Events + Updates

Upcoming Events + Current Updates

When Is It Safe to Be a BlackMan.10.26.21 Social (1).png

The holidays are a great time to enjoy good food, connect with family, and create lasting memories. They can also bring about challenging conversations with relatives with whom you disagree. Join us on Wednesday, November 17 for a special Holidays Edition of the Race Cards where we will have a panel of experts to provide some keys to navigating family conversations without starting World War III. Then we'll break out into Race Cards conversations with some topics that will ensure you're better prepared for what the season may bring!

Past Events + Updates

Sunday October 17th at 3:00PM

Historical Marker Ceremony to commemorate the lives of Bowman Cook and John Morine, two WW1 veterans and racial terror lynching victims.

Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 6:00PM

At 904WARD, we always strive to create a safe space for the difficult conversations around race. With so much going on in our country and communities: The Derek Chauvin Trial, #StopAsianHate, #BlackLivesMatter, Florida HB1, we want to create the space to talk. Register in advance for this meeting.

Sunday, May 16, 2021 at 3:00PM

The Jacksonville Community Remembrance Project, an initiative of 904WARD, will hold a soil collection ceremony on Sunday, May 16, at 3 p.m. to commemorate the lynching of an unknown man on May 9, 1909. The lynching, one of thousands of crimes of racial terror designed to instill fear in Black communities and suppress their civil rights, took place in Duval County.

Attendance at the event is virtual only. While the soil collection will take place in person, the venue does not allow for in-person attendance. It will be broadcast to all who wish to participate. Once you register, you will receive the login link and additional information.

Immediately after the ceremony, JCRP will host Virtual Caring Circles with trained facilitators for those who wish to process their experience with others in a supportive environment. More information will be sent in the confirmation email.

Thursday, March 25, 2021

904WARD releases a statement in Support of Renaming Schools >> here

"A better way to acknowledge and grapple with our history is not to cling to these particular names, but to ask ourselves: What aspects of our community’s history do we most want celebrated? What messages do we want to send to our students about the aspects of our history our community holds most dear?” — Dr. Kimberly Allen, CEO, 904WARD

Additional News Coverage

Florida Times Union, March 26th, The story behind a push to Rename Lee High School
WJCT, March 29th, School Name Change Controversy
Folio, April 15th, Robert E. Lee High School Faces Renaming
First Coast News, April 16th, Northside Coalition, local students hold news conference to demand name changes of schools
Jacksonville Free Press, April 16th, 904WARD Releases Third of Eight Retrospectives of Racial Equity Data
Florida Times Union, April 18th, Guest column: It's time to change the school names
News4Jax, April 18th, Black-owned elementary school to open in Jacksonville

February 21, 2021

Soil Collection Ceremony commemorating the lynching of Willie Washington

PRESS Release: Friday, February 12, 2021

904ward releases the first in an 8-part series of reports looking back at decades of disparities and
failed efforts to address them.

After today’s introductory report, the series will cover trends, victories, challenges and recommendations in
seven different domains:

Education
Health
Housing
Justice and the legal system
Employment
Media
Politics and civic engagement

The Press Release can be found here.

Read the full report here.

January 3, 2021

Soil Collection Ceremony commemorating the lynching of Eugene Burnam

News Release - Monday, December 14

904WARD to expand, increase racial equity initiatives

Building on five years of volunteer work, more than $1 million in local philanthropy will support a dedicated executive and expand initiatives aimed at ending racism in Jacksonville