“I worked as a benefits outreach coordinator at a nonprofit food assistance organization. Early on, I participated in an internal staff presentation and shared that many in the Latinx community weren’t receiving food stamps due to documentation barriers and employers’ fears of verifying income for undocumented workers. While the feedback I received was overwhelmingly positive, a coworker — who seemed to feel I had taken attention away from her — began to undermine me. She even reached out to the staffing agency I was contracted through, possibly to inquire about replacing me. I was later sent to an event that turned out to be a drive-through rather than a set-up event, which caused me to arrive late and further fueled tension.
The individual leading this effort managed to get others involved, creating an atmosphere where I was deliberately excluded, ignored, and ostracized. My supervisor and director — both of whom had started at the organization around the same time as this person and worked closely together — failed to intervene or resolve the tension. I asked if I could speak directly with the person twisting my words, but my leadership didn’t support that. They allowed the toxicity to continue unchecked.
My supervisor and director — both of whom had started at the organization around the same time as this person and worked closely together — failed to intervene or resolve the tension.
I was devastated. I cried often and felt like the outcast no one wanted to sit with. I gave my all to the work, helping those in real need — homeless individuals, people dealing with addiction, people my team often overlooked. Despite my dedication, I was called into a meeting with HR and my supervisor and let go just three months into the role. They falsely accused me of being microaggressive toward the LGBTQ and Latinx communities, which couldn’t have been further from the truth.
After my termination, I sent multiple emails requesting a fair hearing and a chance to share my side. The head of HR never responded. I even called his integrity into question, and still — silence.
I loved that job. I served the people no one else wanted to. It’s been hard not being able to include the role on my resume because of the false accusations. I’ve felt depressed, disheartened, and discarded. The organization carried on as if nothing happened, likely looking for someone more easily controlled. In doing so, they lost sight of their mission — and harmed the very community they claim to serve.”