Today we’d like to introduce you to Tracie Jones Barrett.
Hi Tracie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
House of Champions My husband, Monte Barrett, is a retired NY Hall of Fame world champion heavyweight boxer. We both grew up in Queens, NY, in very different neighborhoods and with very different educational experiences. We dated when we were younger, went our separate ways, and re-connected after 23 years in SC. I am an educator.
He had moved to SC, and my parents had retired to St. George. As we were dating for the 2nd time, we discussed our formidable years and how they shaped who we are. For the majority of his life, he experienced horrific trauma, and boxing was an outlet that led helped him channel his anger and develop self-discipline. Before my role at MIT, I was the Director for Diversity at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. I understand trauma-informed classrooms, but after talking with him, I realized even a classroom teacher equipped to deal with childhood trauma would have been unable to address all of his needs. That led me to think there needs to be an intervention in the classroom. The House of Champions is that intervention. Our boxing program incorporates education. We take a holistic approach to care; mind, body, and spirit.
Our motto is off the street, into the ring, and back into the classroom. In addition to working with educators, we work with formerly incarcerated people as coaches and facilitators for the program. The House of Champions is a wrap-around program that embraces everyone in the community. Our young people must see everyone in the community committed to their care. The saying is, “It takes a village to raise a child.” And to us, that means everyone in the village. Everyone has something to share, and everyone has something to learn. The House of Champions is open to any and everyone. Our after-school program centers on high school students and our summer champs camps are available to young people ages 13 – 18.
In addition to our youth education and boxing programs, we have amateur boxing. Once we decided on the location, Monte brought his friend and business partner, 6x world champion boxer Zab Judah on board to help start the House of Champions USA Amateur Boxing bouts. The first event was Saturday, January 28th, and we had over 200 people in attendance.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not. Blending academics and athletics meaningfully means that you can only jump at some opportunities. We are intentional about who we engage with and why we partner with them. Finances are our biggest hurdle. We have been focusing on grants, donations, and sponsorship, and we’re always open to new ideas for going after funding. We just got the building for our gym and are working on refitting it now. Fundraising and donations have been challenging, but we are not letting that stop us. We are champions, so it’s parring for the course. If you or anyone you know is interested in donating, please reach out to: info@housesofchampions.com
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The House of Champions is a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization designed to foster the development of young people. Our central focus is to get our youth off the streets, into the ring, and back in the classroom. Participants learn to become champions in the gym, in the classroom, and in their communities. Our training programs are based on a holistic mind, body, and spirit approach. Our BAD: Balance, Angles, and Defense is a core training program designed by our founder, Monte Barrett. In addition to our youth development programs, we run amateur boxing bouts sanctioned by USA Boxing.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those just starting.
Find yourself a committed team, stay true to your dreams, and grind! “Dedication, hard work plus patience The sum of all my sacrifice, I’m done waiting'” – Nipsey Hussle.
Contact Info:
- Website: housesofchampions.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/houseofchampions_sc/?, https://www.instagram.com/houseofchampions_sc/?
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088454747821&mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@houseofchampionssc?_t=8YimKJCzAMt&_r=1
