A Long and Arduous
Journey
The conspiracy against activist Cornell Lewis
The Department of Children and Families employed activist
Cornell Lewis for over seven years. During this period at DCF and Connecticut
Juvenile Training School, management erected barriers to hinder Lewis and expel
him as persona non grata. This story is an attempt to tell the story of a black
man entering into the toxic environment of agencies proclaiming to protect
youth, while rejecting a man for no other reason than white management felt
threatened. The following narrative has been collected from verbal and journal
sources that this writer had access to.
ENTRY INTO DCF
Cornell Lewis initially was employed at another social
service agency in 2007 when he decided to change jobs. His mother was diagnosed
with colon cancer and he did not want her suffer the financial cost for
treatment. Also there were structural concerns within the agency he worked at,
that made it necessary to depart. Cornell talked to several people within DCF
to get an idea of the workload and environment. He was told to come to the
agency… enter the Child Protective Services department, then transition over to
Community Liaison. After taking an entrance exam February 24, 2007 and passing
it, Cornell was accepted as a new probationary hire within DCF in October 2007.
However when word got out he was coming, there were rumblings from DCF middle
management about this outspoken black activist being part of the agency. Would
Lewis fit in? Would he conform to the agency milieu? It must also be noted that
Lewis was assigned to the Hamilton Street office where a Director knew Lewis.
They both were involved in anti-drug and violence campaigns in Hartford,
Connecticut against drugs and gangs. This writer spoke with Lewis about entering
DCF Hamilton Street office. “I walked
into the DCF office November 9, 2007 for orientation, and remember being
escorted to some cubicle in back of a large area. People were looking at me.
Due to all the publicity given to me as a result of the anti-drug campaigns, my
face was well known. It was like being under some kind of microscope.” Lewis’
cubicle was located near an office that housed his supervisor. It was not until
later that the reason for being placed so close to his supervisor became clear.
He was being monitored more than other new hires. As Lewis settled into
unfamiliar surroundings with the emphasis on volumes of production, people came
to his cubicle to either gawk at him, or introduce themselves. When Lewis would
talk to people in the office, either they replied cordially or gave him the
cold shoulder. When Lewis worked at other social service agencies he often had
contact with some of these same DCF workers at Hamilton Street who sought
services for their clients. Now when he saw these same people their reaction
was different… aloof…dismissive…. afraid.
All workers in the DCF basement worked on computers. Lewis
did not receive a computer to work on initially for 30 days. He could only use a
computer when another co-worker gave him access to her password. Again this was
just another form of obstruction in order to befuddle or stymie Lewis in this
new environment. Lewis met with a Director of Hamilton Street and mentioned the
lack of a computer and being in possession of another password. At this point
the Director said “what, no computer is not acceptable. Also having another
employee’s password is prohibited.” The next day Lewis had access to a
computer. It still did not dawn on Lewis that dark sinister forces within DCF
were attempting to force him out of the facility. After all says Lewis, “I did
not come to DCF with any agenda other than, trying to obtain enough money, to
help pay for my mother’s cancer treatment in Detroit.” Soon the assignments
were coming in for Lewis to provide services for clients. This included,
home visits or seeking resources for children removed from their homes. At the
time Lewis did not realize he was being given harder assignments other
co-workers could or would not be involved in. For example Lewis was sent to the
home of Albanian Muslims. The official story on this family was that one of
their boys had an injury that might be considered abuse. What was not told to
Lewis is how all DCF workers up to this point had been run away from the Muslim
home by the parents, or that DCF workers’ ignorance, and insensitivity to
Muslim’s culture, made it difficult to gain entry into the home. Lewis said he
went to the home and greeted the family in Arabic As-salamu Alaykum which means
“peace be with you.” The greeting and reply from the family managed to get Lewis
in the Muslim home. Then there was the time Lewis went to the home of a black
female whose kids were removed from school due to allegations of neglect, and
placed in a safe home in South Windsor, CT. At this woman’s home the excessive
heat and infestation of fleas caused Lewis to end an interview and social
history information collection. He had to go home, put his clothing in plastic
bags, then shower before returning to work.
