A Space to Be Heard

Every girl deserves a space where her voice is heard and her ideas matter. For some girls that space is a classroom. For others it’s a football field, an art studio, or a science lab.
For the girls we work with, it’s often a chessboard.
At first glance chess looks like a game of black and white pieces. Look closer and you’ll find something bigger. You’ll find girls learning to think critically, solve problems, recover from setbacks, and trust their own decisions. Those are the skills that shape confident learners and future leaders.

The Gap We’re Working to Close

This matters because the world still isn’t equal for girls. UNESCO reports that 122 million girls worldwide are out of school, and many who are in school still don’t have access to spaces that build leadership and confidence beyond the classroom. UNICEF has also shown that every investment in girls’ education creates ripple effects that strengthen families and communities.
That’s the gap we’re working to close.

What Chess Gives Her

We believe education doesn’t stop when the school bell rings. It continues wherever a girl is encouraged to think boldly and ask questions. Chess gives her that room. Every move teaches patience. Every challenge builds resilience. Every game reminds her that she can navigate hard things with confidence.

In the past three years, we’ve reached over 1,500 girls through chess programs and community initiatives. Behind that number are hundreds of stories of girls finding their voice and believing in something they hadn’t imagined for themselves before.

Taking It to the Parks

This summer we’re taking that work into public parks through Queens in the Park. We’ve already had our first stop at Washington Square Park, and three more stops are ahead this summer. Every stop is a chance for a girl who might never have touched a chessboard to sit down and play.
Imagine what’s possible if more girls had that chance. More clubs. More confidence. More young women who know their ideas matter.

How You Can Be Part of It

That future takes all of us to build. Whether you’re a parent, educator, volunteer, or someone who simply believes in the power of girls, you can be part of it. Your donation to Queens in the Park helps us reach more girls this summer and keep building spaces where they can learn, grow, and lead.
One move can change a game. One opportunity can change a girl’s life.

You can support the mission here: https://gofund.me/f5c741dc2