Charla Travis

Known as Coach T, she is a passionate youth mentor, program leader, and community advocate dedicated to empowering young people to reach their full potential. As a Senior Program Facilitator and Mentor with Ladies of Virtue for more than 10 years, Coach T has played a vital role in supporting girls through leadership development, personal growth, and social-emotional learning.

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Her commitment to working with youth began early, volunteering in preschool classrooms as a child alongside her mother and growing into a lifelong mission of service. Throughout her career, Coach T has served as a track coach, Assistant After-School Program Director, Art Director, Boys and Girls Sports Director, and Activity Director at summer camps and enrichment programs, always creating safe, engaging spaces where young people feel supported and inspired.

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A strong advocate for mental wellness, Coach T developed our Mental Health Summit following the COVID-19 pandemic to provide our girls with coping strategies and tools to support emotional well-being throughout the program year.

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Beyond her nonprofit work, Coach T serves as a Construction Project Manager for the State of Illinois, managing projects that support public agencies and community-serving institutions. She is active as Advisor for Top Teens of America Chicago Chapter under Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., and a dedicated volunteer leader with the Xavier University Alumni Association, where she contributes locally and nationally through fundraising and alumni engagement initiatives.

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Coach T’s greatest joy comes from mentoring youth and helping them discover confidence, purpose, and leadership within themselves. She is also a proud mother of a talented son involved in the performing arts, whose creativity continues to inspire her passion for nurturing the next generation.