Forums & Conferences

City Council Orientation June 16, 2023 

The Institute hosted the third day of the Jacksonville City Council's orientation program on campus on June 16, 2023. This day-long training educated newly elected City Council members on Jacksonville's consolidated government, independent authorities, and constitutional officers. It featured presentations from the council president, the Sheriff, the mayor, leadership from JEA, JTA, JPA, JAA, and the Duval County Schoolboard, and the city's constitutional officers. 

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City Council Orientation June 7, 2019

The Institute hosted the third day of the Jacksonville City Council's orientation program on campus on June 7, 2019. This day-long training educated newly elected City Council members on Jacksonville's consolidated government, independent authorities, and constitutional officers. It featured presentations from the council president, the Sheriff, the mayor, leadership from JEA, JTA, JPA, JAA, and the Duval County Schoolboard, and the city's constitutional officers. 

 

Mayoral Forum on the 50th Anniversary of Jacksonville's Consolidation September 19, 2018

The Public Policy Institute hosted a Mayoral Forum in partnership with WJXT Channel 4. This event focused on the 50th anniversary of Jacksonville's consolidation, and included all living mayors since consolidation.

Generation Under Fire March 2018

This televised town hall forum focused on school shootings and gun policy, and was hosted by the Public Policy Institute and WJXT Channel 4.

Honorable Bill Weld, Libertarian Vice-President Candidate September 2016

Bill Weld served as the 68th Governor of Massachusetts from 1991 to 1997 and was the the Libertarian Party's nominee for Vice President of the United States in the 2016 election with Gary Johnson. Bill Weld hosted a townhall forum and classroom presentation at the Public Policy Institute.

First Coast Delegation Summit December 1, 2016

This event brought many of Northeast Florida's elected officials to campus to focus on solutions in healthcare, education, and transportation on the First Coast.

Jacksonville Mayoral Transition May-July 2015

The Public Policy Institute was pleased to host the public meetings of Mayor Lenny Curry's transition team subcommittees at Jacksonville University. The eight subcommittees, totaling more than 100 members, each met twice weekly for four weeks to discuss matters affecting Jacksonville.

Juvenile Justice Policy November 20, 2014

The Publi​c Policy Institute hosted a forum on juvenile justice policy with panelist​s 4th Judicial Circuit Duval County Court Judge Henry Davis, 4th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Angela Corey, Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford, and 4th Judicial Circuit Duval County Public Defender Matt Shirk. Topics covered juvenile crime, direct filings, civic citations​, drug court, and Jacksonville Journey. This event was covered by MetroJacksonville.com. Watch the speakers on YouTube: Henry Davis, John Rutherford, Forum Panel.

Education Policy: Shaping Florida's Future November 12, 2014

This event, one of the premier education conferences in the state, drew students, faculty, policymakers, and community members together to discuss school choice, state accountability and assessment standards, Common Core, Next Generation Sunshine State Standards, low-performing Duval schools, FCAT 2.0, and more. Speakers included Gary Chartrand, Chair, Board of Education, Florida Department of Education; Pam Stewart, Commissioner on Education, Florida Department of Education; and Nikolai Vitti, Superintendent, DCPS.

• See photos of the event on Facebook.
• Read more about the conference at MetroJacksonville.com.

Children's Health Policy Symposium October 21, 2014

In partnership with the City of Jacksonville, JU PPI hosted the Children’s Health Symposi​um for elected officials and health industry leaders.​

Education Policy​ February 11, 2014

Leadership, strategic planning and budgeting were topics discussed by Florida State Chair of Education Gary Chartrand and Duval County ​Schools Superintendent Nikolai Vitti during the Public Policy Institute's Education Policy Forum, "Education Policy: Why it Matters". See photos of the event on Facebook. Watch the video on YouTube. This event was covered by MetroJacksonville.com.

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in Florida: The Exchanges and Proposed Medicaid Expansion​ November 13, 2013

​​​The inaugural Public Policy Program was a Healthcare Policy Conference held in the Jacksonville University Terry Concert Hall. An estimated 400 policy makers, civic leaders, healthcare professionals, and members of the university and local community attended this day-long conference. Media information and materials from the event are below.

• Presenter Bios (PDF)​
• Presentation Videos
• Russell Armistead
• Moody Chisholm
• Don Gaetz
• Pat Geraghty
• Hugh Green
• Steven Halverson
• Jim O'Loughlin
• William Rupp
• Will Weatherford
• CEO Panel

• Presentation Slides
  • Pat Geraghty (PDF)
  • Russ Armistead (PDF)
  • Moody Chisholm (PDF)
  • Hugh Greene (PDF)
  • Jim O'Loughlin (PDF)
  • Joe Antos (PDF)
  • Dawn Emerick (PDF)
  • William Rupp (PDF)​
• Additional Materials
  • Speaker Weatherford Commentary for Tampa Tribune (May 9, 2013) (PDF)
  • Speaker Weatherford - FHCP - House Majority Office (April 2013) (PDF)
  • Speaker Weatherford - Galen Institute Article (May 2013) (PDF)​
  • Speaker Weatherford - Wood Editorial Opinion (July 2013) (PDF)
  • Senate President Gaetz Letter to Secretary Sebelius (June 28, 2013) (PDF)
  • Senate President Gaetz Letter to Congressional Delegation (PDF)