk youth on Sunrise's east side. You can read that report here.
The National Scholastic Chess Foundation continues to offer programs across Broward County, including in the City of Lauderhill, the City of Lauderdale Lakes, the City of Oakland Park, and two juvenile detention centers, as well as a youth probation program. On September 1, 2018, we prepared a second year report to the Sunrise City Commission on a grant they provided to support the Sunrise Center for Excellence in Chess for programs which, while open to participants regardless of residency, operate across the City of Sunrise. You can read this report here. Since this report was prepared, the Sunrise City Commission voted to increase the funding the City provides the Center for the 2018-2019 fiscal year. We thank the Commissioners for their continued commitment to scholastic and community chess.
IN THE NEWS: On October 12, in celebration of National Chess Day, the US Chess Federation launched a new podcast series called "One Move at a Time" and the first guest is Mayor Mike Ryan of Sunrise. Mayor Ryan has been the driving force behind the introduction of chess in Broward schools and in communities all across the County for well-over 5 years. Hear how his efforts started, how the partnership with the NSCF has led to one of the most dynamic and far-reaching community chess initiatives in the USA, and his plans for the future. Click ONE MOVE AT A TIME PODCAST to listen in.
First write-up of 2019, here is a review of our Sunrise programs on Chess-Site.com, an "all-things-chess" website out of Europe.
In March 2019, IM-elect Joshua Colas came to visit Sunrise and inspire our kids with the many doors chess can open to travel the world and earn scholarships. The Webster University student, who holds the record as the youngest African-American to become a master, is featured in this March 28th story in the Sun-Sentinel.
In July 2019, we prepared a report of our progress serving at-risk youth and young people in the juvenile justice system for the Broward Sheriff's Advisory Councii and other agencies involved in funding this effort. A similar report was provided to the Broward Sheriff's Office. You can read the BSAC report here.
The September 2019 edition of Chess Life featured a story about the 40th anniversary of the curricular chess program led by FIDE Master Sunil Weeramantry at Hunter College Elementary School in Manhattan. Sunil is also the founder and executive director of The National Scholastic Chess Foundation, of which The Sunrise Center for Excellence in Chess is an intrical part. Practices proven at Hunter have provided the model for other chess education initiatives across the nation, including those offered by the NSCF here in Broward County!
We had a great year online but are so happy to be back doing in person chess programs. Here's our 2020-2021 year-end report to the City Commission.
We recently posted an article on the NSCF website that gives a brief history and some of the successes of our At-Risk Youth and Juvenile Justice chess initiatives. They got their start thanks to the City of Sunrise Police Department! You can read the article here.
In October 2021, the City of Sunrise again committed financial support The Sunrise Center for Excellence in Chess for another year. Here's a short interim report from the first 4 months of the new fiscal year.