The Center is headquartered in Silver Spring, MD,[1] and its president is David Mehler, an attorney.
The Center was created to teach at-risk youth to play chess as a means of improving their academic and social skills.
[6] The Center has created chess programs in more than 130 locations, mainly public schools, in Washington, D.C., and its surrounding suburbs.
These programs included before- and after-school chess clubs as well as classes for students during the academic day.
[9][10] It has hosted chess notables such as Garry Kasparov, Maurice Ashley, [11] and Rochelle Ballantyne.