During this probationary period of Lewis at DCF, co-workers and
management whispered about his outside activities. According to Lewis none of
the community activities had anything to do with DCF work. Lewis claims to have
shown up for work on time, accepting all assignments given to him. Still
comments about him not typing fast enough to turn out several cases daily were
grist for rumor mills. When the Director came down with another activist to
visit Lewis the entire unit stopped and gawked. Being in the same office as the
Director seemed odd to Lewis, he could not talk to his friend for fear of being
accused of receiving preferential treatment. In addition to all the other
nonsense, middle management in DCF monitored Lewis’ percentage of open or
completed cases… always pushing for increased production.
Transfer to
Connecticut Juvenile Training School-CJTS
Behind the scenes ominous forces within DCF conspired to
remove Lewis out of the Hamilton Street office. A study of Lewis’ work was
deemed not satisfactory during his probationary period in 2007-2008( this seems
odd, due to the fact Lewis was told he was doing fine by two supervisors).However
Lewis was not informed about this development, nor given an opportunity to
remedy the situation. People waited until the Director was out of the office at
a conference, then tried to ease Lewis out of the facility. Then the Director
suddenly came back to the office and discovered the ruse. At this juncture those detractors of Lewis
backed off their position. DCF managers and Human Resources people now looked
for cover; questions were asked about why no one informed Lewis about the
decision to walk him off DCF property at the end of the work day. Neither was
it explained to Lewis that during probation, there were little used clauses
allowing this disqualification of the worker if performance requirements were
not met. And this tactic is what those people tried to use to terminate Lewis
without knowledge of the Director. Well. The word came down to allow Lewis
opportunity to correct any problems. However the cabal led by a Latina in Human
Resources emitted a Cri de Coeur [an impassioned outcry, as of entreaty or
protest] claiming the head of DCF Hamilton Street facility could not be
impartial with regard to Lewis. Several weeks passed and the HR Latina version
of the hanging Judge Roy Bean, launched an investigation of Lewis on some
trivial matter that was grounded in fiction and pixie dust. The trumped up
investigation of Lewis ended due to insufficient evidence.
As time progressed, the DCF drama continued with Lewis being
scrutinized about aspects of his work that other employees did not have to
endure. Several co-workers were not proficient with typing, but they were
allowed to get away with this due to inter-office relationships with top
management officials. While Lewis always accepted all cases given to him, other
workers refused to see certain clients deemed problematic, and no disciplinary
actions ever occurred. Try as he might, Lewis could not satisfy those lurking
enemies seeking to expunge him from DCF. To use an old phrase, “the handwriting
was on the wall” and it was just a matter of time before Lewis succumbed to
sinister forces around him. It is worth noting that the hijinks regarding
Cornell at this juncture can be called a red herring. The Director made
unpopular changes at Hamilton Street office, and ergo, was the real target of all
of this foolishness and shenanigans by HR et al. Those low brow managers in DCF
did not have courage to attack their Director face to face. Thus blindsiding
Cornell Lewis proved another way of striking at the Director. At this juncture
Lewis undaunted by the maelstrom surrounding him continued on, determined to
save enough money for the cancer treatment of his mother in Detroit. Yet as the
saying goes “the best laid plans of mice and men, often go astray.” Lewis soon
had to make a decision about whether to continue working in the toxic DCF
environment. Workers diametrically opposed to the Director used Lewis as a point
of contention; they brought his name up in meetings and even went to the DCF
Commissioner sounding portents of doom about Cornell’s activism causing issues
inside the agency. One day while working in the office Cornell was informed
Congressman John Larson and Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez called Hamilton Street
management. Both politicians requested Lewis to attend a meeting May 26, 2008
concerning anti-violence, gangs and drugs at Weaver High School. No one wanted
to tell these politicians Lewis is at work now, this led to management asking
Lewis if he wanted to go to this event. Lewis replied to management “you make
that decision.” Well Lewis went to the event but management resented his going,
but also feared the fact politicians were seeking this black male for community
activities. Soon HR went back to the DCF Commissioner asking to remove Lewis
due to “being disruptive to the workforce.” Lewis claims that the time to
depart from DCF seemed imminent. Lewis received telephone calls from friends
inside DCF Central Office saying “middle management does not want you here.
These people do not want an independent thinker in their midst. They have some
type of negative performance report about you.” After hearing this portent of
doom, Lewis asked for a transfer to another DCF outpost.
