Community Impact: Education

EVERY MOVE COUNTS

Dr. Rose Marie Stutts has touched many lives. Her faith drives her passion to love others and to promote social justice. She once told me, “We cannot change the world by ourselves, we are too small, but we can make a difference one person at a time. Every move counts.” I have personally observed Dr. Stutts making a difference in lives through her teaching of Chess and other games to challenge their minds through strategic and creative thinking. Through the games, not only is the mind challenged, but they also prove to be a therapy to help focus on life better.

Dr. Stutts has her Doctorate Degree in HBCU, Major in Special Education Research, Minor in Adaptive Physical Education Research, Minor in Psychology, Minor in Educational Psychology. She is a writer in the Guild of Professional Writers for Children, the Haiku Society of America, the Alabama Writer’s Conclave, and the Alabama State Poetry Society. She is affiliated with the St. Bernard Abbey Oblate to Saint Benedict, the Alabama Chess Federation, and Girl Scouts of America.

She taught part-time at the University of Alabama in the Honors College, Center of Ethnics and Social Responsibility Studies and has opened the eyes of many students concerning their responsibilities in life. She presently serves on the Board of Directors for the Benjamin Barnes YMCA in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and she is the founder and Director of the Freedom Chess Academy, Inc., a 501(c) 3 charity. Dr. Stutts has worked with ages from 3 to 103 from different cultures, income levels, veterans and military families.

Dr. Stutts volunteers her many talents at the following locations: FOCUS on Senior Citizens, Tuscaloosa City Schools, Benjamin Barnes YMCA, Capitol School, Salvation Army Center of Hope Shelter, Police Athletic League, Boy’s and Girl’s Clubs of West Alabama, Tuscaloosa Public Library, and The University of Alabama.

In nine years, she has volunteered over 9,000 service hours in eleven jobs through FOCUS on Senior Citizens’ Retired & Senior Volunteer Program also known as RSVP. She volunteers weekly at the Tuscaloosa Veterans Administration to play Chess with veterans, The Tuscaloosa Public Library and at FOCUS on Senior Citizens as the instructor and coordinator for a variety of games that involve strategic thinking. She hosts annual Chess tournaments to challenge minds by playing with people from other cities and states. These tournaments are amazing to watch along with Dr. Stutts and how she supports and interacts with the players.

She has taught basic computer skills to seniors at FOCUS on Senior Citizens and is always ready to help with special projects and fundraisers to benefit RSVP and other non-profit agencies.

In my conservations with her, it is clear that she loves interacting with people and feels confident when they want to learn from her. She has the patience to teach the youngest to the oldest, from the mentally challenged to the most intelligent, backgrounds, genders, and faiths.

She says “God gives everyone a gift and my gift is that I’m a great teacher.” I agree, she certainly is.

Nominated by: Melanie Lankford FOCUS on Senior Citizens RSVP Director Tuscaloosa / Hale Counties rsvptusc@hotmail.com