Our Staff
Antonio "Champ" Travis
Antonio aka Champ is the Founder and Executive Director of BMR. As a New Orleans native who saw the need for mental health and trauma-informed mentorship, Champ started BMR when he was 23 years old. Through his own experience, he knew there were no safe spaces for young Black men in New Orleans to talk about their life experiences and the trauma they’ve been through. Champ created BMR with the goal of establishing that safe space in order to enable the next generation of Black men to thrive. Champ believes in authentic mentorship that meets BMR mentees where they are. Additionally, Champ created the BMR curriculum to help young Black men develop soft skills. Antonio was named the 2022 Coach of the Year for “Up to Us Sports,” an Americorps program that focuses on sports-based developmental programming. Antonio is currently the Youth Organizing Manager as well as the Lead New Orleans Chapter Organizer at Families and Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children (FFLIC).
Jeremiah “Ooozie” James
Jeremiah aka Ooozie is BMR’s Community and Outreach Specialist. Ooozie was born and raised in New Orleans and went to school at Miller McCoy Academy with Champ and Theo. Ooozie is one of the founding staff members of BMR and has continued working with BMR since its inception. He is passionate about empowering young men to see themselves as great as opposed to the way society often sees them. Ooozie is extremely authentic and does not compromise himself for anything or anybody. Ooozie is currently a Youth Organizing Manager at FFLIC.
Theodore “Theo” Thompson
Theodore aka Theo is BMR’s Mental Health Specialist. Theo has a Master's of Social Work from the Southern University of New Orleans (SUNO). Theo was also born and raised in New Orleans and experienced the dysfunction of charter schools alongside Champ and Ooozie. Through his social work expertise, Theo is able to provide emotional support and assess the mental health needs of BMR mentees from a different lens. Theo was also a founding staff member of BMR. Theo is currently a Social Worker for the State of Louisiana. Theo often volunteers his time and gives his mental health expertise to the most marginalized communities.
