Our Team

Maurelhena Walles' personal narrative from schoolyard tag champion to representing the United States and winning the 60 meters in Daegu, Korea at the 2017 World Masters Athletics Track and Field Championship dictated her professional journey of creating healthier lives for thriving communities through physical activity. She attended Alabama A&M University and graduated cum laude with a degree in Telecommunications and Political Science.

She has been afforded the opportunity to use track to travel the world while representing the United States in Korea, Australia and more recently Poland. Off the track, she is the Founder and CEO of Equity Design, a social enterprise that brings equity to disadvantaged populations in under-served communities through nontraditional and sustainable programming that will help increase their life expectancy while creating a long-lasting and healthy connection to physical activity.

Maurelhena holds an Advanced Certificate from NYU in Education Communication and Technology as well as an MFA in Television Production from Brooklyn College. She also has her certification in personal training, youth development and training special populations, i.e. people living with chronic illnesses or compromised immune systems. By using her expertise in instructional design, she is able to design health and fitness programs that address the needs of the communities she serves. She believes that good results are worth the time it takes to plan them. The core of her success, on and off the track, is defined by her passion and commitment to using physical activity as a tool to educate and empower.

Having grown up in California, Elizabeth came to New York in 1988 with an inkling that here she would find a community in which she could immerse herself and make a difference. Having been able to start her own Art Advisory company in 2009 when so many businesses closed their doors, Elizabeth feels deep gratitude for the opportunity New York has afforded her.

Giving back to her community is a major priority for her. As an ardent political activist, longtime volunteer fundraiser for Bailey House and as of 2020, an enthusiastic member of the Equity Design team, Elizabeth has found the solid, effective leadership she sought to enable her to play a part in delivering sustainable programs and changing the trajectory of the health of Bronx community through physical activity.

Born and raised in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Chris is a certified National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and Youth Exercise Specialist who is currently pursuing his Registered Dietician license. He's a true New Yorker, who resided in 4 out of the 5 boroughs. Though he has worked and had many different opportunities in and around NYC, he has an eagle's eye approach to the communities that are in need of change, through health.

But he also knows that a change in health means a change in one's behavior and attitude. Physical activity is about levels and modifications. He enjoys his work as a Program Associate at Equity Design because he's able to help communities find a balance between their personal view towards physical activity and where they need to be to change their personal health trajectory. Everyday, he meets people, schools, communities and organizations where they're at.

Originally from Long Island and residing in the Bronx since 2020, Michele Daye is a graduate student at Fordham University pursuing a Master's in Ethics and Society with a concentration in race, class, and gender. A former Division I student-athlete specializing in the 400m and 200m sprints, Michele combines discipline, leadership, and lived experience to advance equity in both athletic and community spaces. She earned her Bachelor's degree in African American Studies with a minor in Sociology and continues to serve as an advisor on the A10 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, where she advocates for athlete wellness, mental health, and community engagement.

As an intern with Equity Design, Michele supports the organization's mission to bridge health disparities in underserved communities—particularly in the Bronx—by developing physical activity programs and cultivating partnerships with local faith-based organizations. Her work centers on creating access to culturally responsive wellness resources while promoting social justice through inclusive, community-rooted strategies.

With experience as a Head Track & Field Coach for the City Parks Foundation and Assistant Coach at Regis High School, Michele brings a coaching philosophy grounded in empathy, adaptability, and mentorship. Her commitment to youth development and mental wellness aligns closely with Equity Design's core values, making her a dedicated advocate for sustainable, community-based change.