Velma Harris

CHAI recognizes and celebrates its Members, Community Partners, and Ambassadors monthly. This month, we are featuring Velma Harris. 

Velma Harris is an experienced wellness professional with over 25 years of experience enhancing health and well-being for adults at every stage of life. She holds Master’s degrees in Education from the University of Minnesota, alongside multiple wellness certifications that reflect her commitment to lifelong learning and professional excellence. Velma’s career highlights include her leadership with the YMCA of the North, where she advanced the ForeverWell program for older adults, and her scholarly contributions, such as co-authoring an article on young adults underrepresented in physical activity research with the University of Minnesota’s Division of Epidemiology and Community Health. As the Founder of Essence of Balance, she has developed a comprehensive wellness program fostering transformative learning and community dialogue, and her initiative, Invisible Threads That Create Seamless Changes, creates hubs for adaptive and meaningful growth. Beyond her professional endeavors, Velma serves on the Y Christian Principle Network Leadership Team and the University of Minnesota Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation Community Advisory Board. Her passion for wellness, education, and community development continues to inspire positive change, shaping a healthier and more inclusive world.