Meet Brooke Goudy, Operational Manager and Owner of Rowdy Goudy, an organization dedicated to active living, health, wellness, and cycling. As an Alabama native fascinated by challenging the body, Brooke has always been active and takes pride in doing so. She recently co-led the MLK marade Strength Through Justice Bike ride in the Five points neighborhood, and the experience was unforgettable! In our recent interview with Brooke, she speaks about her athleticism, redefining “activity of the body” in Colorado, experiencing joy during her mountain bike adventures and her vision for Rowdy Goudy. Brooke embodies some of the core values that guide our work at Denver Streets Partnership.
DSP: What would you say to people who identify community needs? What empowers you?
Goudy: Listen to the people and partner with them to do things. When you’re marginalized you lose trust [in others], so it requires a lot of trust and relationships. I’ve been in partnerships with people who’ve never participated in my work or met a Black woman besides me. Get into more uncomfortable situations, because uncomfortability doesn’t last forever. Once that’s over, we’re stronger and can grow from there.
I’m empowered by what I do. I love serving others—I’m a nurse—in every aspect of my life. I get great joy by taking care of the needs of other people through active living and feel privileged as a bridge builder. I want to use that for good. When I am racing, this is how I empower myself: I repeat, “this will not last forever.”That’s what I use when the pain feels too much. I take that lesson from my bike to the real world with me, when there’s hurt and disappointment. There are lessons on the trail that will transfer off the trail.
DSP: How did you get here? What got you interested in active living?
Goudy: I grew up spiritually understanding our bodies as a blessing—a value to explore what our bodies can do no matter what we look like. What I love to see are people moving their bodies in joy and for joy. That’s why I want to redefine “activity of the body” in Colorado. Many times we think that active living only involves sports and outdoor adventures, but it looks different for everyone and we should expand our perception of active living. There’s no hierarchy to challenge your body. Active living can look like people leisurely interacting with each other in the park, family gatherings in their backyards, moving your body to music of your culture, and more.
On Black joy:
It’s important to spend time talking about Black Indigenous People Of Color (BIPOC) trauma, however, we miss the mark in showing BIPOC joy. We victimize marginalized people, stripping their strength and joy when learning about BIPOC history—this made me ashamed in school because of the language used when discussing our history. “I wonder what it would have been like to learn about the strength of my people from the perspective of joy and resilience; we’ve made the good out of the terrible situations.”
As an adult, I’m finding my true authentic self… People need to know that Black joy exists. To be active means to take pride in the way our body moves and value in using it to bring us joy and to challenge ourselves.
DSP: What does community mean to you?
Goudy: Community is so important. It is one of the number one determinants of health, and that shows how important it is! Creating a community—a space—where people feel like they belong, a space that is safe for people is exactly why I work to build those spaces for people who look like me.
DSP: What are your hilltops and valleys? What challenges and successes have you faced?
Goudy: Being a person from trauma and working through that has helped me better support others. My greatest success is when I get people to tap into their own resilience. After years of formal and informal therapy, riding my bike has allowed me to overcome so much and to find resilience in myself and others. My valley is dealing with trauma in college and having to heal. There’s value in formal therapy, but there’s also value in getting outside and moving your body. For me this looks like being on a bike to get to remote places where I can listen to all the parts of me. The city is so loud sometimes, and you can only hear the loud voices. But when I’m on my bike I get to hear the whispers of all the things that I am (you can do this, you’re so strong, your strength from navigating the world as a Black woman transfers to being on this bike). That’s a gift I want to give to Black women, and that’s why Black Girls Do Bike [BGDB] is so important to me. It birthed Rowdy Goudy from learning leadership from BGDB—dealing with those loud voices from physical trauma and microaggressions.
My hilltop is being able to give back. When I get to a finish line with someone who looks like me; when I sit back and someone moves forward/ahead of me; and when someone discovers the fun of mountain biking. The birth of Rowdy Goudy is also a hilltop. My goal is that the people who serve the community look like the community. When someone starts to trust their body again, and when they get that right alignment and see those small accomplishments—the joy creeps back in.
On Group Adventures:
I took five Black folks to Wisconsin for a bikepacking trip they’d never done. I reminded them of our resiliency: our blood and genetics are a sign of generational resilience. Your ancestors carry you through the next ten miles, reminding them of their connection to the land. Everyone can be a part of this joy it brings to me and others.
DSP: What other organizations, people and entities have been involved/a part of your work?
Goudy: Black Girls Do Bike has been one of my greatest influences.
DSP: What’s next? What do you hope to accomplish?
Goudy: I’d love to continue to shake up the world—like the idea of “Rowdy.” Getting rowdy on the mountain bike, shaking up the community and the way people see outdoor sports and those who are participants of outdoor sports. I want it to be a brave organization that speaks to the social and emotional growth of people. I want to be open about mistakes and learn from them. I would love for Rowdy Goudy to be innovative and continue to incorporate trail safety by being good cyclists, but also stewards to the earth and the people around us. I want to build bridges by listening to community concerns and asking them what they want and what is important to them and establish goals based on community needs. This is not an easy industry to be in as a Black woman, and there are a number of organizations supporting—and I want to say thank you. I’m grateful for the people who say “yes.”
Conclusion:
Brooke Goudy is a person with a vision and mission and we are grateful for the opportunity to be a platform to highlight how she empowers her community. Want to get involved with Rowdy Goudy? Contact Brooke Goudy at brooke@rowdygoudy.com or visit her website.
