The man known affectionately to all as “Coach Sorsby” is a firm believer that your circumstances don’t have to make you a product of your environment, and if given the right tools and support, our youth can achieve anything.
A native of Englewood on Chicago’s South Side, Shawn Sorsby graduated from Morgan Park High School and went on to earn both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Architecture, along with an MBA, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before embarking on a successful career in the corporate sector, where he managed multimillion-dollar investment portfolios. Despite professional success, a volunteer experience as a wrestling coach at his alma mater, Morgan Park High School, became a turning point.
“I discovered not only that I was great with kids, but that I genuinely loved helping them grow,” Sorsby says. “That realization made it clear that my career in wealth management might have been paying well, but it wasn’t serving me beyond the financial aspect. So I pivoted. I turned my passion for chess and mentorship into something greater by founding ‘A Step Ahead Chess’.”
Utilizing mantras like “It’s not a loss. It’s a lesson“, Sorby’s ‘A Step Ahead Chess‘ is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization that transforms young lives through the game of chess, international travel, and personal development. Through A Step Ahead Chess, Coach Sorsby provides students with enriching experiences that go far beyond the chessboard: lessons in strategy, discipline, resilience, and global awareness. What started with teaching kids in underserved communities in the Bahamas has grown into a movement across the U.S., using chess as a tool to teach strategy, patience, and leadership.
“Through ASAC, I’ve turned my passion for chess and mentorship into a mission to help young people like me from underserved communities think critically, lead boldly, and see themselves as more than their surroundings,” laments Sorby. “I’m here to change the narrative, one move, one student, one lesson at a time
N’DIGO recently caught up with Coach Sorsby to learn more about his mission with A Step Ahead Chess and how an intense chess game with a 10-year-old girl changed the trajectory of his life.
N’DIGO: In your own words, who is Coach Sorsby?
Coach Sorby: I’m a dreamer, a visionary, a connector, a husband, and a father of four. Also, I am a friend, a mentor, a sponsor, and the founder and CEO of A Step Ahead Chess.
What are three words those closest to you would use to describe you?
Driven. Uplifting. Visionary.
As a kid, what did you dream you’d do for a living?
When I was young, my first dream was to be a writer. I loved how words could build worlds, how stories could transport you anywhere, and how writing could make people feel something real. Writing opened up entire worlds of possibility; it taught me that if you can dream it and put it into words, you can make it real. In many ways, I’m still that same writer at heart, only now, I help young people write their own stories of growth, confidence, and resilience. One day soon, I hope to return more fully to that first dream and devote more time to writing.
How did you get introduced and come to fall in love with the game of Chess?
I have to give credit to my brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., for introducing me to the game of chess. While I was an undergrad at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, one of my Alpha brothers invited me to join him for a few games with the Illinois Chess Club.
That day changed everything. I sat down to play a game and got completely outplayed by a 10-year-old girl. Not only did she beat me, but she calmly explained how and where I lost. I’ll never forget it. Lol. It was a humbling moment, but it sparked something in me. I became curious about the strategy behind the game, started reading, studying, and developing a real appreciation for its depth. From that point on, chess became more than a game; it became a passion and, eventually, a purpose.
Please tell us about your organization, A Step Ahead Chess
A Step Ahead Chess (ASAC) is my Chicago-based nonprofit in which we believe chess is more than a game. It’s a powerful equalizer that can be used to unlock potential, build confidence, and level the playing field for youth from every background. Through dynamic school and community-based programming, we equip young people with the critical thinking skills, focus, and resilience they need to navigate life’s complexities, giving them chess lessons on the board and life lessons off the board. What started with teaching kids in underserved communities in the Bahamas has grown into a movement across the U.S., using chess as a tool to teach strategy, patience, and leadership.
We are committed to shaping the next generation of bold thinkers, strategic problem-solvers, and visionary leaders—one move at a time.
How did the students in ASAC come to be known as ‘STORMERS’?
The term “STORMER” comes from a powerful idea in chess called pawn storming. In chess, pawns are the smallest pieces on the board, often underestimated, but when they work together, advancing side by side, they can create an unstoppable force. And when one of those pawns reaches the end, it transforms into the most powerful piece on the board — the Queen.
That idea perfectly represents who we are at ASAC, and we came up with the acronym meaning Surviving Through Obstacles with the Right Moves. When our STORMERS walk into some spaces, there are times when people have already sized them up, maybe not taking their skills seriously. But that’s where the magic happens. Because when our STORMERS come together, supported by one another and by our coaches, they move as one. That unity and collective drive give them the strength to push forward, to transform, and to win. Just like in chess, life is not about where you start; it’s about how far you can go when you have the courage and the support to storm forward.
What is a big misconception about chess that you run into time after time?
One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is that chess isn’t for people who look like me, or that kids from certain neighborhoods or backgrounds can’t play the game. That couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m a Black man from Englewood, and I’m living proof that chess has no boundaries when it comes to who can play or succeed. The real issue is access. That’s why I started A Step Ahead Chess, to create opportunities for youth who’ve been overlooked or underestimated. If they fall in love with the game, that’s a win. But even if they don’t, they still walk away with valuable skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives. Chess isn’t just for a certain kind of person. It’s for anyone willing to sit down, learn, and think a step ahead.
The last great book you read was….?
10 to 25. The Science of Motivating Young People by David Yeager
Best advice you’ve ever been given?
Take the leap.
Best advice you can give?
Authenticity is everything. When you become successful as someone you’re not, you’ll spend every day pretending to be someone you can’t be. When you become successful as your authentic self, no one can take it from you.
Favorite quote or affirmation?
“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud” – Dr. Maya Angelou
What’s next for Coach Sorsby and A Step Ahead Chess?
My dream is for A Step Ahead Chess to become a national model, a standard after-school program in every community, giving all children, regardless of background, the opportunity to discover the power of chess. With the right funding and strategic partnerships, we aim to scale our reach, embed chess into school cultures, and make it as accessible and exciting as any sport or club.
There’s nothing like watching a six-year-old sit in deep focus, eyes scanning the board, calculating their next move, because in that moment, they’re not just playing a game; they’re building discipline, confidence, and critical thinking. And when they light up after a breakthrough or a hard-fought win, you can feel it; growth is happening. That’s what drives me! That’s the future we’re building at ASAC, a future where smart is celebrated, leadership is nurtured early, and every child learns to think A Step Ahead (Chess). We welcome you to join our movement at
For more information on A Step Ahead Chess, please visit www.astepaheadchess.org and connect with them across social media at @AStepAheadChess
