ABOUT US
Konchess Moves, Inc.
Make Your Next Move the Best Move.
Who We Are
Konchess Moves, Inc. is a nonprofit organization committed to empowering young people through chess-based education, leadership development, and practical life-skills instruction. We believe that every young person has the potential to grow into a thoughtful decision-maker, a responsible leader, and a positive contributor to their community when given the right tools, guidance, opportunities, and support.
At Konchess Moves, we see chess as more than a game. It is a practical learning platform that encourages young people to think critically, exercise patience, anticipate consequences, manage challenges, and recognize the relationship between their choices and their outcomes. Every move on the chessboard presents an opportunity to assess a situation, consider alternatives, learn from mistakes, and develop a more intentional approach to the next decision.
We bring these lessons beyond the chessboard and into everyday life. Through chess education, mentorship, leadership development, decision-making instruction, and related youth-development programming, we seek to help young people build the confidence, discipline, resilience, and practical skills necessary to navigate school, relationships, careers, and their communities.
Our work is grounded in the belief that young people should not be defined by their circumstances or limited by the challenges they encounter. Instead, they should be equipped to recognize their potential, make informed choices, pursue meaningful opportunities, and contribute to a stronger society.
Our name reflects our philosophy: a better future begins with the moves we make today.
Our Story: The Purpose Behind the Move
Konchess Moves was established around a fundamental belief: the skills required to succeed in chess can help young people navigate many of the decisions they face throughout their lives.
Life frequently presents challenges that require patience, sound judgment, strategic thinking, and the ability to consider consequences before acting. Young people are often expected to make important decisions while navigating peer pressure, social expectations, personal obstacles, and an increasingly complex world. Access to positive guidance and opportunities to develop these skills can make a meaningful difference in how they respond to those challenges.
Chess provides an engaging and practical way to introduce these concepts. Players must evaluate their positions, anticipate possibilities, adapt when circumstances change, and take responsibility for their decisions. They learn that mistakes can become opportunities for growth, setbacks do not necessarily determine the final outcome, and thoughtful preparation can create new possibilities.
Konchess Moves seeks to translate these lessons into meaningful experiences that extend beyond the game itself. Our approach connects strategic thinking with personal development, leadership, responsible decision-making, and preparation for future opportunities.
We envision a world in which young people have access to the tools, relationships, and experiences that help them recognize their worth, develop their abilities, and make choices that support their long-term well-being.
Through our work, we aim to help young people move beyond simply reacting to the circumstances around them and begin approaching their futures with greater intention, confidence, and purpose.
Our Mission
Konchess Moves, Inc. uses chess as a practical platform for helping young people strengthen strategic thinking, decision-making, leadership, personal development, and essential life skills. Through education, mentorship, and youth-development programming, we strive to equip young people with the knowledge, confidence, and tools needed to navigate life's challenges, pursue meaningful opportunities, and make positive contributions to their communities and the world.
Our Vision
We envision a future in which every young person has the opportunity to recognize their potential, make informed decisions, develop into a responsible leader, and pursue a meaningful path forward regardless of their background or circumstances. We aspire to build communities where young people are empowered to think critically, act purposefully, and influence positive change.
Our Core Values
1. Strategic Thinking
2. Personal Responsibility
3. Leadership and Empowerment
4. Growth and Resilience
5. Integrity and Character
6. Community Contribution
7. Future-Oriented Preparation
8. Equity of Opportunity
We believe every young person deserves meaningful access to positive guidance. Our mission is to support inclusive learning environments where strategic thinking leads to personal growth and long-term empowerment. By working together with community partners, we ensure that thoughtful decisions today pave the way for a brighter and more equitable future for all.
A Message From Our Executive Director
Welcome to Konchess Moves, Inc.
I founded Konchess Moves around a simple but powerful belief: the decisions we make today can shape the opportunities available to us tomorrow.
Throughout life, we are all presented with choices. Some appear small in the moment, while others can influence the direction of our education, relationships, careers, and personal development. Learning to recognize those moments, think through our options, and make informed decisions is an essential part of becoming a responsible and successful individual.
Chess offers a unique way to begin developing that mindset. It challenges us to look beyond the immediate moment, consider different possibilities, recognize patterns, and understand that every action can have consequences. It also teaches us that mistakes are not the end of the journey. They can become valuable lessons that help us approach the next challenge with greater wisdom and preparation.
I believe these lessons have tremendous value for young people, particularly as they navigate the pressures, uncertainties, and opportunities that come with growing up.
My vision for Konchess Moves extends far beyond teaching young people how to play chess. I want to help create environments where they can strengthen their decision-making, discover their leadership potential, develop practical life skills, and understand the influence they can have on their families, communities, and the world.
We want young people to understand that their circumstances do not have to dictate their destination, that their voices and ideas matter, and that they have the ability to make thoughtful choices that move them closer to their goals.
This work requires more than inspiration. It requires consistent guidance, meaningful relationships, accessible opportunities, and a commitment to helping young people develop skills they can apply in real life.
Through Konchess Moves, we seek to work alongside families, educators, community organizations, and other partners who share a commitment to helping young people thrive.
Thank you for taking the time to learn about our organization and the purpose behind our work. Whether you are a parent, educator, community partner, potential donor, or young person seeking opportunities to grow, we invite you to join us in helping create a future where more young people are equipped to make informed decisions and pursue their full potential.
Together, we can help the next generation approach life's challenges with greater confidence, lead with purpose, and recognize that their next move can make a difference.
Make Your Next Move the Best Move.
Moshe Canty
Executive Director, Konchess Moves, Inc.
How We Put Our Mission Into Action
Chess Education and Strategy
We use chess to promote concentration, planning, and problem-solving, encouraging youth to think ahead and evaluate choices.
Physical and Personal Discipline
We foster confidence and accountability, connecting healthy routines with the discipline required to pursue long-term goals.
Prevention and Alternatives
We promote mentorship and future-oriented decision-making to provide positive alternatives and strong community connections.
Our Commitment to Young People and Our Community
At Konchess Moves, we recognize that meaningful youth development requires consistency, trust, accountability, and collaboration.
We are committed to pursuing programs that respect the dignity of young people, encourage their participation, and create opportunities for them to learn, reflect, and grow. We seek to work with families, educators, community partners, and other stakeholders to support positive development and expand access to meaningful opportunities.
We also recognize the importance of learning from the young people and communities we serve. As our organization grows, we intend to strengthen our programming, evaluate our effectiveness, develop partnerships, and use what we learn to improve the experiences and outcomes we seek to support.
Our goal is not simply to teach young people how to make better moves on a chessboard. It is to help them develop the judgment, confidence, and skills to make thoughtful moves in their own lives.
Moshe Canty, Executive Director