Coming Back Home: Donelle Harris’ Full-Circle Journey at the Walnut Street YMCA
For U.S. Army Private Donelle Harris, returning to the Walnut Street YMCA wasn’t just a visit, it was a calling.
“It was important to come back because I felt like there were still some things that I had left out on the table,” he shared. “Some areas that I can expand on.”
That desire to give more is rooted in a deep connection. One that began years earlier, when Donelle first walked through the doors of the Walnut Street YMCA as a young teen searching for direction.
A Place to Grow
“Growing up, I was in a little bit of a rough patch,” Donelle said. “I was around the wrong people at that time.”
Faced with difficult circumstances at home and in his community, Donelle made a choice that would change his life.
“I had to sit down and have that conversation with myself… I didn’t want to repeat that cycle. So, I came here to better myself.”
At the Y, he found more than programs; he found purpose, mentorship, and a safe space to grow.
A Second Home
Over time, the Walnut Street YMCA became something more.
“The YMCA has always been like a home to me. My family’s here.”
Even while away completing U.S. Army basic training, that connection never faded.
“While I was in basic training, I wrote the YMCA a letter about my journey,” he said. “I wrote the letter because it was a sense of home… to let them know that I’m okay.”
Leading by Example
When Donelle comes back now, it’s as a mentor and role model for the next generation.
“Here, I can assist in different ways that others may not be able to,” he said.
Through his work with youth, he understands the responsibility that comes with being someone kids can look up to.
“Being here, it teaches me how to be a leader. It gives you a sense of responsibility… You have to nurture them like it’s your own child.”
Because for many of those kids, the Y is more than just a place to go.
“They need someone to lean on. You never know what’s going on where they come from. They need a safe haven; someone they can talk to and express themselves.”
Breaking the Cycle
Donelle’s motivation is simple: be the person he once needed.
“You always want to be better for them because they’re the reason why you’re here,” he said. “If I can be better to them, then maybe it can teach them how to approach things later on when they get older.”
He credits the Walnut Street YMCA staff for helping him reach this point.
“I would just thank them for giving me the steps and the keys to be in the position that I am now.”
Looking Ahead
With a bright future ahead, Donelle is determined to keep building, both for himself and for the young people who look up to him.
His message to them is simple, but powerful:
“You should always chase whatever you want to chase after. Never be afraid. Never let anyone tell you that you can or can’t do what you want to do.”