Felisha Jones, Engagement Director

Felisha Jones

  • Felisha believes that we are all healers in our own right and our self-care is a revolutionary act, as stated by Audre Lorde. As an imperfect follower of Christ, she is an advocate for adding certain ancient wisdom traditions to modern-day prayer and spiritual practices. Felisha has been guiding underserved inner-city teens in self-care and mindfulness practices for the past six years, which has proven the need to teach all humans the importance of accessing their breath in a meditative manner to break generational cycles of trauma. She has obtained her Meditation Teacher Certification from the Chopra Center. Currently serving as the Marketing & Community Engagement Director for The Innerwork Center, she has been afforded the opportunity to study and practice the following disciplines: Intro to Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Intro to Mind-Body Medicine under Dr. Gordon of The Center for Mind-Body Medicine, Foundations in Somatic Abolitionism (FSA) with Resmaa Menakem and Learning to BREATHE: Teaching Mindfulness to Adolescents, led by Patricia C. Broderick, Ph.D. The Virginia State University, (VSU) alum looks forward to using her leadership, branding, event management, and storytelling skills to help the world heal.

Engagement Director

Sara Schmatz, Operations Director

Sara Schmatz

Operations Director

  • Sara is a lover of poetry, an initiate in the Sri Vidya lineage, and a student of life. Sara has walked many paths throughout her career - her most loved experience was being a medicinal herb, flower, and vegetable farmer. Sara has held various positions throughout the non-profit sector since 2010, and completed her Masters in Strategic Fund Development & Philanthropy in 2022.

    "The dream of my life / Is to lie down by a slow river / And stare at the light in the trees–/ To learn something by being nothing/ A little while but the rich/ Lens of attention" (Entering the Kingdom by Mary Oliver).

Yedda Stancil, Executive Director

Yedda Stancil

Executive Director

  • Through dedicated inner work, Yedda has learned to fearlessly forge a joy-filled life. Now, as the Executive Director of the Innerwork Center, she is passionate about helping others embark on their own journeys of self-discovery and fulfillment. Her unique blend of corporate leadership, community health expertise, and deep spiritual practice equips her to guide individuals and organizations toward growth, well-being, and a sense of purpose. Yedda’s approach integrates mindfulness, behavior change, and leadership development, creating environments where personal and communal transformation can flourish. She is excited to share the insights and strategies that have transformed her life, inspiring others to embrace their worth and live fully in the present moment. She brings rich tapestry of experience that spans corporate leadership, community health, and transformative engagement. Her vision for the Center encapsulates not only a deep understanding of organizational dynamics but also embraces the sacredness of space—where wisdom and spirituality are as valued as empirical knowledge. This unique blend allows her to craft strategies that honor both the known and the unknown, creating a nurturing atmosphere that encourages exploration and innovation. Yedda’s leadership is set to inspire and uplift, guiding the Innerwork Center towards new horizons of impact and inclusivity, embodying a commitment to both personal and community belonging.

At the Innerwork Center We Value a Culture of Belonging

We are dedicated to fostering an organizational culture where everyone feels welcome and empowered to be their authentic selves. Achieving this requires a committed and unified effort from all key stakeholders, including our staff, board, faculty, and volunteers. We deeply value and celebrate the rich diversity of our experiences, recognizing our shared humanity and the profound interconnectedness that binds us all.

Our commitment is to create a space where every voice is heard, every perspective respected, and every individual feels a sense of belonging. Together, we build a compassionate and inclusive community that honors the unique contributions of each person.