Furquan Stafford Shares His Vision for Georgia State Senate District 10

VOTV Podcast
Jul 22
3 min read

By Kaylon Truitt for Game Changers Media Network

Leadership is often defined by titles, but true leadership is revealed through service. During a compelling episode of Voices of the Village Podcast, host Andreal L. Mallard Sr. sat down with Furquan Stafford, Republican candidate for Georgia State Senate District 10, for an in-depth conversation about community, family, education, public safety, and his vision for the future of DeKalb and Henry counties.

A Life Shaped by Service

Before entering politics, Stafford built his reputation through community engagement. As the co-founder of Stafford Boxing Club, he and his wife transformed the sport of boxing into a mentoring program designed to reach at-risk youth. However, the program is about much more than learning how to throw punches.

Students must demonstrate responsibility at home, maintain positive relationships with teachers, complete their schoolwork, and even obtain a library card before stepping into the boxing ring. Stafford believes character development comes before athletic development. Having grown up in the foster care system, Stafford says he understands many of the struggles today's youth face because he lived them himself. His personal experiences have become the foundation of his mission to mentor the next generation and provide opportunities many young people have never experienced.

Building Strong Families

One of the most powerful moments of the interview came when Stafford discussed the role his wife plays in both his personal life and his nonprofit organization. Married for 17 years, Stafford credits his wife as the backbone of the Stafford Boxing Club. While he serves as the public face of the organization, he describes her as the CEO who manages operations behind the scenes. Together, they intentionally model healthy marriage, teamwork, and family values for the children they mentor many of whom have never witnessed a husband and wife working together toward a common purpose.

An Urban Republican Offering a Different Perspective

Stafford openly embraces the title of being an "Urban Republican," explaining that his decision to run as a Republican was not driven by party politics but by what he believes is a calling from God and a desire to create measurable change. He shared that after extensive prayer and study, he concluded that serving in the Georgia State Senate would provide the opportunity to influence policies affecting education, economic development, and youth resources throughout District 10. Stafford believes his relationships within the Republican majority could position him to secure resources that have historically been difficult for the district to obtain.

Tackling Crime by Investing in Youth

Throughout the conversation, Stafford emphasized that reducing crime begins long before someone enters the criminal justice system.

His approach focuses on:

Expanding after-school and summer programs.
Increasing access to trade education and workforce development.
Creating more recreational outlets for young people.
Encouraging businesses to invest in underserved communities.
Improving literacy and academic achievement.

According to Stafford, giving young people meaningful opportunities creates safer neighborhoods while making communities more attractive for business investment and economic growth.

Fighting the School-to-Prison Pipeline

Education remains one of Stafford's top priorities.

He criticized what he believes is inefficient spending within the DeKalb County School District and introduced his proposal for Superintendent Accountability and Fiscal Responsibility, legislation designed to improve oversight and ensure education dollars directly benefit students, teachers, bus drivers, maintenance personnel, and other frontline employees. Stafford also highlighted the importance of career and technical education, arguing that preparing students for skilled trades is essential to creating long-term economic mobility throughout District 10.

Leading Through Relationships

Although Stafford is running as a Republican, he stressed that leadership is about building bridges rather than creating division. He spoke respectfully of current elected officials, including Senator Emanuel Jones, and explained that regardless of political affiliation, effective leaders should work together when it benefits the communities they serve. Stafford believes collaboration not conflict is the key to producing meaningful results for Georgia families.

More Than Politics

What made this interview stand out was that it extended far beyond campaign talking points. The discussion explored mentorship, faith, marriage, literacy, leadership, education, and the importance of investing in young people before they become statistics. Whether listeners agree with Stafford's political philosophy or not, the conversation offered an opportunity to hear directly from a candidate who has spent years working in neighborhoods, schools, and nonprofit spaces before seeking elected office. As always, Voices of the Village Podcast continues its mission of creating informed conversations by giving community leaders, candidates, entrepreneurs, and changemakers a platform to share their stories.

Watch the Full Interview

Catch the complete conversation with Furquan Stafford, candidate for Georgia State Senate District 10, exclusively on Voices of the Village Podcast, produced by Game Changers Media Network.

Because at Voices of the Village... change starts with conversation.