Placemaking
Creating vibrant spaces of inclusion & belonging, where all members of our communities can thrive
People who feel a sense of belonging have the confidence to find creative solutions to society’s greatest challenges. And communities are stronger when everyone is part of building the vision for the future.
Featured Project
The Jessie
The Jessie brings together the Jacksonville community and its nonprofits in a setting that appreciates our rich history while responding to the demands of today. Housed in one of the city’s architectural jewels, the Jessie provides offices for nonprofits and work & gathering spaces for the community in an energy-efficient environment with state-of-the-art technology.
Featured Project
Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park
Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park is currently under construction in the historic LaVilla neighborhood in Jacksonville. When completed, the Park will honor two of Jacksonville’s most famous residents: James Weldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson. The Johnson brothers wrote “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” often called the Black National Anthem, at their home in the LaVilla neighborhood between 1900 and 1905. Designed by world-renowned MacArthur Foundation “Genius Grant” recipient Walter Hood, the park incorporates elements of the Johnson brothers’ and LaVilla’s cultural and built history while making space for a more inclusive future.
Featured Project
Murals in Downtown Jacksonville
A series of colorful murals, mosaics, and photography installations in downtown Jacksonville that honor communities of color in the city. Created by artists Celso González, Alexis Diaz, and others, the public artworks feature Black, Latinx, and Asian civil rights leaders, artists, poets, and humanitarians.
Featured Project
Activating Jacksonville’s Riverfront
In 2021, the Jessie Ball duPont Fund convened a group of experts to explore what it will take to create a vibrant, active downtown riverfront for the benefit of all of Jacksonville's residents and visitors. The project has included extensive community conversations, stakeholder workshops, and public presentations. In 2021, the Jessie Ball duPont Fund convened a group of experts to explore what it will take to create a vibrant, active downtown riverfront for the benefit of all of Jacksonville's residents and visitors. The project has included extensive community conversations, stakeholder workshops, and public presentations.
