Adam Garone

Overdue Review Nonexistent program support, poor communication from higher ups. Undervalued staff contributed to low group morale. Isolated departments, didn't function as one cohesive unit. Unanswered questions, unaddressed issues and concerns. Our program was cut without warning by CEO (Jacqueline Hart.) We had to fight to even tell the kids or give them any notice at all. Prior to dumping our program, we received very little support, tech or otherwise. Our site was embarrassingly outdated, trapped in the dark ages. Sick kids were trying to chat with their friends only to be met with frustration and nonstop tech problems. Staff training was inconsistent, rules & regulations/emergency protocol were clear as mud. We asked, made calls, wrote emails, spoke at staff meetings. The kids even reached out on their own, asked Starlight for support. Expressed how much their program meant to them, helped them make friends who could relate to their struggles, battle isolation, etc. In the end, after years of fighting for money, resources, and support, they pulled the plug. Bottom line? I worked at Starlight for many, many years. I loved my work with all my heart. I loved the kids with all my heart. Community staff (myself included) offered to take pay cuts, work for free, if only to keep the community up and running for the kids. It's been a little over a year since our program was "sunset," as they liked to say. I can't speak for the new CEO. Maybe he's positively impacted office culture. I don't know. What I do know is that this organization has a history of doing wrong by its employees, and I learned a lot during my time here about how not to treat people. Take from that what you will.