Publishers Note
This marks the 29th year of our partnership with AIA Jacksonville to bring you the annual Art & Architecture issue. Architecture guides us through our daily lives in many ways we don’t even realize. Not just visually, but in how the built environment moves and directs us physically. City Shapers & World Builders The Florida Association of Architects was founded in Jacksonville in 1912 by a group of 42 architects who...
Isaiah M. Oliver
President, The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida Photo: Laird You stepped into your role as a newcomer to the area. What have been your impressions as you’ve gotten to know it over the last year and a half? I’ve been struck by the warmth and generosity of this community. It’s clear that people here don’t just live in this place—they care deeply for it, invest in its future, and continuously work to make it better....
Creative Heroes behind the ‘Save Our Parks’ Response
By Sheri L. Webber On December 4th, while many Floridians were focused on the holidays and all that comes with the season of giving, Senator Gayle Harrell filed Senate Bill 80, the State Park Preservation Act, to halt the present and future possibility of constructing golf courses, pickleball courts, ball fields, and more in Florida state parks. Harrell’s legislation, if enacted, would ensure prioritization of “conservation-based...
1000 Friends of Florida Wants to Befriend You
An advocacy organization that holds the government accountable while educating citizens about a better future for all Floridians. By Kayla Byrd Founded in 1986, 1000 Friends of Florida is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that educates Floridians on government planning for land management and conservation projects. By working at the legislative level and providing input on proposed bills, 1000 Friends of Florida keeps...
Audubon Florida A Century of Conservation & Community
By Laura Riggs Florida Scrub-Jay, Helen & Allen Cruikshank Sanctuary, Florida Audubon Florida, celebrating its 125th anniversary, is a cornerstone of the state’s conservation movement. From its roots in combating the plume trade at the turn of the 20th century to its current advocacy for imperiled species and habitats, the organization has consistently championed science-based solutions to Florida’s environmental challenges. This...