Thursday on “First Coast Connect,” we heard about the documentary “Whose Streets?” and an upcoming panel discussion on the film with Director of African-American/African Diaspora studies at the University of North Florida Tru Leverette, former Flagler County Sheriff Jim Manfre, Jacksonville activist Diallou Sekou and event moderator Shelton Hull (00:58). Director of Development with the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville Ryan Ali and Gwen Gallagher Howard of the Jax Civic Orchestra talked about a grant from the PNC Foundation Arts Alive program awarded to four Jacksonville arts organizations (32:46), and travel blogger Judy Wells told us about affordable cruises (40:14)
‘Whose Streets?’
When unarmed black teenager Michael Brown was shot to death by police in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson, long-simmering African-American rage boiled over. The fallout from Ferguson was felt in cities around the country, including in Jacksonville, where communities of color and law enforcement grapple with strained relations, mistrust, sorrow and anger over unarmed African-American men’s dying in police-involved shootings. The documentary “Whose Streets?” captures some of this dynamic. The film debuts 7 p.m. Friday at Jacksonville’s Sun-Ray Cinema followed by the panel discussion.
Arts Alive Grants
A new national study finds investing in artists is good business in Florida. Arts nonprofits created or supported 4.6 million full-time jobs and generated $27.54 billion in government revenue over the last two years nationwide. At the same time, four Jacksonville arts organizations will share in $60,000 in grants this year from the PNC Foundation’s Arts Alive program, announced on Wednesday this week. Winners are the Florida Ballet, the Cathedral Arts Project’s Any Given Child, the Jax Civic Orchestra and the Performers Academy.
Affordable Cruises
There are more cruise options out there now than ever before.Travel blogger Judy Wells has tips for vacationing on water, including a wine cruise on the Columbia River.
Kevin Meerschaert can be reached at kmeerschaert@wjct.org, 904-358-6334 or on Twitter at @KMeerschaertJax.
