This nonprofit may have started with well meaning intentions, but now it’s 100 percent a shell organization used to prop up the ambitions of a social justice influencer. Grant money received by this org will fund the $100k salaries of its three c-suite employees. A simple Google search on this org would quickly prove how little impact this once high-potential organization has ultimately had on the communities they claim to champion. Unfortunately, this is symbolic of the larger perversion of social justice work in STL, overtaken by big egos and “girl bosses.” You’d be better off donating to the hundreds of animal/pet related non profits proliferating throughout this city, as they’re at least doing measurable work and you’ll know where your money is really going.
It's one thing to claim "we're building the plane as we're flying it" on a project in its early stages, it's another to push this as an internal ethos for years on end. CRXLAB may have built some wings for their plane at one point and even had the appearance of flying, but there is no safety gear for the crew nor passengers.
As an organization that claims to center and pride itself and its work on equity and justice, it should be incredibly alarming to its Board and stakeholders that the overwhelming majority of staff (also many of whom were BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+, who CRXLAB would also refer to as historically underinvested individuals) over the years have come in as passionate, creative, and caring individuals and have been pushed out, fired, or pulled their parachute while exhausted, demoralized, and uncertain of themselves.
While staff among themselves have strived in their commitments to mission and delivery of quality programming, this has often been forsaken in the name of urgency and chasing funding/revenue as mandated by leadership. It should come as no surprise that of the many elements of their framework, Equity-Centered Community Design, the central element of Healing had the least amount of developed content. There is no room made for healing and collective care in this org.
I do not doubt that CRXLAB was founded with good intentions and a passionate vision, but as the founder and CEO often names: intentions are not enough, we need to focus on impact. The impact of this organization at this time is clearly reflected on their Team page in the overflowing "graveyard" of names of staff members come and gone in less than 8 years (and at this time all who remain are C-suite and 1 FTE, after several full-time employees were demoted and/or fired) and in the growing number of reviews reflecting similar sentiments. At some point, leadership will need to engage humility as their org often preaches about and recognize that with an overwhelming number of stories of harm, it is time to look at themselves and the impact of the choices they've made over the years.
Unfortunately, no trust can nor should be given to the future of this organization in its current structure, with the founder leading as CEO, and her two self-proclaimed "best friends" serving as Chair of the Board and Chief of Staff & Finance Administrator, respectively. There are currently no reliable checks and balances of this organization and I would strongly encourage funders and donors to reconsider their investments and redirect to other efforts in support of racial justice and healing.
By dedicating your time, energy, and financial support to this organization, you're essentially backing a company where the c-suite leadership falls short of centering equity, despite their vocal advocacy for it. In practice, their actions often contradict the equity principles they preach. Two core elements of equity, the willingness to accept and act on feedback and the imperative to shift power dynamics, are sorely lacking in this organization.
The CEO's pursuit of perfection is mind mindboggling, even though the organization claims to operate counter to the tenets of white supremacy. This perfectionism attitude extends to setting extraordinarily high expectations for the staff, pushing them to produce an excessive amount of work under intense time constraints, which can be best described as a "Sense of Urgency." Many staff who said they were diagnostic with depression or their current mental challenges being exacerbated by the working conditions.
Within the workplace, it's clear that only one opinion truly matters—hers. The CEO's authority reigns supreme, and her decisions, even if not in the best interest of the organization or its staff, go unchallenged, reflecting a significant issue of "Power Hoarding."
Despite the organization's claims, the CEO's actions speak differently. When employees submit work, they often wait for weeks to receive any feedback. Then, just before a project's deadline, a deluge of feedback arrives, with the expectation that all changes should be made overnight. Staff members have overheard the CEO express a desire to transition away from the nonprofit sector with the aim of capitalizing on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in for-profit spaces. This revelation is disconcerting, as it raises questions about the organization's principles, considering they frequently discuss harnessing the power of capitalism to their advantage in this context.
Look at the "Previous Staff List" on the organization's website it is nothing short of disheartening. The drastic reduction in the number of staff, from many talented individuals to just four, is concerning. What's even more distressing is that three of these individuals occupy c-suite positions with salaries exceeding $100,000, while the lone full-time staff member earns less than half of what the c-suite leaders do. This WILDY STARK contrast raises valid questions about the organization's commitment to equity, which seem at odds with their claims.
