Abdul Sulaiman Jr. is the Co Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Project Pawn. Abdul earned his Master's degree in Business Administration at Mercy College (NY) and his Communications degree at Dominican College (NY).
Abdul has been engaged with chess since the age of 10. He has participated and won regional and national chess tournaments all over the country. Visiting states like Arizona, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania to play chess, Abdul learned that the lessons of chess cross borders and span ages. He also learned every move you make matters on and off the chessboard. “It taught me how to think a few moves ahead, and kept me out of trouble,” Abdul says. “Chess made me more rational and helped me sharpen up my plan in life.”
Abdul has an unwavering passion to empower people and has always been one to share his time, knowledge, and skill set. For many years, he has mentored kids varying in age, gender and nationality. He has also volunteered in community centers, state parks, and numerous health organizations to motivate and inspire youth.
Chris Johnson is the Co-founder of Project Pawn. As a chess student growing up in Bronx, NY, his extensive experiences and talents have created a unique approach to chess instruction suitable for everyone.
A chess player since the age of 6, Chris has participated in over five hundred tournaments all over the country. Traveling often at such a young age opened his mind to opportunities outside of his own community. Over the years, Chris has won countless awards including national, state, and city championships as a player.
Currently, Chris is an educator in New York City. He has taught and traveled with many teams and taken them to multiple national championships. His dedication to chess and the students reflects in the results his students produce. His team has consistently placed in the top 3 at a national level.
As a coach, Chris has influenced hundreds of inner-city children through the game of chess. He ensures to keep chess fun despite the intensive learning environment that exists around it. He is positive that the game of chess can expand the mind and help create more strategic thinkers throughout the world, in all fields