Reading the Room: A Reno Nonprofit Gala and the Optics Nobody Noticed

Really Step 1 - seems you didn’t do your homework when posting photos from your event.

It was surprising to see the recent gala celebration post from Step 1 prominently feature multiple photos of Grant Denton, the head of the Karma Box Project. The post raises a simple question: was Denton invited as a guest of the organization, or did he attend as a paying participant?

The timing makes the optics difficult to ignore. Denton currently oversees operations connected to the Safe Camp program while the county prepares to issue a request for proposals when the current contract expires, or that is what is being whispered in the hallways at the county complex. At the same time, three employees connected to the Karma Box Project remain incarcerated, and there have been public allegations from nine women regarding their interactions with Denton.

Given that context, the appearance of Denton in celebratory promotional materials from Step 1 is noteworthy. Leadership at nonprofits often needs to be attentive to the broader community climate, particularly when serious allegations involving local figures are already circulating.

That is why it is somewhat surprising that the organization’s relatively new executive director, Rachelle Pellissier, would allow the post to go out without considering how it might be perceived publicly. Pellissier has previously shown an awareness of policy issues affecting vulnerable populations—for example, when she presented a letter in support of Nevada Assembly Bill 142 in 2019.

Because of that background, one might reasonably expect a similar level of attention to the current concerns being raised locally. Of course, it is also possible that Pellissier was simply unaware of the allegations involving Denton when the post was made.

In a community as interconnected as Reno and Washoe County, however, public perception matters. When organizations working with vulnerable populations highlight controversial figures—even unintentionally—it inevitably prompts questions from the public about awareness, judgment, and accountability.

Ms. Pellissier’s letter from 2019.