More than 100 people gathered at the Jacksonville Landing on Wednesday morning before marching to City Hall to increase awareness of Children’s Week in Florida.
The fifth annual Jacksonville Kids Coalition “Count Your Steps for Children” advocacy walk was led by Jon Heymann, CEO of the Jacksonville Children’s Commission, City Council members Warren Jones and Don Redman, and Jacksonville Giants basketball players Brandon Davis and Travis Johnson.
After the group arrived at City Hall, a resolution approved by council and a proclamation from Mayor Alvin Brown declared March 16-22 “Children’s Week” and March 19 “Parents and Children’s Day” in Jacksonville.
Afterward, council member Ray Holt read to the children and frozen yogurt was served in the Lynwood Roberts Room at City Hall.
Wednesday was not the first time the Jacksonville Kids Coalition has walked along Laura Street from the Landing to City Hall. Coalition Program Coordinator Elexia Moss said the event began five years ago and has been staged nowhere else since.
Providing a place for organizations to have fundraising, social or performance events is part of the Landing’s business model, said Janice Lowe, general manager. Downtown’s riverfront retail and entertainment mall is headquarters each year for more than 50
events presented by nonprofit organizations.
The Muscular Dystrophy Association’s “Muscle Walk” is scheduled Saturday at the Landing. On Sunday, the MG Walk to benefit myasthenia gravis research will step off at the Landing.
On next month’s schedule of nonprofit events is the Special Olympics Torch Run on April 2, Hubbard House “Setting the Pace for Peace” Domestic Violence Awareness Walk is April 5, Earth Day is April 19 and Sunrise on the St. Johns Easter Service on April 20.
Artists from the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind are scheduled to perform April 14 on the courtyard stage.
“We do everything we can to help the organizations,” said Lowe. “Sometimes, it just takes one phone call, sometimes it takes more planning.”
In addition to providing a starting and finishing point for walks, the stage and sound and lighting systems are available to organizations.
“It helps them because we don’t charge anything for what we do,” Lowe said.
Beyond philanthropy, the open-door policy helps in marketing and promoting the neighborhood.
“What we do brings people Downtown. People discover not just our merchants, but our beautiful river and the Main Library and the museums. The Landing has always been Downtown’s Town Square. We want to be the place the community calls home,” said Lowe.
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