It's Just Lunch BYO Lunch In Hemming Park Arbus Magazine March 2014

It's Just Lunch

Downtown advocates change the perception of Hemming Plaza

Hemming Plaza is located in the heart of the Urban Core, across the street from the Main Library and MOCA. The park was originally built in 1857 by Isaiah Hart with the idea it would serve as a common ground for the new Bold City of the South. After many reincarnations Hemming Plaza has declined over the past century. It has been marked in history as a place used by various groups from the Ku Klux Klan to the NAACP. With so much hype surrounding Downtown Jacksonville's artistic and creative resurrection, it is vital that the advocacy begins at, well, it's Hart. For over 150 years the park served as the premier meeting ground for business and retail in downtown. It is the vision of some citizens that it once again will become a beautiful attraction. "The park has been neglected for years but my hope is that it will be the centerpiece for downtown's art and entertainment in the near future. People used to exchange ideas and gather here, it can be perfect for events and be a world class park once again," says Mr. Jacksonville himself-Dr. Wayne Wood. 

Hemming Plaza has been a topic of debate, public safety, and rebirth for years. In 2013 Jacksonville City Council even debated the possible removal of the benches and tables , some feel as a move to dispense the ‘vagrants’ that seemed to occupy the place daily. Dozens of downtown activists have been very vocal in the past about their feelings when it comes to what they think 'should happen' to the space. It has at times been used as a meeting ground for transient individuals and a source of contention amongst some local business owners. Not all people agree it can be done. To say "Take Back Hemming Plaza" may induce some cringe worthy thoughts of, take back from whom? While the debate rages on as to what to 'do' with the park some local advocates are promoting the place with a simple bi weekly gathering at lunch time. The BYO Lunch began in October 2013 by Lisa Goodrich.  There are no soap boxes, no loud speakers or signs charging the locals to do anything. They are simply having lunch and showing the anti-park people that it's not so bad. "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself," Mrs. Goodrich quotes FDR when prompted to discuss what inspired her to begin the lunches. It is true that many people in the community avoid the park all together. Most proud urban areas celebrate their parks and cores. Take for example, Savannah with the numerous parks and city center, it is the norm to walk through the parks regardless of who is using the benches. 

 The tradition has evolved from what began as a picnic in the park and has transformed to a popular event. Some people bring food to share, games and, music. With all the local cafes and coffee stops it's easy to be included in the gatherings. 

http://www.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?m=7803&l=1

The Elbow: Connecting Residents and Music. First Coast Magazine April 2013

The Elbow

Connecting Residents and Music

Text by Abigail Wright

Downtown Jacksonville has been feeling somewhat of a resurgence recently which I think is partly because of the hugely successful area known as The Elbow.  Starting at the corner of Ocean and Bay streets downtown, it spreads over two blocks and 30 businesses including Underbelly, 1904 Music Hall and Swagonsville (to name a few). It’s really no wonder that the masses from all over Northeast Florida flock there nearly every night of the week.  Starting in 2013 during the inaugural One Spark festival, founders Grant Neilsen, 31, and Trey Hebron, 28, began the journey with the idea that downtown Jacksonville needed a more inclusive image for the emerging neighborhood. Since its conception, it has been welcomed by the citizens living in or around the Urban Core, forging a new community of musicians and artists and their followers and fans. Hebron recognized the void in the scene early on and, together with Neilsen’s direction and urging, really made this happen. “Our efforts at The Elbow are directly driven by the people who occupy the area. The rest of Jacksonville needs to see that there is a young, positive movement happening down here rather than the unsafe, lackluster scene Jax has come to preconceive at the present. By focusing on a section of downtown that already seems predisposed to heavy nightlife, we believe we can increase business that will eventually radiate outward throughout the entire Urban Core.”

