Meet Emma Wu, Special Projects Manager
Emma Wu is Research in Action’s Special Projects Manager. In 2022, Emma was RIA’s project lead on the Artists & Justice Research Project, produced for the McKnight Foundation. Learn more about Emma below.
What brings you to this work?
When I was at the Humphrey School, I had the opportunity to be a Resilient Communities Project Fellow and worked directly with community members in St. Paul to better understand their experiences and make recommendations around issues like downtown wayfinding and workforce development that have real impacts on people’s daily lives. I knew I wanted to do that type of community action research when I graduated and use my Masters in Public Policy to make marginalized voices heard and respected. Research in Action was a perfect fit!
What do you like best about your work at RIA?
I really like working directly with community members. It makes the data we collect and everything we do feel real rather than theoretical. And our team is really collaborative. We all have different backgrounds and I’m always learning from other staff as we do projects together.
You were the project lead on the Artists & Justice Research Project; what stood out most to you?
Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect, as someone who doesn’t have an art background. As I did the interviews what really stood out is how much the artists really care about their local communities and the people they work for and with. They want their art to make an impact, and they want community to see or be part of it. So often we focus on the people who want to make it to the MIA or the Walker; not artists who have different goals. This was a chance to listen to them. And, of the 25 artists I interviewed, more than one-third were Indigenous or Native American.
What brings you joy outside of work?
Well, you can pretty much always find me on the tennis court, or hanging out with friends. The Twin Cities has so many amazing local events, which I also really enjoy, especially Pride!
