Interview with Raleigh Bailey - Group 4

CNNC Project
Interview with Dr. Raleigh Bailey Micah Martin/Denise Smith
Monday, February 4, 2008 1:30 pm Group 4

Existing Facility/Current situation:
• Receptionist at front – receives phone calls, walk-ins (~6/hour), directs newcomers
• Staff/employees are “clustered” based on function/program
• Inadequate parking – must park in non-designated spaces
• 8’ x 8’ conference room for 15 employees/staff
• only 1 bathroom facility
• “homey” atmosphere
• too small for all the traffic
• kitchen is too small
• no meeting facilities for programs/seminars
• no child care space
• inadequate storage space
• artwork from different countries (have some – would like more)


Ideal situation/Desires for new facility:
• Keep “homey” atmosphere
• Larger conference room/meeting space
• A larger training space to accommodate as many as 80 people; smaller ones to accommodate around 20 people
• Separate offices for confidentiality of immigrants
• Separate space for administrative staff (i.e. reception, accounting, etc.) A ‘base’ for volunteers
• Larger commercial-type kitchen (ex. a typical church fellowship hall that has a large kitchen adjacent to a large meeting space)
• More cultural artwork on display
• Adequate restroom facilities (respect cultural differences)
• Child care (3.9 hour maximum)
• Multi-functional “observation” room that may be used for conversation observation and child care (one-way mirror)
• Adequate storage space for files, tapes/videos, office supplies, etc.
• Consideration for security/protection from pan-handlers, homeless population, etc.)

Raleigh touched on several attributes to CNNC and what the immigrants face when they’re there. CNNC is a Leadership development facility with a homey, family feeling. Since the immigrants see our culture as an intimidating society, he envisions a new facility as being a welcoming an encouraging facility. New immigrants still miss their culture and still need a reminder of who they are and where they came. In summary, he desires the new facility to be a place that is enticing to volunteers and new comers and an environment that fosters new and healthy relationships.