            And it is an exciting time to be downtown — these gentlemen are more than doing their share to facilitate the forward mobility. The downtown dream team ping-pongs ideas off each other and comes up with great events that show the rest of the city that all of what’s happening here is important. Hebron urges more residents from all over to join the scene at The Elbow: “It's brimming with music, art and culture and I want the rest of Jax to start noticing this movement that's occurring down here."

For more information and a complete event list, go to theelbowjax.com.

http://firstcoastmagazine.com/theelbow/

Small Spaces Create Big Ideas. Folio Weekly April 2013

Small Spaces Create Big Ideas

Claustrophobics need not apply.

Text by Abigail Wright

$3.25 million is on the table and up for grabs to all the creators in this year’s One Spark Festival taking place in Downtown Jacksonville from April 9 through April 13. The mass appeal of the second annual event has an international reach, as spectators and creators arrive from all over the globe to participate. It’s evident that One Spark is a huge part of the resurgence in Downtown Jacksonville.

Let’s do some numbers:

5 days

1758 registered volunteers

20 city blocks

More than 150,000 voters

8 paid employees

900 square feet of office space

Wait, what? One Spark is functioning with only eight employees in a room the size of your average garage?? It’s hard to believe that these people can pull off such a huge event. But they will — just as they did during the 2013 festival. Some Jacksonvillians truly believe that One Spark will single-handedly save our city.

Eight people co-work every day in a 900-square-foot room at joined desks — and they're kicking ass. These folks started planning One Spark 2014 during LAST year’s festival. Executive Director Joe Sampson was an avid professional golfer watcher. He ventured to all the major tourneys, up to six or eight a year. Now Joe says he tries to get ‘six hours of sleep’ a night. The group overall seems to run like the proverbial well-oiled machines. All the employees and planners are advocates for Jacksonville and work tirelessly in many different organizations to help continue the resurgence efforts in our Downtown.

Vince Cavin, the finance guru, has a hand in many pots around town. Aside from his One Spark duties, he is also a founder of PB&J (Party Benefit and Jam), hosting events throughout the year. Meredith Johnson, the volunteer manager, has been involved in politics, managing campaigns all over the country — including serving as a consultant for Jesse Wilson’s campaign during the Jacksonville City Council elections in 2015.

Then there’s Elton Rivas, Dennis Eusebio and Varick Rosete. These jet-setting co-founders and directors are busy as hell spreading the good news about One Spark and Jacksonville. It seems like they check in on Facebook from somewhere different every week. So how, in such a small space, with so few people working such insane hours, are they going pull this off?

Collaboration is the key factor. Each one involved believes in the movement. Sampson truly hopes that any market One Spark enters will eventually turn into a booming tech and creative hub with numerous startup teams, incubators and co-working spaces on the rise along with some noteworthy exits under its belt. To get there, he says, they need those markets to become a center for tech and creative talent to live, work and play, adding that "quality of life is everything. I think One Spark leads out there, collaboratively with numerous organizations and teams in each market.” He mentions that humor is important, too. “Generally, I can always count on Chad Landenberger [the brand marketing manager] and/or Patrick Murphy [the customer solutions specialist] to add a little comedic perspective to just about any situation. With a small team producing something as big as One Spark, it's good to have a couple of team members to help keep everyone loose in otherwise stressful situations.”

When asked what his plans are for the day after the festival ends on April 14, Sampson says, “Media interviews and planning the 2015 festival.” They. Never. Stop. One last question: “How much coffee do you guys go through a day?”

“We don't track this data. :-).”

One Spark is being held in Downtown Jacksonville April 9-13. For details, go to beonespark.com.

 http://folioweekly.com/SMALL-SPACES-BIG-IDEAS,9480

Crossing the Ditch First Coast Magazine April 2013

Leaving home for the first time — it’s most often when a person goes off to college, gets married or makes a major life change. My new life began as the old one ended. Not with a bang but with a whimper, as they say. I had simply aged out of my community at the Beach. I began to venture out into my new city and loved the rush, pace and animation of the crowd of various people bestirring themselves from one point to another. I knew I had to be here. Finding the calm in the park within the bustling streets sparked such a yearning in me, I simply could not ignore it. Everyone back at my beach areas asked me if I’d miss the ocean, the ease, the blasé loitering around which our lives revolved. I didn’t bother answering that I was a mere 30 minutes away; rather, I simply said, “I’ll find out.”

