A partnership between the Kids Hope Alliance and the State Attorney's Office for the Fourth Judicial Court has resulted in the transfer of Juvenile Diversion Programming to the Kids Hope Alliance, which is a child welfare agency.
The transfer was made at the suggestion of the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee, which was established by State Attorney Melissa Nelson in 2017, and includes 23 different community members who examined different diversion programs and juvenile justice systems. The funding of juvenile justice programming is one of The Kids Hope Alliance's five essential services categories.
Nelson and Katoia Wilkens, the Director of Contract Management for the Kids Hope Alliance, joined us to discuss the transfer in more detail.
Real Estate Family
A local mother-daughter duo have achieved the pinnacle of real estate success. Christy Budnick, a First Coast real estate executive, was recently named Global CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services. Budnick’s role as a real estate powerhouse comes as no surprise, as her role model growing up was her mother, Linda Sherrer, who is the founder and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty.
Budnick and Sherrer joined us to talk about their career success.
NCAA Guideline Change
The NCAA sent shock waves through the sports world when it announced that it would allow college athletes to cash in on their names and likenesses off the field through endorsement deals.
First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross Director Josh Torres joined us to discuss the NCAA’s guideline change, and other sports news around the First Coast.
5 And Dime
The 5 and Dime Theatre is premiering two new shows. The 5 and Dime’s first live show since the pandemic started will be August Wilson’s one man show, How I Learned What I Learned, which will run from July 16-18 at the Garden Club of Jacksonville. In August, the 5 and Dime will be hosting the “Short Attention Span Theatre Festival,” which will showcase a variety of different short plays all clocking in at under 10 minutes.
Bradley Akers, the artistic director for the Theatre, joined us to discuss the new shows.
What’s Good Wednesday
- The St. Augustine Apex Theatre is putting on the musical adaptation of Little Women. The show runs July 9-10, and is being held at Flagler College’s Lewis Auditorium.
- Summer at the Cummer is back. Every Friday through September 3 the Cummer Museum and Gardens is offering free admission during its extended hours. There will be live music, lawn games, and art experiences.
- A new accreditation has led Edward Waters College to be renamed Edward Waters University.
- Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp player Eddy Alvarez is going to Tokyo! The infielder was named to the United States Baseball team roster. Alvarez previously competed in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi where he won a silver medal in speed skating.
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Mackenzie Guiry can be reached at newsteam@wjct.org
