INTERNAL MEMORANDUM

TO: Greater Jackson Arts Council Executive Committee

FR: Jon Salem, Managing Director
RE: GJAC Management & Financial Concerns
DT: August 3, 2022
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It is with great discomfort that I write this memorandum. I do so while asserting my full rights

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and protections as a Whistleblower.

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I began my professional career with GJAC in 1994, which represents a 28-year work history.
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During that long tenure, the agency has experienced peaks and valleys, as all organizations do.
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But never before have I witnessed and been directed to facilitate such a reckless and potentially
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perilous series of financial decisions and practices.

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The major issues are outlined in detail below, followed by Managing Director recommendations
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for correction and risk mitigation. Attached as well is a series of corroborating documents.
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AMERICAN EXPRESS GOLD CARD ACCOUNT

The spending patterns on this account are disturbing and unsustainable. In June of this year
alone, three payments (totalling $100,000) had to be issued to keep the account current and
flexible for continued use. As of this writing, the balance is approximately $88,000. And a
payment of approximately $58,000 was required on 8/1/2022 to keep the account in good
standing. There is no discernable method of proper receipt management, explanation of charges,
or rigorous monthly statement reconciliation.
MD Recommendation: Temporarily freeze the account. I have already taken the liberty to do
this. Because now retired Executive Director Janet Scott opened the account in the mid-90s, its
continued use requires that the overall account stay in her name. Although she is not personally
responsible for any card activity, it would be prudent to close out this financial product, examine
its high usage over the last 12 months, and reopen an account under the name of current
management if that is deemed appropriate.
ATTACHMENT: Current statement.

COMMUNITY BANK / SURDNA FOUNDATION THRIVING CULTURES PROJECT

A sum of $400,000 was electronically deposited into this new account in early March as a fund
for the Surdna Foundation Thriving Cultures project. I am not a check signer on this account nor
do I have online credentials (though I have facilitated check preparations through our
cloud-based accounting software). In the last 45 days, large amounts have been transferred to our
general operating account for other program spending, operations, and American Express
payments. Intern compensation (including checks to Silbrina Wright’s daughter) have also been
issued from this account for work largely if not fully unrelated to the Surdna project. Because of

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my restricted access to this account, it is difficult to properly manage, and CWP Consulting

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(GJAC’s accounting firm, based in Washington DC and identified/hired by Silbrina Wright) did

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not reconcile statements on a timely basis. Some reconciliation work was completed between
Friday, July 29 and Monday, August 1, however. When I entered the system early on Monday to
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begin preparing regular artist fellowship stipends, it appeared as if the account was overdrawn.
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This filled me with incredible alarm and was the final tipping point to take immediate action. My
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panic was met (via text and in-person) with gross belligerence and a vulgar verbal assault (“Get
the fuck out of my face”). I was also accused of hostile behavior toward Silbrina, which is
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categorically untrue. Because a staff person under her charge (Xhana Thompson) was in the
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outer office, I followed Silbrina into her executive office and closed the door in the interest of
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privacy. She took immediate affront to this, accused me of being aggressive, and opened the door
to join Xhana in the conference room. I calmly asked Xhana to give us some privacy. Silbrina
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ordered her to stay. I asked again. Xhana refused. A partial Voice Memo recording of the
altercation is included here. My tone and demeanor reflected in this evidence was constant
throughout the incident, from my encountering Silbrina in the Arts Center parking lot to
following her out when she drove away. Any claim otherwise from Silbrina or Xhana in the
future is an absolute lie. Silbrina can be heard on this recording indicating that she is on the
phone with GJAC Board President Julian Miller during our altercation. I do not know whether
this is true or not. But this claim, her charges of insubordination, and her text responses to me
were clear threats to my job security.
MD Recommendation: Gain online access to this account to conduct a full reconciliation,
determine what imminent incoming revenue (it is my understanding that $140,000 and $50,000
in reimbursements, from JPSD and Visit Jackson, respectively are expected early to mid-month)
can be applied to restoration, and change all current account authorizations.
ATTACHMENTS: August 1, 2022 Text Thread between Jon Salem (green background) and
Silbrina Wright (grey background); August 1, 2022 Voice Memo Recording of altercation
involving Jon Salem, Silbrina Wright, and Xhana Thompson; Surnda Project QuickBooks
Transaction Report.

