group answers to interview questions

Questions:

What is the organization’s mission?
Afr. col.- get refugees and immigrants in and help with housing, service, education
High point relief center- service, humanitarianism, not getting involved in politics, and provide assistance

How many full time staff and part time staff do you have?
Raleigh-15
Afr. Col-2 full, 2 part time
High-7 full, 2 part time
Americorps-3, and 1 grant writer
Lead paint-1 person who works on site with people

What are their roles?
High pt.-Administrative, employment, immigrants, case management
Afr. Col.-director, interpreters, staff person to help with English
Americorps-grant writer, director, staff-2
Lead paint-educates people about dangers of lead paint

Does each person have a workspace?
High pt.-own office space
Lead paint-would like space but doesn’t have it
Americorps-2 members work with cnnc, outside members who come in and do training would need conference area
Afr. Col.- Desks and some shared area, everyone had desk

Are there employees who do not require workspace?
Do you have volunteers?
High pt-yes, paperwork, drivers, teach english, move furniture
Cnnc-yes, go out to people’s homes
Americorps-paid employees
Afr. Col.- Just part time

Does your staff work in groups or independently?
High. Pt.-work as team but have individual tasks
Cnnc- “”
Afr. Col. “”
What makes your group work and meeting spaces effective or ineffective?
effective
High. Pt.-large table for everyone to sit at
Cnnc-nothing except homey
Afr. Col.-building with other org. could share resources
Americorps-homey
ineffective
High. Pt-not enough space, not a separate room so there is no privacy
Storage space
Afr. Col.-have to rent out church to house people at events, so expensive, kitchen doesn’t work
Americorps-meetings outside of space

Are there offices or spaces that need to be near each other or shared?
High pt-grouped by dept.
Cnnc-clustered by programs

Are there staff members who need their own offices?
High pt-only a few around 3
Afr. Col.-everyone who needed one had one
Americorps-director needs one, grant writer, 2 other staff together

What is the number of the existing rooms in your facility and their functions?
High pt.-4 rooms, seperated with partitions, classrooms and office space
Afr. Col.-6 rooms, 2 for full time staff, 1 meeting room and office together, 1 interpreter and English class, last 2 for storage, but also used for other purposes
Cnnc-use every inch, 7 offices, conference room, copy/coffee room, common room/reception area/waiting, 1 bath/unisex,

What do you think are the best aspects of your facility and what do you think it lacks?
High pt.-need more room and defined space, noise issue, conference, shared parking
Cnnc-house aspect
Afr. Col.-more space, parking bad
Americorps-homey, liked art, wants kitchen-big for group dinners, gathering place, hard to find

If you were designing a new building what would you include in the new space that you don’t currently have?
High pt-Kitchen, conference, storage, office, childcare, bathroom
Afr. Col.-warehouse storage for furniture, kitchen, conference, large lobby, classrooms, filing area
Cnnc-training, common kitchen, parking, multipurpose classroom, childcare/not daycare, normally would just put clients in hotel, but would save money to have sleeping area
Lead pt.-classroom
Americorps-file storage, big storage for just their supplies, suites for people coming for training, or just rooms with bunks

Is community involvement one of your priorities?
High pt- yes, involved with churches and civic organizations
Cnnc-hoped for more community involvement, but no space for it, wants center that is welcoming enough to gain more volunteers
Afr. Col-people don’t volunteer to help
Ameri-

What kind of environments have you found that foster interaction between people?
High pt.-putting them around other people to have to talk to, nice if same language
Afr. Col.-bringing food helps interaction
Ameri-food, potlucks

What are the absolute necessities for the facility?
High pt.-desks, comp. 1 classroom, partitions,
Cnnc-bathroom
Afr. Col.-

What type of programs do you offer here?
High pt.-classrooms, teaching eng. Case manage, immigration services
Afr. Col.-education, housing
Cnnc-look at website

What is the buildings number one use?
High pt.-office space
Cnnc-office
Afr. Col.-office

If the building was adequate what new types of programs would you like to house here?
High pt.-larger classes and childcare
Cnnc-training room that could be divided to form classrooms, conference rooms

Which of those needs do you think is of highest priority?
High pt.-both

What sort of furnishings and equipment is needed for all of the activities that go on in the building?
High pt.-computers, kitchen
Cnnc-computer, phone, wireless, projection screen, technology, tv, vcr
Afr. Col.-seating, computers, kitchen, movable tables

What type of environment do you try to provide?
High pt.-welcoming, peaceful, deal with people who have had crimes against them, have to make them feel that it is safe
Cnnc-homey
Lead pt-trust

How do you feel you have achieved that in this space?

What improvements would you make?
High pt.-decorate
Cnnc-more cultural art within environment
Americorps-different

In what ways have you developed an environment to welcome visitors from different cultures?
High pt.-no need for connection, welcome to US