Jacksonville Kid's Coalition's 4th annual Count Your Steps

The Jacksonville Kid’s Coalition, community agencies, and children’s advocates will gather for the Jacksonville Kid’s Coalition’s 4th annual Count Your Steps for Children Advocacy Walk and Ceremony on Tuesday, March 26, 2013. During this free walk, local advocates will count their steps for children’s issues, starting at the Jacksonville Landing and ending at City Hall. The walk will be led by former NFL All Pro and Jacksonville Jaguar, Donovin Darius, who now serves as an NFL Ambassador and is founder of the Donovin Darius Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to educating, equipping and empowering others through character, athletic and spiritual development.
All families, providers, educators and child advocates alike are encouraged to join this free walk. Pre-walk activities, sponsored by Lakeshore Learning Materials, will start at 9 a.m. on the front steps of The Landing (2 Independent Drive 32202)—bring the kids! The Boys & Girls Clubs’ Groove Machine Drumline will keep the beat while Jaxson de Ville and Donovin Darius provide autographs and pose for photos with walk participants—bring your camera! Those interested in joining the walk should plan to arrive prior to 10 a.m. and allow time for parking. The Advocacy Walk starts at 10 a.m. This demonstration of advocacy for children’s needs and services will provide focus on anticipated impact of severe budget cuts to vital programs for Florida’s youth, as part of upcoming Children’s Week activities that will take place at the State Capitol in early April.
At 10:30 a.m., immediately following the walk, a short briefing and ceremony will take place at in the Atrium of City Hall, which will be decorated with hundreds of child-decorated paper hands, to represent the endless potential of Florida’s children. During the briefing and ceremony, the Jacksonville Kid’s Coalition will provide an update on the status of children in Northeast Florida, Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti, will speak briefly on children in our city, and a proclamation will be presented by the Mayor’s Office, declaring March 26 as Parents’ and Children’s Day in Jacksonville. City Councilmen Ray Holt, Clay Yarborough and Doyle Carter will also present a co-sponsored City Council Resolution.
Following the ceremony, all children will have the opportunity to participate in a “reading corner”, where they’ll read a book with Donovin Darius and other local leaders. Each child will also receive a free book to take home.
The Jacksonville Kid’s Coalition improves the lives of local children by advocating for public policies that support effective programming for children. The coalition also works to eliminate disparities in children’s health, social and economic factors in order to achieve a healthy community in Northeast Florida. For more information about the Jacksonville Kid’s Coalition please visit www.jaxkidscoalition.org.