Meet The team
remembering
dana maeshia
Founder (RIP)
2017-2021
Shirkeri Badger
Executive Director
Shirkeri became ED after the passing of Dana Maeshia on Aug 30, 2021.
Shirkeri is a loving mother, daughter, sister, aunt and more. She has volunteered with Escape Velocity from the beginning. Her son was part of the Boys in the Hood Book Club and now active in the youth ambassador programs. Shirkeri has a passion for youth in our community and wants to continue the legacy and passion that was left behind by her sister, Dana Maeshia.
Felicia Armelin
Chief Financial Officer
Felicia Armelin is a wife and loving mother of six. She is civil service employee in the IT field for over 27 years. She is an esteemed tax professional and tax business owner for 26 years. She has experience in business management, contract/grant management, content/social media management, web development, program development. She has been a youth mentor for the Monterey High School DATA program since 2011. She is an advocate of Financial Literacy and helping others to gain financial freedom.
Felicia began volunteering with Escape Velocity in 2018. She became a board member in 2019 and started Around the Way Girls with Dana and three other community leaders in July 2019.
jessica arnold
Secretary
destinee Hayes-Bejide
Board Director
Destinee is a Sacramento native, is a licensed cosmetologist and barber with a deep passion for community, beauty, and creativity. Through collaborations with various local organizations, she brings years of expertise from the beauty industry. Her mission is to redefine beauty by embodying the ethos of “look good, feel good, do good,” inspiring others to radiate positivity from within, through self expression and community engagement.
advisory council
The Advisory Council (“The Council”) provides input and assistance to Escape Velocity as it seeks to fulfill its mission and vision. The Council is comprised of community leaders, corporate partners, and other friends of the nonprofit to help build capacity and strengthen Escape Velocity programs and services. Individuals selected have demonstrated leadership in their chosen field, and are committed to the mission, vision, and success of Escape Velocity.
Meet our Youth Ambassadors
Meet our Volunteers
Meet our Partners