The paradox of noble-cause corruption, unethical actions taken in pursuit of the greater good, is so prevalent in the non-profit sector that it’s become normalized. And due to the United States government’s ongoing divestment in public health, we have no choice but to rely on these organizations to access social services and support. But what kind of “support” repeatedly results in systemic violence being inflicted on marginalized individuals and communities? And what kind of “support” industry fails to support its workers? Every larger system is responsible to the people who make it work, as well as to the people it serves. Both direct service delivery and efforts at larger social change are undermined in an eroding environment that fails to support its workers.
When I saw a class on worker cooperatives and the solidarity economy was being offered in my community, I signed up. I wanted to find out if there was a way to build a better, more ethical organization to serve the complex mental health needs of a society. That’s what I was hoping for. And that’s precisely what happened. But first, I want to tell you how I got here.
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