JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After a recent spate of divisive hate speech over race, monuments and sexual identity, a community campaign to unify Jacksonville, called IamJax, went live on Monday -- aimed at highlighting how our differences can bring us together.
The organizations behind the initiative, Interfaith religious group OneJax and the Jewish Federation’s Together Strong Community Fund, said it was necessary after an increase in public expressions of antisemitism and hate in Jacksonville.
OneJax was affiliated with the University of North Florida but has become independent because of clashes with state politics affecting public universities.
The IamJax campaign celebrates diversity and brings people of all backgrounds together to solve local issues.
“I think people are always tempted to be scared of what they do not know,” said OneJax Executive Director Kyle Reese. “And so we hope with this campaign, that they’ll get to see their neighbors and get to see the strengths and that we’re not all the same. And that’s OK. We love this city. And we want to move it forward.”
This was a collaborative effort with the Jacksonville Jewish Federation and Family Foundations of Northeast Florida. The Jacksonville Jaguars, CSX and United Way of Northeast Florida joined their efforts.
“We all have so much to offer in our community so that everyone has an opportunity to succeed here. Too many people talk about the divisions in our city. We need to focus on the fact that we are all in this together,” said David Miller with the Together Strong Community Fund.
People who sign up to join -- or support -- the initiative will receive a free “I Am Jacksonville” button to let others know you want to be part of the solution.
The campaign will run through the end of April in billboards, online streaming channels and social media. It will make a return in the fall, along with neighborhood gatherings to encourage relationships and friendly conversations.
“We want to have neighborhood gatherings where neighbors get to know one another, where they get to talk about their lives and their hopes and their dreams and how we can all get together to make Jacksonville what we want it to be,” Reese said.
“Hate of any kind has no home here, and divisions cannot be allowed to take root in our city. I commend our nonprofit community for committing to that message and working together for a better Jacksonville for all,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said.
You can learn more about the initiative on iamjacksonville.org.