Rising Stars: Meet Exzetta Willis of Lancaster, CA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Exzetta Willis.

Hi Exzetta, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
From the beginning, my life has been rooted in movement, healing, and transformation — both personally and for others. I’m Exzetta Willis, the Founder and Executive Director of Emerge With Hope, a nonprofit that uses the transformative power of music, movement, and wellness to uplift people in domestic violence and rehabilitative shelters.

My journey isn’t just professional — it’s deeply personal. I’m a survivor of domestic violence, and during that difficult time in my life, I found peace, strength, and healing through Zumba and mindful movement. Before founding Emerge With Hope, I spent years teaching Zumba and in studios and online, helping people feel confident, connected, and strong.

The moment that changed everything for me was when I realized how movement could do more than help people physically — it could help them emotionally and spiritually too. How healing and confidence building it was for me when I took that Zumba class during a very difficult time in my life, I realized how healing, freeing and restorative it was. It gave me back my voice. And once I started to heal, I wanted to bring that to others in the same situation. I know that it is very hard to get to a class when you’re in a rehabilitative shelter; I want to bring that power of movement offering Zumba and Zen sessions inside domestic violence and homeless shelters because I saw how music and dance could spark joy, community, and healing where there often seemed to be only pain. The Emerge with Hope team brings the full energy of a Zumba class alongside the grounding, restorative elements of yoga directly into these spaces—so participants who cannot access gyms or studios still experience the same quality movement, adapted to meet them where they are emotionally and physically.

This work didn’t start as a nonprofit. It started quietly.

In January 2020, I began showing up in shelters with a small group of of my students , bringing music, movement, and the full energy of a Zumba class creating a space where people couldn’t get to a gym. It wasn’t polished or planned—it was simply showing up and offering joy, release, and connection through movement. And it mattered.
When the pandemic hit, sadly had to stop after only two visits . When shelters reopened in 2021, they asked us to come back. They shared that clients had better attitudes, there was less aggression, and people genuinely looked forward to us being there. That invitation to return told me everything I needed to know about the impact of the work.

What happened next still takes my breath away.

Maggie Pezeshkian saw what we were doing and sent an email to Zumba to make sure they knew about the work happening inside those shelters. In 2023, at the Zumba Instructor Convention, Zumba surprised me in the most unforgettable way. They brought me on stage and honored me with the Humanitarian of the Year Award. They flew my mother and my daughter in so they could stand beside me. It was overwhelming, emotional, and deeply affirming.

That moment brought wider visibility to the work and helped formalize it as a nonprofit, creating the opportunity to grow beyond the Antelope Valley, and access grants and broader support, to reach more shelters and more people rebuilding their lives.

Today, Emerge with Hope delivers dance, yoga, breathwork, and wellness-based programming directly inside shelter and rehabilitative spaces, including Valley Oasis and Kensington Campus, with additional support from community collaborators such as Yoga Roots.

As the work evolved, so did the offerings. Today, our nonprofit brings dance, yoga, breath work , and wellness practices directly into shelters and community spaces—creating moments of strength, joy, and hope for people rebuilding their lives
Emerge with Hope provides all program materials, including yoga mats, along with small gifts and treats sourced from local small businesses. These details are intentional—designed to help participants reconnect with their sense of humanity and feel seen, valued, and worthy..

Today, I continue to combine my experience as a fitness and movement instructor, my personal story of survival, and my passion for community empowerment to help people not just recover — but emerge with hope, confidence, and joy. That’s what this work means to me: transforming hardship into strength, and helping others see potential in themselves when they feel they’ve lost it.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road, and those challenges have played a significant role in shaping both me and the mission.

One of the biggest struggles was building and sustaining a nonprofit while still needing to support myself financially. Much of the work began as a labor of love, and there were seasons when I personally funded programs, navigated burnout, and learned that passion alone isn’t enough—structure, boundaries, and sustainability matter just as much.

There were also emotional challenges. As a survivor of domestic violence, returning to shelter spaces to serve others was powerful but sometimes triggering. I had to learn how to care for my own healing while still leading with compassion and strength.

After a major professional transition, I found myself at a crossroads that required deep faith. Leaving a long corporate career pushed me to fully step into the mission I had been building quietly for years. It was uncomfortable and humbling, but it clarified my purpose and taught me to trust the calling rather than the fear.

Through every challenge, I’ve learned that the road doesn’t have to be smooth to be meaningful. Each obstacle strengthened my resilience, deepened my faith, and reinforced why this work matters—not just for the communities we serve, but for my own growth as a leader.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work lives at the intersection of movement, healing, faith, and community. I am the Founder and Executive Director of Emerge With Hope, a nonprofit that brings wellness-based movement experiences—such as dance, yoga, breathwork, and mindfulness—into domestic violence shelters and rehabilitative housing.

What I specialize in is creating spaces where people feel safe in their bodies again. Using music and movement as creative tools, I help individuals reconnect with themselves, release stored stress and trauma, and experience joy in environments that often feel heavy or restrictive. Movement, for me, is not just exercise—it’s a form of expression, restoration, and hope.

What sets my work apart is that it’s deeply personal. As a survivor, I understand the power of embodiment and the role faith plays in healing. That lived experience shapes how I lead, how I serve, and how I design programs that are trauma-informed, inclusive, and empowering rather than intimidating.

What I’m most proud of is building a mission that meets people exactly where they are—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Whether I’m teaching in a shelter, partnering with organizations and brands to expand access, or mentoring others who feel called to serve, my goal is always the same: to help people move from survival into strength and to remind them that hope can still be felt, even in the hardest seasons.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Many of the resources that support me are centered around leadership, emotional health, faith, and personal growth.

Books like Boundaries and Safe People by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend helped shape how I understand healthy relationships, leadership, and emotional responsibility—both personally and professionally. The Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace deepened my understanding of how people feel seen and valued, which directly influences how I lead teams and serve communities. I’ve also learned a great deal from The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell, especially around servant leadership and influence with integrity.

For podcasts, I enjoy Jay Shetty’s podcast, Huberman Lab, and Do You F*cking Mind (DYFM). Each offers something different—mindset, neuroscience, and honest conversations around growth and self-awareness—which helps me stay grounded and curious as a leader.

In terms of apps, I rely on tools that support learning, creativity, calm, and organization. I use Headway for quick, focused learning, Canva and Wave for creative and marketing needs, Calm for mindfulness and nervous system regulation, Google Calendar to keep my team aligned on where and when we’re providing programs each week, and Calendly to streamline scheduling and coordination.

Overall, these resources help me stay balanced, informed, and aligned so I can lead with clarity, compassion, and purpose.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://emergewithhope.org
• Instagram: @zumbawithzetta @emergewithhope
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/outmask
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/exzetta-willis
• Other: https://zumbazetta.com

Image Credits
City of Lancaster, Yoga Roots.