Deep Conversations with Strangers
It’s no time for small talk. This is a podcast about turning strangers into neighbors through deep conversations in an increasingly diverse Waterloo region.
Kitchener resident Gregory Bisch will meet with “strangers” from the Region who have life experiences across various social, economic, cultural, and ideological backgrounds.
His goal is to host deep conversations rich with insights and perspectives—while facing his own lifetime anxieties around making close connections.
A trained journalist, Greg gained a love for interviewing and hearing people’s stories as a young reporter and has carried that passion throughout his different careers.
Deep Conversations with Strangers
S2:E1 Geraldine Stafford
In this deep conversation with Geraldine Stafford (the first civilian Manager of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion with the Waterloo Regional Police Service) we talk about her role in engaging police officers and community members to increase awareness, empathy and equity.
We discuss the challenges police have building trust among racialized groups, and their ongoing efforts to foster trust. Geraldine also speaks about importance of having diverse voices at the table in our institutions and government and gives her perspective on the responsiblities we have as individuals in creating a sense of belonging in our diverse communities.
Geraldine Stafford Bio:
As the first civilian Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at Waterloo Regional Police Services, Geraldine Stafford is used to blazing trails, literally. A native of Kitchener, she first made her mark in the region as a standout student and track athlete, attending (the then all-girls school) St. Mary’s High School. She spent the past 30 years living outside the Region having an accomplished career working for City of Brampton, The Ministry of the Attorney General, and most recently Bell Canada. As an entrepreneur, Geraldine founded her own record suspension (criminal pardon) business and for the past 20 years has worked with young people, facilitating applications to set aside their criminal record. Specializing in equity, social and criminal justice, Geraldine has assisted young people get a fresh start in life and has facilitated and tailored workshops and pro-bono clinics to educate young people about their rights within the legal and criminal justice system.
Empowerment of young people is her passion, particularly young women, where she has coached girls travel basketball for over 10 years, offering her unique mentorship opportunities in terms of leveraging sport to finance education, finding ones own passion and strategies for bringing forth your whole and authentic self whether to social or professional settings.
A sought-after speaker, in 2022, she was named as one of the Top 100 Black Women to Watch in Canada for her dedication in promoting diversity and inclusion for all. Geraldine is an accomplished professional who brings stories of resilience, hope and making it all odds, where her mandate for every speaking engagement is to inform, inspire, surprise and delight.
Twitter: LegalGeraldine
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geraldinelstafford/
Thanks to John Green, who reached out all the way from London, England, to volunteer to edit Series 2 of Deep Conversations with Strangers. John is a Freelance Audio Engineer and if you'd like to reach out to him to do some work for you, you can reach him at: john@odysseyaud.io
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