NEWS
National Disaster Association’s Board Officers Retaliated Against CEO for Proposing Steps to Make Organization More Diverse, Complaint Alleges Employment Discrimination Action for Retaliation Filed Against National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
New York, NY (January 18, 2021) -- The board officers of a national association representing nonprofit disaster agencies objected to efforts to implement non-discrimination, equity, diversity and inclusion policies and, in retaliation, terminated the leader of the organization who proposed them, alleges the former president and chief executive officer of National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD). Members of the organization include more than 150 national, state and local nonprofits - including the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Feeding America, Feed the Children, Catholic Charities USA, and others.
In a complaint filed with the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County, Gregory A. Forrester, former president and CEO of NVOAD, maintains he was dismissed from the position he had held for four years because he had proposed policies that would have helped the organization increase engagement of BIPOC/LatinX nonprofit organizations, correct equity issues within its membership structure, and secure the financial viability of the 50-year-old organization.
Founded in 1970, National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) is an association of disaster response and recovery organizations, including over 60 of the country's most reputable faith-based, community-based and non-governmental entities. NVOAD members also include 56 state/territory VOADs, which represent local/regional VOADs and hundreds of other member organizations throughout the country.
Aside from NVOAD itself, the individuals named in the complaint are: Michael Manning, CEO and president of the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, who serves as NVOAD board chair and after Forrester’s departure assumed the position of interim president/CEO; Mark J. Smith, executive director of recovery operations at the American Red Cross, a former NVOAD board member; and, Warren Miller, national disaster field coordinator of National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., a current NVOAD board member.
In his complaint, Forrester maintains that in April 2020, he spoke with a media outlet regarding the severity of the early 2020 disaster season and COVID19 pandemic. He related how the COVID19 response - with a nationwide disaster declaration - placed overwhelming pressures on the nonprofit disaster response/recovery community and their ability to simultaneously deploy for natural hazard disasters.
While the general membership appreciated Forrester’s efforts to draw public attention to the role of disaster response agencies, certain board officers objected to these public statements. The objecting board members shared documents from Forrester’s confidential personnel file, which they then shared with some non-board members and others outside of the organization in direct violation of nonprofit confidentiality protocols.
Unrelated to these statements regarding the hurricane season, in June 2020, Forrester made a recommendation to the NVOAD board of directors and NVOAD membership that the organization form an advisory board to further increase professional representation and diversity, equity and inclusion. There is no membership category within NVOAD that provides smaller organizations representing BIPOC (Black, indigenous, and people of color), LatinX, or Native American/Tribal organizations with both a voice and a vote in the NVOAD organization and on the board of directors.
During the summer and fall of 2020, certain NVOAD leaders targeted Forrester for retaliation because they disapproved of his inclusivity and diversity initiatives. Forrester objected and filed personnel complaints.
In early December, Forrester received correspondence from the NVOAD board chair stating Forrester would be terminated unless he submitted a resignation letter and a signed an agreement which contained a full release of all claims and other provisions. Forrester requested permission to have an attorney review the paperwork.
Instead, one business day later, NVOAD abruptly terminated Forrester without cause. Forrester maintains he was terminated in retaliation for his efforts to increase equity, diversity, and inclusion within the organization.
“In order for National VOAD to grow and thrive, it needs to provide equity to all members through voting rights and leadership opportunities, and enable diversity in attracting new members.” said Gregory A. Forrester, former president and CEO of National VOAD. “During my time with the association I strongly encouraged the board of directors to embrace non-discrimination, equity, diversity and inclusion efforts that reflect the breadth of the communities affected by disasters and the will of donors providing resources to the association’s nonprofit members. Unfortunately, certain individuals considered such proposals as ‘too entrepreneurial’ and grounds for termination.”
“It is my deepest hope that NVOAD embraces equity, diversity, and inclusion proposals so that all members, not just a chosen few, receive the right to have board representation, serve as voting members and provide the knowledge and expertise needed to assist this organization. The United States and its territories will continue to face ongoing and challenging numbers of disasters – it requires engagement and leadership from all communities,” Forrester stated.
During his career, Forrester served as a law enforcement officer, and later as regional and then national leader of disaster response and recovery organizations. While at NVOAD, Forrester led efforts that grew national/associate membership from 48 to 74 and increased the number of partner organizations from eight to 23. In addition, he helped secure over $69,646,000 in grants/in-kind donations for state/territory, associate, and national members.
Gregory Forrester is available for interviews upon request.
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#diversity #equity #inclusion #votersupression #complaint #NVOAD #nonprofit #disasterresponse @brfoodbank @RedCross @nbcusa_inc
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Legal Counsel:
Colleen Meenan, Esq.
Meenan & Associates, LLC
212-226-7334
Media Representative:
Dan Curran
Curran Public Relations, LLC
770-658-9586 (cell)