"I can see the values of the YMCA and the mission happen every single day within our art programs. It doesn't take much to walk by and see all of it happening right then and there." - Michelle Wells, Senior Arts Director
When Michelle Wells stepped into arts programming at the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties, dance was at the center of nearly everything the program offered.
Today, YMCA members – adults and children alike – can explore dance, visual arts, music, theatre, and culinary classes, with opportunities available for young children through adults. That growth has been influenced by Michelle, her willingness to pilot new ideas, and her belief that the arts should be accessible to everyone.
Michelle has been part of the YMCA for more than 20 years. She began as a part-time dance instructor while working full time in the medical field, teaching classes because she loved dance and wanted to keep the arts present in her community. About 10 years later, she made the Y her full-time career, first serving as an Arts Coordinator before being promoted to Arts Director at the YMCA's Mel Korum branch. She later served as Senior Arts Director at the Pearl Street Family YMCA and now holds the Senior Arts Director title at the Gordon Family YMCA while also leading arts programming efforts across the association.
Rebuilding and Expanding the Program
When arts programming returned after a major disruption in operations, only three YMCA centers initially brought it back. The arts team had to rebuild classes, participation and staffing nearly from the ground up.
Since then, the program has vastly surpassed its previous reach. The arts team once supported approximately 3,500 students per week with a large staff. Today, a smaller team manages programming for roughly 4,300 students per week.
"We're a small but mighty team," Michalle said. "We've been able to accomplish a great deal of not just numbers, but program quality."
Bringing New Art Forms to the Y
One of Michelle's largest contributions has been expanding the program beyond dance.
She introduced culinary classes after recognizing that many children were not learning basic cooking skills or understanding where their food came from. She piloted classes focused on preparing healthy, mindful meals and the idea quickly took off. It became part of the Y's session-based programming and was replicated at other centers.
"You don't have to be a soccer star," Michelle said. "You can come to the Y and take an art class or a dance class or learn to cook and see where you shine."
Michelle also works with YMCA leaders to evaluate more program ideas. Potential classes must align with the Y's values, meet a community need, and, when possible, be structured so they can be taught at multiple centers rather than depending on one instructor.
Making Arts Education More Accessible
For Michelle, expanding the YMCA arts programming also means making creative opportunities easier for more people to access.
Private dance lessons and other arts classes can be expensive, putting them out of reach for many families. At the Y, many arts programs are included with membership, giving children and adults access to dance, visual arts, culinary classes, and other creative opportunities without the added cost of enrolling at a private studio.
Financial assistance is also available for YMCA memberships, helping ensure that cost is not the reason someone misses the opportunity to participate.
Classes are available for participants as young as 2 and continue through adulthood. At some centers, students can progress from beginner to advanced levels, allowing them to keep learning and growing without having to leave the Y for an outside program.
That accessibility is personal for Michelle. Growing up, her single mother struggled to afford dance instruction, and she remembers how difficult it was for her family to keep her involved.
Now, helping thousands of people access arts education is one of the accomplishments that means the most to her.
"The fact that we're able to serve the magnitude of people that we do, and give them access where they normally would never have that opportunity, just makes my heart burst with pride," Michelle said.
Planning the Program's Next Chapter
Michelle now hopes to continue expanding opportunities for adults while building the team's ability to offer adaptive and more therapeutic arts experiences. That includes pursuing additional training so instructors can responsibly support participants of different abilities and people navigating grief, isolation, or major life transitions.
She also wants to ensure that as programs expand, members receive consistent, high-quality experiences at every participating YMCA location.
Through that continued growth, Michelle sees arts programming as a direct expression of the Y's mission. It's one that builds confidence, encourages creativity, and gives people a place to connect.
"I can see the values of the YMCA and the mission happen every single day within our art programs," Michelle said. "It doesn't take much to walk by and see all of it happening right then and there."