Nearly a decade ago, Jaylen Brown met Roxbury native Lawyer Times through a mutual connection, the pastor of the Boston Celtics. At the time, Times, a longtime U.S. Postal Service worker and competitive chess player, was working to establish a youth chess academy. Brown, early in his NBA career and already passionate about chess, was intrigued by the vision.
That initial meeting laid the foundation for a collaboration that would materialize years later.
“We talked about our missions and our vision – and they aligned,” Times recalled. “He wants young people, especially from underrepresented communities, to use their minds, not just to be thought of as athletes.”
In 2024, Brown launched Boston XChange, an initiative aimed at supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs and creators. Through a partnership with Jrue and Lauren Holiday, Boston XChange awarded ten local organizations with $100,000 grants and continued mentorship. One of those recipients was Times’ Future Master Chess Academy.
For Times, the investment changed everything. After 40 years with the Postal Service, he was able to retire and focus on the academy full-time.
“I’m doing this full-time now,” he said.
The Future Master Chess Academy, which had quietly grown over the years, now supports hundreds of students across Massachusetts through both in-person locations and virtual programs. The organization’s goal is to make chess accessible to young people from underserved communities, teaching not just the game, but also critical thinking and planning skills.
The story begins much earlier for both men. Times, who grew up in Roxbury in the 1970s, learned chess at five years old by watching his siblings play. Brown picked up the game in middle school, taught by his grandfather, Willie, in Marietta, Georgia. He was part of his school’s chess club and competed in local tournaments, but his growing athletic commitments eventually took priority.
“I really had some talent for it… Maybe if I were to stick with it, I could have been a really, really good chess player,” Brown reflected. “A lot of people around me wanted me to spend more time and devote more energy to my chess career. But basketball just dominated my life.”
Despite stepping away from competitive play, Brown has maintained a deep appreciation for chess. He often credits it for sharpening his focus and decision-making, even on the basketball court.
“One of the best things about my life is that I learned the game of chess,” Brown said in an earlier interview. “You start to play the game based upon how you want to finish it.”
The Future Master Chess Academy fits naturally into Brown’s broader vision. At his MIT-based Bridge program, hosted through the 7uice Foundation, Brown continues to highlight the role of chess in youth development. The Boston XChange grant helped Times expand the academy’s reach, fund new student scholarships, and develop a sustainable business model with long-term impact in mind.
“They made us think about our business structure and make sure all the ducks are in a row,” said Angela Times, who helps run the program. “From financials to marketing—teaching us how to network, so we can be sustainable.”
According to Times, the $1,000 it takes to support a single student each year covers tournament participation, study materials, and ongoing mentorship. The program now runs branches in Ashland and Burlington and continues to expand virtually.
Last year, Brown hosted all ten XChange recipients, including Times, for a private dinner at his home. The evening offered a chance to connect more personally and reflect on shared goals.
“It was phenomenal – just being right there, talking to him once again, talking about our mission,” Times said. “His mind is so next level.”
For Brown, the connection between basketball and chess remains clear. He’s often described guarding opponents as “a game of chess,” and views the discipline of the board as a model for life planning.
“I like the role that chess can play in developing young minds – getting them to think ahead and think about what’s next,” Brown said. “It’s a game, but you’re exercising your brain to think.”
For Times, the journey from a side project to a full-time mission has been deeply rewarding, and made more meaningful by the support of someone he’s admired since the start.
“I’ve followed Jaylen Brown every day since he’s been here,” he said. “I’m that big of a fan.”
What started as a shared love for chess has evolved into a mission to redefine what’s possible for young minds. It’s about legacy, impact, and making sure the next generation has the tools, and the mindset to think several steps ahead.
