Orrin Hudson
Orrin “Checkmate” Hudson is a nationally recognized youth mentor, motivational speaker, and two-time World Open speed chess champion who has dedicated his life to teaching strategic thinking, leadership, and life mastery through the game of chess.
A former Alabama State Trooper and U.S. Air Force veteran, Orrin is the founder of Be Someone, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Atlanta, Georgia. Since 2001, he has trained over 100,000 young people across America with one powerful message:
Brains Before Bullets — Think It Out, Don’t Shoot It Out.“
– Orrin Hudson
Using a life-sized chessboard, Orrin transforms classrooms, gymnasiums, and communities into arenas of critical thinking, self-discipline, and hope. His programs focus on helping students make better decisions, build character, and learn that every move — on the chessboard and in life — has consequences.
Orrin’s mission is clear: to train one million students to make their next move their best move. His work has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, The Tom Joyner Morning Show, and in People magazine. He’s been honored by the FBI, Points of Light, and numerous civic organizations for his commitment to stopping the school-to-prison pipeline and reducing gun violence through education and empowerment.