COMMUNITY BANK LINE OF CREDIT PURSUIT

It is my vague understanding that a line of credit at Community Bank is being pursued by the
Executive Director and CWP Consulting.. GJAC already has a line of credit at Trustmark that is
at near maximum but fully secured by a CD at the same institution. A credit line at Community
Bank (if tied to the Surdna Foundation account) would technically be unsecured as that account

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is restricted and the funds are intended to be spent in full annually.

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MD Recommendation: This idea should be abandoned until a more rigorous financial plan and

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forecast is conducted.
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CWP CONSULTING SCOPE OF WORK
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CWP Consulting’s scope of work for GJAC must be limited if not completely terminated. It is
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not advisable (or in keeping with generally accepted accounting principles) for CWP to engage
in managerial accounting (transaction entry, monthly reconciliations) AND conduct an audit, as
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they would essentially be auditing their own work. Furthermore, there have been irregularities in
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billing, slow statement reconciliation, failure to provide financial statements, and severe
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language barrier issues (with CWP staff) that make working with the firm too difficult. Most
importantly, however, is Silbrina Wright’s close connection to CWP principal Tina Latimer. I
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have rarely been brought in on any of their discussions or work sessions. The original impetus
for bringing on this firm was ostensibly Tina’s finesse in gaining access to federal funding for
GJAC, including a large SBA Shuttered Venue Grant as part of the COVID relief package.
Nothing has materialized, however. And I now have doubts as to whether any funding was
officially applied for on our behalf. In my view, Tina’s appearances at board meetings have not
inspired confidence or indicated a firm grasp of GJAC’s financial picture. At the most recent
board meeting (held via Zoom on 07/28/22), Tina’s presentation of financials included no
statements at all, merely a verbal report indicating that the firm was working to complete GJAC’s
990 by the August 15th deadline.
MD Recommendation: Hire a local accounting consultant for transaction entry assistance and
monthly reconciliations. Terminate CWP and move quickly to engage a local firm to complete
the GJAC 990 by the August 15th deadline.

JUNE 2022 DISNEY WORLD EXCURSION

At a glance, this appears to be the largest single expense (excluding capital improvements to the
Arts Center) in GJAC’s history since our role as producer and organizing agent for Jubilee! JAM
(a statewide, three-day arts and music festival) in the 80s and 90s. My vague understanding is
that this trip was not formally sanctioned by the Jackson Public Schools District, which is
ostensibly the primary funding source for this endeavor.
MD Recommendation: A detailed round-up of the full scope and cost for this excursion,
including all expenses and a roster of all participants with their respective affiliations.

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ARTS CENTER RENOVATION WORK

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On July 22 I was directed to prepare a payment for Peter C. Alvis, Sr. from the Arts Center
account for renovation work in the Community Room and other areas in the facility. A W-9 was
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provided but not an invoice for the $13,900 amount. I was told by Silbrina Wright that she would
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upload an invoice to the accounting system later. I don’t know how this contractor was
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discovered or selected. In my view, the professionalism of the work left something to be desired.
Reneisha Price, Silbrina Wright’s Administrative Assistant who resigned abruptly last month,
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was put in the strange position of running supply errands (flooring, paint, etc.) for the contractor
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and witnessed one of the workers (under the influence of the drug Lean) sprawled shirtless on the
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floor of the Arts Center loading dock.

MD Recommendation: Halt future work by this contractor. Secure an invoice with a detailed
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breakdown of labor and supply costs for the work completed.

990 FILING/MISSISSIPPI SECRETARY OF STATE CHARITIES REGISTRATION

The return deadline for tax year 2021 (an extension was filed in February) is due by August 15,
2022. Also due on that same day is our Mississippi Secretary of State’s Charities Registration
renewal, which requires signatures from two responsible financial parties (executive level and/or
board officers).
MD Recommendation: Serious consideration must be rendered here. Given the current state of
circumstances, who can and who will be those signature parties?

OVERALL MANAGEMENT STYLE

This is difficult to write, because as most of you know, I stepped aside from assuming the
Executive Director role in December 2020. My reason was primarily personal (I have a mother
with Alzheimer’s, and I am the primary caregiver). It was my suggestion to consider appointing
Silbrina Wright. As Community Outreach Director, she had displayed a strong work history and
easy camaraderie. Also, politically/socially, she was smooth and assured. Those qualities went to
work and helped GJAC secure unprecedented funding from the Jackson Public Schools District
and Surdna Foundation.