RUN FOR THE HILLS! DO NOT DONATE! SCAM ALERT! This organization is fraudulent through and through from the head to the toe. Starting with the Founder, President and CEO (AC), she is a popular voice in the equity space, yet doesn’t practice what she claims to believe in and preach. Internally, the organization may have began as a solution and benefit resource, however, in present day, it offers hostility to employees past and present (most likely future), zero presence in the St. Louis community where CRXLAB is founded/located and funded programs that are either nonexistent or little to no participation (lower numbers than they claim to have). Currently there’s a small board of around 5 folks whom are really only there to help raise funds for the organization (money hungry 24/7), 1 CEO, 2 Chief Executives and 1 FT employee*. Everyone else (if there’s anyone else) is contracted. Those tiny numbers alone isn’t sufficient to support and serve the youth they claim to be about. Oh, and THERE AREN’T ANY LATINX REPRESENTATION of any kind and the retention rate is extremely high. Ask them how many employees they’ve had in the last 365 days. Basically, the organization is being funded, yet the funds are being used to keep the organization afloat; ZERO ACTUAL IMPACT PRESENT DAY. This isn’t a real nonprofit. It’s a complete front. DO. NOT. DONATE.
After working with this organization, I was heartbroken to see how the management of this nonprofit does not match the equity-centered framework the organization presents in their programs. There is a toxic culture of top-down micromangement that stems from the C-suite of this organization. Very little transparency in the internal operations - program and administrative staff are often kept in the dark about upper management's decisions that have ripple effects on staff and their work. The CEO/Founder seems to micromanage her staff - nothing is submitted without her eyes on it, and she has extremely high standards that are often impossible to meet. This causes significant operational bottlenecks resulting in consistent late nights for staff submitting important documents to funders and organizational partners. She and her C-suite team offer no space allowed for constructive feedback among those most impacted, and program details and participant data are inconsistently reported in public documents and grant submission with little data to back up actual impact.
Creative Reaction Lab 10/17/2023
Dear nonprofitprofessional321, In response to your review, we want to address your concerns. Despite being a small organization, we are dedicated to our mission and are committed to upholding our values and cultivating a team-centered, co-creation culture that fosters an equitable and supportive work environment. We understand that perspectives from former employees can differ, especially during periods of restructuring. We take all feedback seriously and aim to provide accurate information to our supporters, young leaders, and the community, with transparency and integrity. However, after reviewing your feedback, we found that some of the information you provided may not align with the facts and could be considered defamatory. We recognize that misunderstandings can occur, and misinformation can unintentionally spread. We value our reputation and invite you to contact us directly at info@crxlab.org to share your experience, allowing us to address your concerns more effectively.
This is one of the worse non profits I have ever worked with!! DO NOT WORK WITH THIS ORGANIZATION, I REPEAT, DO NOT WORK WITH THIS ORGANIZATION. They are not honest about how they use their funding to support their youth. This organization used to be reputable, but its growingly become more toxic due to the leadership. They run this organization like it's a dictatorship in which leadership talks trash about their staff and the youth who participate in their programs.
They created a Community of Practice that basically stole from the participants. Participants were promised access to CRXLAB coaching, the CEO, regular meetings to learn from CRXLAB, modules, access to resources that were exclusive to the CoP and access to other members in the community doing similar work. BUT all we got were monthly payments for nothing that was promised. They charge participants $416 for the month, $1249 per quarter and $4995 for an unclear offering. The way they lied and told people what it would be, was not what it ended up being. It seemed like someones last minute idea to take money from alot of hard working people who wanted to support and learn from the organization. Funny thing is, there is no longer a person to lead the CoP, but they still advertise it on their website and still charge participants who have begged to get their money back. They only have 4 employees now working at the org and still lie and advertise that they offer a bunch of stuff that they clearly cant and/or DONT!
Creative Reaction Lab 10/17/2023
Dear tjohnson7150, In response to your review, we want to address your concerns. All Community of Practice members were invited to a final Community of Practice celebration meeting with Founder, President and CEO Antionette Carroll and members who were not able to attend were invited to schedule individual time with Antionette. We understand that misunderstandings can occur, and sometimes misinformation is unintentionally spread. We value our reputation and would appreciate the opportunity to clarify any misconceptions or inaccuracies in your review. We encourage you to reach out to us directly at info@crxlab.org to share your experience so we can address your concerns effectively. Scheduling individual time with Antionette as a Community of Practice member is still available to you and we would be glad to coordinate a meeting for you.
My first interaction with CRXLAB was the Artwork for Equity Program in 2021. In the program, I learned how to use my artwork for activism, and that doing so (being a redesigner for justice) is a career viable option.
