After a community-wide vote, and a recommendation from the superintendent, the names of six local schools will be changed.
The schools, which were named after members of the Confederacy, will be officially renamed by the start of the 2021-2022 school year.
Those that will be renamed include Robert E. Lee High School, a school whose renaming caused such interest that five town halls were held to discuss changing the name.
Rachael Tutwiler Fortune, President of the Jacksonville Public Education Fund, joined us to discuss the name changes.
Project Opioid
Central Florida based coalition Project Opioid will be launching in Jacksonville. Project Opioid is partnering with The Florida Blue Foundation and the JAX Chamber to help confront the opioid crisis in the area. The goal of the program is to help reduce opioid deaths by 50% within three years.
Project Opioids’ Advocacy Director, TJ Ward, joined us to discuss the coalition.
'The Many Sides of Pride'
To celebrate Pride Month, MOCA Jacksonville is hosting a hybrid film festival titled, "The Many Sides of Pride." The film festival takes place in person June 3-6 and will feature 10 different films. The festival is both in person and virtual, with tickets now available.
Joe Barton, President of the LGBTQ Community Fund Advisory Board, and Manny Velasquez-Paredes, Director of Student Affairs for the UNF LGBTQ Resource Center, joined us to discuss the film festival.
Blueberry Season
The start of the summer season also signifies the start of blueberry season here in Northeast Florida. Locally, blueberry season peaks in June. Contributor Mike Favo joined us with his thoughts on the harvest.
What’s Good Wednesdays
- First Coast Connect is now livestreaming the Friday Media Roundtable on its Facebook page and WJCT's YouTube page. It's also available after it airs on Jax PBS Passport.
- The Highway To Help Heroes event is taking place on June 5th to honor those injured in the line of duty.
- The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens IllumiZoo Summer Spectacle kicks off on June 4th.
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Mackenzie Guiry can be reached at newsteam@wjct.org
