Arriba Juntos

While a difficult decision, we find great privilege in being able to leave our “at will” position as the Programs Coordinator there at Arriba Juntos. A privilege that many other staff members we work with do not also hold. The incidents listed below were not isolated. Experiences we struggled with while at AJ are common experiences fellow staff members regularly endure. Rather than reading the issues listed and filing the email away, we ask that you, the Human Service Agency (HSA) hold AJ management responsible and hold a conversation with Executive Assistant and her supervisors to collectively work towards bettering AJ as a community center. We’re doing this for the sole purpose of reaching someone to read out our concerns. Arriba Juntos does not have an HR and we deemed this is the only appropriate way to be heard.

First and foremost, we are very disgusted and appalled with this organization. The director of Programs just sits in her office and gossips with staff and clients, about staff and clients. The majority of the day is spent on social media and whenever we need her assistance she is always on Facebook laughing at videos. We’ve noticed on multiple occasions her very racist remarks and states she wanted all the black people out, hence why there are no African American workers currently employed at AJ. When a person of color (POC) was hired, she was fired on her first day and (BBL) Case Manager as well as the director of Programs stated she was late when in fact she was in the office with the director of Programs. The last POC worker was fired from Case Manager because of attendance yet they clock in late and or will leave for hours. For example, the director of Programs uses company time to do personal errands such as buying chicken for her dogs. The director of Programs has also made racist comments about Latin Americans for example she made fun of a Latin client's name stating why their name sounds like Hispanic food. It’s very uncomfortable when we are here to assist the community yet the face of the organization puts people who are in need of assistance down.

Arriba Juntos Management is full of hypocrisy, Executive Director would speak down on the director of Programs stating she’s a liar, she’s crazy and she’s not good at her job, she would also state that the director of Programs was 80% out the door which I have proof of. With this information we had some faith that we would be able to make positive changes and not have to deal with pushback, unfortunately we were met with just that. We were met with pushback, and were disappointed that The director of Programs ultimately got her way even though we were not at fault. It was easy for her to lie and Executive Director believe those lies than holding a conversation with us. She worked to always make us look bad. She would make comments like “we are going backwards hiring those people”. Her goal from the start was to get us out. I think in the big picture we started this last AJ stint with great intentions and to do great things for people. Unfortunately, the system there failed to give us the support and positive work environment/culture.

Arriba Juntos management and staff are frauds. They pay clients out of fear, incompetence, and favoritism. The agency has a lot of discrepancy's with payroll, one example I can give is when a client was garnished and Arriba Juntos accused Franchise Tax Board and upon speaking to Franchise Tax Board, Arriba Juntos found that they were at fault and it took several hours to resolve this issue. When the client stated they wanted an apology, they were met with disrespect and told they can leave now. They lie to Human Service Agency (HSA) and put on a false act doctoring up false claims, and false case notes. Staff there also create a hostile work environment, have their own preferences on which client gets resources and which clients do not. The director of Programs also gives clients money from the "Petty Cash" drawer as well. A client came to AJ case managers and was asking for money to go to the corner store to buy cigarettes. Everyone stated that we could not do so because of the AJ policy. It was made very clear from the start that staff were not to do this but since The director of Programs personally knows the client, she gave him the money. Now, I ask myself, if this were me, would I have gotten in trouble? Upper management seems to always get their way yet if a regular employee were to do the same, we’re met with disrespect and/or a write up/ termination.

The director of Programs gossips about other programs and states she's better then "those people" because she's been there for over 14+ years. On multiple occasions, we have caught her gossiping with (BBL) Case Manager a completely different program about issues regarding CJP. On another instance, they were both talking about staff confidentiality matters revolving around one of the Program Coordinators issue between him and management. One of the main things that would have gotten us in trouble was the gossiping. Yet, she was able to get away with it because of her position. The director of Programs told (BBL) Case Manager that CJP was getting cut. She failed to loop me in but told everyone else the issues. Another important thing to note is that The director of Programs would always mix personal issues into professional. When she is feeling a negative way towards us, she’ll go to our staff members telling them to relay information to us which would cause confusion and misunderstandings. Another thing- they currently have a CJP client that was getting trained to be hired for the TE program Case Manager position but upon the PC’s UNLAWFUL termination, this client was told to continue working as a Case Manager with CJP pay. This resulted into the client not feeling confident in their ability to continue in the program and be hired. She was told that if she wanted the position she needed to know who to be friends with cutting certain people out of her personal life. Another staff was told that it is known she is friends with us but that she needed to cut ties with us. This is yet ANOTHER example of mixing personal with business.

