Liz Grebe is graduating Friday from the University of North Florida with a bachelor’s degree in communications and public relations. That in itself doesn’t make her different from her classmates.
What does make her unlike most newly minted college graduates is that she already has a job in her field.
Grebe recently transitioned from intern to marketing and events assistant at Downtown Vision Inc., the nonprofit organization with the mission to advocate for and market Downtown.
She signed on as an intern in May and was asked to continue in that role through the fall semester, then joined the staff on a part-time basis in October. Grebe also works as a promotions assistant for two local radio stations.
For DVI, “I’m in charge of organizing the artists and musicians for Art Walk and I help the staff with anything they need,” said Grebe.
Working for DVI has given Grebe a different viewpoint on the neighborhood. She admitted that up until eight months ago, her experience with Downtown was limited to visiting the first Wednesday evening of each month for Art Walk.
“I didn’t know much about Downtown until I started interning. Now I love the restaurants and the nightlife and I’ve discovered the shopping. There are lots of small retailers and you find things you don’t find anywhere else,” she said.
Working at DVI has allowed Grebe to observe changes in the neighborhood that occasional visitors might not notice or appreciate.
The retail development on East Adams Street between Burro Bar and Poppy Love Smoke is an example, she said. The block is now home to two nightclubs, a restaurant and a retail store and Grebe said there’s a nightlife renaissance under way along Forsyth Street near AT&T Tower 301.
“It’s fun to watch blocks bloom. I like being part of helping things grow,” said Grebe.
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