Friends in DCF contacted the Director of Connecticut
Juvenile Training School about possibly hiring Lewis. The CJTS Director agreed
to meet Lewis. In August of 2008 Lewis met the CJTS Director and was told “you
are welcome to join our facility if that is what you want. Cornell, I know what
happened to you at Hamilton Street and disapprove, but those people do not
appreciate all the work you did to make sure drug dealing criminals did not
take over entire Hartford neighborhoods. We can use someone like you at CJTS.
We are seeking to change the culture at CJTS from what it presently is, to
something more advanced than what it is now. Having you there is the beginning
of a process to employ more educated people. If you stick it out for one year I
can move you into a position in probation, working with youthful offenders.”
Lewis accepted the offer to work at CJTS for less money but to be part of an
organization where leadership actually embraced him. Upon hearing about the
transfer to CJTS was indeed going to occur, management breathed sighs of
release at Hamilton Street; by now Lewis’ co-workers had heard about management’s
plan to ease Lewis out the door. People
started making comments about how railroading Lewis did not seem fair, and how
Lewis came early and left late. Now
management trying to save face before office employees, set up this meeting
with Lewis in an office at the head of several managers, telling people he
decided to depart for CJTS. When Lewis
described intentions to transfer to CJTS management assumed the posture of Pilate
in the Bible saying “my hands are clean.” September 11, 2008 was Lewis’ last
working day at DCF. According to Lewis’ recollection and written sources,
“people gathered in an office and gave me apple pie. I told them about the
transfer to CJTS in Middletown, CT. Several people were visibly upset and a few
women started crying. The supervisors responsible for my demise at DCF needed
my help to quiet the natives. People
were not fooled about what was going on." They knew Lewis was hounded out of
Hamilton Street office. According to
Lewis account, “it certainly was strange to sit and help your enemy –with kind
words for them. Knowing this whole damn thing I went through was orchestrated
by enemy forces.” Lewis would descend into another environment more toxic than
DCF and with new challenges. Lewis’ first day working as Youth Service
Officer at CJTS was on September 12, 2008, he stood outside of the facility and
noticed incarcerated youth walking to breakfast dressed in brown pants and blue
shirts. These youth marched in lockstep, throwbacks to Southern chain gangs or
perhaps slaves destined to be sold at auction. Lewis would be placed in Unit 4-D
and there face new perils and forms of racism.
The Conspiracy Begins
Being on Unit 4-D
caused Lewis to learn new systems of dealing with male residents, suspicious
co-workers, and a toxic environment. Not to mention a Supervisor with an eighth
grade education that felt threatened by Lewis’ presence. Lewis immediately
noticed how the Unit Leader assigned another black male supervisor on the Unit
to act as some sort of go between. All questions about the Unit were directed
through the assigned black male supervisor. The Unit Leader tried to stay away
from Lewis and used the black supervisor as a buffer. Perhaps this might be
called the tale of two supervisors, one white and ignorant, the other black and
politically ambitious. After several months of being monitored on Unit 4-D
Lewis talked to some co-workers who explained the new CJTS culture. One male
said, “Lewis if you want to work here it is best to follow our script. If you
do not work with us, then when problems arise with residents, and you call for
assistance-your help will come slow.” In other words co-workers issued their
form of implied threat to Lewis. And so the gauntlet was thrown down to Lewis.
Shortly thereafter [2009] Lewis talked with the Director of
CJTS. He explained to Lewis that “with your clinical skills it would be better
to employ you in another fashion. The school comes to mind or perhaps in some
clinical capacity since you have a Master of Education degree in Social Work.” While the Director of this facility seemed to
embrace Lewis’ gifts, other management types at this facility did not. A
difference of opinion with another black male YSO brought the leadership
running 4-D to exert authority over Lewis, they did this by giving him a letter
of verbal warning. To make the point here let us highlight that CJTS management
in the years to follow will investigate Lewis over every possible issue,
including what he read. One supervisor from 4-D did not understand the contents
of books containing political satire and branded Lewis racist. This vindictive
supervisor encouraged HR to question Lewis, but no disciplinary actions were
taken by CJTS. Every restraint of any resident Lewis engaged in brought
management scrutiny [let it be noted top echelon management were white]. When
Lewis sent management email concerns about safety issues on the Unit, it
brought reprisals. When management discovered Lewis spoke by telephone with The
Child Advocate in July of 2009 it only angered the hierarchy within DCF / CJTS.
