HOME, Inc.: Preparing for Interviewing Organizations Essay

Introduction

Conducting ethnographic interviews is a viable method of delving into particular practices and anatomizing specific groups’ experiences. In the nearest future, I am going to apply this approach to research to address my personal knowledge gaps related to the operations of HOME, Inc. in Boston. The purpose of this paper is to summarize interview planning work and present the draft of questions for Alan Michel.

Interviewee Selection and What I Might Offer to HOME

Alan Michel, the organization’s co-founder, would be the best interviewee to represent HOME, Inc. Based on the list of HOME’s prominent project supervisors, Michel is the longest-serving member of HOME (HOME, Inc. & Scholastic Media Association, n.d.a). Therefore, he is the best-informed representative when it comes to historical changes to HOME’s scope of activities, the evolution of HOME’s educational practice, and similar large-scale questions. Next, as per the description of duties, Michel is responsible for overseeing all activities and projects, including collaboration with external organizations and community groups (HOME, Inc. & SMA, n.d.a). Considering his broad role, this interviewee will manage to provide comprehensive descriptions of HOME’s current projects, partnerships, and future plans.

The upcoming interview will add more clarity to my potential contributions to HOME, Inc.’s activities. Based on the information on their Artist in Residence program, I might be able to participate in upcoming public art projects or exhibitions or propose a creative artwork that would center on social issues affecting local citizens, such as income inequality, teenagers’ online safety, and so on (HOME, Inc. & SMA, n.d.b). Alternatively, in the absence of such opportunities, as a person who has vast experiences in using digital media software, I might contribute to HOME’s activities as a mentor for high school students that participate in projects linked with exploring social problems through different forms of art (HOME, Inc. & SMA, n.d.b). For both options, additional information from the selected interviewee will be essential.

Learning about HOME and Relationship to the Neighborhood/Community

Due to the planned interview, I hope to learn a lot more about HOME, Inc. and how it serves the South End neighborhood nowadays. The key problem that has produced these knowledge gaps is the quality of HOME’s official website – many links lead to deleted materials, whereas projects are not presented in a chronological order, which makes it challenging to distinguish between completed and ongoing activities. During the interview, I would like to further explore current opportunities for young artists and upcoming events that may require artists’ participation. Additionally, it would be of utmost importance to ask questions regarding HOME’s roles in neighborhood improvement.

The following interview questions can be proposed to gain new information concerning this organization and how it relates to the South End neighborhood of Boston:

1. What was HOME, Inc.’s mission at the outset?
2. How has this mission changed over the years?
3. How does HOME contribute to community development and improvement in the South End district?
4. How does HOME collaborate with other non-profit community development organizations?
5. How do you see local artists’ role in making a positive difference in young people’s lives?
6. How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed HOME’s project implementation plans and terms of doing business with artist-in-residence applicants?
7. Apart from the quality of proposed projects, how do you rank residency candidates?
8. From your perspective, what social themes and problems in Boston or the South End District require a profound discussion and action?
9. Are there upcoming events and projects that might require contributions from local artists, designers, and sculptors?
10. Are there specific requirements for mentors that guide high school students?

Conclusion

To sum up, it is planned to interview Alan Michel to develop a more detailed understanding of HOME, Inc.’s projects and opportunities for Boston’s artistic community. The questions relate to diverse aspects of HOME’s activities, ranging from upcoming projects to process organization changes linked with the epidemiological situation. Specifically, the drafted questions aim to clarify local artists’ current role in promoting HOME’s cause and mission.

References

HOME, Inc. & Scholastic Media Association. (n.d.a). About us. Web.

HOME, Inc. & Scholastic Media Association. (n.d.b). Opportunities. Web.