The Conversation
The Conversation Mari Kuraishi President of the Jessie Ball duPont Fund
Mari Kuraishi is president of the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, where she leads work to create communities of belonging in Jacksonville and beyond. Named one of Foreign Policy’s Top 100 Global Thinkers for “crowdsourcing worldsaving,” she cofounded the crowdfunding platform GlobalGiving after many years at the World Bank, where she created and managed some of its most innovative programs. Fluent in several languages and having lived in multiple countries, Mari brings a unique global perspective to her work in philanthropy and community building....
read moreTimothy Feagins
Principal of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts You have a career in education spanning more than 25 years, but you began as an accomplished student percussionist who played in the high school band then went on to play in the University of Missouri Drumline. Are there any lessons from that experience that you bring to the table as the principal of an arts magnet school? Playing in my high school band and the University of Missouri Drumline shaped my leadership approach. In music, especially in an ensemble, every member matters and individual...
read moreThe Conversation Cady Huffman Tony Award-winning actress, singer, director, and producer
On August 23 and 24, the Florida Theatre and Theatre Jacksonville will present their second annual Broadway musical in concert, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, starring acclaimed artist Cady Huffman, who will be in town to play the role of Pseudolus. Huffman has so many theater, film, TV, digital, music, and directing credits that it’s impossible to list them all. Highlights include her performance as Ulla in The Producers with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick (for which she won Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle...
read moreConversation: Jake Gordon
CEO of Downtown Vision, Inc. Photo: Laird How long have you lived in Jacksonville, and what brought you to the city? I moved to Jacksonville in 2015. Before that I bounced around a little bit: Born in New Jersey, undergrad in San Diego, law school in Philly. My wife is from Gainesville, and she couldn’t wait to move back to Florida. When I was offered the opportunity to lead Downtown Vision, we accepted immediately. Duval is home for our family now, our kids have only really known Jacksonville. We love it here. What is Downtown...
read moreIsaiah 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. What’s been especially meaningful is how intentional they’ve been about making space for me as a leader. That...
read moreJimmy Orth
Executive Director, St. Johns Riverkeeper What drew you to a career in protecting Northeast Florida’s greatest natural asset, the St. Johns River? I was born and raised in Jacksonville and spent a lot of time in and around the river when I was growing up. Despite how much I enjoyed the river, I wasn’t always interested in environmental stewardship. It wasn’t until my senior year at FSU that my passion for protecting our river and our environment started to take root thanks to an eco-conscious girlfriend and a 20th...
read moreJeff Ettling
President and CEO of Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Photo: laird Before coming to Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens (JZG) in 2022, you were the curator of reptiles and amphibians at the Saint Louis Zoo for 21 years. What inspired your passion for wildlife and why did you decide to channel that passion into a career working at zoos? I was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri metro area and developed an interest in wildlife, particularly snakes, at an early age. My parents encouraged my interests and allowed me to keep a large collection of...
read moreConversation with Linda Purl
Actress, jazz performer, and cofounder of Duffy’s Dough Photo: Kevin Alvey In August, the Florida Theatre and Theatre Jacksonville, two of the oldest premier historic art establishments in the region, are coordinating their first show together—a staged reading of Mame, starring Linda Purl in the role of Mame Dennis. Brought here through a friendship with Theatre Jacksonville’s Executive Director Sarah Boone, Purl will join several other nationally renowned guest artists, a talented cast of regional volunteer actors and singers, and a full...
read moreConversation with Sharon Y. Cobb
Writer, Hollywood Survivor, Optimist Photo: Anthony Paderewski You’ve got quite the dossier as a former publisher, editor, journalist, rock musician, race car driver, and notably, a screenplay writer. You began writing fiction after meeting Tennessee Williams when you lived in Key West. What was your first fiction piece about and was it published? Was it inspired by Tennessee Williams? I was an artist in Key West when I asked Tom (Tennessee Williams) about becoming a writer. He said, “Write. Just write.” (I’ve left out the...
read moreConversation … Leigh Fogle
Art Consultant, Entrepreneur, Innovator Congratulations on your 30th year anniversary—Fogle Fine Art and Arbus Magazine are celebrating the same milestone year! We’ve worked together since you opened your art gallery on Beach Boulevard back when your initial focus was on the development of corporate and interior design accounts. You’ve now grown into one of the largest galleries and art consulting firms in the Southeast. Can you tell us about your strategy for how you accomplished that? I actually started the company in a guest room of our...
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