After several episodes getting deep into local politics and the workings of democracy, this week Unpacked takes a detour into an area everyone can enjoy \u2013 food \u2013 as Neil chats to Bristol\u2019s new high sheriff Kalpna Woolf.<\/p>\n
After coming to Southall, west London from India in the 60s as a young child, Kalpna spent 25 years working for the BBC, most of it here in Bristol, rising to become head of production with responsibility for both food and natural history.<\/p>\n
Since leaving the Beeb she\u2019s established the 91 Ways<\/a> social enterprise, on a mission to bring together Bristol\u2019s 91 different language communities through the power of a good meal. How does that work then? Beyond keeping us alive, how does food connect people, and how can that be a force for positivity in our city, where \u2018foodie\u2019 culture can also be a force for exclusivity?<\/p>\n Away from edibles, Kalpna Woolf is also founder of the BeOnBoard<\/a> initiative, which exists to promote diversity in organisations\u2019 boardrooms. The reasons why this is a good idea might seem blindingly obvious \u2013 but how can moves in this direction be harnessed to achieve meaningful social justice? And with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes under attack on both sides of the Atlantic, why it so important they get beyond totting up people\u2019s protected characteristics and towards genuine diversity of lived experience?<\/p>\n Beyond these meaty topics, this episode of course also gets to the heart of what exactly a high sheriff does. What is the history of the role and what exactly is the point of it these days? And does it involve wearing \u201cone of those slightly weird robe things\u201d? Do not worry, we\u2019ve got all the answers for you\u2026<\/p>\n Subscribe to The Bristol Cable on\u00a0Spotify<\/a>,\u00a0Apple Podcasts<\/a>\u00a0or wherever you get your audio.<\/strong>\u00a0And check out our other shows.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Independent. Investigative. Indispensable.<\/p>\n Investigative journalism strengthens democracy \u2013 it\u2019s a necessity, not a luxury.<\/p>\n The Cable is Bristol\u2019s independent, investigative newsroom. Owned and steered by more than 2,500 members<\/b>, we produce award-winning journalism that digs deep into what\u2019s happening in Bristol.<\/p>\n We are on a mission to become sustainable, and to do that we need more members. <\/b>Will you help us get there?<\/b><\/p>\n