Lincoln and Marathon County Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Welcomeness Study

Survey Report Released

In 2022, WIPPS conducted a survey designed to gauge attitudes and perception toward diversity, inclusion and community welcomeness in Lincoln and Marathon Counties.

The topics of diversity, inclusion and welcomeness have been the focus of conversations nationwide and in Central Wisconsin. Despite these widespread discussions, community leaders and organizations found a lack of concrete information on how residents of Lincoln and Marathon Counties feel about these issues.

Participants were asked to express their opinion on how welcoming their community is, as well as their personal attitudes toward people of different backgrounds. The survey was open to residents of Lincoln and Marathon Counties, ages 18 years and older, and responses were anonymous.

About the Study:

The purpose of the Lincoln and Marathon County Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Welcomeness Study is to administer a survey to collect information from the people of Marathon and Lincoln counties about their thoughts and beliefs concerning belonging, community welcomeness and diversity.

Discussions around the issues of diversity and inclusion are persistent throughout the country, and Central Wisconsin is no exception. Despite widespread conversation, there is a lack of concrete information on how the people of Lincoln and Marathon Counties feel about these topics.

  • The survey was administered from May – June 2022

  • Over 1,500 residents of Lincoln and Marathon Counties, ages 18 years and older, participated

  • The survey was mailed to randomly selected households in the area and was available online

  • If you have any questions or comments, email us at info@wipps.org 

 

“This data can be a powerful springboard for future conversations and initiatives around inclusivity and welcomeness. To improve the well-being of all community members, we need to understand how residents feel about these important issues.”

Rich Poirier
President and CEO, Church Mutual Insurance Company, S.I.

The survey was conducted by the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service (WIPPS), a unit of the University of Wisconsin System, with generous funding from Church Mutual and the B.A. and Esther Greenheck Foundation. Key partners include the Aware and Active Citizen Group from Lincoln County and the Mosaic coalition from Marathon County.  The research team is comprised of UW faculty and other professional researchers.