Survey Being Launched Today in Marathon and Lincoln Counties Regarding Racism and Inclusion

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022 -- 11:00 AM

(Mike Leischner, WSAU) The Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service is launching a community survey on Tuesday to gauge feelings about racism and inclusion in Marathon and Lincoln Counties.

Director Eric Giordano says the idea was born out of the charged discussions and negative publicity generated by last summers "community for all" debate. “Gather information to find out how do we as residents of Lincoln and Marathon County feel about some of the issues that have been a little divisive and have become kind of political over the years.”

He says the goal is to find a way to meet somewhere in the middle between those who thought the resolution wasn't needed, and those who have had some sort of racist or un welcoming experience. “People, whether in urban or rural, probably aren’t as racist as some people think we are. On the other hand, there are definitely people who feel in some communities maybe that they aren’t as welcome. And we just want to know what people actually think and feel in their communities.”

He doesn't expect that the survey will solve all the problems dividing the community, but he at least hopes it brings us to a civil discussion on the issues. “Because, I think, the truth is, we all sort of want to move forward, I think, around some of these issues. We don’t want to be dwelling on the negativity, whatevers side of the issue you happen to be on.”

The survey goes live online Tuesday morning and 10 thousand randomly selected homes will also receive paper copies.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.