Hi Everyone - So happy to have found this forum.

I'm re-entering the field after a long absence (to raise my children, one of whom has special needs). While I have excellent experience, skills and training, I've been out of the loop for a long time, am a white middle-aged female/mono-lingual in an area where there's a lot of talent: university town, multi-cultural/bi-lingual applicant pool, etc. I'm considering accepting a job and have one nagging reservation. I don't know how much clout I have given my deficits (yes, I really see them that way!). However the issue is important to me.

Job is w/ a non-profit that needs a program director, supervising 2 caseworkers - the population is low income urban, lots of domestic violence, other victim issues. Part time, no benefits.

I'm competent, OK w/ no benefits for now. However, I would be in one open space w/ my two supervisees and there is only one therapy space for all of us to share (caseload is about 30 per week between us all). All spaces are *really* depressing. (And I've worked in gritty places and cushy offices).

Non-profit work spaces like this always strike me as disrespectful to professionals and clients. They reinforce the idea that "poor" clients only deserve depressing spaces and that lots of us settle for them.

I'd like to bring this up in final negotiations but am concerned that my
point will be taken as a criticism, I mean it to be self-advocacy, advocacy
for my supervisees and clients.

The setting is an old agency, kind of has a "we've always done it this way" feel while being quite relaxed at the same time.

Thanks! Would love the job but need some autonomy! Then again a former colleague reminded me "beggers can't be choosers" referring to the economy but also to my out-of-the-loop status ...