Very toxic environment. Even CEO is suing!
Pros
Working in afterschool programs is incredibly rewarding, it offered me the chance to support youth development in diverse and underserved communities. This work allowed me to build my creativity, relationships, and have meaningful impact on students’ academic and personal growth.
Cons
The work environment became increasingly toxic over time. Leadership often prioritized hiring friends or individuals they had personal ties to, sidelining qualified candidates. There was a noticeable misuse of grant funding on unnecessary projects, with frontline staff unfairly blamed for issues like low attendance or revenue. The current Executive Director appears to have been selected based on personal connections rather than merit, and most of the leadership team is made up of close associates. It was disheartening to witness the removal of Normandie, a respected CEO who served the organization for over 25 years—his departure has even led to ongoing legal action (google trellis.law Normandie Nigh) Many staff members were overworked and undervalued. There were also deeply concerning incidents involving discrimination and silencing of voices—one Black staff member was terminated for supposedly not fitting the "culture," and others were told not to sound like “angry women” when speaking up. The culture shifted from mission-driven to controlling and dismissive of staff concerns.
