"Devastating" and "hard to believe:" More trouble for Career Youth Development, as another director steps down

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Yet another shakeup for a non-profit, Milwaukee social service group. The director of Career Youth Development is stepping down. Meanwhile, a former executive director says he encountered the same problems the organization is currently dealing with.

Career Youth Development, or CYD offers a number of services -- including adult education, substance abuse meetings and a group for those who have lost a loved on to violence.

Elizabeth Coggs was named CYD's executive director in March. She encountered serious financial problems. At the time, FOX6 News reported the agency owed Milwaukee County about $60,000.

Last week, CYD's entire staff was laid off.

Now, Coggs is resigning -- saying CYD's Board of Directors won't let her do her job.

Last week, Coggs sat on a roof -- asking for donations for CYD. She has since decided to step down -- from the roof of the building and the agency.

"Devastating. Hard to believe. She`s such a great woman -- great passion for the organization," Eric Allen said.

Allen hasn't been paid in nearly a month. He's one of CYD's staff members who is still coming to work -- even though all of CYD's staff members have been laid off.

In addition to monetary donations, the agency is now looking for a new director -- for the fourth time since September.

According to an email obtained by FOX6 News, Coggs told CYD's board "the demise of CYD is your stubbornness to let anyone who has come through this door in a director's position have fiscal information."

Former CYD Director, James Ferguson, who was voted out by the board last fall, says that sounds familiar.

"There were times - not just fiscally but in other areas - where the information I felt I needed to make a sound decision were not at my disposal," Ferguson said.

Ferguson says the oldest members of the board are causing those problems.

Dee McCollum was recently appointed to the board. She says it didn't take long to see why directors and newer board members have been coming and going.

"Because they`ve been set in a certain way. They don`t understand now is the time to move. Now it`s time to be flexible. Now it`s time to change. It may even be time for some of you to retire," McCollum said.

McCollum says CYD will continue to struggle as long as some of her fellow board members interfere with daily operations.

"The old way is dead. The old way has not worked because this isn`t new. CYD has been in trouble for years," McCollum said.

We reached out to CYD Board Director Morris Brazil -- along with fellow board member and state Rep. Leon Young. Neither man returned phone calls to FOX6 News.

FOX6 did reach board member J. Allen Stokes. He declined to comment.

CLICK HERE to learn more about non-profit Career Youth Development's mission and programs -- or to make a donation to the "I am CYD" campaign.

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