Ex-worker files racial discrimination lawsuit against addiction center in Centre County
A Black woman who worked at an addiction treatment center in Port Matilda until she was terminated filed a federal lawsuit Friday that claimed racial discrimination and retaliation.
Former St. Joseph Institute counselor Valerie Albro, of Spring Township, alleged she encountered a hostile work environment when she worked for the company from October 2016 until September 2021.
A message left with the company was not immediately returned Tuesday.
Albro, her attorney wrote in the 17-page lawsuit, was the only Black employee for most of her tenure. She experienced and witnessed racist and discriminatory conduct, attorney Robert A. Bracken wrote.
Albro texted an emoji of a thumbs up to an administrator in August 2018. In response, the lawsuit alleged the administrator wrote, “Is that a black hand thumbs up? Oh wow, they have all kinds of shades. But you didn’t use the darkest one? What a wild world. Have a great weekend.”
Two months later, another administrator was alleged to have told Albro she looked “like a maid about to go clean something.” She was also called the N-word by a client and was stereotyped as an “angry Black woman,” the lawsuit claimed.
Bracken also wrote Albro was subjected to offensive and embarrassing questions about her hair. She was fired, the lawsuit claimed, after manager said she was aggressive and created a hostile work environment.
Albro alleged the company’s racial discrimination was used as a basis to fire her. She’s seeking unspecified damages.