Last year, when Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman asked me to assemble a shipment of sewing machines at Refugee Artisan Initiative, I collared a talented engineer friend and we hauled our tool bags to the RAI shop. I was delighted to volunteer at RAI because of Ming-Ming’s reputation and past accomplishments. So, my friend and I put together a roomful of sewing machines, repaired doors, miscellaneous fixes, etc. We were dismayed to learn this winter that, after its investigation, the RAI board had stripped Ming-Ming of her managerial role.
Ousting the founder? If, indeed, her behaviour was flawed, why wasn’t she given a chance to rectify herself? Why was there no Performance Improvement plan for Ming-Ming? Why was the founder not given management coaching? No setting of new expectations and training? I hope for a positive resolution for RAI and Ming-Ming, at which point I’d gladly gather my tools and return to volunteer again.
Sincerely,
Warner Lew
