Alumni Spotlight: Trayonna Barnes – Bouncing Back, Giving Back

For Trayonna Barnes, resilience isn't just a character trait. It's a way of life. Growing up in a single-parent household in Cincinnati, Trayonna experienced firsthand the weight of poverty and trauma. Despite it all, she held fast to a dream she couldn't yet define but always believed was possible. 

“I was motivated but had no idea how to get there,” she says. “Then Ms. Crystal at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati told me to come once a week. She said I wouldn’t regret it. And she was right.” 

What started as a once-a-week visit turned into a safe haven. A second home. Between high school, sports, school organizations and club visits twice a week, Trayonna found stability and support in a place that believed in her even when the world outside her door didn’t. 

A Door Opens to College 

During her senior year, the BGCGC took Trayonna on a college tour of Northern Kentucky University. Typically, full-ride scholarships were reserved for Youth of the Year finalists. But something about her determination stood out. 

“I told them my story and my dreams,” she recalls. “They thought I’d be a good fit for their educational diversity scholarship. That July, they gave me a full ride.” 

It was the opportunity she’d been waiting for. She thrived at NKU, joining student government, becoming a Presidential Ambassador and even serving as the farewell speaker for outgoing President Geoffrey Mearns. 

But her journey was far from smooth. 

Knocked Down but Not Out 

At the end of her freshman year, the unthinkable happened. Trayonna was sexually assaulted. Her world unraveled. She found it nearly impossible to concentrate on her studies and her academic performance suffered. She was removed from school under an emergency medical leave and entered one of the darkest seasons of her life. 

“I thought everything I had worked so hard for was gone,” she says. “But the Club stepped in again.” 

BGCGC CEO Bill Bresser, a longtime mentor of Trayonna’s, helped her access therapy and rebuild her confidence. With his support, Trayonna made a deal with her doctor: she’d return to school after one semester off if she committed to weekly counseling and support services. She kept that promise. 

At Trayonna’s hearing with the university, where she asked to return to her studies, BGCGC staff showed up to support her. They sat behind her in solidarity. They advocated for her to stay at NKU and stood ready to help her transition to another school if needed. 

A New Chapter Begins 

Trayonna returned to NKU with a renewed sense of purpose. She rejoined her organizations and pressed on through another trial: the passing of her mother during her senior year. When her family couldn’t reach Trayonna immediately to inform her of her mother’s death, they called Bill Bresser second.  

“That’s how connected the Club still was,” she says. “They helped me navigate funeral planning, finish my degree and head to Washington, DC for grad school.” 

She earned her master’s degree from Howard University and eventually returned to Cincinnati, where she now works as a licensed mental health therapist at Child Focus. 

Giving Kids the Tools to Heal 

Trayonna’s passion for healing didn’t stop at therapy. She recently authored her first children’s book, Tony and the Scary Thing, which helps children navigate trauma and find their voice. 

“I want kids to know that scary things don’t have to define them,” she says. “This book is a tool for parents and caregivers to start those hard but necessary conversations.” 

She also partners with BGCGC to teach Botvin’s Life Skills, a life skills curriculum aimed at 5th and 6th graders, covering topics like self-esteem, goal setting and resilience. The 8-week program is already a hit at the Sheakley Club and may soon expand to others. 

A Family Legacy of Service 

Trayonna says her commitment to community started early, thanks to her grandmother, Stella Barnes. For over 30 years, the Barnes family has served free Thanksgiving meals to the homeless before sitting down to eat themselves. It’s a family tradition that instilled the value of service in Trayonna from the time she was a toddler. 

“I’ve always believed if you take care of your community, it’ll take care of you,” she says. “That’s what happened to me.” 

A Tennis Ball Mentality 

Throughout her life, Trayonna has dealt with hardships and learned to be resilient. Now that she helps children dealing with their own struggles, she loves to use an analogy that she learned from her time at BGCGC to teach children resilience. In life, you can be an egg, an apple or a tennis ball. Eggs break. Apples bruise. But tennis balls? They bounce back. 

“The Boys and Girls Club showed me I’m a tennis ball,” she says with a smile. “I’ve been dropped. I’ve been hurt. But I keep bouncing back.” 

Why the Club Matters 

Trayonna believes people should support the Boys and Girls Clubs because they offer more than programs. They offer opportunity. She also credits the Club with building her confidence, especially as a student with an IEP whose intelligence was often underestimated. 

“They helped me see what I was capable of. They believed in me. They saw me.” 

Today, Trayonna carries that belief forward. In her therapy office. In classrooms. In her book. In every child she helps. 

Because bouncing back is powerful. But giving back? That’s the legacy. 

Stay tuned for more powerful stories in our “Alumni Spotlights” series—highlighting the impact of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati on the lives of those who once walked through our doors and now lead with strength, gratitude, and purpose.