Organization known for helping victims stands accused of victimizing its own employees

PITTSBURGH — An organization well known for helping victims in Western Pennsylvania is now accused of victimizing its own employees.

Current and former employees with the Center for Victims in Pittsburgh say members of the non-profit's upper management have created a toxic work environment, including the use of homophobic and racial slurs.

"One of my direct managers used a slur against an openly gay woman," remembered Molly Landkrohn, who left the organization in 2018.

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11 Investigates interviewed a dozen current and former employees about their experiences working for Center for Victims.

Those currently working at the Center spoke on the condition anonymity to not endanger their jobs.

11 Investigates also obtained six letters sent to the Center for Victims' Board of Directors between June 2018 and January 2020 detailing the problems.

The most recent letter sent anonymously from current and former employees contained the most explosive allegations of racial, religious and homophobic slurs used by management, including CEO Laurie MacDonald.

According to the letter, “stupid Jews”, “fat lesbians”, and the “n-word” were among the terms used.

"It became more of a toxic situation, more of a racist situation," said Rhonda Pollard, who was fired in 2018 after more than two decades at the non-profit.

In a statement, MacDonald and Board Chairwoman Lynn Griffin denied the allegations.

“All the allegations contained in the current anonymous letter are unsupported by any evidence and appear to be designed to damage the Center and inhibit its ability to serve its clients,” the statement reads. Scroll down for the full statement from McDonald and Griffin.

MacDonald and the Board of Directors denied or didn't respond to repeated requests for an interview.

Four of the letters sent to the board were signed by now former employees.

Landkrohn sent her letter 18 months ago but never heard back.

"I think there was a part of me that absolutely thought they're going to have to stop and listen," she said.

"They did absolutely nothing. I hold the board accountable," Pollard said, after her letter never received a response.

Tasia McCargo sent her letter after what she felt was an unjust firing in 2018.

She is still waiting to hear back.

"It's an environment of fear. If you are not a fearful person you will not succeed there," McCargo said.

In its statement, the Center for Victims said they took the letters seriously, including formal action.

"That included investigating the specific complaints, examining the state of employee morale, and reviewing the reasons for staff turnover," the statement read.

However, the women interviewed by 11 Investigates say they were never contacted by the board, staff or an investigator after the letters were sent and, sources say, the toxic culture remains.

Along with the allegations, the Center for Victims is also dealing with a wrongful termination lawsuit over a disability claim filed by Deborah McManus.

She spent 42 years with the non-profit raising millions of dollars and winning numerous awards.

According to the federal lawsuit, McManus often worked from home after a 2010 car crash left her with serious health issues including post-concussion syndrome, nerve damage and severe migraines.

She was fired in February 2018 when MacDonald claimed the arrangement was unfair to other workers.

"I used to say I bleed Center for Victims. Then they took it all away," McManus said.

In response to the lawsuit, the Center for Victims said they acted appropriately in firing McManus.

"...we intend to defend our organization and its reputation against this lawsuit," the statement read.

The women who came forward believe in the work done by the Center for Victims and they want to see the non-profit succeed.

Their goal is for the current employees to be treated better.

“We got texts this morning from staff saying good luck, speak for us,” McManus said. “I think this group is trying to help them.”

Full statement from the Center for Victims:

This statement is issued by Lynn Griffin, Board Chair, and Laurie Z. MacDonald, President/CEO, Center for Victims:

At the Center for Victims, we highly regard the privacy of our employees and do not discuss individual personnel matters, including the lawsuit filed by a former employee, who turned to the courts after the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission closed her case involving our organization. The Commission specifically noted that it was unable to conclude that the Center violated any statutes. We believe we acted appropriately in this matter and we intend to defend our organization and its reputation against this lawsuit.

The anonymous letter referenced in the January 10 story aired by WPXI lists a series of highly inflammatory allegations, some of which were raised several years ago by former employees or through other unsigned correspondence. All the allegations contained in the current anonymous letter are unsupported by any evidence and appear to be designed to damage the Center and inhibit its ability to serve its clients. The accusers have never taken advantage of the processes we have in place to address grievances and we are unable to resolve their concerns while they refuse to come forward with evidence or identify themselves.

When concerns were brought to the Center’s attention several years ago, our staff and board took them seriously and took formal action. That included investigating the specific complaints, examining the state of employee morale, and reviewing the reasons for staff turnover. The board also expanded its oversight of the organization, including expanded supervision of the organization’s management team.

And, even though there was no evidence that any discriminatory activity had occurred, when these negative communications came to us in 2018, we immediately took steps to review and improve internal processes, training opportunities, communications and policies. The Board of Directors actively participated in this process, along with a wide cross-section of staff.

The Center for Victims’ Board of Directors takes its fiduciary duties to CV seriously and has taken these steps and more to ensure that the organization is properly managed and upper management is properly carrying out its duties.

The staff at the Center for Victims prides itself on providing an inclusive work environment where discrimination of any kind if strictly prohibited, where employees are treated with dignity and respect, and where it works together to heal trauma, support victims and create social change for a more peaceful community

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