What I have come to find out is that Riverside/Avondale and the Beaches are like parallel universes. There are similarities that I’m pleased to say surprised me. In Riverside, there are coffee shops, bookstores, cafes — much like at the Beaches. They just happened to be owned and or operated by people with serious tattoos and vibrant blue hair. Obviously, the big selling point of the Beaches is the ocean, where people spend their time chasing the daylight and catching the surf. In my new digs, we have the river. People are throwing Frisbees, trailing kites and playing chess on park benches. I admire the way everyone seemed to be eager to invite strangers into the games and onto the fields. Doesn’t feel that way on the sandy beaches anymore.

I feel that now, more than any other time in my life; I need to be a part of something big, to contribute to the place that I now call home. After all, when you’re in the heart of the city, you should hear its beat. I found myself searching the papers and circling any event where I believed I could further my knowledge of the community. What I came to realize is that this knowledge led me to meet the people who make up the heartbeat of our city, the vibrant ones who pulse along in its adventure of becoming a more culturally advanced community: the One Sparkers, the Captivators, the Artwalkers and the CoRkers. And I fell in love with them. To be welcomed in with open arms made me stop and really contemplate the significance of each individual who has made a difference in our community. In those moments, I knew that I, too, could be one of them. In the last 2 years my life has evolved from being an observer to not just a do-er but a motivator. I look back at my life at the Beach and wish I had the drive then to do what I do now- but there. Forcing change and seeking recognition as a way of promotion for my surroundings. I know it’s happening with many local efforts by the community at large and I look forward to seeing its progression.

Before I came to the downtown Jacksonville area, I never really gave strangers a second thought. Anyone who happened to look a little different from my friends and me wasn’t given a second glance or opportunity to be among us. Now I can honestly and humbly say that my justification for not branching out has been proved very wrong. And I could not be happier. “Crossing the Ditch” turned out to be the best decision I have ever made. I know the preconceived notions keep would-be urbanites away. I was one of ‘those people’ recognizing only in name the places I dare not travel. Until I did. And boy-was I wrong. While still aware of my surroundings and not laughing in the face of any danger, I venture out every day with a sense of adventure and curiosity. Can I spare an hour? If so I am out in the core just to see what I can see….to witness the evolution of what I know will be a great city of the South once again.

My advocacy for Jacksonville’s downtown began right after I moved to Riverside. I was living alone in a tiny apartment and had enough to get by but was by no means drinking champagne on a beer budget. My friend in the city invited me to gallery reception (free to the public) at various spots around the core. I went for the free food and wine and it became a normal weekly event for us. Soon, we started to recognize and in turn become recognized by the active folks banning together to promote change and progress. We were invited to more private functions and low and behold by simply going to these events and understanding the inner workings of our neighborhood our opinions mattered. Who know two poor girls in Riverside going for free cheese and wine would end up being valued advocates? Never underestimate the power of cheese.

Now my days are filled with free flowing information about all people working hard to make our city everything it can be. I never thought little ole me would be one of them. Crossing the ditch was scary but without a little fear of the unknown what is there to keep you inspired? To fulfill your craving to run and be uniquely you? For me it is constant change, something Jacksonville is doing so much of- and something I am now happily a part of.

