Ampersand, a Lexington-based nonprofit that provides counseling and other services to rape and sexual assault victims, fired seven of its 10 employees Thursday – apparently without notice. That’s according to Cassidy Wheeler, a former employee who’s been communicating with several of the fired workers. Alex Berling, who said she received help from the former Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center – now Ampersand -- after she was sexually assaulted, said the firings disturb her.
“If it wasn't for them, I don't know where it would be physically, like right now. Because they helped me get through all of that and made me realize I was able to, you know, carry on with my normal life.”
Berling said after she was sexually assaulted, she received eight weeks of counseling from the Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center. She said she wonders what sort of care Ampersand’s present clients will receive after the firing.
“Ampersand rally was able to get me through, you know what to even do in those circumstances, I had a lot of nightmares and flashbacks and panic attacks and ampersand was able to, you know, help me work through what to do when I have a panic attack, or you know, how to manage that kind of mental health.”
The day before the firings, Ampersand, which also has offices in Richmond, Frankfort and Danville, issued a Facebook post asking for volunteers.
(TAG FOR WEB)
Latisha Jackson, the executive director of Ampersand, has not responded to our requests for comment.
** WEKU is working hard to be a leading source for public service, fact-based journalism. Monthly sustaining donors are the top source of funding for this growing nonprofit news organization. Please join others in your community who support WEKU by making your donation.
