Once known as Florida Avenue, A. Philip Randolph Boulevard forms the commercial core of the historic Eastside. The street and the many independent small businesses that call it home hope to get a boost from the creation of Florida Avenue Main Street, Inc.
Part of the statewide Florida Main Street initiative, the local program aims to encourage economic investment and shepherd business development along the business corridor. We talk to the group’s new executive director about her plans for the near and distant future.
Guests:
- Nigelle Kohn, executive director at Florida Avenue Main Street Inc.
- Avery McKnight, chairman, Florida Avenue Main Street Board of Directors.
Then, the 125-year-old Black National Anthem celebrates its Jacksonville genesis with a weeklong birthday celebration paying tribute to Jacksonville native James Weldon Johnson, who wrote the song. (His brother, composer J. Rosamond Johnson, wrote the music.) The festival kicks off with a performance of the song by a 500-voice children’s choir at The Bethel Baptist Church on Feb. 12. We also listen to a peerless performance of the song by Jada Holliday, former student at Baylor University.
Guests:
- Sharon Coon, festival organizer and founder of Friends of the Brentwood Library.
- Hazel Gillis, president of the James Weldon Johnson Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
And we'll talk to four contributors about the new anthology, Where Colors Meet: A Tapestry of Black and White, about their desire to foster productive conversations on difficult topics.
Guests:
- Trish LeNet, founder of Seeking Insights for Solutions (SIS).
- Karen Flaherty, contributor, Where Colors Meet: A Tapestry of Black and White.
- Mary Jennings, anthology contributor.
- Jodi Jones, member of SIS.