The incidents regarding employees feeling harassed at work by another employee was not properly addressed. It is worth mentioning that when employees approached The director of Programs with their concerns, instead of resolving the problem, she resorted to threatening to terminate both the victim and the harasser. It is important to note that the victim did not provoke the harasser in any way. Numerous complaints have been brought to The director of Programs attention, yet she consistently disregards them, creating a hostile environment that hinders collaboration among everyone involved.

The director of Programs consistently places blame on others, unwilling to take responsibility for her actions. In times of escalating conflict, she chooses to retreat rather than assume the leadership role expected of program directors and establish clear guidelines. She finds it funny when others get “thrown under the bus” as she calls it as long as it’s not her.

She firmly states her viewpoint to someone, fully convinced of its correctness. Nevertheless, when complications arise, she disappointingly neglects to support the person she confided in. Instead, she contradicts their claims, thus weakening the credibility of the case manager. She would stand there as if she never said anything to us and we look like we were the ones who lied or did wrong while she is on the clients side or smiling like it’s our own mistake causing a riff between all parties involved.

Arriba Juntos holds a toxic hierarchical power structure that leaves staff at the bottom feeling expendable. Upper management struggles with separating their personal emotions from the work environment, often snapping at employees for small mistakes or questions that are made, impending further progress and growth.. The structure allows for upper management to absolve itself of faults when any said issues are addressed. Anytime concerns surrounding departmental issues and/or with other people, we have been received with dismissive tones and excuses.

In conclusion Arriba Juntos has shown toxicity, ableism, understaffing and overworking. A mixture not ever viable. While I’ve been vocal about the need for changes, I’ve been constantly ignored and brushed off. Upper management follows a clear hierarchy that leaves everyone at the bottom feeling expendable and disrespected. We were so excited to accept our positions as Program Coordinators for TE and CJP and work with AJ. We have a history of community organizing and found passion in social work, but we have been greeted with nothing but disappointment. We’re disheartened by the lack of empathy and expendability at this community center. I look at the turnover rate in this organization and know my feelings are not isolated. There are deep-rooted issues at Arriba Juntos that need to be properly addressed.

Response to profhenry Dear profhenry I don,t know why you feel that I should stop my prior review. I REVIEW ON PERSONAL EXPERIENCE !! Im not judging noone ok. On the other hand you should feel well serve that we are putting this in one review we could of done them by many reviews, this page is being done and manage by a group of community residents. Who have the personal experience of whath is being posted. I feel very happy that your experience were different congratulations! Ours were base on real life events, and your opinions can't change their actions. One more thing, we have being more then considerate of Arriba Juntos by not posting the details of their staff actions. Have a great day profhenry, and just know that my review wil not change! Than you!

This is in response to the post of amigosdelpueblo on June 4. While there is intimidation and abuse from some members of the Arriba Juntos administration, there are definitely good people who work there, and that includes Noemy Membreno and Amanda Sobrepeña, two of whom were included in the list of intimidators and abusers. Let's be sure before judging the innocent.

I really like that there are organizations like Arriba Juntos i believe though that there needs to be more exposure to the public not only so as to educate the public about the organization but to bring it to light and allow the Administrator to show what they are doing and it helps them to be accountable to all including those they help. Transparency is the best polcy for any non-profit. I really love this organization but as i worked there they seemed to not want public exposure ? so i asked why? The more transparent we are to the public the more above board we are. One thing i did notice is there is a Dept. head that has a tendency to take things personally and she has a record of over 30 or 40 fireings/dismissals of employees. I asked myself if that many terminations is reasonable? but then i had to ask myself is that abuse of authority and then i asked why is this organization not in the public eye? I've volunteered for AJ for over 6 months and seen all this and i've even suggested for public exposure but all i get is blank statements. I've asked some of the paid employees if they'd like public exposure they say yes but will not speak up due to the fact that they dont want to get fired. Well i've said enough overall i really enjoy working at AJ.