As Mission Loc@l reported in March, the Hip-Hop Chess Federation was founded to encourage youth to make smart, strategic decisions in life the same way they would approach making moves on the chess board.
The highlight of the organization’s free, all-day event held at John O’Connell High on Saturday (which featured a chess tournament and lessons, graffiti art battles, giveaways and a martial arts presentation) was an All Queens Life Strategies Panel to inspire confidence in young girls.
Speakers on the panel were Birth of the Chess Queen author Marilyn Yalom, Bay Area rap duo Conscious Daughters, local lyricist Melina Jones, and Jean Hoffman of the Arizona-based nonprofit 9 Queens.