Mazzoni Center’s board of directors issued an open letter outlining plans it says are in action to improve morale and create a healthier workplace after a series of internal crises.
The board acknowledged the “organizational challenges stemming from a period of controversies and leadership changes over the past two years” in the letter, posted on the center’s website Sept. 19.
The memorandum also stated the “leadership is actively working to address the situation” that led to the termination of Mazzoni Center’s first director of diversity, equity and inclusion, Kay Martinez, Aug. 20, four months into the job. Martinez subsequently filed a complaint with the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations and publicly accused Mazzoni Center of wrongful termination, retaliation and discrimination. The termination prompted some 50 employees to briefly walk out of work in solidarity.
According to a statement Mazzoni Center board president Chris Pope gave to PGN, to clarify the points in the letter, plans include working to hire consultants “to meet our goals as an organization” and revising the job description for the diversity director, which has not been completed.
“Looking forward, we are working with senior leadership to revise the job description of the director of diversity, equity and inclusion to be one that is, at a minimum, consistent with best practices for similar roles in similar organizations,” Pope said.
A staff member, who requested anonymity, said the changes “seem to already be in the works” and is “happy with the progress [he’s] seen so far,” adding that there’s still “plenty more to be done.”
“My only hope is that moving forward, folks take the time to gather as much information as they can while giving consideration to different viewpoints before taking out their personal frustrations in ways that could cause a rift between members of the community and Mazzoni Center,” he said.
The memo provided bullet points outlining future plans to improve “the overall culture and morale of the organization” with a focus on “increasing communication with staff and stakeholders.” Pope did not provide specific details on the changes, but said the board hopes that “enhanced communication will begin to heal some of the wounds of the past and expand new paths for collaboration both within the organization and externally with the communities we serve.”
Pope added that “improving Mazzoni Center’s delivery of LGBTQ competency” is a priority. One way to do that is by “enhancing the board’s membership to bring additional backgrounds and perspectives to the organization.”
Mazzoni Center currently has 17 board members: Five are women, six are people of color and eight are white men.