JU grant supports Climate Crisis Poetry Contest

A $10,000 Climate Innovation Challenge Grant from Jacksonville University supported a recent contest that used poetry and music to address climate issues.

Contest winners were:

• 1st place: Cameron Pickering, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts

• 2nd place: Olivia Owens, Bolles School

• 3rd place: Alexander Bowen, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts

Organized by American Federation of Musicians Local 444 (Jacksonville), the contest sought to raise awareness about the issue of climate change through encouraging literacy, creativity and critical thinking among Duval County high school students. It also offered the opportunity for the winning student’s poem to be set to music and brought to life with a soundtrack commissioned from a professional composer and recorded by local musicians.

“Hardly a week goes by without some major climate-related news,” AFM Local 444 President Andy Bruck said. “Local 444 sought to inspire as many area high schoolers as possible to engage in this opportunity, and we are grateful to Jacksonville University’s grant.”