Harvey v. Young Women's Christian Ass'n

533 F. Supp. 949, 27 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 1724, 1982 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11260, 29 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 32,757
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. North Carolina
DecidedFebruary 9, 1982
DocketC-C-78-0081-P
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 533 F. Supp. 949 (Harvey v. Young Women's Christian Ass'n) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. North Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Harvey v. Young Women's Christian Ass'n, 533 F. Supp. 949, 27 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 1724, 1982 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11260, 29 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 32,757 (W.D.N.C. 1982).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

POTTER, District Judge.

FINDINGS OF FACT

In October of 1974, Paula Rebecca Harvey, Plaintiff, a twenty-two year old, unmarried, black female applied for a position with the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Charlotte, North Carolina. The YWCA is a non-profit community service organization that sponsors or directs educational, recreational, social, and religious programs for young women and girls in the Charlotte community. The mission and purpose of the YWCA are set forth in its official “Imperative” and “Purpose”, both of which are conspicuously and repeatedly espoused by the organization and its members among themselves and to the general public. Engraved on large wall plaques at the YWCA’s main office and recreational building, recited by members at the beginning or close of official meetings, and displayed in the group’s official publications and printed programs, the YWCA’s official “Imperative” and “Purpose” are stated as follows:

“Our One Imperative: To thrust our collective power toward the ELIMINATION OF RACISM wherever it exists and by any means necessary.” (emphasis in original)
“The YWCA Purpose: The Young Women’s Christian Association of the United States of America a movement rooted in the Christian faith as known in Jesus and nourished by the resources of that faith, seeks to respond to the barrier-breaking love of God in this day.
“The Association draws together into responsible membership women and girls of diverse experiences and faiths, that their lives may be open to new understandings and deeper relationships and that together they may join in the struggle for peace *951 and justice, freedom and dignity for all people.”

By letter dated December 3, 1974, the YWCA extended an offer of employment to Ms. Harvey for the position of “Program Director I.” In this letter, the YWCA advised Ms. Harvey as follows:

Your signature on this letter indicates that you understand and accept the position and conditions of employment, including your willingness to become a voting member of the YWCA and to accept individual responsibility for the achievement of the Purpose which is as follows: [official “Purpose” stated], (emphasis added)

In the printed Job Description for the position of Program Director I, which plaintiff admits to having received and read, the defendant organization again emphasizes its expectations that its employee will.adopt and advocate the official “Purpose” and “Imperative”. As stated in the “Introduction” to the Job Description: “It is essential that Professional Staff members understand and accept the Purpose and Imperative and show evidence of this through program planning and job performance.” In the section captioned' “Responsibilities: Program Planning:” it further states that the Program Director I “[p]lans program that is within the Purpose and philosophy of the YWCA.” Also, the YWCA Manual of Personnel Policies, a document introduced into evidence by plaintiff, states that “[a] professional staff member must be willing to accept the Purpose of the YWCA and assume responsibility for implementing it into her work.” 1

On December 12, 1974, plaintiff signed the agreement in the job offer, and began work as a Program Director in January of 1975. Plaintiff at first managed classes in informal education, planning instruction sessions for young women and girls in such leisure type activities as cooking, dancing, and gardening.

After approximately one year, plaintiff requested that she be allowed to initiate a program whereby she could work with groups of teenagers in a community setting. For this program, plaintiff assessed the needs of the Hoskins Community, a predominantly black, lower-middle class neighborhood on the north side of Charlotte. Plaintiff was able to form two youth groups, ages eight to eleven in one group, and twelve and over in the other, which met in homes or at a local church to plan recreational and social activities. Ms. Lynn Reyburn, plaintiff’s supervisor for this community project, testified that programs planned by plaintiff sought to meet the needs of these youth groups regarding recreation, skills development and socialization. The term “socialization” referred to, among other things, the development of learning skills, values, and relationships with other people in the community. Plaintiff spent approximately half of her working hours each day meeting with these youth groups or otherwise developing the Hoskins project. Plaintiff’s responsibilities in this program were further set out in her “Job Assignment” list, wherein it is stated that in the Hoskins Community Area Program, the plaintiff “Interprets YWCA Purpose and philosophy to groups and community.” Finally, as to this project, plaintiff, in her “Self Evaluation” report of November 10, 1975, stated that her major accomplishment of the past year had been the establishment of this YWCA program in the Hoskins Community.

At virtually the peak of the planning and development of this community youth program, plaintiff discovered in late March or early April of 1976 that she was pregnant. Shortly after learning of her pregnancy, plaintiff met with Ms. Micki Riddick, also a black female and the Executive Director of the Charlotte YWCA, to discuss the possible impact of her unwed pregnancy on her job status. At this meeting, Ms. Riddick asked plaintiff how she could continue to work *952 with teenagers, being pregnant and unmarried. Plaintiffs response, as stated by Ms. Riddick, and uncontroverted at trial, 2 was that she, plaintiff, could offer herself to the teenagers in her condition of unwed pregnancy, as a role model of an alternative lifestyle.

Ms. Riddick indicated that plaintiffs situation of being pregnant and unmarried, working with teenage girls in community programs, and wishing to offer herself as an “alternative lifestyle” role model placed the YWCA in a very difficult position. She then informed plaintiff that the Personnel Committee of the YWCA would have to be consulted for advice. Two or three days later, the committee met and discussed the issue, and recommended that plaintiff be requested to resign with one thousand ($1,000.00) dollars severance pay or face involuntary dismissal. Ms. Riddick informed plaintiff of this decision and on April 30, 1976, plaintiff submitted a letter of resignation, which indicated that she was resigning because she faced termination anyway and had no other alternatives.

Ms. Riddick testified at trial that plaintiff was fired not because of her race and not because of her pregnancy, but rather because she wished to advocate an alternative lifestyle of unmarried parenthood to her community youth groups and such conduct would be contrary to the purpose and functions of the YWCA in its service to young women and girls. Lynn Reyburn, plaintiff’s immediate supervisor in the community program area, concurred in the decision to ask plaintiff to resign. Ms. Reyburn testified that the condition of unmarried pregnancy of a staff member involved in teaching teenagers would be incompatible with the goals of the YWCA. Ms.

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Bluebook (online)
533 F. Supp. 949, 27 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 1724, 1982 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11260, 29 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 32,757, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/harvey-v-young-womens-christian-assn-ncwd-1982.