My name is Maria LeGrand. I am a Black woman, a survivor of the New York City foster care system, and a former Youth Development Supervisor for the NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS). I dedicated my career to returning to the system that raised me so I could protect vulnerable youth.

Instead, the system protected my abuser and destroyed my career.

While working at ACS in Brooklyn, NY, my direct supervisor, Director Jamel Nedderman, subjected me to severe, escalating sexual harassment and physical assault. He demanded I cook for him, harassed me with late night phone calls, and cornered me in areas of the office without security cameras.

The abuse escalated to physical violence:

He forced me to kiss him in his office on his face
He pinned me against a filing cabinet, choked me, and told me I had a "smart mouth."
In a final act of violation, he put his hand in my pants to take my phone while I was clocking into work. I no longer had any rights over my autonomy and I was scared of the touching escalating even further. 
An internal investigation found him not credible. Yet, just two months after I filed my formal complaint, NYC ACS promoted him.

When the case finally went before OATH Judge Orlando Rodriguez, the system failed me completely. The judge acknowledged the director’s behavior was "inappropriate," but dismissed the physical and sexual assault by claiming the director might have just been "playing." Because there were no cameras in the office, the judge dismissed my physical abuse.

The abuser's punishment for choking and sexually assaulting an employee? A mere 30 days without pay. He kept his high-paying city job and his promotion. Although he had previously had a sexual harassment case with a female employee where he made unwanted advances. He also still upholds his title as a manager or director.

Meanwhile, I was terminated by ACS on a vaccine mandate technicality while I was out dealing with the severe trauma of this workplace violence, and the loss of my biological brother.

I am tired of powerful city officials getting away with abusing women. I am tired of judges dismissing workplace physical assault as "playing." I am launching a public TikTok documentary series to ensure my voice is heard, but I need your signatures to force New York City leadership to act.