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First Coast Connect

2/22/2017: Beaches Homelessness; Dave Walker; Women's Leadership Conference; Girl Scout Cookies

Wednesday on “First Coast Connect,” we spoke with Mission House Executive Director Lori Delgado Anderson about their mission and work they do to help the homeless at the Beaches. Ahead of his appearance Thursday at WJCT host Melissa Ross spoke with former U.S. Comptroller General Dave Walker. Jacksonville Women’s Leadership Forum Board President Chris Schwing talked about this year’s forum “Game On! The Power of Women — It’s Our Time to Lead” and Girls Scouts of Gateway Council CEO Mary Anne Jacobs talked about this year’s cookie drive. 

    

Beaches Homelessness

Homelessness is not just an issue in Jacksonville’s urban core. There are also many homeless at the Beaches. At the Beaches, the face of homelessness has changed dramatically over the years.

Mission House in Jacksonville Beach was founded 20 years ago and has more than 500 volunteers. It’s mission includes feeding people, helping them find affordable housing, medical services and help change the way homelessness is perceived in the community.    

Dave Walker

As Comptroller General of the United States Walker often spoke about Washington’s fiscal mismanagement. Most recently, he has as CEO of the Comeback America Initiative, an organization Walker founded to engage his fellow citizens in what he calls the fight to restore fiscal sanity. On Thursday at a special event here at WJCT looking at the importance of fiscal responsibility. He’s a graduate of Jacksonville University and a frequent guest host of CNBC.

Women’s Leadership Conference

The Jacksonville Women’s Leadership Conference began six years ago when a local group of women wants to attend conferences that focused on the advancement of women in corporate leadership roles. This year’s conference focuses on the importance of being a fit leader mentally, physically and emotionally. The forum will be held March 9 at Everbank Field.      

Girl Scout Cookies

One of the nation’s most beloved female leadership programs is the Girl Scouts. Studies consistently show girls who took part in the program go on to leadership roles when they grow up.

It’s the time of year again when the girls take part in an initiative that teaches them everything from money management to decision making and people skills.

This weekend is “National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend.” Girl Scouts will be stores all over the community selling cookies, including a special visit to the St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.    

Producer Kevin Meerschaert can be reached at kmeerschaert@wjct.org, 904-358-6334 or on Twitter at @KMeerschaertJax.

 

Kevin Meerschaert has left WJCT for new pursuits. He was the producer of First Coast Connect until October of 2018.