Lindsay Kujawa
Embedded Files
Confronting a Vocabulary of Fear:
the polarizing impact of “equity, diversity and inclusion” for a non-metropolitan community in the United States.
Research Abstract:
On May 18, 2021, I awoke to a New York Times article notification that sounded strangely familiar: " "A ''Community For All''? Not So Fast, This Wisconsin County Says." (Epstein, 2021). I could not believe I was reading about my home county, Marathon County, WI, in a New York Times article. The Marathon County Board of Supervisors were attempting to pass a resolution entitled "A Community For All," stating the county was a place that celebrated and embraced equity, inclusion, and diversity. Crafted using standard national talking points around this topic, the use of these three words set off a firestorm that divided the community.
This Aesthetic Inter-subjective, Ethnographic Case Study asks the question: to what extent did tension around equity, inclusion, and diversity prevent the passing of Marathon County's "A Community For All" resolution? As a battleground county, in a battleground state with a history of polarization, most prominently the recall of Governor Scott Walker in 2010, Marathon County provided a unique opportunity to examine the subject in a way that called upon a recent history to explore an immediate problem. In this case study, it became clear the crux of the issue was national rhetoric, and solutions were used to solve a hyper-localized problem, ignoring the unique and fractal nature of the issues. Analyzing the data through the theories of Rural Consciousness and Politics of Resentment (Cramer, 2016), the study demonstrates the need for nuanced community-framed definitions of equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Confronting a Vocabulary of Fear
Confronting a Vocabulary of Fear
Addendum: On April 5, 2022, 20 of the 38 Marathon County Board of Supervisors seats were up for re-election. The Community For All resolution was a central policy issue for opponents and proponents alike. The Republican Party of Marathon County (which opposed the resolution) saw 11 of the 17 candidates they endorsed win. Of the nine incumbents ousted, eight were endorsed by the Republican party.
Acknowledgments: Thank you to the Educational Theatre faculty, specifically Amy Cordilione for her mentorship, guidance, and inspiration throughout this study, and Joe Salvatore for his insight and encouragement to continue investigating issues of polarization.
Supplemental_Kujawa.pdfWorkshop Materials
Workshop Materials
I created the following supplemental materials for my workshop entitled "Confronting a Vocabulary of Fear: Developing Intersectional Community-Based EDIAJ Definitions.
Thus far, my work has focused on supporting communities and schools to develop community-engaged work through dramaturgy. Through the research I've conducted throughout my time at NYU with this study, I updated the curriculum I have presented at conferences to reflect the emerging data.
On April 2, 2022, I had the opportunity to present a workshop at the NYU Educational Theatre forum on April 2, 2022. I will present it again in July 20222 at the American Alliance for Theatre and Education National Conference.
Marathon County Executive Board Meeting 5/13
Marathon County Executive Board Meeting 5/13
This is the meeting that was featured in the New York Times and provides excellent insight into the epistemology of community members. In particular, at 24:59 the leader the Marathon County Republican party highlights Christopher Rufo's arguments discussed in the research.
Lindsay Kujawa
(she/her)
Department: Educational Theatre
Major: M.A. Educational Theatre in Colleges and Communities
Graduation: Spring 2022
Email: lmb10010@nyu.edu
Lindsay Kujawa
(she/her)
Department: Educational Theatre
Major: M.A. Educational Theatre in Colleges and Communities
Graduation: Spring 2022
Email: lmb10010@nyu.edu
Lindsay Kujawa is an educator, researcher, and creator passionate about curating artistic opportunities that invite, entertain, and challenge communities to engage in meaningful, change-inspiring dialogue. For the past decade, Lindsay has worked in non-metropolitan areas supporting schools and community arts groups to navigate the intersections of show selection, community consciousness, and student-centered practice. Seeing a need for equitable access to professional development, in 2016, she began creating digital opportunities that challenge theatre-makers to re:imagine the intention and impact of theatre through her consulting company, RE:THEATRE. Artistically, she continues to pursue her passion for creating stories that foster accountable empathy through her work on stage and in the classroom at organizations including The 5th Avenue Theatre, Intiman Theatre, Village Theatre, and Normal Ave. Lindsay is frequently a guest artist and facilitator at national and local conferences, notably the American Alliance for Theatre and Education, Educational Theatre Association, and International Thespian Festival.
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