Recently, CRXLAB invited me to speak as a co-presenter, along with Quinton Ward, at the 2022 Adobe MAX conference. This was an incredible opportunity! I was able to share my story, methods, and art with thousands of people. Antoinette and Robert were wonderful to work with. The experience reassured my career choice as an independent artists and will always be a moment held dear. I cannot insist enough how important and wonderful this CRXLAB is. More people need to know that art is more than a tool fro the wealthy to make more money and can produce genuine social change.
My experience with crxlab has been incredibly rewarding so far. There are so many kind people who are so willingly to help. It really feels like one big family. As an institution they’re very committed to creating equitable spaces for black and brown youth. I’m very excited to continue to work with them!
The organization's educational webinars alone are a significant resource in support of BIPOC, our allies, and more importantly our accomplices.
Their tireless work in developing upcoming cohorts of Black and Latinx youth to realize their potential while helping their communities is invaluable.
In 2019, the last year it was open to creatives over 25, I was honored to be one of sixteen designers and artists selected from around the country to contribute to CRXL's Artwork for Equity campaign.
I have a deep sense of gratitude to have been selected from hundreds of applicants and allowed the opportunity to support such an important and distinguished organization by doing what I love to do.
I had an opportunity to experience some of the equity training that Creative Reaction Lab offers. I was blown away. It was community censored and culturally relevant and therefore extremely impactful
The Creative Reaction Lab is a phenomenal organization that does and amazing job educating, training, and challenging Black and Latinx youth to become leaders in designing healthy and racially equitable communities!
Creative Reaction Lab leads the field of social design in equity and community-centered approaches. They are also very generous with their knowledge, hosting informative webinars and sharing their work and learnings regularly in a way that strengthens our entire field.
I follow Creative Reaction Lab on Instagram and their feed gives me so much inspiration and hope for what is possible in my own organization.
Striving to be equitable through design tools is not always easy and they do such an amazing job!
Creative Reaction Lab is not only making a difference in our communities but continually leading the pack on what it means to innovate the ways that we serve. I've always been impressed by the organization, yet Creative Reaction Lab continues to surprise me in new ways day after day.
For example, earlier this year when the pandemic first hit, while the rest of us looked around wondering what to do and what this would mean for our lives, our families, our communities, and the orgs we cared about Creative Reaction Lab wa building new programs to serve its communities. Notably, they acted on behalf of their communities, in response to their mission without worrying about themselves. At the height of the pandemic, Creative Reaction Lab launched the Youth Creative Leadership Fund (YCLF) to financially assist youth, their families, and their community members who were bearing the brunt of the structural inequities that COVID has shined light on for so many. As an organization who has been doing the work to care for those that our systems have left behind for years, Creative Reaction had the perspective and community connections to create an intervention that made real impact while so many of us sat helpless. Many of us worry about the financial and structrual health of the organizations that we donate to and support as well, so I am pleased to say that in the last year Creative Reaction Lab made substantial changes to its business model as well, including introdcing a popular series of online trainings all of which have led to unprecedented growth in the organization's financial foundation. Even as a young organiation, Creative Reaction Lab has already built a legacy to be proud of and is poised to continue to keep growing its impact and legacy over the next few years. I can't wait to see and support in what the organization does next.
I have long been a fan of Antionette Carroll and Creative Reaction Lab's work. This team models the level of dedication and thoughtfulness I believe we can all hold for the communities we care for and serve. Their Equity-Centered Community Design approach has informed my work—in and out of education—and I continually reference CRX Lab's workshops and resources with my colleagues.
This nonprofit is a premier example of impactful community leadership and programming through their grassroots initiatives and delivery of paradigm-shifting concepts to design a better world.
Creative Reaction Lab has been at the forefront of equity-design for years. They have been a national leader for everyone—from designers, to community organizers, to local government. CRL's work warrants the funding and support to grow their programs to communities and cities across this country.
Creative Reaction Lab is an amazing organization that has been an incredible force for equity. For me personally conversations with the founder Antionette Carroll helped me sort through the confusing reality of being a white passing member of minority ancestry. In conversations we had at the SOCAP conference her clear thoughts on how to acknowledge, embrace, and use our own power to lift up those around us was invaluable.
As a founder of an international organization that works with marginalized communities that experience and clarity has been invaluable.
My first introduction to Creative Reaction Lab was through the 'Where Are the Black Designers' Conference held online in June 2020, where Antionette Carroll spoke on a roundtable discussion about 'Next Steps' with regards to addressing the disparity of Black designers across different industries.
