Black Moves First Episode 01: Lisa Suhay In today’s episode I talk with Lisa Suhay about her chess program and the impact she has had on her community throughout the pandemic.  Lisa is a world changer, mentor and inspiration to everyone she meets.  Lisa has performed a TEDx of community engagement in creating chess programs for children and is the co-founder of the http://www.nicechess.net/ (Norfolk Initiative for Chess Excellence )(NICE), a nationally recognized volunteer organization that brings Learn & Play chess to communities in order to advance critical thinking. Lisa Suhay lives in Norfolk, Virginia where she serves as the scribe for the fairy penpals program.  She has been a journalist for 31 years for The New York Times, The Christian Science Monitor, The Philadelphia Inquirer and is the author of 10 children’s books, including https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Stifflers-Gardening-Cunningham-Batten/dp/0964830809/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1599752984&refinements=p_27%3ALisa+Suhay&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Lisa+Suhay (There Goes a Mermaid: A NorFolktale )and https://www.amazon.com/America-Grateful-Where-Thanksgiving-really/dp/172201881X (America the Grateful: Where Thanksgiving Really Began.) ​ This is an episode you don’t want to miss! 

1:40 Introduction to Lisa Suhay

2:17 Alton shares how he and Lisa met and Alton shares his appreciation for the chess program Lisa started.

3:48 Lisa talks about her chess background and beginning the chess program.

6:33 How chess has been used in Lisa’s community to bring people together during the pandemic & how it’s impacted the youth, seniors and homeless.

11:22 What N.I.C.E. stands for and what it means.

12:59 “Chess isn’t a game for smart people.”

14:30 Lisa shares the story of how she ran into a previous chess student at the supermarket and what he shared with her about how chess changed his life. 

15:28 Lisa’s teaching style and how chess impacts life decisions. 

20:32 Alton asks Lisa about her background in journalism, her TEDx talk and her 10 children’s books. 

22:06 The Fairy Story - How the pandemic affected the chess program and what Lisa has done to support the children in her community the past year.

27:18 How Lisa ended up on the Kelly Clarkson Show.

30:25 Lisa shares the story of when she and the other chess mentors bought shoes for a child in the chess program & the impact it had on his life. 

34:03 How and why Lisa became the co-chair of the commission to reshape community policing in the state of Virginia. 

44:24 A bad day vs a bad job

46:20 Lisa shares the story of when she taught a young black child to play chess and the history of why the white piece moves first. 

51:55 Why Lisa doesn’t pressure students to win. 

55:04 Alton shares his gratitude for Lisa joining him on the first episode of the podcast.

Resources mentioned in today’s episode: 

http://www.nicechess.net/ (Norfolk Initiative for Chess Excellence )(NICE): https://www.nicechess.net/ (https://www.nicechess.net) 

Lisa’s Children's Books: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Stifflers-Gardening-Cunningham-Batten/dp/0964830809/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1599752984&refinements=p_27%3ALisa+Suhay&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Lisa+Suhay (https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Stifflers-Gardening-Cunningham-Batten/dp/0964830809/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1599752984&refinements=p_27%3ALisa+Suhay&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Lisa+Suhay) & https://www.amazon.com/America-Grateful-Where-Thanksgiving-really/dp/172201881X (https://www.amazon.com/America-Grateful-Where-Thanksgiving-really/dp/172201881X) 

Lisa’s Fairy Program: https://www.fairypenpals.com/ (https://www.fairypenpals.com)

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