The Institute for Emerging Issues (IEI) at NC State University is excited to welcome Madeline Kujabi as its new community initiatives program specialist. In this role, she will support the development and implementation of community engagement initiatives related to emerging social and economic issues in North Carolina.
Get to know Madeline in her Q&A:
Q: Tell us a bit about your background and how you came to IEI.
A: I was born and raised in The Gambia, West Africa, and later moved to the U.S. for high school and college. Throughout my life, I have been deeply drawn to service-oriented work. I see it as both a personal mission and a responsibility to contribute alongside others committed to the wellbeing and advancement of all people, particularly women and children from marginalized backgrounds.
This passion for service shaped my academic journey and professional path, leading me to a career rooted in community and nonprofit engagement. While pursuing my graduate degree at UNCG in Peace and Conflict Studies, I worked at the University’s Institute for Community and Economic Engagement, supporting efforts to secure the Carnegie Foundation Classification for Community Engagement. Through that experience, I deepened my understanding of meaningful collaboration and honed skills in measuring impact and telling powerful stories.
Searching for jobs that not only valued my particular skill set but would allow me to grow and make a difference led me to apply to and interview for the Community Initiatives Program Specialist position with IEI’s Faith and Community Initiatives team, and the rest is history (in the making).
Q: What interests you most about working at IEI? Is there a particular program or area of work you’re most excited about?
A: At IEI, I look forward to fostering strong community connections and partnerships, especially by working with faith and community leaders, as well as other key stakeholders. The Institute is driven by collaboration and finding solutions to North Carolina’s most pressing issues. I truly believe that together, we can drive collective action for transformative and sustainable social and economic wellbeing.
I am also looking forward to connecting with faith and community leaders in the State and collaborating as fellow workers in our efforts to mitigate all of North Carolina’s emerging issues. I look forward to working with IEI’s BAND-NC program in making our digital accessibility efforts more pervasive, as well as gathering and disseminating various community engagement and advancement efforts through the Faith and Community Initiatives newsletter. I am passionate about measuring impact and I am excited about utilizing this skill set to drive giving efforts and streamline how the Institute collects and uses information and stories our collaborators share with us.
Q: What do you believe is the biggest emerging issue facing our state?
A: There are a myriad of big, emerging issues facing North Carolina, so it’s hard to choose just one as the most important. Still, speaking from experience and observation, I’ve noticed egregious urban planning issues—especially the lack of affordable housing. Rising housing costs and the shortage of affordable units are leading to a growing homelessness crisis.
While pursuing my master’s degree at UNCG, I would often take the Amtrak train between Raleigh and Greensboro. Over the span of just two years, I saw more and more homeless tent communities pitched along the highways, tucked between bushes and trees. Without the support of community, many people I know would have been homeless because of not being able to earn enough to pay both rent and bills.
Even when someone does find housing, it’s often either too expensive to sustain long-term, or it’s in terrible condition. Eviction rates and housing insecurity seem especially prevalent among marginalized and vulnerable populations. And for many, getting out of these harrowing situations is incredibly difficult—sometimes even crippling.
This issue of inadequate housing is further exacerbated by the fact that Raleigh is developing faster than we can adjust. Tech companies are moving in, and people from larger metropolitan areas are relocating here in search of a more sustainable lifestyle. But their arrival, while understandable, intensifies the challenges that most North Carolinians are already facing. The roads aren’t being built fast enough to accommodate the rapid population growth either. Still, it would be short-sighted to attribute all of this solely to urban planning. It’s bigger than that. It’s also about economics, climate change, institutional limitations and health disparities.
So in essence, I would say the biggest issue facing North Carolina today is a complex, convoluted and protracted conflict—one that affects the livelihood, peace and wellbeing of all North Carolinians, especially the disenfranchised.
Q: What kinds of things do you like to do for fun?
A: I enjoy learning and building relationships. Hobbies like reading, exploring new eateries and international cuisine, horseback riding and spending time at the beach all feed my love of discovery and connection. I also find joy in fun, relaxing activities with friends and family like taking walks, doing yoga, dancing or practicing Pilates. These moments help me stay grounded, connected and inspired.
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