Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  IDENTITY

FEATURE: Howard Brown—More questions than answers
by Yasmin Nair
2010-05-01

This article shared 3391 times since Sat May 1, 2010
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email


It has now been almost a month since Windy City Times first broke the news that Howard Brown Health Center ( HBHC ) had placed its CEO and CFO, Michael Cook and Mark Joslyn, respectively, on paid administrative leave. Since then, HBHC has revealed no details about the reasons for its actions, only issuing a series of increasingly cryptic press releases promising further details.

Subsequently, Cook stepped down and Joslyn was let go. After weeks of silence and much speculation in the community, the agency made two critical announcements in a press release dated April 26 in which it revealed the nature of the issues surrounding the departure of the two men and the name of its new CEO. In the press release, HBHC announced that it is "cooperating with the National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) on an investigation into allegations of mishandling funds involving the Multi-Center AIDS Cohort Study ( MACS ) , one of the center's research grants." It added that, " [ t ] o protect the integrity of the investigation the Board and its counsel must limit the amount of information released to the public. Once the organization releases its findings to the NIH it hopes to be able to share additional information with the public."

The press release went on to say that HBHC's board of directors is working with the NIH to make "management changes, [ implement ] internal controls and an independent audit of all federal grants." It stated that there was "no reason to believe that any funds were misappropriated for personal gain or used for purposes other than the center's mission and services. Findings show that the funds were used to support services and programs at Howard Brown."

This release confirmed news reported by Windy City Times two weeks ago that Howard Brown "transferred its lead agency status of the MACS to long-time research partner, Northwestern University." This is supposed to ensure that the MACS study continues without interruption. According to HBHC, "This transfer will not have a significant financial impact on the organization. In its capacity as a subcontractor, Howard Brown will continue to receive nearly the same amount of money for the work it performs under the grant."

Howard Brown has also named Jamal Edwards as the organization's new CEO and president, effective June 1. According to the official bio, Edwards was, prior to joining HBHC, a partner in the law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP, "where he represented foreign and domestic corporations in litigation, intellectual property, and corporate transactional matters" and the firm's first openly gay partner in Chicago. The press release indicates that Edwards is no stranger to Howard Brown, having served as the agency's primary outside counsel while at Kirkland & Ellis. It also states that he "lead numerous Kirkland teams representing Howard Brown in countless matters ranging from mergers and acquisitions to litigation to real estate." The release also states that Edwards was a co-chair of HBHC's 2009 gala.

Meanwhile, community leaders are beginning to voice their frustration and concerns about what many describe as a lack of transparency on the part of an important organization. The controversy has raised the specter of old scandals at HBHC, and it is causing some to seriously worry about the impact this issue will have on the most vulnerable population: the clients who need and require the health care services provided by the Center.

Rick Garcia, public policy director of Equality Illinois, summed up Howard Brown's silence, which has spread through all levels of the organization, telling Windy City Times that " [ t ] he board itself has battened down the hatches and is engaging in a code of silence; there is no transparency." Referring to a previous scandal at HBHC, he said he was bewildered as to how bad the current issue could be that the board felt compelled to be so silent: "I can't imagine the situation being worse than when the development officer was selling crystal meth. And even then they were more transparent, and cleaned up under the great leadership of Michael Cook. Now, instead of letting us know, they've just been silent. I've been criticized for saying this, but I'll repeat myself: They're acting like our own little Vatican; They are trying to sweep it under the rug. That's exactly how the Vatican operates. If we can criticize the Vatican, we can criticize Howard Brown."

Currently, Winger Associations handles Howard Brown's public relations even though the agency employs a director of communications, Donald Rolfe. Garcia did not think that either the public-relations firm or HBHC's attorneys were doing a good job: "Whoever is advising them should be fired on the spot. You have to get ahead of the story but they've just allowed the rumor mill to have a field day."

Garcia pointed out that the silence could have a detrimental effect on morale and on funders, given that people in these economic times are likely to be even more stringent about where their money goes because, in his words, "Who is going to support an organization that has a cloud over it?" Asked what the agency could do to recover its public image, he responded, "The recovery point was three weeks ago—now we're way past it." He was also concerned about the effect of the scandal and silence on client services, which, he emphasized, provided much-needed health care to those who need an affirming environment: "I know people who drive in from Bolingbrook and Rockford because they don't feel like they can get health care in their communities."

State Rep. Greg Harris expressed similar concerns about the clients of Howard Brown and said he preferred to exercise caution before rushing to judgment, citing the need to "be very protective of the clients who are going to Howard Brown for health care; we need to ensure their needs are taken care of."

Lori Cannon, a community AIDS activist who works for Vital Bridges' GrocreryLand, also expressed concern about the clients when she spoke with Windy City Times. Like Garcia, she was struck by the "wall of silence" that has come down on the issue. She was also critical of the hiring of an outside firm to handle public relations, saying that the move "shows arrogance and a sense of entitlement. Donors don't appreciate that kind of attitude." However, she also noted that "Howard Brown has been at the forefront of the AIDS epidemic from day one and has provided case management, medical services and lab work to clients." Cannon worried that this situation might create "undue stress on a population that's already facing stress on a day-to-day basis." While rumors are flying, Cannon said she took no pleasure in the talk of "skullduggery and machinations."

