Mindful Moves

​Team Lead: ​David Liu
Team member: Keshu Yang, Benjamin Tang

Project Abstract:
Part 1:Inception
Mindful Moves is a youth-led initiative designed to promote the mental benefits of chess for children across San Diego County. Led by David Liu (11th grade), alongside teammates Keshu Yang (11th grade) and Benjamin Tang (9th grade), the project focused on expanding access to chess in underserved communities, particularly among children facing challenges such as ADHD, anxiety and depression.
To achieve this, the team distributed 30 beginner-friendly chess sets to strategically selected Little Free Libraries, providing families in low-income neighborhoods with free access to the game. Each set included a flyer linking to an educational video series about the mental wellness benefits of chess and an original children’s storybook that emphasized sportsmanship and honesty.
In partnership with local organizations such as the San Diego Chess Club (SDCC) and SimplyChess, Mindful Moves highlighted free community resources and opportunities for continued engagement in chess. The project culminated in a final video presentation showcasing its impact and key milestones.

Part 2: Mobilization
Our team is making steady progress and remains on track to complete the project by the designated deadline. As team lead, David has successfully written and published a children’s book on Amazon KDP promoting fair play and sportsmanship in chess. In addition, David designed the team logo and promotional flyer, ordered team t-shirts and chess sets, and worked on developing the team's social media presence.
Keshu has actively conducted research about the benefit of chess on mental wellness, and has also filmed a video exploring how chess can positively impact people with ADHD and anxiety/depression.
Ben has coordinated with the San Diego Chess Club and local chess organizations, securing permission to feature them on our promotional flyers. He also reached out to the Little Free Libraries organization and mapped out a distribution route for our team to donate chess sets to underserved communities across San Diego County.
Throughout the project, we’ve maintained consistent communication via email and weekly team meetings, allowing us to monitor progress, share updates, and address any questions related to upcoming tasks.
Part 3: Realization
Over the summer, Mindful Moves launched several initiatives aimed at improving mental health and promoting chess awareness throughout San Diego County. Most notably, we partnered with Little Free Libraries to distribute 30 chess sets in low-income communities, providing families with free access to the game. Each set includes a flyer featuring the Mindful Moves YouTube channel and information about local chess resources, including the San Diego Chess Club and SimplyChess.
Our YouTube channel currently hosts six educational videos covering topics such as chess rules, fair play, chess for kids, and the mental health benefits of the game. We plan to continue to develop and publish new content to support and grow the local chess community.
Additionally, we published a children’s book inspired by one team member’s early experiences in chess tournaments. The story highlights the emotional challenges young players may face such as stress and unfair play, and emphasizes the importance of good sportsmanship. Our message is clear: playing fairly not only strengthens character, but also leads to lasting success both on and off the board.