For the first year, things were generally smooth. We had a good rapport and worked together on
almost everything GJAC related. But something shifted at the end of last year. It began with a
call on Christmas Eve rudely demanding that I edit our holiday message video because she was
not featured in the footage. That was the beginning of a intermittently hostile work environment

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that has ebbed and flowed between tolerable and completely untenable.

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Her management style is basically management by chaos. She became an information hoarder. I
was not consulted on key decisions and sidelined from key financial matters. EXAMPLE: For
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our Arts Infusion funding proposals for Summer 2021 and Fall/Spring 2021-2022, I was a key
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participant in proposal writing, program and budget development, budget narrative presentation,
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and invoicing. For the Summer 2022 program, which includes the aforementioned Disney trip, I
was blocked from the entire process.
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More recent months have revealed Silbrina to manage not by team but by fiefdom. She hires and
surrounds herself with college interns or students who just recently graduated. She shows
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extreme favorability to some in her orbit and hostility/abuse to others. Her ability to admit a
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mistake (even on the most trivial matter) is nonexistent. She is routinely unapproachable and
dismissive and resistant to compromise. It is a toxic storm of ego, belligerence, narcissism,
power/authority hunger, and recklessness.

PRESSING THE ALARM BELL NOW

I have considerable regrets about not coming forward sooner with my concerns. I feel I let down
myself, GJAC stakeholders, and the Board of Directors. But I’m doing what I can now to set
matters on the proper course. Speaking out in this way is frightening. The road to this point has
been one of incredible stress, doubts, and fears. However, in making these concerns official, I
have been emboldened in recent days by discussions and guidance from Mary Clift Abdalla,
Carol Burger, Justice James Graves, Jr., Robert Lesley, and Janet Scott.
The reasons for my delay in coming forward are complicated. Year to year, GJAC’s budget has
nearly tripled by funding from the Jackson Public Schools District and the Surdna Foundation,
and Silbrina Wright is largely, if not exclusively, responsible for those awards. She routinely put
on display and declared her tight working relationships with JPSD administration officials, the
Surdna Foundation principals, City of Jackson officials, even Congressman Bennie Thompson.
She gave me constant assurances of other “big money” coming in, and because of our fast budget
growth, I believed this to be true. In all honesty, there is also an element here pertaining to race.
Silbrina Wright is the first African American director in GJAC’s 40+ year history. Her
appointment was greeted with great enthusiasm and immediately opened funding relationship
doors previously closed to the agency. I was kept outside the loop of most if not all
discussions/meetings with powerful people in decision-making positions, all of them African

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American. On some level, I felt like my voice was unwelcome and that raising concerns or

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asking too many questions would send the wrong signals. These circumstances triggered a

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passivity that I normally do not possess. Even as events grew considerably more reckless and
furious in the last two months, I followed orders. I feared coming forward because I believed it
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could trigger a chain of events that might risk all future funding. My rationale was that the “big
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money” promises would come in as other large infusions had, that accounts would be restored,
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and that once things stabilized, I could insist on more transparency and rigorous processes. But
then the fault lines began to reveal themselves (particularly with the credit line pursuit), and I
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had to finally face the grim reality of this destructive and unnecessary situation.
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NEXT STEPS
Obviously, my working relationship with Silbrina Wright is unrepairable. In fact, I am rushing
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this correspondence because my instinct is that she plans to terminate my employment with
GJAC, and as Executive Director, she has the authority to do so without board approval. I do not
want my concerns to be viewed as retaliation, so I have been advised to move quickly with this
correspondence. I also have personal safety concerns and prefer to work remotely until board
action is taken.

My hope is to stay and lead the agency through the assessment and recovery process of this
damage. I feel like my institutional history and experience would be a valuable asset to the board
of directors in the months ahead, particularly as it relates to keeping basic systems and programs
operating and audit preparation.
In closing, I want to offer a cautious view. Should the decision be made to remove Silbrina
Wright as Executive Director, it will be an incredibly contentious confrontation. Her degree of
belligerence and defiance and self-righteousness is on a level I have never encountered before.
The risk of her refusing to leave and going public with outrageous counterclaims against me and
the board of directors is a near certainty. So the execution of that action, if decided upon, should
be very carefully factored.

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