by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
A 5-and-a-half-pound media guide deserved at least a half-day summit and appearances from some of Jacksonville’s most prominent elected officials and business leaders. That’s exactly what the public got during Mayor John Peyton’s Literacy Summit — “Reading is Everyone’s Business” — Tuesday at the Main Library.
During the summit, corporate leaders and other business professionals heard detailed plans and case studies focused on improving literacy among preschool children. Peyton’s Rally Jacksonville! is an early literacy initiative and one of the key aspects of his mayoral campaign.
“We know that investment in early childhood learning produces a tremendous return. There are bottom-line results that are not only about individual success but also the economic competitiveness of this region. We’re trying to reach out and bring in more partners,” said Peyton.
Hundreds of local corporate leaders and human resource and training professionals attended the summit, which was sponsored by the Jacksonville Public Library Foundation. They heard presentations from national and local literacy leaders including the keynote address from Arthur Rolnick, senior vice president & director of research for the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, who presented a plan for early childhood development on a large scale.
“This summit is about preparing Jacksonville for the future. We’re thrilled to have this kind of response from the business community. People are coming together to learn about ways that we as a community can move forward to send a more prepared student to the school system. We’ve made great strides in two years. We’ve built the critical mass to really be successful. But we need more partners,” said Peyton.
The summit was hosted by the Jacksonville Public Library Foundation and chair Mike Hightower of BlueCross and BlueShield. Deborah Gianoulis, who was an anchor with Ch. 4 for 25 years, emceed the event. Others attending included City Council President Kevin Hyde, George Gabel of Holland & Knight, Frances Moore, manager of educational development for St. Vincent’s Health System and Rachel Perry, communications director for the United Way of America.