Check Mates
Strategic connections, one move at a time.
The Challenge
In May of 2023, the twenty-first Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy declared loneliness an epidemic. Isolation rivals the effects of smoking 15 cigarettes a day (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2010) and increases heart disease and stroke risks by 29% and 32%, respectively (Valtorta et al., 2016). On the other hand, investment in one’s community and organizations fights against collective loneliness. Dr. Murthy argues that fulfillment comes from the development of relationships and that stitching together the social fabric bolsters individuals and community wellness.
The Solution
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With that in mind, Check Mates is an organization aimed at decreasing loneliness and creating multigenerational bonds to strengthen communities through the game of chess. By bringing younger and older players together in friendly matches that encourage learning and critical thinking, we are developing connections that support investment in communities and a retreat from reclusion.
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Especially during times of instability and in the setting of accelerating technology, divisions and separation among people are hastened, making Check Mates especially relevant today.