http://firstcoastmagazine.com/wrightsnewdigs-2/

Town Vs. Beach One Spark edition First Coast Magazine April 2014

One Spark : A New Bridge Over the Ditch

How the World’s First Crowd Funding Festival is bringing Jacksonville Together

Text by Abigail Wright

Last year, Jacksonville hosted the world's first crowd-funding festival. One Spark’s inaugural festival was widely declared as a huge success, both in the River City and internationally. Creators streamed in from all over the globe to showcase their ideas, inventions and works. The projects' scope ranged from the arts, technology and science to music and everyday gadgets. With One Spark having such wide-ranging success, it’s clear to see the ushered change that came with it. People walked with their children in strollers and ate goodies from the popular food trucks, unafraid of change and not holding on to past conceptions of the downtown area. Situated in nearly every space available in the urban core, creators displayed their goods and ideas and the crowd voted for their favorites for four days. People came in droves as creators and spectators — some from as far away as California and some from just across the St. Johns River. Jacksonville's square mileage is so vast, it's no surprise that creators from the Beaches, the Westside, Northside, Southside and Downtown had very different experiences.

                Nadia Hionides, the founder of The Foundation School at the Beaches was a creator in the inaugural One Spark Festival. Her team took turns manning the booth and talking to those who passed by or stopped in, hoping to convince them to vote for their project. She and her team allotted about 30 minutes for the commute to get to their venue. This year, her project is titled “Angles of Wonder,” a showcase in part to encourage voters to view and gain insight into the learning styles of The Foundation School. Teaching students in grades K through 12 through the method of Project Inquiry Based Learning (PiBL), Hionides hopes to display the method with a hands-on approach so voters experience the sculptures by the Foundation Academy students.

                Partially due to her home base, Hionides says she and her students depend on a grassroots campaign to get their voices heard. When asked if One Spark could happen anywhere else in Jacksonville, her answer was fairly straightforward. “The Festival belongs Downtown. The Beaches are an extension of our city, but it still needs to be in the heart of Jacksonville,” she said. Folks from the Beaches may feel the need to make more of a deliberate effort to become involved, however. There is that "We don’t cross the ditch" mentality to overcome. “People don’t always get diversity, but with the growth in Jacksonville, it’s easy to feel included no matter where you live — even the Beaches.” Hionides’ project this year is to promote her school's annual Jacksonville Science Festival in Downtown Jacksonville (jacksonvillesciencefestival.com).

Over the ditch on Jacksonville’s Eastside, Niki Brunson owns a restaurant that is generating some serious buzz around town. Celeb’s Corner Kitchen on A. Philip Randolph Boulevard took One Spark by storm last year. Winning more than 292 votes which equates to about $1,300, Brunson and her right hand, Chef Sonja Jones (aka Chef Love), made a name for themselves and for their section of town. The Eastside hasn’t always had the best safety reputation. Since One Spark 2013, it’s difficult to ignore the potential the area has acquired, partially due to the promotion of Celeb’s Corner Kitchen for her neighborhood. Unlike Hionides and her team, it took only five minutes for the Celeb ladies to get to their Downtown venue, and that's including rush hour traffic. With no long drive home, they were able to spend their nights at Brunson’s home in Historic Springfield and were able to avoid the annoying long commute. Interestingly, Brunson feels that the Beaches residents, even though they live farther away, seem to be more plugged into One Spark and what’s happening in the Urban Core. “Beaches residents seem to be informed. Our only cash donation was from a Ponte Vedra resident, who had travelled 20 miles west of ‘the ditch’ to see what was going on.”

While promoting their own project, the Celebs ladies do stop to dwell on their own ‘wow factor.’ “Urban Core dwellers are on the ground level of the backdrop to our city’s brand. In the restaurant business, the front of house sets the stage; the back of the house brings the wow. Urban Core dwellers are in the back of the house where the magic happens.” Does that mean inner city folks have an easier time getting around on the festival grounds? Participants from all Northeast Florida areas are working on self-promotion, recognition and fanfare. “Residents are challenged to find ways to capture the attention of our local community. In my experience, being exceptional is part of the fabric of our community. We expect ‘greatness’ and snub mediocrity.” In other words, both businesses representing, from the Beaches and Urban Core, are ready for One Spark 2014. Are you? To get updates, go to beonespark.com

http://firstcoastmagazine.com/wrightsnewdigs/