Meet Carrie Barry | Founder of The Corner Boxing Club

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carrie Barry and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carrie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I always say that boxing adopted me. I knew that my calling was to be a boxing coach but I wanted to take it a step further and create a space that not only produces incredible athletes, but is also a space for anyone to enrich their lives through physical activity and community connection.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a coach, mentor, foster parent, and stand-in therapist to hundreds of individuals who have walked through my gym doors. I am lucky to be able to serve in this capacity and create a safe space in my community. Getting to this place has been anything but easy, but I have found that those within our community and the communities we serve are the greatest resource we have to develop and grow.

The Corner Boxing Club is a nonprofit community centric gym located in Boulder, Colorado. We offer a variety of classes for the general public that suits all ages and experience levels. Apart from our general membership classes, The Corner runs two main programs, Rusty Gloves and Youth Development. These place an emphasis on equity and inclusivity through prioritizing accessibility for the underserved and vulnerable populations in our communities. Rusty Gloves is a program specifically tailored toward our aging and senior populations. This program allows us to target the unique needs of Colorado’s underserved and isolated seniors while simultaneously integrating and connecting them into their community. The Corner Boxing Club is also proud to offer our Parkinson’s Knockout classes which provide a much needed physical outlet and social connection to individuals affected by Parkinson’s Disease. This program uses research-based interventions to manage and combat symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases. Our Youth Development program offers after-school classes multiple times a week and focuses on the personal, academic, and athletic growth of young people. This research-based program uses boxing in a safe and predictable environment to develop essential life skills such as, goal-setting, self esteem, leadership, emotional regulation, and resiliency. We hold a special interest in reaching those in marginalized communities. We are committed to reducing barriers to access so that all individuals can enrich their lives through physical activity and social connection. We believe that this is a necessity, not a luxury.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Pica’s has excellent Mexican food (and margaritas!), Blackbelly has the best breakfast burritos, and Ozo is a necessity for coffee.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I will always be grateful to my mentors and supporters who help create this space with me. Among them are Coach Basheer Abdullah, Phoenix Multisport, and our board President, Jason Schnitzer.

I also want to shoutout our 2023 Unite to Fight event. I am grateful that we can serve as a catalyst for change in our community. UNITE to FIGHT is Boulder’s one and only amateur charity boxing event where community heroes step into the boxing ring to raise awareness and donations for a nonprofit close to their hearts. We invite everyone to visit our website to support our current athletes and to come watch them fight for a cause on May 7th at the Boulder Theater!

Website: https://www.thecornerboxing.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecornerboxing/?hl=en

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCornerBoxingClubBoulder