La Grange Nonprofit Hits Back At Critics

LA GRANGE, IL – An embattled La Grange nonprofit group on Friday responded to critics who are calling for changes.

LeaderShop recently lost more than 40 percent of its funding, which comes from the Lyons Township Mental Health Commission.

The government agency alleges LeaderShop's executive director, Alan Morales, sexually harassed the commission's officials at a holiday party in December.

LeaderShop's board had planned to hold an in-person meeting at its office Thursday night. But the nonprofit decided to go fully virtual after its separate alumni association announced plans to hold a protest outside.

In an email to Patch on Friday, Linn Meyer, LeaderShop's board president, said the association is a small group of people.

She said it does not represent the "literally thousands of young people" who have taken part in the program, which provides leadership opportunities for youth.

"To be clear, we treasure the lifelong commitment to this agency of our alumni and thank this group for its interest however much we may disagree with its approach," Meyer said.

LeaderShop, she said, offered to discuss the association's issues and work collaboratively.

But she said the association seemed intent on pursuing its "own questionable agenda for reasons about which we decline to speculate."

"Their communications in large part include erroneous and harmful statements, and they have made it clear that they don’t wish to have mature and reasonable conversations about anything at all," Meyer said. "We are not going to discuss their many erroneous statements in a public arena."

In an interview, Candice Mares of the association said members of her group spoke to the board during the virtual meeting.

She said the alumni association wants Morales out as director. He is set to leave in September after more than two decades.

Mares said her group was told LeaderShop must honor Morales' contract, which lasts through September.

She said the group could continue paying Morales through September, but remove him as the director. His salary is $171,000 a year.

"There's kind of a sense of urgency here," Mares said.

If LeaderShop changes its leadership, funders such as the commission may continue giving money again, Mares said.

As for how LeaderShop is handling the harassment allegations, Mares said, "Every little girl is watching."

She said LeaderShop officials keep referring to the holiday party incident as "unfortunate." The group has acknowledged in communications to the commission that Morales "hasn't completely incorporated the kind of interpersonal boundaries expected by professional women in today's workplace."

Meyer also said the association wants LeaderShop to fill its board vacancies. It now has eight members, but its bylaws allow up to 17, including two youths, Mares said.

Morales did not respond to a request for comment.