About Community Conversations: From local to global engagement
Community Conversations: From local to global engagement shares the stories of community members and how they create change. It is through daily, consistent efforts of community members that the biggest changes in the world happen. This podcast will focus on individuals who are dedicated to their field, create positive change, and inspire the community members around them. Sharing these stories can be a powerful tool to highlight the influence of individual action.
Connecting Cultures: Jade Stoltz on Education, Exploration, and Community
Featuring Jade Stoltz, Director of Development, Goodwin Foundation
In this inspiring episode of Community Conversations: From Local to Global Engagement, we welcome Jade Stoltz, Director of Development for the Goodwin Foundation, for a conversation about education, personal growth, and the value of global experiences.
Jade shares her college journey and reflects on the experiences that helped shape her career and passion for serving others. She discusses how travel has broadened her perspective, introduced her to diverse cultures, and deepened her understanding of communities around the world.
The conversation also explores Jade’s enthusiasm for learning new languages and how language study has enriched both her personal and professional life. From navigating new cultures to building meaningful connections across differences, she highlights the importance of curiosity, lifelong learning, and embracing new opportunities.
Join us for an engaging discussion about higher education, leadership, cultural exploration, and the experiences that connect us from the local level to the global stage.
🎙️ Tune in to hear Jade’s insights on travel, language learning, and the transformative power of stepping beyond your comfort zone.
19 Feb 2026
From Advisor to Assistant Provost: Dr. Jaria C. Bush’s Journey in Higher Education Leadership
In this episode, Dr. Jaria C. Bush shares her journey through higher education—beginning as an academic advisor and rising to Assistant Provost for Student Management at the University of Bridgeport. She reflects on the pivotal experiences that shaped her leadership approach and how she intentionally supports and empowers her staff along the way.
Since the recording of this episode, Dr. Bush has transitioned from her role at the University of Bridgeport and relocated to Atlanta, marking an exciting new chapter in her professional journey.
16 Jan 2026
From Bond to Comic Books: Exploring Culture with Dr. Brian Dixon
Dr. Brian Dixon, cultural studies scholar, explores the impact of popular culture, literature, and media on storytelling, identity, and our understanding of the world in an interview.
18 Dec 2025
From Practice to Professor: Lessons from a Respiratory Care Leader
Michael Murphy discusses his transition from respiratory therapist to Program Director at Goodwin University, highlighting his passion for educating future professionals in an interview.
13 Nov 2025
Feeding Hope: Aubrey Roscoe’s Journey to End Food Insecurity in Connecticut
Aubrey Roscoe discusses her career journey and work at the Institute for Hunger Research and Solutions at Connecticut Foodshare to combat food insecurity, highlighting the importance of community collaboration in ensuring access to nutritious food in this interview.
9 Oct 2025
From First-Gen to Faculty: Professor Heather Jimenez’s Journey
Professor Heather Jimenez recounts her experiences as a first-generation college student and public health professional, illustrating the importance of resilience and transferable skills in navigating academic and career paths in an interview.
23 Sept 2025
Drawing from Experience: Joe Young on Art, Impact, and Giving Back
Animator Joe Young discusses his journey from student to award-winning artist, explaining how he built a career in entertainment while staying grounded by giving back to the community in this interview.
12 Jul 2025
Neurodiversity, Inclusive Teaching, and the Power of Advocacy: A Conversation with Dr. Sarah Silverman
Dr. Sarah Silverman discusses her journey as a neurodivergent student and her work supporting inclusive teaching practices, while Dr. Lisa Wiśniewski explores empathy and accessibility in education in this interview.
14 Apr 2025
Transforming Lives through Literacy Education in Greater Hartford
In this informative episode, Dr. Lisa Wiśniewski interviews Stephen Morris, executive director of Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford (LVGH), who highlights the challenges and opportunities for literacy education and advocacy in Connecticut. Morris shares the mission, advocacy, and programming of this amazing organization that serves adult students to build and strengthen their literacy skills and career pathways. Stephen contextualizes the opportunities for literacy education in the Greater Hartford area with current data. He highlights alarming statistics, including that 19% of Greater Hartford residents have below second-grade literacy levels, and explains how these challenges impact employment, health outcomes, economic stability, and overall well being. Interwoven throughout this episode, Morris shares powerful stories of students who have faced incredible challenges and their successes through literacy education. At LVGH, Morris and his team are always exploring different solutions to remove barriers for students by providing adjacent supports, like childcare, social networking, and ongoing career assistance. Morris also explains how LVGH partners with other community organizations to promote health literacy, career pathways, and access to other resources to help students transition to the Greater Hartford area. He also details the specific programming at LVGH for adult students as well as volunteering opportunities for early career to retired professionals with and without education backgrounds. Morris highlights the mutual benefits for students and volunteers as they engage in tutoring sessions, including English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and basic literacy for native English speakers. Morris concludes with a call to action, urging community support through donations and volunteering to further LVGH's transformative impact that goes well beyond literacy.
