OUR MISSION
Build character, hope, and inspiration so that kids can set and achieve lifetime goals, realize their potential, and ‘Be Someone.’
OUR VISION
To do noble things that help other people and improve society. Focusing our efforts on youth will see an exponential return on our investments.
ORRIN'S BLOG
25 Years of Be Someone: Using Chess to Stop Violence and Transform Young Lives
Twenty-five years ago, I started Be Someone, Inc. with a simple mission: to use chess to stop crime and violence and give young people the tools they need to win in life. After a tragic robbery in Queens, New York—where seven innocent employees were shot and five lost their lives—I knew I had to make a move. I could no longer stand by and watch our children fall victim to bad decisions, peer pressure, and a broken system. I made a commitment to be part of the solution.
PRESS
🔥 Front Page News! 🔥 We made the FRONT PAGE of The Atlanta Voice! 🙌
Our mission to teach young people to think before they move and make every move count is getting the recognition it deserves. This is a win for chess, community, and change! Thank you to The Atlanta Voice for helping us share this message with the world. Let’s keep moving with purpose—on and off the board. Click here to see the articleEVENTS
CHESS LEADERSHIP CAMP. JULY 28- AUG 1, 2025 | 10AM – 2PM DAILY
Strategic thinking. Leadership Skills. Meals Included. Ages 6-18. Limited spots. Act fast. Let’s Make Every Move Count!. #ChessCamp #BeSomeone #LeadershipTraining #StopTheViolence #BackByPopularDem #OrrinCheckmateHudson. 949 STEPHENSON RD I STONE MOUNTAIN, GA 30087. Reserve your spot today.
WSB-TV Channel 2 Action Features Our Be Someone Program
Stone Mountain man inspires children be someone by teaching them chess one move at a time. WSB visits the Be Someone classroom and meets founder Orrin Hudson.
Orrin to speak at 2025 Boys To Men & Girls To Pearls Summer Camp, Friday, June 13.
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office in partnership with the DeKalb Sheriff’s Foundation is kicking off its 5™ annual Boys To Men & Girls To Pearls summer camp in June. The camp will be held June 2-27, 2025, and will accommodate 20 male youths and 20 female youth’s ages 9-16 of DeKalb County. Orrin “Checkmate” Hudson will present on Friday, June 13, 2025, from 9:30am to 11:30am.
WSB-TV Channel 2 Action Features Our Be Someone Program
Stone Mountain man inspires children be someone by teaching them chess one move at a time. WSB visits the Be Someone classroom and meets founder Orrin Hudson.
Hardly a day goes by that we aren’t subjected to headlines about youngsters getting in trouble, deep trouble. We here at ‘Be Someone’ mourn the loss of each and every child and share in the pain caused so many families. We truly believe if we had had these children in our classroom the outcomes would have been success instead of failure. Here is a list of kids in trouble. There was a better way.
Juvenile courts in the U.S. handle nearly 1.4 million delinquency cases per year.
The U.S. government spends more money on incarcerated people than on each child in the public school system.
The U.S. locks up a larger share of its youth population than any other developed country.
After-school activities for children are decreasing as schools deteriorate and city parks and recreational facilities suffer funding cutbacks.
OUR SUCCESS STORIES
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“Be Someone” has taught the game of chess to and counseled more than 88,000 at-risk youth with a goal of reaching a million. Chess demands creative thinking and that critical thinking ability can become the difference between a life on the streets and a life of success.
World Renowned Les Brown on Board supporting ‘Be Someone’.
Invite Orrin
to Speak
Orrin speaks at events and schools throughout the U.S., speaking to kids, parents, teachers, corporate management and staff about his mission of empowering kids to Be Someone.
'Be Someone' provides goal setting instruction and teaches young Kids how to use the right tools to attain those goals. Help us do that by becoming a 'Be Someone' volunteer.
Invite Orrin
to Speak
Orrin speaks at events and schools throughout the U.S., speaking to kids, parents, teachers, corporate management and staff about his mission of empowering kids to Be Someone.
World Renowned Les Brown on Board Supporting "Be Someone"
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