In addition, anarchists delivered letters to Governor Jodi Rell and DCF Commissioner Susan Hamilton describing
Lewis’ viewpoints about CJTS racism. Activists and Lewis met with Gov. Rell’s
Chief of Staff to discuss CJTS. The year 2009 saw renewed attacks by white
management on Lewis plus other workers of color at CJTS. Lewis needed allies to
fight back against the toxic CJTS culture, and on October 2, 2009 help appeared
in the form of a black female supervisor.
Help is Coming
In October 2009 Lewis and activists passed out flyers in
neighborhoods of color in Hartford’s Northend about DCF /CJTS. A No DCF Zone
was created in which posters proclaiming DCF workers were exploiting people of
color were posted.
A female supervisor approached Lewis one day in October 2009
at work and said did you ever consider filing lawsuits about racism or hostile
workplace against CJTS, Cornell? The
conversation lasted for 20 minutes. Lewis agreed that such a lawsuit would be
of value. And so on that day Lewis crossed the Rubicon and there would be no
turning back. It did not appear employees at CJTS were interested in legal
action against CJTS, but eventually two women and three men obtained a lawyer
who agreed to represent the group known as the DCF Plantation 5. That group had
one goal in mind - use legal action to expose CJTS’ racism. The white hierarchy
continued using black managers to attack Lewis in some fashion. In October 2009
a black Director of Residential Care (DRC) at CJTS called Lewis while he worked
on Unit 4D and asked the following question: “Cornell, were you working on this
specific day and time? There is someone at CJTS [female] who claims some male
from your Unit answered the telephone when she called. This male then made
remarks that she considered inappropriate.” Lewis listened to the remark this
woman said was made, then Lewis answered NO. I never said any such thing. Lewis
also asked why the DRC and woman thought he made such comments. The DRC replied
after looking at the video tape of the Unit it appears YOU MIGHT be the only
one around at that time, although we cannot be sure. To make a long story
short, the lady never asked whom she spoke to and even waited 12 days before
reporting this nonsense. The DRC actually met with Lewis and the Union
Representative, then the case against Lewis was dismissed. In addition members
of the gay community volunteered to assist Lewis in fighting DCF. For years
Lewis wrote news stories in support of LGBT rights in the three black Hartford
newspapers. Those people in the gay community did not forget Lewis as some so
called friends would in the future.
Trying to Organize
the Masses
Cornell Lewis attempted to organize CJTS workers during 2009-2011
to no avail. YSOs were so accustomed to being victimized by white racist
management inside CJTS that fear had been expertly inserted in employees. There
were no employees brave enough to stand against the many forms injustice took
at that facility. Oh a few brave souls signed Lewis’ petitions to management
about certain issues, but nothing else. Fear stalked CJTS; in addition people
only wanted to work overtime, nothing else seem to matter. Disgruntled YSOs
would grumble in the hallways during school hours or in their particular Units.
Lewis told this writer “I never saw such mentally beaten down people like the
YSOs working at CJTS.” Some of the workers complained Lewis tactics to expose
management only made things at CJTS worse. A few employees even suggested Lewis
stop “stirring up trouble.” In November 2009 the DCF Commissioner contacted
Lewis through a high ranking black official located within Central Office which
is the main headquarters… 505 Hudson Street. This black official said the
commissioner wanted to meet and discuss issues such as the No DCF Zone created
by activists in Hartford’s Northend. By now the office of Governor Rell issued
an order that ALL DCF offices and facilities hold Courageous Conversations
about race. In exchange for the conversations on race Lewis agreed not to
disrupt the upcoming Veterans Day Parade in Hartford.
Challenging White
Supremacy
The DCF Plantation 5 met with an attorney to begin the
process of launching their lawsuit against DCF / CJTS over racism issues. According
to Lewis this lawsuit was meant to shake the foundations of white supremacy and
challenge people in the white apartheid DCF system. Finally in July 2010 the
lawsuit was filed in court with sighs of relief from the DCF Plantation 5. Now the fight was really on. In order to
inculcate into the thinking of CJTS white apartheid management Lewis et al.
were serious, a series of strategic actions were taken. Lewis also accessed
Freedom of Information documents from DCF which revealed how leaders in state
agencies viewed him. There were emails from CJTS to DCF asking how to supervise
Lewis, and to be careful in responding to his inquiries. In addition Lewis’s
Unit Leader asked for meetings with CJTS management to discuss methods of interacting
with Lewis.