This came at a time when I was reevaluating my own participation in the capital-driven creative landscape and was searching for ways to use my skills more intentionally. Fast-forward to today, I am now a Design Associate at CRXLAB and I can speak from experience that this organization is constantly doing the work to create equitable, community-driven spaces for the St. Louis, MO youth it serves, but also for its employees.
Through instilling the idea of Equity-Centered Community Design into every stage of CRXLAB's operations and programming, joining this organization has helped me reexamine my creative process and brought meaningful considerations to the forefront: are the stakeholders involved represent the community impacted? how are we practicing humility & empathy in this process? are we building from historical knowledge and incorporating healing processes? are we addressing power dynamics?
I say all of this to acknowledge the great work CRXLAB is currently doing! And through ECCD, we will continue to learn, grow and hold current systems (and ourselves!) accountable for equitable change.
Creative Reaction Lab is dedicated to designing racial and health inequities and empowering folks to lift as they climb.
CRL has helped me as an educator gain the perspective and tools I need to power shift and co-create with my students; important stakeholders often left out of conversations that impact them the most.
I follow Creative Reaction Lab on Instagram and as an aspiring designer focusing on design justice, their resources and content are important in
devising actionable steps to redistribute power, build community, and dismantle/redesign oppressive structures. I want to take their workshop on how design upholds white supremacy. I am grateful for all they do!
I love working here already! I just started and everybody is so welcoming and understanding! I have been looking for a place like this that foster great work culture and social justice.
I would like to recognize the wisdom and equity toolkits developed by the innovative team at Creative Reaction Lab. Approaching my work, research, social interactions, and antiracism practice with their Equity-Centered Community Design (ECCD) lens has been truly formative.
I love the work that Creative Action Lab is doing. Their thoughtful and intersectional approach to solving systemic issues is refreshing and inspiring. We need more nonprofits like this in the world!
I've been using the Equity-Centered Community Design field guide to inform my work for city government, and make city services more equitably designed. The field guide is very well organized and provides practical tactics for centering equity in work.
CRX Lab has an incredible mission in training Black and Latinx youth to be the next generation of equity designers, and I'm so honored to support this mission as a board member. I'll be attending my first immersive in the spring and I cannot wait.
For the past two years, we have worked with Creative Reaction Lab (CRL) to bring "Design to Better Your Community" workshops to residents in South Texas. These workshops are consistently rated as our top performing programs of the year, with our residents saying it allowed them to think differently about their community and their role as a change maker.
CRL's approach to equity building is like none other. Their focus in engaging youth, and living by progressive values (such as empathy) sets them apart from other nonprofits that offer community-building workshops.
Attending a CRL workshop is truly life and mind-changing. Working with them has been a complete delight. I cannot recommend this nonprofit enough.
I attended an immersive around Equity-Centered Community Design. The immersive was so insightful and thoughtful. I will be including the concept of the live expert in all my human-centered design work. That concept is so valuable in achieving meaningful and actionable outcomes in all design work. In addition, the team that put on the immersive embodied the concepts that the work espouses. I will be working to spread their work within my organization.
In addition to serving on the Board, I was a participant in an Equity by Design Immersive Series and LOVED it! Over the course of three days, I learned about the equity centered community design framework, the importance of centering and including living experts in program design, and what it means to be a design ally and equity designer. The staff are excellent facilitators as demonstrated by their ability to navigate difficult conversations, adapt to participant feedback and needs, and create an environment of fun and learning! Creative Reaction Lab also has other great community based programming and their mission of engaging Black and Latinx youth to be socially engaged as designers and allies is a model we should all follow. Antoinette and her small but mighty team are organized, responsive, knowledgeable, and overall, impressive!
Creative Reaction Lab 10/17/2023
Dear truth.speaking, In response to your review, we want to address your concerns. Despite being a small organization, we are dedicated to our mission and are committed to upholding our values and cultivating a team-centered, co-creation culture that fosters an equitable and supportive work environment. We understand that perspectives from former employees can differ, especially during periods of restructuring. We take all feedback seriously and aim to provide accurate information to our supporters, young leaders, and the community, with transparency and integrity. However, after reviewing your feedback, we found that some of the information you provided may not align with the facts and could be considered defamatory. We recognize that misunderstandings can occur, and misinformation can unintentionally spread. We value our reputation and invite you to contact us directly at info@crxlab.org to share your experience, allowing us to address your concerns more effectively.