Discrimination and Bullying: Lessons Learned from Baachu Scribble’s Experience with APMP

1. Speak out against discrimination and mistreatment: It is important to not remain silent when faced with discrimination or mistreatment within professional organizations. It is crucial to bring attention to the issue and report it to the appropriate authorities, whether it be HR or the organization’s leadership, or by reaching out to relevant legal or advocacy groups. By speaking out, not only are you standing up for yourself, but also for others who may have faced similar experiences and are too afraid to speak out.
2. Know your rights: As a member of a professional organization, it is important to be aware of your rights and to take action if you feel they have been violated. This can include filing a complaint or grievance or seeking legal counsel. By being informed about your rights, you can take the necessary steps to protect yourself and hold the organization accountable.
3. Demand fairness and impartiality: Professional organizations should have clear and fair processes in place for handling grievances and disputes. Decision-making should be impartial and unbiased. If these standards are not met, members should demand accountability from the organization’s leadership. It is important to ensure that the process is fair and just for all members.
4. Seek independent oversight: To ensure that investigations into discrimination and mistreatment are fair and unbiased, it is important for professional organizations to have an independent body in place to investigate complaints. This can help to ensure that the investigation is not influenced by any conflicts of interest.
5. Take action to protect your business: If your professional accreditation is revoked, it is important to take legal action to protect your business and reputation. This can include seeking damages or seeking reinstatement of your accreditation. It is important to not let the revocation of your accreditation harm your business and to take the necessary steps to protect it.
6. Support others who have been mistreated: If you know of someone who has been mistreated within your professional organization, support them by listening to their story and helping them to take appropriate action. By standing in solidarity with others, you can create a stronger force to bring about change within the organization.
7. Promote a culture of respect: Professional organizations should promote a culture of respect, inclusivity and diversity. Members should take an active role in this by promoting these values within the organization. By fostering a culture of respect, discrimination and mistreatment can be prevented.
8. Call for change: If your professional organization’s leadership is not taking appropriate action to address discrimination and mistreatment, members should call for change by organizing petitions or protests. It is important to hold organizations accountable for their actions and to push for change.
9. Educate yourself: Learn about different forms of discrimination and mistreatment and the laws that protect against them. It will enable you to recognize them in the workplace, and will also empower you to take action against them. By educating ourselves, we can create a more equitable and just society.
10. Use social media: Social media can be a powerful tool for raising awareness about discrimination and mistreatment. Use it to share your story and to connect with others who have been affected. Use it also to hold organizations and associations accountable by highlighting their discriminatory actions. By using social media, we can amplify our voices and bring attention to the issues at hand.

In conclusion, the discrimination and mistreatment that I faced at the hands of the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) Board of Directors has been a difficult and disheartening experience, but through it, I have learned valuable lessons that I hope can inspire and empower others to speak out against discrimination and mistreatment in their own professional organizations. It is essential that we all take a stand against discrimination and mistreatment, and work together to create a culture of respect, inclusivity, and diversity within our professional communities.

Together, we can make a real difference and ensure that everyone is treated fairly and with dignity and respect.