When someone is in crisis, what’s the first thing to do? Or more specifically, what does an organization do? Recently, LGBTQ civil rights organization Garden State Equality faced a crisis in the abrupt departure of its executive director, Christian Fuscarino, who resigned in December following his November arrest for assaulting his foster child. Fuscarino pled guilty March 26 to one count of endangering the welfare of a child by a caretaker.
After news of the assault broke, GSE immediately put out a statement to the public stressing that “Garden State Equality’s mission remains unchanged. Our priority has always been, and will remain, advocating for LGBTQ+ communities in New Jersey to experience lived equality.”
But the turmoil surrounding what happened was hard to assuage. So GSE looked deep within, assessed the damage, and set out to restore harmony and live up to its mission.
GSE designated Deputy Executive Director Brielle Winslow-Majette as acting executive director and forged ahead. The board of directors stated, “We stand against violence in all forms and take seriously our responsibility to steward the organization and its important mission.” They further vowed to create a team to “…conduct a comprehensive review of GSE operations and make recommendations to the board.” The organization then pushed forward to rebuild trust with the community and press on with work that needed to be done.
GSE would normally have presented an Equality at Work Symposium this March, scheduled to take place at Bell Works in Holmdel, Monmouth County. However, the team deepened its commitment to introspection and decided to pivot to a different symposium, Rooted in Equality, which took place April 21 and 22 at Bell Works.
According to GSE, the event was geared to “(Re)imagine what the movement for lived and legal equality in New Jersey looks like …Rooted in Equality is where LGBTQ+ community, culture, and strategy meet: two days of real conversation, collective care, and building what comes next.”
Winslow-Majette said, “As I have been thrust into this position, with poor soil and little water, I am turning toward the sunlight. In this moment, I am extending this olive branch with open hands and an open record. I am willing to hold the history of Garden State Equality accountable, while vowing not to make the same mistakes. I am willing to listen, and to do the work, because I cannot ensure we grow without knowing what stunted our growth in the past. This is not to save Garden State Equality, but to make sure our community never falls.”
The event explored community, socializing, and, collectively decided what was important to emphasize as the organization moved forward. The first day started with a panel discussion on intergenerational support. Members of the forum ranged in age from 17 to 72. They agreed on a need for communing, functioning together, and naming where there is hurt. They sensed a common desire to continue to show up, be present in all spaces, serve the diverse community, show one another respect, and find common ground in making change.
Breakout sessions over the two days focused on wellness, restoration, healing, overcoming crisis, allyship, leadership, planning for the future, advocacy, activism, stress reduction, and civil rights. The days also included discussion groups in which participants brainstormed and wrote down statements to be reviewed by the organization.
Cathy Renna, director of communications for the National LGBTQ Task Force, gave a presentation called “Meeting the Moment: Crisis or Opportunity?” She examined “Complex Communications in Challenging Times”, giving participants tools to face a dilemma, respond publicly, and grow as an organization throughout turmoil and beyond.
Justine Evyn Saliski, senior director of education and youth development for GSE, summed up the impetus and mechanisms for the event:
“Rooted in Equality was an idea that sprouted in a moment. We knew that it was necessary to shift the conversation from corporate dialogue to community care, and we asked ourselves, ‘What are our intentions here? What are we trying to create in this moment?’ And our answer was vulnerable dialogue and intentional healing.
“When moments like this happen that surround restoration, repair, and reconnection, it’s inevitable that we will lean into what is possible in our collective futures. This may be the first event of its kind that invited community members to engage in conversations around what happens next, and how can Garden State Equality show up for the community, for OUR community, but it certainly will not be the last. We look forward to sharing our own action plan surrounding what comes next, and hope you will join us for many conversations to come.”
