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Addison

(299 posts)
Tue May 2, 2017, 06:50 PM May 2017

A corrupt nonprofit board tore apart our community

I'm the parent of kids who have been a part of America's longest-running children's theater, in the heart of San Diego's Balboa Park.

It's called the San Diego Junior Theatre, and many Broadway and Hollywood stars got their start there.

But more importantly, for years it was a warm, safe environment for kids from all walks of life: rich, poor, black, white, LGBT, disabled--all felt welcome.

That is until the organization's executive director barged into the girls dressing room and grabbed and shook a teenager because she made fun of him behind his back. And it wasn't just this incident that destroyed out community, but the board's response to it.

The board of directors--most of whom are close friends of the executive director--refused to investigate. Two well-loved employees tried to blow the whistle and were fired. Two others were driven out in tears.

When the community spoke up, we were targeted for retribution and intimidated into silence. Armed guards were hired to patrol the theater, frightening the kids. A false police report was filed against a makeup artist who spoke out. And the board's lawyer, a local politician, sent a cease and desist letter to 15 year old for exercising his first amendment rights.

We're all amateur activists just trying to reclaim what was once a beloved community treasure. We finally have some media attention, and we've gone to the mayor and city council for help, but we're finding that many in San Diego would rather turn a blind eye than do anything that might affect their political buddies.

We need help! You can read all about it here:

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2017/apr/30/ticker-brouhaha-san-diego-junior-theatre/

Any thoughts/advice/ support is greatly appreciated!

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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A corrupt nonprofit board tore apart our community (Original Post) Addison May 2017 OP
Collectively get a lawyer, then spread your story Sculpin Beauregard May 2017 #1
we actually have a volunteer lawyer helping, but... Addison May 2017 #2
Cast your net wider; try to get regional or national coverage. Sculpin Beauregard May 2017 #3
good point Addison May 2017 #5
Call Lisa Bloom! Sedona May 2017 #4
thanks for the tip, will try! Addison May 2017 #6
We just heard from the muckraking journalist! Addison May 2017 #7

Sculpin Beauregard

(1,046 posts)
1. Collectively get a lawyer, then spread your story
Tue May 2, 2017, 07:24 PM
May 2017

throughout the media. Contact your local politicians.

A GoFundMe could pay for the lawyer.

Addison

(299 posts)
2. we actually have a volunteer lawyer helping, but...
Tue May 2, 2017, 07:31 PM
May 2017

He wrote an extensive complaint to the state attorney general and is now making it public. Since a local politician is deeply involved we're having trouble getting traction locally; everyone wants to look the other way!

Addison

(299 posts)
5. good point
Tue May 2, 2017, 08:36 PM
May 2017

we're trying that but probably should do more to spread it further

coming here was a good start, thanks again!

Addison

(299 posts)
7. We just heard from the muckraking journalist!
Tue May 2, 2017, 08:44 PM
May 2017

He was the first to cover the story and is now saying he'll consider doing more pieces on it if he gets a lot of comments, so we're putting the word out--if anyone here wants to pipe in it would be greatly appreciated!

Read the article and you'll quickly see we have truth and justice on our side.

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2017/apr/30/ticker-brouhaha-san-diego-junior-theatre/

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