More survivors of MCC abuse speak out about NDAs, sexual harassment, financial fraud, bullying, and dangerous neglect of health needs
“It felt like one of those movies, where all of a sudden the whole system is trying to crush you.” –MCC representative couple whose reports of fraud in an externally-funded MCC partner organization were systematically suppressed or ignored by their supervisors, HR, financial services, international program, and planning/learning/disaster response
“Before I entered that job, I was proud to be who I am, an independent, strong-headed woman. But by the time I left I was crawling out of there, with barely any of my essence left intact.” –Survivor of years of gaslighting and sexual harassment within MCC
“I hid because I was ashamed. I sold my house, left the area. I couldn’t go to church in case [MCC leader] showed up. No one ever reached out to see if I was OK.” –MCC salaried staff who was fired and pressured into signing an NDA as a condition for receiving a severance package. This person shared with MAST that they had not written about the events in their journal, even years later.
MAST responds to MCC’s “monograph” of “apology”
On Feb. 25, 2025, MCC began to circulate a “monograph” which it is calling “an apology.”
To us, this comes across primarily as further damage control, minimization, and denial – a classic “fauxpology.”
In its statement, MCC consistently minimizes the allegations and the harm, referring to workers who “experienced pain” or “left MCC feeling wounded,” while taking responsibility only in a vague way for unspecified occasions when MCC “systems were slow, unresponsive or dismissive,” when policies were not shared properly or communication “devalued or disempowered” workers. MCC falsely claims that “resolution” has occurred in cases of staff separation from MCC.
MCC’s vague apologies for poor communication and unclear policies are offensive in light of the seriousness of the allegations, and look like a way to pacify donors while failing to get to the bottom of what actually occurred.
Read further for reactions by Stephanie Krehbiel, Julene Fast, and Kim Thiessen.
MAST responds to MCC statement that denies “claims of systemic abuse”
On February 5, 2025, MCC posted a public statement in which the organization defends its decision to terminate John and Anicka’s employment in August 2023, “unequivocally” denies “claims of systemic abuse,” and emphasizes MCC’s integrity and care for staff in “difficult and complex situations.”
MAST finds this statement misleading, insulting, and harmful.
John and Anicka say, “by leaving out the most significant pieces of our story (our reports of abuse, the NDA, and the harsh and vicious character of the termination), MCC’s entire story becomes grotesquely misleading.”
Read further for more details, and a general response from MAST as a whole.