BEHIND THE TILESMeet the Founders
Emily Best
CO-FOUNDER, MAHJONG LOVER
I’m an artist, middle school art teacher, and co-founder of 919 Mahj Club. I love bringing people together through creativity, whether I’m painting custom pet portraits, teaching in the classroom, or helping new players discover the fun of mahjong.
My goal is to create beautiful things, build meaningful connections, and inspire others to make time for creativity and community.
Jennifer Wilder
CO-FOUNDER, MAHJONG LOVER
I’m a former healthcare administrator, full-time mommy to 3 fun kids. I love being creative and making new things. My hobbies include: learning new crafts, cooking, entertaining friends and family, and all things Mahjong.
My goal is to build a community of mahjong lovers and players in Eastern North Carolina.
We Start With Our Beginner Class.
HOW IT WORKS
WHAT IS THE FOUNDATION?The Foundation is our 3-hour interactive course. The 919 Mahj Method focuses on the basic information you need to be able to play mahjong: the tiles, the NMJL card and the mechanics of gameplay. We want you to be able to leave our class knowing how to play the game, and with resources you need along the way.
Mahjong can seem overwhelming at first. There are a lot of things you have tolearn at once, learning the tiles and their names, learning the symbols on the NMJL card and then learning the mechanics of game play. The mechanics of learning the game and all of its elements do something. It helps with anxiety. 1
It helps with social connections. It helps with brain function. Neuroscientists have even said that playing Mahjong has helped patients with early cognitive malfunction (aka early dementia or Alzheimers disease). 2
The Mahjong Line Ambassadors
We're also proud Ambassadors for The Mahjong Line, a distinction that isn't handed out lightly.
What Makes Us Different…
EVERY PIECE OF WHAT WE TEACH, WE BUILT OURSELVES.
All of our materials in class were created by us, no AI or generated text. You will receive our handouts on the basic mechanics of gameplay during our Foundation class. At The Guided Table, we will give you our helpful Charleston Decision Tree, that helps you choose a neighborhood/section of the NMJL card.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
Three Tiles We Play By
RED DRAGON
The Foundation
Our Foundation class is very hands on. Sitting through a lecture or a presentation is NOT what we are offering. The 919 Club Method is so different. You will be in an interactive class that helps you learn by doing not just by listening. We believe showing you how to actually apply the things you learned during class helps the information “stick.”
GREEN DRAGON
The Guided Table
After your beginner class, we recommend that you sign up for a few Guided Table sessions to help you gain confidence in reading the card and learning the rules. We are there to help you learn how to pick a neighborhood/section after the deal, how to pivot during the Charleston, and how to play the game. We also include time for socializing and making new friends at the Mahjong table
WHITE DRAGON - SOAP
Blank Tile, No Judgement
Once you feel comfortable to play on your own in a group, we recommend The Open Table and The Shuffle (coming soon). Our upcoming ladder league is not your typical mahjong ladder. We are committed to keeping the money spent by our members in our community, not going to someone you don’t know in a different town.
YOU BELONG AT THE TABLE
There’s a Seat Here for You.
MAYBE YOU’RE A MOM who hasn't done something just for herself in longer than you'd like to admit. Maybe you're newly retired, or an empty nester, craving the kind of in-person connection a screen just can't give you. Maybe your wife's been begging you to join her for months.
WHOEVER YOU ARE, however you found us, you belong at this table. We built 919 Mahj Club because we wanted our people close, our phones down, and our laughter loud. That's really all this is. Two friends who love a game, hoping you'll come love it with us.
Come Find Your Seat.
We saved you one.