Oct. 14, 2011 An Associated Press reporter interviewed CJTS
Superintendent about Lewis proposed hunger strike. Such actions by the Fourth
Estate challenged white supremacy inside the CJTS Plantation and made Cornell
Lewis number one on management’s hate list.
Oct 17, 2011 Lewis began hunger strike to protest racism at
CJTS that ended after 8 days.
Oct. 22, 2011 Two State Representatives agree to host public
hearing in June about Lewis et al. complaints of CJTS racism.
Jan. 5, 2012 two white female anarchists deliver letters to
CJTS / DCF hierarchy describing racism
Feb 5, 2012 rally
outside CJTS with megaphones and multi- ethnic group about Lewis
Note: Lewis met with DCF Commissioner once in her office and
again at CJTS over racism complaints
In 2011 Lewis appeared on several radio programs discussing
racism at DCF / CJTS.
Agency Retaliation
In Oct. 2012 two residents fought in a room at CJTS. Lewis
and two YSOs were looking at a computer screen during the fight at non work
related issues. The trio of YSOs continued working until on Nov. 9, 2012 white
management placed all three workers on paid administrative leave over the
incident, citing Neglect of Duty as the cause. In reality this move by
management was an attempt to get rid of Lewis. What made the maneuver of
placing these men on administrative leave an acceptable risk is this, one YSO
was Hispanic, the other Caucasian. Ergo if questioned about whether the move
could be construed as racism, management only had to point out the ethnicity of
the three YSOs. However the real motive was to get rid of Lewis at all costs.
After secretly hatching their viper like plans, white management made a
decision Nov. 9, 2012 to act upon three YSOs so-called neglect. Lewis continued
holding DCF /CJTS accountable for promoting racism. Cornell gave a speech at
Central Connecticut State University Dec. 8, 2012 in New Britain about racism
in both state agencies. In the midst of all of the intrigue something happened
that caught Lewis’ attention. Someone called from DCF Central Office on Dec. 12th
and said “CJTS administration is going to terminate all three of you over this
incident on Unit 4-D. But Cornell they [administration] really are targeting
you.” Lewis was also put on DCFs Central Registry as being a threat to
children. This disqualified Lewis from working with children or earning a
living. By this underhanded move, DCF tried to make Lewis submit to a
settlement. Now the plot thickens because while Lewis et al. were waiting for
the fatuous nonsense from management to proceed, other ripples began to surface
within CJTS.
Rats deserting the Ship
Lewis felt that management’s revenge was the only card
playable by desperate people. Then another sort of problem arose when friends
of Lewis basically abandoned him at CJTS and in the community. Lewis recounted
how on Jan. 5, 2013 a teacher working at CJTS said this to him “your activism
is causing backlash from management. Cornell, innocent people are paying for
management’s witch hunt.” Lewis told this writer “man, those comments caught me
off guard. Never thought this friend would say that to me. I knew this person
15 years, had been to their home and met the spouse. We were friends at least
in my mind. It did not enter my thinking as to being rejected by my friend.”
However the person [who is white] did what would become a familiar pattern,
fear and threat of possible loss of income through DCF, fueled what was
happening. In the months to follow more so called friends –black and white-
would shun Lewis like he possessed leprosy. In the Greater Hartford Community
agencies depending on DCF for grants or funding did not want to associate with
Lewis. When Lewis applied for jobs he got rejected. One black run agency head
said during an interview, “the subject has come up in meetings how you are
working against DCF in the community. You know, Cornell, we receive grants from
DCF and have to be careful.”
[translation-they were saying white folks will cut us off if you are
hired]. This writer asked Lewis how being rejected by friends affected him. “At
first my mind felt numb with disbelief, then it made me angry. Later I decided
to keep pushing on and crossed all those betrayers off my friend list for life.
To hell with all of them.”
