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Community Engagement

Our Community Engagement Team works as a catalyst for sustainable growth and positive change.

Through a comprehensive range of resources, advocacy, and organizing initiatives, we foster community partnerships and amplify the voices of the people we serve. Our dedicated team is committed to conducting extensive outreach, working tirelessly as educators and facilitators, ensuring that residents are informed and supported. We prioritize housing stabilization by providing essential support, including mediation and life coaching, to promote stable and thriving neighborhoods.

At Dorchester Bay, we believe in authentic Community Engagement where community development comes from residents, community partners and small businesses working to create positive change in neighborhoods and communities. Together, we are building a brighter future where residents are engaged, communities thrive, and voices are heard. Please reach out to our Community Engagement team with any questions.

DBEDC community members

Our Programming

  • Dorchester Bay’s Community Engagement team connects with residents throughout Dorchester Bay’s portfolios by hosting monthly resident meetings and community events such as our Annual Arts in the Park event and our Community Block Party.
  • Our Senior Community Wellness Program provides senior residents with the opportunity to design and lead their own programming for healthy aging. Participants report feeling less lonely or isolated as a result of participating in the program.
  • In our technology classes, our residents and community members collaboratively develop essential IT capacity skills – over 1000 residents and community partners have participated and graduated!

Hear from our Residents and Community Members:

“The reasons why I love Dorchester Bay and everything that they do: first of all the staff that I know and that I came across in several events are tremendous to us. This is staff behind the scenes and on the front lines, they are there for residents in the community as well. I commend them on the awesome job that they have been doing, are still doing, and will continue to do. Also, I would like to add that I asked my son DJ, who is 13, what he thinks about Dorchester Bay and he said they are a great organization and that they are trustworthy.” - Tameka
TamekaDorchester Bay Resident
Tameka
“My name is Irene Mongo. I am a resident of Cottage Brook Apartments. I can’t say enough about Dorchester Bay. They are unique and special. When you have an organization that cares about the people they serve, it is like nothing else that I have seen before. They make me feel like I have a voice about what I need to make my life better. We are included in whatever they are doing so we can have an input on what we need as a whole. It is not just them, we are a team. We need each other. I am proud to be a part of Dorchester Bay. All they have to do is call me and I will be there with bells on. Love you guys.” - Irene Mongo
Irene MongoDorchester Bay Resident and Community Leader
Irene Mongo

Our Team

  • Shamekia Gordon
    Shamekia Gordon
    Director of Community Engagement
  • Angie Peguero
    Angie Peguero
    Community Engagement Manager
  • Felicia Richard
    Felicia Richard
    Resident Services Coordinator
  • Karen “Cookie” Sheers
    Karen “Cookie” Sheers
    Resident Services Coordinator
Shamekia Gordon
Director of Community Engagement

Shamekia L. Gordon serves as the Director of Community Engagement at Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation (DBEDC), where she leads strategic initiatives that strengthen communities through resident engagement, housing stabilization, workforce development, youth and senior programming, and cross-sector partnerships. She is passionate about creating equitable opportunities that empower individuals and families to thrive while ensuring residents have access to the resources, relationships, and support needed to build long-term stability.

A native of Roxbury, Massachusetts, Shamekia’s commitment to community development is deeply rooted in her own lived experiences. Growing up, she witnessed firsthand the power of a connected community—neighbors who looked out for one another, community centers that invested in young people, and mentors who helped shape her future. Those experiences inspired her lifelong mission to ensure that every child, family, and resident has access to the same sense of belonging, opportunity, and hope that influenced her own journey.

With more than 18 years of experience in the nonprofit, government, and housing sectors, Shamekia has dedicated her career to serving children, youth, families, and underserved communities. Throughout her career, she has led multimillion-dollar initiatives, managed diverse teams, developed innovative community programs, secured strategic partnerships, and implemented resident-centered services designed to improve quality of life and expand economic opportunity. Her leadership philosophy is grounded in collaboration, transparency, and the belief that sustainable community change is achieved by working alongside residents rather than simply providing services.

Shamekia holds a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Nonprofit Management and a Graduate Certificate in Women in Politics and Public Policy. She is recognized as a collaborative leader who brings people together across sectors to solve complex challenges, strengthen neighborhoods, and advance equitable community development.

Above all, Shamekia believes that every community deserves to be seen for its strengths and potential. Her work is driven by a simple but powerful goal: to ensure that every child growing up in neighborhoods like the one she called home understands that where they begin does not determine where they can go.

Angie Peguero
Community Engagement Manager

Angie is an outgoing and passionate person who strongly believes everyone deserves a place to call home! She has worked in different departments throughout her time in affordable housing, such as inspections, compliance, and of course resident services. Throughout her experience, she has learned that being out in her community and serving the residents is exactly where she is supposed to be.

As a member of the community and having over 10 years of housing experience, she looks forward to being an advocate for residents, and a support system for the management team. Angie encourages the community to advocate for the changes that they want to see. Her number one goal is to reassure them that they are living and working in the safest and most enjoyable community, all while staying in compliance with their lease.

[email protected]
617-533-9576

Felicia Richard
Resident Services Coordinator

Felicia is a Resident Services Coordinator, and previously served as a climate justice community organizer for the Fairmount Indigo CDC Collaborative (FICC), organizing for climate justice and health equity. Felicia was born and raised in Boston, MA in the Dorchester neighborhood. In her free time, Felicia enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading and cooking.

“Getting involved with community advocacy comes very naturally for me; My parents have always been involved with community advocacy, so I have learned by example. I have been a volunteer for over 20 years with the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance (MAHA), advocating for affordable homeownership in the City of Boston and the State of Massachusetts.” – Felicia Richard

[email protected]
617-533-9560

Karen “Cookie” Sheers
Resident Services Coordinator

Karen “Cookie” Sheers works closely with our residents and teaches the Technology Goes Home computer class. Cookie has successfully graduated over 650 students in or around the Dorchester area. 15 years ago, Cookie started at Dorchester Bay as an AmeriCorps VISTA member then became the Administrative Assistant/ Building Manager to Resident Service Coordinator for Dudley Village N&S.

Cookie is professionally trained in Early Childhood Education and School Age Child Care. With over 12 years of experience, Cookie has worked at several youth programs that include the Dorchester YMCA and Bird Street Community Center.

[email protected]
617-533-9554

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