Pros
Both the tangible and intangible benefits that Active Minds offers were helpful, rewarding, and beneficial; especially prioritizing PTO and mental health days. Many of the people who work there are also wonderful colleagues, who are passionate about the cause and young people they serve. While I didn’t work closely with them, the Chief over the program division and many of the program team folks are very thoughtful, action oriented, and willing to lead with values and integrity. Many of the initiatives across the organization are rooted in deep transformational beliefs on how to positively change the way mental health is talked about. Many who work there are hungry for collaboration, reaching out across departments to decrease silos and increase partnership.
Cons
Working at Active Minds was one of the most challenging professional experiences of my career. The leadership opportunities (both project and people leadership) are not afforded equally or equitably across departments, with the perception of favoritism becoming apparent and realized; with some being offered free and clear promotions, while others being told they would need to go through the promotion process, including skip-level promotions that we were told were not allowed, but actively happened. Those that are positioned to help and advocate for staff and young adults are self serving and willing to sacrifice others to save themselves; often lying and manipulating situations to ensure they come out “on top.” I was treated poorly on many occasions, with witnesses who were in leadership, DEI, and HR roles. When I asked what would be done, I was told I could make an official complaint. I clarified that they themselves witnessed it, wasn’t that enough? The answer was no, and I would have to file it myself. And when I did, there was little to no follow up or action taken, noted in related behaviors not being addressed. As an organization who was VERY aggressive on their DEI beliefs, those things were slowly walked back and we entered into a time of performance, inaction, and blatant disrespect by those leading that area.
The rapid turn over of staff is alarming, with the leadership explanation being rooted in: this is happening everywhere; when a new leader comes in, staff turnover happens; this is hard season for everyone. When staff started asking questions and seeking clarity on what was happening, we were talked down to and approached with being accused of stirring the pot rather than understanding the work environment. We would be required to attend culture and workplace workshops, but were discouraged from using those learnings in real time. Younger in age and career talent were often dismissed and discouraged from speaking from expertise and experience; which feels wild given the organizations serves young adults.
I have never been lied about more than my time working at Active Minds. It was a daily fight to protect myself, often having to document almost every interaction. And when I proved I was being lied about, zero apologies came from those that were penalizing me previously and I was asked to give grace; which was something I was not afforded. We entered a phase of performative responses in an effort that I would not take my complaints to the next level, as MANY others have to no avail. I confided in senior leadership seeking guidance and mentorship, and they later used it to their gain and in an effort to support their favorites. At the time I worked there, the VP over School Programming initiatives was one of the most problematic and disrespectful people I have ever worked with, and appeared they were given “passes” because they claimed to be a direct person and wasn’t intended to be rude. They are rude and created spaces of true hurt and harm across the organization, with many from their team no longer working there while they were in leadership.
When the decision came to stay OR leave with no clear next step for me, the choice was obvious: I would rather be personally in career limbo than stay working in place of harm and disrespect. Even after being gone from the organization for over a year, I still feel so hurt about my time there.