Make plans to join us April 18th at Jacksonville University for a unique Salon centered on the theme of “River City Renaissance: Jacksonville’s Shimmering Future.” Held in partnership with Jacksonville University, we will screen four TED talks that explore the following topics:
  • The River: Its Future and the Role it Plays in our City. Discussion Led by Dr. Quint White
  • Health & Wellness: What does it mean to be a Fit City? Discussion Led by Dr. Hausenblas
  • The Arts in Jacksonville: Why Public Art Matters. Discussion Led by Hope McMath
  • Crowd Funding: The Art of Asking. Discussion Led by Elton Rivas

Discussion Leaders:

Community experts will lead discussion groups on each talk. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions and join the dialogue. Our program starts at 2:00 p.m. in the Swisher Theater on Jacksonville University’s Campus. For directions, download the Jacksonville University Campus Map, and locate building number 13, in the Academics section. Visitor parking is located across the street on University Oaks Drive.
Hope McMath is Director of The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens with eighteen years of experience, moving from Director of Education to Deputy Director before her current role began in May 2009. During her time at The Cummer, she has led the organization through strategic planning, reaccreditation, capital expansion projects, and has designed and implemented programs that bring the arts to over 140,000 individuals annually. In her work and volunteerism, Hope dedicates herself to connecting the arts to community needs, including education, the environment, tolerance and diversity, and wellness.  
Serial entrepreneur and triathlete Elton Rivas is well versed in the challenges of launching a company. Elton is the founder/co-founder/advisor of businesses ranging from construction to footwear to tech startups. Elton has a background in corporate marketing, but left that world behind with a goal to reinvigorate the local business climate in Jacksonville, Florida. To that end, he has launched CoWork Jax, downtown Jacksonville’s first coworking space, and co-founded OneSpark, a six-day event for creators where they can connect with the people and resources they need to make their great ideas reality. One Spark is the World’s Largest Crowdfunding Festival.  
Quinton White, Jr., Ph.D., is Executive Director, Marine Science Research Institute and Professor of Biology and Marine Science at Jacksonville University. Dr. White joined the faculty at Jacksonville University in 1976, having completed his Ph.D. at the University of South Carolina at the Baruch Institute for Marine Biology and Coastal Research. Dr. White has written numerous research and technical papers or reports and received grants and contracts to support marine research at JU. Currently he is conducting research on the history of human impact on the Florida environment and especially on the St. Johns River with a focus on manatees and water quality issues. Dr. White served as Chair of the JCCI study on Energy, Environment and the Economy. He chaired the JU Campus Sustainability Committee that developed policy recommendations to make JU a sustainable campus. The Marine Science Research Institute building opened in 2010 and is the first LEED certified Gold building on the JU campus. He was a founding member of the St. Johns Riverkeeper and has studied the St. Johns River for over thirty five years. Dr. White is a member of the City of Jacksonville Mayor’s Task Force of Harbor Deepening.
  Heather Hausenblas, PhD, is a physical activity and healthy aging expert, researcher, and author. She obtained her Doctorate from The University of Western Ontario, Canada. She was a faculty member and the Director of the Exercise Psychology lab at the University of Florida from 1998 to 2012. She is currently an Associate Professor at Jacksonville University in the College of Health Sciences. Her research focuses on the psychological effects of health behaviors, in particular physical activity and diet, across the lifespan. She examines the effects of physical activity and diet on body image, mood, adherence, quality of life, and excessive exercise. She is a mom to three young boys, and she enjoys exercising outdoors, spending time with her family and friends, and coaching and watching her sons play sports. She resides in Jacksonville, FL with her husband and boys..