Where's the Money Tokes

      Where's the money Tokes!? The title may not be so obvious but bear with me. For those uninformed Tokes Osubu or rather his birth name Michael, is the executive director at GMAD. An organization I've been behind and continue to be behind despite the actions of Tokes. For those who know the man he has always acted like his stuff don't stink and he can treat people anyway he prefers only shedding those tears when he's backed in the corner but after his latest action I don't think there's enough tears to excuse what he has done. 

       Where's the money Tokes!? I repeat this question as recently I was in attendance for an award show put on by GMAD in July of 2012. I thought it was an honorable thing to do to spotlight people in the community. During the night a call was made to those in attendance (the community) to donate to GMAD. From what I've learned GMAD is in a financial hardship as they are one of the few organizations that rely fully on grants unlike many other agencies that saw the writing on the wall and sought discretionary funding. So currently GMAD has a hard time meeting payroll and the top management have on several times elicited to defer their pay checks for other staff to get paid. So a plea was made at the award show for community donations.  It was refreshing to see people reach into their pockets and pull out what they could afford and give it to GMAD. I don't know the exact monies collected but I can say this, the people at GMAD including the finance director can't tell you how much was collected as Tokes Osubu the Executive Director who collected the money at the end of the night never turned in the money to the organization. The money that community members donated for a good cause was only used for one cause-Tokes. 

         As one of the ones who donated I learned this when I called to inquire on how much the agency collected to see if any additional funding could be given to the agency but I learned from several staff who I personally know that it's the elephant in the agency as no one has confronted Tokes about the missing funds. According to my sources he has told one person that he has 'lost' the envelopes he collected. I don't know about you but with something so important how can you 'lose' money. Especially when the person who lost it has their own personal hardship having their house foreclosed and the IRS after them.  As well as another 'elephant' that is not discussed, Mr. Osubu's use of illegal drugs.

          The sad part is that this is not the first time people have given money with it disappearing. Unknown to many earlier this year GMAD had a lottery fundraiser with the winner receiving a car that was donated to GMAD for the purpose of the lottery. I don't know all the specifics but it was determined that proper routes were not taken to conduct the lottery so it had to be cancelled. The problem with this is that people bought $10 tickets not to donate but to win a car. And paying in cash the money eventually landed in the hands of guess who, Tokes. And although money was returned to some, a larger amount of donated cash was never returned. In fact the lottery was never publicity disclosed as being cancelled so many had no idea they were due a refund, as they probably thought they simply lost. All this time not knowing that monies turned into Tokes simply disappeared.

          Where's the money Tokes!? I think this is outrageous that someone who has been entrusted to provide services to the community has now become one who takes advantage of it. This is not a condemnation to the people who work at GMAD including several friends, as despite the depressive environment continue to give their all. No this is about a leader who after 11 years dare I say, has become irrelevant and now uses their position for their own agenda. To make a plea to the community, people who support the sustainability of the only gay black agency, and to illegally use funds given by the community for their own personal use is manipulative and deceptive and a slap in the face, so I ask you Mr. Michael Tokes Osubu, where is the money!?

          And in my writing I post a new question. Where is the community!? If you're reading this you are affected as the agency is there for you. So do we let this become the next POCC or as a community do we make a call and say the current leader must be removed as we don't believe he can effectively and honestly mange this agency. Only the community can make this happen as the missing money was reported to the board of GMAD and directly to Bishop Zachary Jones of  Unity Fellowship Church and maybe because the Bishop is friends with Tokes, no action has been taken on both cases of unreported funds. 

           Thanks to my friends who shared this information as I know it will be a witch hunt to find out who the leak was instead of addressing the problem of missing monies. This blog will be examined and reexamined for writing style and an effort will be to discover what staff has friends in connection with myself. It's the sad truth but while Mr. Osubu does this I hope him and the board who governs GMAD takes a time to answer the question, 'Where's the money Tokes?'

         Or rather 'Where's my money!?