Buried Alive Under
Paperwork
The next phase in this DCF melodrama came in the form of
meetings / paperwork by DCF. Lewis’ lawyer Lewis Chimes went to several
meetings with Lewis about what supposedly happened on Unit 4-D when two youth
fought. DCF /CJTS claimed one of the residents suffered a concussion even
though no data was presented to bolster their claim. At the DCF legal lynching
Lewis listened ad nauseum to DCF officials [primarily white females], describe
what he did and the need for him to show remorse. What intrigued Lewis was how all
these meetings and paperwork were used as cudgels to beat him into submission.
At some of these Kangaroo Court proceedings the administrators trotted out
black people to participate in Lewis’ legal lynching. During meetings on
Capitol Avenue Lewis sat in front of a black man who was nothing more than a
modern version of Buckwheat. In DCF Central Office white management trotted out
some smiling black female during legal hearings and let her lead the charge
against him. However it was not that black folks were sent against Lewis that
bothered him so much. Those white females who sat before Lewis at certain
hearings continued to say how he did not show true remorse for what happened.
Yet Lewis did say he regretted not paying attention and that this fight took
place. What these white female Kangaroo Court leaders really meant was Lewis
did not grovel enough before white supremacy to satisfy them. Lewis said no
matter what he did, these people were hell bent on using process and procedure
to lynch him. He decided not to bow down. When Lewis went to file for
unemployment benefits, DCF sent the head of Human Resources to oppose it. At
every turn white supremacy tried burying a black man who confronted racism
within DCF /CJTS.
Day of Reckoning -
Lewis Terminated
Charades continued against Lewis for over a year before DCF
finally made the decision to fire him. On July 1, 2013 Lewis was summoned to
DCF disciplinary hearing at 1:30 pm at 505 Hudson Street, Central Office.
During another dog and pony show Lewis listened to the CJTS Superintendent utter
verbal swill about Lewis’ neglect of duties at CJTS. After listening to both
the Human Resources person and Superintendent of CJTS it was Lewis’ turn to
speak. He read a statement that was hard hitting and denounced the people
sitting across from him as distorters of the truth. Then management stood and
walked out of the room. On July 3, 2013 the Union representing Lewis called and
said “as of today DCF / CJTS officially fired you.” This action came on the
same day a black newspaper published a very strongly worded article Lewis wrote
for the Hartford Inquirer. However the other two YSOs in this case did not get
terminated. One of the YSOs was given back his job after DCF found him guilty
of minor infractions. Let it be noted the other YSO made some kind of agreement
with DCF for minimal disciplinary action.
Home
Stretch-Arbitration
DCF decided to remove any offers made to Lewis since him
being placed on administrative leave and seek arbitration. The white
supremacists obviously thought they could win in arbitration, then shut Lewis
out in toto. During the time of 2013- 2014 the arbitration hearings dragged on
with DCF presenting 12 witnesses against Lewis. It was the purpose of hostile
DCF management to try and overwhelm the arbitrator with so-called facts. The
arbitrator however said she did not need all those witnesses and could read
some of the documentation presented instead. In the end DCF decided not to
cross examine Lewis. The Union representing Lewis questioned him and laid out
their case that social activism about injustice at CJTS was the catalyst for
Lewis being terminated. All kinds of documentation against Lewis was presented
and finally the decision came down. On July 11, 2014 it was announced Cornell
Lewis won his arbitration against DCF/ CJTS. Now the racist organization would
be faced with placing Lewis back on the job or making some sort of settlement.
Lewis said to this writer about the arbitration victory. “It [firing and final
arbitration victory] certainly did take a lot out of me to fight these people.
However my conviction not to quit carried me through this ordeal. I achieved
lots of insights about how so called friends betrayed me and who stood with me
during these perilous times. A few gray hairs suddenly showed in my beard but
it was worth it." DCF management let it be known any settlement offer would
include Lewis not returning to work. This stipulation came about because CJTS
workers were elated over Lewis victory and awaited his return. YSOs asked Lewis
to be the chief Union Steward at CJTS, and management did not want this to
occur.
DCF finally paid Lewis a financial settlement not to come
back to work. He accepted the offer and moved on to another job.
When Lewis’ victory over the DCF apartheid organization
became public knowledge, people in the black / Hispanic communities were
elated. Lewis was congratulated by people of color in public places and through
private conversations. For many years DCF / CJTS rode roughshod over people of
color in the community and at their facilities. Finally someone [Lewis] beat
them at their own game.
