Jacksonville committee begins workshops to guide $5 million youth empowerment plan, hears mentorship and workforce proposals

The Jacksonville City Council Youth Empowerment Committee opened the first of four workshops to shape a proposed $5,000,000 investment for fiscal year 2027 and heard presentations from two local mentoring and training organizations about scaling programs that keep supports connected after high school.

Councilman Terrence Freeman, chair of the committee, framed the initiative around four tracks — education and mentorship; recreational access and safe community spaces; job training and apprenticeships; and public‑safety lighting and technology — and said the goal is “to translate those needs into smart investments that actually move outcomes.” He told the committee this workshop will help staff draft Track 1 of a youth empowerment RFP to guide funding allocations.

John Everett, a representative from KHA, told the committee that research points to a “navigation gap” rather than a motivation gap for Jacksonville youth. “This is not a motivation gap, this is a navigation gap,” Everett said, arguing the city must fund continuity —…