ENGLEWOOD — Free chess lessons will be offered for those ages 6 and older Saturday at Powell's Barbershop.
Not Before My Parents presents "Chess Moves Against Violence." The event will take place from noon-4 p.m. at the Englewood barbershop, 1139 W. 63d St. There will feature free food and music.
The nonprofit was created in 2012 as a way to support the parents of murdered children. Raydell Lacey, an Englewood native, said she wanted to form the faith-based organization after firsthand experience. Lacey's daughter was murdered in front of her two small children in 1994.
"I began offering my support as a mother who understands the traumatic experience of losing a child," she said on her website. "I attended more than 30 funerals and shared my coping skills with grieving parents of children who were victims of violent crimes."
Lacey said that no parent should have to bury their child.
And then last year, her 19-year-old grandson Erick Lacey Jr. was murdered. He had plans to join the Navy that fall.
"He wasn't in a gang," she said. "He was a good kid. This thing isn't just bout me, it's about all these kids. I don't want to see any parents go through what we've been through. We have to save our children."
She strives to find ways to keep young people safe. This chess event is just one way.
"We're getting them in a strategic mode of thinking," she said. "We want to keep them away from guns, drugs and violence."
Over the summer her organization has been recruiting children from the community to play from 6-8 p.m. every Monday on the South Side. She has four dedicated volunteers who teach the 10 group members, so far, how to play.
"These kids are like sponges," she said.
Lacey said an event last weekend at Ogden Park had 25 young players. This will be the first event at Powell's and she's hoping to attract even more.
During the week she works construction, but on the weekends she's "keeping the streets safe," she said.
The goal of Not Before My Parents is to one day open a performing arts studio, provide parenting classes and educate young people on career opportunities.
To help raise money for the cause, she sells T-shirts and hats at www.notbeforemyparents.com.
