We really appreciate the good work you are doing in our community. May the Lord strengthen you and increase you in grace, favor and wisdom in Jesus' name.
- M. Charles
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Breaking down barriers, building up bridges in our communities.
Where do I start? By thanking GOD and my Mother, without them, there wouldn’t be a me! Let me introduce my self, my name is Mr. Romeo, I established Young Kings & Queens Chess Club LLC. in 2017 to help those that might not be able to help themselves.
I’ve been living in the North Bronx for over 40 years, brought up in a single parent household with my siblings since the age of seven. During that time I saw my mother struggle and make sacrifices for me and my siblings and she never complained once, always kept us first. Her vision for us was strong, she didn’t give attention to distractions, her children came first.
There were a few things that had a great impact during my life. The first was the separation between my Mother and Father. The separation started the process of turning a Boy into a young Man or Pawn into a KING.
The second was going to the Fresh Air Fund Summer Camp. At that time I was confused and sad, so many things went through my mind at the moment. Is my mother trying to get rid of us? Why are we leaving? What did I do to upset her? I cried from the time I got on the bus until we got to our destination. Then when I got there, I cried even more.
The family I stayed with was caucasian, I didn’t know what to expect being brought up around black and brown people. I was feeling sad until I talked to my mother early that day and she reassured me that she has a plan and everything will be alright, just trust her. She didn’t have to say any more, because I always trusted my mother.
Two weeks passed and I started to understand her plan little by little. I was on a farm where I had to get up early and chores had to be done, excuses were not an option. I was on the road to being independent, taking on tasks and responsibilities. After a month, I now have a second family, they treated me as their own. They didn’t see color, they saw a boy needing the extra help to become a young man.
To make a long story short, I ended up going back there the next year. My mother immediately asked me a few questions when I came back home. She asked, did you enjoy your trip, what did you get from your trip and do you understand my plan now? I replied by saying, I think I do. You wanted me to be in a different environment, you wanted to see if I can adjust to my new surroundings. You also wanted to see if I can survive without you being there all the time.
You might see a BOY(pawn), but I see a young man(KING). My answer is how you see yourself is not what you are attended to be!
A few years passed and I started working for the Summer Youth Employment Program or SYEP as a youth, then went to college and during summer breaks I worked as a Supervisor for SYEP. Now my journey was beginning. Three years later was the birth of my son that had another impact on my life, but the biggest impact was the passing of my mother three years later. I was out of it for many years which could of been worst if my mother didn’t prepare me for this.
I started working in after school programs to give back, because of all that was given back to me. I worked over 8 years teaching chess and then got promoted to supervisor my last year to run the S.Y.E.P. During those times I learned a lot. I engaged with those from different ethnic backgrounds, races, colors, religion, sex and disabilities.
What I noticed the most is that, the program seem more interested in quantity than quality. Getting more people in the program builds up numbers, but necessarily don’t build up life skills. I rather have an impact on 50 youths that are there, then having no impact on 200 youths that are there. The numbers was more important than giving good quality of service.
Those that had ADHD and were Autistic was not given the same resources and more importantly the same attention that was given to others.
I made up my mind, and said to myself, stop complaining all the time and give resolutions, so I decided to start YOUNG KINGS & QUEENS CHESS CLUB LLC. so we can make a difference.
Our youth are lost, our seniors are being forgotten and our children and adults with mental illness and disabilities are not given enough attention and resources to succeed in life. We’re focusing so much on taking guns off the streets and gang violence, but we’re missing what’s most important, and that is educating, helping those in control of the guns and having youths make better decision so they don’t have to be in gangs, give them an outlet!
That’s why I miss my mother so much! She did everything for her kids and those around her without asking for anything in return. That’s why everything with my program is dedicated to her.
We teach our students not to just focus on moving pieces, but why that piece is being moved. With all the gang and gun violence surrounding us, we must teach our Youths to make better decisions and don’t give attention to distractions.
A lot of our Youth are being condemned, when they could be repaired. Over 90% of households in the north Bronx are single parent households. What my program brings is HOPE. It builds up self-esteem while taking away fear. Because a head full of fear has no space for dreams. We teach our students not to just focus on moving pieces, but why that piece is being moved. With all the gang and gun violence surrounding us, we must teach our Youths to make better decisions and don’t give attention to distractions.
- M. Charles
