The Capacity Inventory, pp. 19-25, from Building Communities from the Inside Out

From Wikidelphia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Return to Building Communities from the Inside Out
Return to: Building Communities from the Inside Out on OtherNetworks

The Capacity Inventory

This copyright material may be reprinted with the following attribution: "Reprinted with permission of John P. Kretzmann and John L. McKnight, pp. 19-25, from Building Communities from the Inside Out: A Path Toward Finding and Mobilizing a Community's Assets, Evanston, IL: Institute for Policy Research (1993)."

Hello. I'm with (local organization's name). We're talking to local people about their skills. With this information, we hope to help people contribute to improving the neighborhood, find jobs or start businesses. May I ask you some questions about your skills and abilities?

Part I -- Skills Information

Now I'm going to read to you a list of skills. It's an extensive list, so I hope you'll bear with me. I'll read the skills and you just say "yes" whenever we get to one you have. We are interested in all your skills and abilities. They may have been learned through experience in the home or with your family. They may be skills you've learned at church or in the community. They may also be skills you have learned on the job.

Health

Caring for the Elderly ________

Caring for the Mentally Ill ________

Caring for the Sick ________

Caring for the Physically Disabled or Developmentally Disabled ________

Now, I would like to know about the kind of care you provided.

Bathing ________

Feeding ________

Preparing Special Diets ________

Exercising and Escorting ________

Grooming ________

Dressing ________

Making the Person Feel at Ease ________

Office

Typing (words per minute) ________

Operating Adding Machine/Calculator ________

Filing Alphabetically/Numerically ________

Taking Phone Messages ________

Writing Business Letters (not typing) ________

Receiving Phone Orders ________

Operating Switchboard ________

Keeping Track of Supplies ________

Shorthand or Speedwriting ________

Bookkeeping ________

Entering Information into Computer ________ Word Processing ________

Construction and Repair

Painting ________

Porch Construction or Repair ________ Tearing Down Buildings ________

Knocking Out Walls ________

Wall Papering ________

Furniture Repairs ________

Repairing Locks ________

Building Garages ________

Bathroom Modernization ________

Building Room Additions ________

Tile Work ________

Installing Drywall & Taping ________

Plumbing Repairs ________

Electrical Repairs ________

Bricklaying & Masonry ________ Cabinetmaking ________

Kitchen Modernization ________

Furniture Making ________

Installing Insulation ________

Plastering ________

Soldering & Welding ________

Concrete Work (sidewalks) ________

Installing Floor Coverings ________

Repairing Chimneys ________

Heating/Cooling System Installation ________ Putting on Siding ________

Tuckpointing ________

Cleaning Chimneys (chimney sweep) ________ Installing Windows ________

Building Swimming Pools ________

Carpentry Skills ________

Roofing Repair or Installation ________

Maintenance

Window Washing ________

Floor Waxing or Mopping ________

Washing and Cleaning Carpets/Rugs ________ Routing Clogged Drains ________

Using a Handtruck in a Business ________ Caulking ________

General Household Cleaning ________

Fixing Leaky Faucets ________

Mowing Lawns ________

Planting & Caring for Gardens ________ Pruning Trees & Shrubbery ________ Cleaning/Maintaining Swimming Pools ________ Floor Sanding or Stripping ________

Wood Stripping/Refinishing ________

Food

Catering ________

Serving Food to Large Numbers of People (over 10) ________

Preparing Meals for Large Numbers of People (over 10) ________ Clearing/Setting Tables for Large Numbers of People (over 10) ________ Washing Dishes for Large Numbers of People (over 10) ________ Operating Commercial Food Preparation Equipment ________ Bartending ________

Meatcutting ________

Baking ________

Child Care

Caring for Babies (under 1 year) ________ Caring for Children (1 to 6) ________ Caring for Children (7 to 13) ________ Taking Children on Field Trips ________

Transportation

Driving a Car ________

Driving a Van ________

Driving a Bus ________

Driving a Taxi ________

Driving a Tractor Trailer ________

Driving a Commercial Truck ________ Driving a Vehicle/Delivering Goods ________ Hauling ________

Operating Farm Equipment ________ Driving an Ambulance ________

Operating Equipment & Repairing Machinery

Repairing Radios, TVs, VCRs, Tape Recorders ________ Repairing Other Small Appliances ________

Repairing Automobiles ________

Repairing Trucks/Buses ________

Repairing Auto/Truck/Bus Bodies ________

Using a Forklift ________

Repairing Large Household Equipment (e.g., refrigerator) ________ Repairing Heating & Air Conditioning System ________

Operating a Dump Truck ________

Fixing Washers/Dryers ________

Repairing Elevators ________

Operating a Crane ________

Assembling Items ________

Supervision

Writing Reports ________

Filling out Forms ________

Planning Work for Other People ________ Directing the Work of Other People ________ Making a Budget ________

Keeping Records of All Your Activities ________ Interviewing People ________

Sales

Operating a Cash Register ________

Selling Products Wholesale or for Manufacturer (If yes, which products?) ________ Selling Products Retail (If yes, which products?) ________

Selling Services (If yes, which services?) ________

How have you sold these products or services? ________

Door to Door ________ Phone ________

Mail ________

Store ________

Home

Music

Singing ________

Play an Instrument (Which one?) ________

Security

Guarding Residential Property ________ Guarding Commercial Property ________ Guarding Industrial Property ________ Armed Guard ________

Crowd Control ________

Ushering at Major Events ________

Installing Alarms or Security Systems ________ Repairing Alarms or Security Systems ________ Firefighting

Other

Upholstering ________

Sewing ________

Dressmaking ________

Crocheting ________

Knitting ________

Tailoring ________

Moving Furniture or Equipment to Different Locations ________ Managing Property ________

Assisting in the Classroom ________ Hair Dressing ________

Hair Cutting ________

Phone Surveys ________

Jewelry or Watch Repair ________

Are there any other skills that you have which we haven't mentioned?

Priority Skills

When you think about your skills, what three things do you think you do best? Which of all your skills are good enough that other people would hire you to do them? Are there any skills you would like to teach? What skills would you most like to learn?

Part II -- Community Skills

Have you ever organized or participated in any of the following community activities?

Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts ________ Church Fundraisers ________

Bingo ________

School-Parent Associations ________ Sports Teams ________

Camp Trips for Kids ________ Field Trips ________

Political Campaigns ________ Block Clubs ________ Community Groups ________ Rummage Sales ________ Yard Sales ________

Church Suppers ________

Community Gardens ________

Neighborhood Organization ________

Other Groups or Community Work? ________

Let me read the list again. Tell me in which areas you would be willing to participate in the future.

Part III -- Enterprising Interests and Experience Business Interest

Business Activity

Are you currently earning money on your own through the sale of services or products? Yes _____No _____

If yes, what are the services or products you sell? Whom do you sell to? How do you get customers? What would help you improve your business?

Business Thoughts

Have you ever considered starting a business? Yes _____No _____ If yes, what kind of business did you have in mind?

Did you plan to start it alone or with other people? Alone _____Others _____ Did you plan to operate it out of your home? Yes _____No _____

What obstacle kept you from starting the business?

Part IV -- Personal Information

Name_____________________________ Address _____________________________

Phone _____________________________

Age _____________________________ Sex: F_____ M_______