Jacksonville Mayor-elect Donna Deegan announced Wednesday that Melissa Ross, host of First Coast Connect, will become the city's director of strategic initiatives and press liaison. We congratulate Melissa on her 14 years with us, and we wish her the best in her new role.
We talked about the change with David McGowan, president and CEO of WJCT Public Media.
Stay Woke Rolling Votercade
A mobile protest dubbed the "Stay Woke Rolling Votercade" will visit 15 Florida cities next week, starting right here in Jacksonville on Monday, Juneteenth.
The Votercade was organized by several groups, including the Transformative Justice Coalition, NAACP Florida, Black Voters Matter and Rainbow PUSH Coalition. It aims to push back against what the groups consider Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “war on woke” and to mobilize voters.
Barbara Arnwine, president and founder of the Transformative Justice Coalition, and Tony Hill, who is leading the effort here in Jacksonville, provided details.
Black Travel Alliance
Martinique Lewis is president of the Black Travel Alliance, a nonprofit that focuses on diversity in travel marketing and travel storytelling.
She partnered with Visit Jacksonville this month to learn more about the effort to turn Northwest Jacksonville into an international travel destination.
Lewis spoke with Jacksonville Today’s Will Brown about her adventures here during the most recent Art Walk.
Jacksonville Historical Society
The Jacksonville Historical Society has been in the headlines a lot lately, thanks to its latest list of Endangered Historic Properties and the unveiling of its bicentennial bell.
Dr. Alan Bliss, the society's CEO, joined us today with more on that.
Apex Theatre Studio
Apex Theatre Studio will present its 10th annual summer theater series with two well-loved contemporary Broadway hits: "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical" and "Disney’s Newsies Jr.," on stage from Friday through June 25 at Lewis Auditorium at Flagler College.
We heard from Mallorie Sievert, who plays Carole King, and Justin Anderson, "Beautiful"’s director.
