Brooke Harris wears a lot of hats: artist, creative, dancer, teacher, and so much more.
After a career teaching dance, she returned to the Y looking for a new way to stay active and found more than fitness — she discovered meaningful friendships and a welcoming community for her family. From building strength and connection to modeling healthy habits for her daughters, the Y has become an important part of her everyday life. Get to know Brooke:
How long have you been a member of the Y?
10 years
Tell us a little about your Y experience. Why did you join? Why do you stay?
I started coming to the Beaumont Y with my family as a teenager. I would run on the treadmill and work out with friends. In my 20s and 30s, I helped run an Irish Dance School and had plenty of exercise!
I later came back to the Y after my youngest went off to preschool and I had retired from dancing and teaching. I knew I needed something to scratch that active itch. I joined Pam Carey's classes and have loved getting to be a participant in the class and not the teacher! I feel the strongest I've ever been now at 40 and its because of Y classes. I enjoy being a part of something bigger than myself that has people of all ages and life stages in attendance. It shows me that being active is a life long journey that looks different for everyone but is still so helpful to have a happy and full life.
In what ways has the Y positively impacted your life?
The YMCA has had a really meaningful impact on my life by giving me a safe and welcoming place to return to movement after many years of teaching dance classes. For decades, I was the one leading and pouring out, but the Y gave me space to step back into being a participant again—moving at my own pace, without pressure, just for the joy of it.
Beyond the physical aspect, it has given me something I didn’t realize I needed so deeply: community. I’ve found friendships with other women and mothers who are in similar stages of life. There’s something powerful about showing up together, encouraging one another, and celebrating even the simple win of making it to class.
It has also impacted my life as a mom. I’ve loved being able to work out alongside my girls and model for them that moving your body isn’t a chore—it’s something fun, joyful, and worth making time for. The Y has become more than a gym for us; it’s a place where we grow stronger together as a family.
Do you have any unique hobbies, interests or talents? Where can we find you when you're not at the YMCA?
If you know me, you know I love all things creativity - dancing, writing, painting. I am a abstract painter and I love teaching painting classes for the community. I also have my MFA in Creative Writing and teach English for an online university. My favorite is when I get to teach Poetry.
I mashed up my talents and created a 6-week Bible study called, Create His Kingdom, which was published this Spring. It shows people how to connect with God through creativity.
What are the first three things that come to mind when you think of the Y?
Community, friendly, generosity
What excites you about your Y and the community?
What excites me most about the Y is really the heart behind it. It’s not just a gym—it’s a community that genuinely cares. I love that they raise money to offer scholarships so families and kids can be part of it, no matter their situation. That kind of generosity really stands out.
It’s also just a fun place to be. You’re constantly running into people and making new connections. It feels like community happens naturally there, and that’s what makes it so special.
