Tony Williams joined the Salvation Army’s Batterers Intervention Program in 2025 after an argument with his girlfriend turned violent. He was arrested and charged with domestic violence, and a judge offered him a choice: Go to jail or get intervention. That intervention came in the form of a 29-week program designed to educate domestic offenders on the Duluth model Power and Control Wheel, which focuses on identifying patterns of abusive behavior as problematic and holding offenders accountable for their actions. The program was established 30 years ago and is one of the First Coast’s longest-standing domestic violence initiatives with an 83% non-re-offense rate within the past three years, according to the Salvation Army. We sit down with Williams and the program’s manager to discuss how taking responsibility for his past behavior changed his life for the better.
Guests:
- Cle Wilkerson, program manager, Salvation Army’s Batterers Intervention Program
- Tony Williams, graduate, Batterers Intervention Program
Arts investment
Last Monday, Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan revealed her $2.03 billion budget proposal, boasting a fiscally modest 1.1% increase over last year’s budget. Ahead of the council Finance Committee’s first budget hearing Aug. 13, some council members expressed their intentions to aggressively slash spending in preparation for the passage of Amendment 3. If passed in November, the property tax phaseout would substantially reduce ad valorem revenue beginning in the 2027-28 fiscal year. Historically, arts and culture programs are first on the chopping block when city budgets are trimmed. We talk to the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville’s chief luminary about the economic importance of the arts in Jacksonville and how return on investment is affecting the city, not just in cultural spaces but in multiple sectors including retail, hospitality and tourism.
Guest: Diana Donovan, executive director of the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville
Green future
The second annual Duval Green Future Fair 2026 invites the public to a series of panel discussions focusing on community-centered solutions to create a healthier and more sustainable city. With seven total panels featuring local leaders, environmental advocates, faith leaders and more, the virtual event centers on how different pillars of society can be used to address multifaceted environmental issues. Some of the panels will include discussions on artificial intelligence, government policy and civic engagement, family health and community wellness, education, science, land use, arts, culture and more. The public can submit questions for panelists in advance. The group’s president sits down to discuss the importance of having multiple voices involved in conversations about the environment. The event will be held virtually on Aug. 1.
Guest: Therese V. Wakefield-Gamble, president, Duval Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida
Topics and guests subject to change.