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Join the Jessie Ball duPont Fund and Ennis Davis of The Jaxson Magazine for an interactive conversation about the communities that built Jacksonville and those who are poised to shape our future.

Jacksonville is–and has always been–the product of a rich tapestry of vibrant communities representing different geographies, different cultures, and different experiences. Together, our many communities influence our elected officials, our urban planning, and our cultural institutions. It is critical that our diverse voices are represented in the plans for our future. Join us for a look at the communities that built Jacksonville and those who are poised to shape our future–and how you can contribute to making sure every Jaxson feels they belong.

The “Army of the Cuban Republic” was made up from 40 Cubans from Jacksonville, 200 from New York, and 150 from Key West. They set sail on the “Florida” to join the rebels on May 21, 1898. Courtesy of the State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, https://floridamemory.com/items/show/149395

Learning objectives

  • Gain an appreciation for how non-white communities shaped Jacksonville as we know it today
  • Understand the results of the 2020 Census through the lens of the influence of multicultural communities on the future of Jacksonville
  • Identify ways that individual Jaxsons can help build more inclusive communities across the city
  • Empower advocates for the needs of our diverse communities

During the 1920s George Gong operated his own Chinese restaurant in the middle of Downtown Jacksonville. Courtesy of the Jacksonville Public Library Special Collections Department. Gong was a part of the city’s early 20th century Chinese community. At the time, 67% of Jacksonville’s Chinese population resided in LaVilla.

Host

  • Jessie Ball duPont Fund and Ennis Davis of The Jaxson Magazine

Panelists

  • Yanira Cardona, owner of Yaya Productions. A production company focused on serving Jacksonville’s Hispanic community, and program manager for Moving the Margins, a collaboration between the Jacksonville Cultural Development Corporation and The Jessie downtown.

  • Dr. Ray Oldakowski, award-winning professor of geography at Jacksonville University whose work focuses on polling, public opinion research, and Florida’s sense of place and cultural geography.

  • Andrew Pantazi, previously reporting for the Florida-Times Union and now Founding Editor of The Tributary, a Northeast Florida Journalism Collective. Andrew and his team dove deep into the 2020 Census results and just launched a newsletter highlighting the impact of those results on Florida’s lawmaking.

This conversation is part of the Jacksonville History & Heritage series co-produced by the Jessie Ball duPont Fund and Ennis Davis of The Jaxson Magazine.

Time

September 24, 2021 12:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Chief Petty Officer Armando Aman in the kitchen at Naval Air Station Jacksonville in 1986. Like many Filipinos in Jacksonville, he came to the city while serving in the U.S. Navy. Courtesy of the Jacksonville Public Library.

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