Decky Alexander
Host of "Washtenaw United"Jessica ‘Decky’ Alexander is a professor of drama/theatre education at Eastern Michigan University and the Chief Engagement Officer at EMU situated in Engage@EMU, an institutional office whose mission is to cultivate community and university collaboration As a an administrator and faculty member, Decky has used the mediums of theatre and performance to foster voice with underserved and underheard individuals and communities.
Alexander’s current creative and scholarly endeavors include the use of theatre for faculty development; community performance, and community-based learning. Through Engage@EMU, which she directs, she supports the efforts of over 40 programs and projects, with a majority of them funded through federal, state and private grants. Some of the notable programs in Engage portfolio include: EMU College in Prison program at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility, the only bachelor serving program for incarcerated women in Michigan; Way Forward@EMU, a program funded by Toyota to illuminate the prevalence of Traumatic Brain Injury with young people; The Family Empowerment Program, a supportive services program in affordable housing located in the Ypsilanti Housing Commission, and the Prevention Theatre Collective, a high school theatre program, which uses theatre as an intervention for the prevention of substance abuse and use.
Active and recent projects include: Solo Acts: A Theatrical Compilation on Solo Aging, in partnership with Generations United and funded by Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation; Homebound, a podcast which lifts up intergenerational between seniors and young people during COVID 19; Vital: A Fugue on Aging, An Ethnographic Performance on vulnerable seniors and caregivers , and In the Neighborhood, an art creating and community conversation in collaboration with the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation. In 2024, Decky was commissioned to create an original theatre work to commemorate the City of Ann Arbor’s bicentennial. The piece, entitled ‘Then, Now and Next’ was presented at the city’s closing bicentennial ceremony. All theatre projects we created through Limelight, a theatre consulting collaborative, founded by Alexander in 2017.
Recent publications include: Recent publications include: A Tale of Telling Some Truths to Power in Applied Theatre with Youth (Routledge 2021); Disrupting a Disruption or Live Everything, in Community Engagement 2.0? Dialogues on the Future of the Civic in the Disrupted University, and Addressing the Student Debt Crisis: Steps Universities Can Take for Academic Leaders 2019
In community, Decky is currently the chair of the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus, and 5th Vice Chair for the MIchigan Democratic Party. She served for 7 years on the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation’s Arts and Culture Committee and has been a member of the A2Y Chamber of Commerce's Policy Committee for over a decade. She currently serves as the Vice Chair of Development for Temple Beth Emeth and is a co-chair of the Jewish Community Relations Committee and most recently served as the board president for the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor.
Why she is so thrilled and honored to host Washtenaw United on WEMU.
"I consider myself a ‘localist’ meaning I dedicate my art, agency and effort to the place I have the privilege of living and working. I have lived in Washtenaw County and EMU for almost 30 years, and both have been core to my identity, my creativity, my politics and my overall life purpose. I feel honored to amplify the voices and stories through individuals and organizations of this community at WEMU, my local NPR station and through the transformational Washtenaw United program."
"Washtenaw County’s strength, since I have been here, is its dynamism, its constant is change. In a space that has thousands of people always moving and moving out, Washtenaw County has always been full of possibility. David Fair’s voice and shoes are way too big to fill, but I will do my best to continue to celebrate the people and the stories of those who move in and root and those who move in and move on."
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In the run-up to Election Day, "Washtenaw United" is spotlighting local candidates for state Senate and state House. Our next guest in the series is Brian Ignatowski, who is running against incumbent Jennifer Conlin to be Michigan's 48th District State House Representative. He spoke with Decky Alexander about what he wants to bring to his district and the state. -
In the run-up to Election Day, "Washtenaw United" is spotlighting local candidates for state Senate and state House. Our next guest in the series is Jennifer Conlin, who is running for reelection as Michigan's 48th District representative. She spoke with Decky Alexander about what she wants to bring to her district and the state. -
In the run-up to Election Day, "Washtenaw United" is spotlighting local candidates for state Senate and state House. This week, WEMU presents Tawn Beliger, who is challenging incumbent Sue Shink for the 14th Senate District. She spoke with Decky Alexander about her goals for the state of Michigan if elected. -
In the run-up to Election Day, "Washtenaw United" is expanding focus from those who move and shake the nonprofit and advocacy world to those who move and shape our policy world—our local candidates for state Senate and state House. This week, WEMU presents State Sen. Sue Shink, who represents the 14th Senate District. She spoke with Decky Alexander about her work and her goals for the state of Michigan if re-elected. -
The words, "I want to be ready," spring from one of the 6,000 African American spirituals that speak not just about waiting for what's next but actively preparing the ground we stand on. Here in Washtenaw County and in most communities, keeping cultural legacies alive and present requires that same kind of preparation. That’s what the Willis C. Patterson Our Own Thing Chorale stands for. Decky Alexander talked about the chorale’s history and purpose with its musical director, Dr. Lavonte’ Heard. -
The "Power of the Purse" fundraiser is one of the United Way of Southeastern Michigan's most anticipated events. It has raised more than $450,000 to fund organizations focused on advancing the economic success of women. Decky Alexander talked about this year's Power of the Purse event with Katie Groves, UWSEM's Senior Director for Engagement and Experience. -
The Washtenaw Housing Alliance is one of many groups working in our community to end homelessness in Washtenaw County. The latest tool in its mission is the Yvonne Fund, which is designed to create lasting systemic solutions to homelessness. The fund's development director, Madeline Garcia, and the fund's cabinet chair, Norman Herbert, explained the project in more detail with Decky Alexander. -
The leading cause of homelessness is the lack of affordable housing, and that's especially true here in Washtenaw County. Avalon Housing in Ann Arbor works to solve this problem by building more supportive housing communities. The group's co-executive directors, Scott Ellis and Molly Smith, joined Decky Alexander to talk about Avalon's ongoing mission and what may lie ahead for the organization. -
Ann Arbor youth are very lucky to have not one, but two, fantastic educational venues. The Leslie Science and Nature Center gives kids a great outdoor experience, while the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum stimulates their minds with indoor activities. Charlie Reischl is the Director of Advancement at both institutions, and he joined Decky Alexander to talk about their latest work, including the "Access for All" initiative and the upcoming "Flutter" fundraiser. -
The Ypsilanti-based SOS Community Services has worked diligently to help those facing homelessness with all available resources. Yet, completely solving the homeless epidemic in Washtenaw County remains a lofty goal. Decky Alexander discussed SOS's latest work with its Executive Director, Rhonda Weathers.
