Capstone Creatures

The Capstone Creatures’ starting point question was “Has the physical separation of the programs of United Ministries in three separate buildings on two different sides of the street created more than a physical division among the staff?” The Capstone group did a cultural audit and interviewed staff and volunteers associated with the organization. The group discovered that the geographic diversity problem (two sides of the street) was more relevant than the more traditional diversity issues of race and gender. Program type diversity (giving people in need what they need vs. helping people learn how to become self-sufficient in getting what they need) was more relevant than the geographical diversity problem. The diversity in perspectives on “how to help people” is more fundamental even than the program-type diversity. With this understanding, the group made specific recommendations to United Ministries and presented to a joint meeting of the Board and Staff.