To support, volunteer, or learn more about Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford visit: https://lvgh.org/
31 Mar 2025
Immigration, Democracy, and Diplomacy: Dana Bucin’s Path from Romania to the U.S.
Dr. Lisa Wisniewski’s latest interview is with immigration attorney and Honorary Consul of Romania to Connecticut, Dana Bucin. Dana speaks of her journey from her birth in the Transylvanian region of Romania to leaving her country at eighteen to study in the U.S., eventually obtaining a law degree. She discusses her role as an honorary consul as one of advocacy and building political, economic, and artistic ties between Romania and Connecticut. Dana then goes on to explain in detail the immigration process and speaks to the barriers for those seeking legal status in this country, from DACA, those young people brought here illegally, to obtaining TPS (Temporary Protective Status). The conversation then leads to an emotional recollection of the Romanian Revolution and itsaftermath and the bloody collapse of the Ceausescu Regime. She relives the subsequent turbulent years and the move toward economic stability and the adoption of democracy, a free market, and memberships in the European Union and NATO. She shares her success in assisting in obtaining the Visa Waiver Program for Romania and completes the interview with a warning on avoiding political extremes and being alert to thesigns of tyranny and dictatorship.
24 Mar 2025
Veteran Voices: A Story of Service and Advocacy
Dr. Lisa Wisniewski has the honor of interviewing Mr. Craig Jordan, Veteran’s Coordinator at Goodwin University. Craig grew up in East Hartford, Connecticut and was inspired by his parents’ service and commitment to the community. Taking that inspiration with him to Providence College, he joined the ROTC and was sent to Vietnam after graduation as a second lieutenant. He became a platoon leader after his captain was killed and received the Bronze Star for his service. Leaving themilitary, he was a recreational director before beginning his long service as an educator, culminating in 14 years as principal of East Hartford High School. Upon retirement, he began collaborating with Congressman Larsen and met MarkScheinberg, president of Goodwin University who, along with others, convinced him to become the Veteran’s Coordinator at Goodwin. Craig oversees Veteran’s community events and Veteran’s Oasis at the university where he advocates andfor student veterans. His work and outreach on behalf of veterans earned him a spot on the Connecticut Veteran’s Hall of Fame. His work in student affairs and in the Oasis Center allows him to assist, support, and mentor veterans and their families who are using their benefits in completing an education. His recent efforts to make Goodwin University a veteran’s access center is opening the door to everyone. In service as an award-winning soldier, educator, mentor, and now veteran’s coordinator, Craig has left a legacy in his community, state, andcountry.
17 Mar 2025
Healing Beyond Borders: The Intersection of Nursing and Education
In this latest podcast, Dr. Lisa Wisniewski interviews Dr. Vivienne Friday, Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Goodwin University. From her early years in Jamaica where Dr. Friday’s life was one of “not having a lot but just enough,” she was inspired by nurses coming into her tiny community to pursuing nursing. Dr. Friday speaks of her work in hospitals where she learned from her work in the Jamaican Red Cross and her hospital work through the National YouthService. Answering a recruiting call for nurses in the U.S., she systematically studied to educate herself earning a bachelor’s, two master’s degree and a doctorate. She details her expertise in health literacy, gerontology, and family centered care. She recounts the challenging educational journey as a first generation, immigrant and highlights what it takes to be successful to be an award-winning nurse and educator.
15 Mar 2025
Dedication to Ken Marion
This podcast series is dedicated to the memory of Ken Marion. He was a friend and supporter of the series since the beginning. May his memory be a blessing.
Who has been a guest on Community Conversations: From local to global engagement
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Dr Brian Dixon
Michael Murphy
Aubrey Roscoe
Heather Jimenez
Joe Young
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