Questions also continue to revolve around the fact that Cook and board chair Steve Phelps are reportedly ex-partners personally, and some wonder how that conflict of interest was and is being handled.

On a more recent note, this past weekend, reportedly a high-level meeting was held with HBHC donors, but no one is speaking yet about the impact of the scandal on the agency's future.

Windy City Times will continue to pursue this story.


This article shared 3391 times since Sat May 1, 2010
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Brown Elephant Returns To Northalsted
2024-03-26
Brown Elephant's Lake View location is moving to Northalsted and already accepting donations. Howard Brown Health, the largest LGBTQ+ health center in the midwest, operates three Brown Elephant resale shops in the Chicagoland area to help ...


Gay News

An interstate trans healthcare crisis: Illinois prepares for influx of people seeking gender-affirming care
2024-03-26
With hard-won rights, such as access to hormone replacement therapy or permission to use one's chosen pronouns in school, breaking down in states across the country, trans residents of all ages are left with a choice: ...


Gay News

Be here, be queer, play polo: Gay Polo League creates safe athletic space for LGBTQ community
2024-03-26
LGBTQ+ athletic clubs aren't too hard to come by, offering a variety of sports such as softball, soccer and more in cities across the country. But LGBTQ+ athletes would be harder pressed to find someplace to ...


Gay News

Planned Parenthood of Illinois expands Orland Park health center
2024-03-26
--From a press release - ORLAND PARK, Ill. - Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) announces the expansion of its existing Orland Park Health Center at 14470 S. LaGrange Rd., Suite 106. The 1,800-square-foot expansion is projected to increase sexual and reproductive ...


Gay News

After 30 Under 30: MAP Executive Director Naomi Goldberg
2024-03-25
NOTE: In this series, Windy City Times will profile some of its past 30 Under 30 honorees. Windy City Times started its 30 Under 30 Awards in 2001, presenting them each year through 2019. This year, ...


Gay News

Wyoming is latest state to ban gender-affirming care for minors
2024-03-24
On March 22, Wyoming became the latest state to prohibit gender-affirming care for minors, The Hill noted. In doing so, it joined 23 other states that passed laws restricting or banning the treatment. Legislators in both ...


Gay News

Former Chicago Girl Scouts CEO Brooke Wiseman to receive Luminary Award
2024-03-22
Brooke Wiseman, a now-retired nonprofit leader in the Chicago area, spent most of her career creating leadership development opportunities for girls and women—and making sure that hungry children could be fed. While leading Girl Scouts of ...


Gay News

Affinity celebrates Burning Bowl while looking toward the future
2024-03-19
On March 17, Affinity Community Services held its annual Burning Bowl ceremony even as it already sets its organizational sights on 2025. The event, titled Burning Bowl 2024 Evolution, was held at Studio Imani, 5917 N. ...


Gay News

Chicago's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council sets a new course
2024-03-18
Chicago's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council held its first meeting of the calendar year on Feb. 28 at City Hall in the Loop under the leadership of the recently appointed chair Jin-Soo Huh. The LGBTQ+ Advisory Council is ...


Gay News

WORLD Leaked messages, Panama action, author dies at 32, Japan court, out athletes
2024-03-15
Hundreds of messages from an internal chat board for an international group of transgender health professionals were leaked in a report and framed as revealing serious health risks associated with gender-affirming care, including cancer, according to ...


Gay News

UK health service to stop routinely prescribing puberty blockers to minors
2024-03-14
NHS (National Health Service) England confirmed that children will no longer routinely be prescribed puberty blockers at gender-identity clinics, the BBC reported. The decision came after a review found there was "not enough evidence" that they ...


Gay News

One Roof Chicago launches youth-focused workforce development program
2024-03-14
One Roof Chicago (ORC) is set to launch its first training, education and job placement program for LGBTQ+ young adults in late spring. This Community Health Workers and Elder Care program is a part of ORC's ...


Gay News

Howard Brown experts discuss advocacy and allyship for Chicago's trans community
2024-03-14
By Alec Karam - Howard Brown Health's Trans & Gender Diverse People's Rights & Patient Care panel convened March 12 to discuss both resources for—and opportunities to provide allyship to—the city's trans and gender diverse communities. The event hos ...


Gay News

Howard Brown Health faces October trial if settlement isn't reached with union
2024-03-13
Howard Brown Health could go to trial over unfair labor practice allegations if the LGBTQ+ health center doesn't reach a settlement with its agreement soon. Chicago's regional director of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) filed ...


Gay News

No 'explanations' needed: Affinity remains a haven for Chicago's Black queer community
2024-03-12
Back in 2007, Anna DeShawn came out while she was studying for her undergraduate degree. At around the same time, she searched online for "Black lesbians in Chicago." Her search led her to Affinity Community Services, ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.