Different Together - Jacksonville Skyline

Embracing Diversity - Colorful outline of womans face

Promoting Respect on a watercolor background

Who We Are

OneJax is a nonprofit organization that seeks to promote diversity as the foundation for a strong community. We work to increase respect and improve relationships among people who represent the rich menagerie of religious, ethnic, racial and cultural groups that compose our community.

Mission

OneJax is an interfaith organization dedicated to achieving civility, understanding and respect for all people.

Vision

Jacksonville is an inclusive community where human differences are welcomed, sought out and understood.

Guiding Principles 2022

Our Story

Originally formed as a local chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews in 1970 and later known as the National Conference for Community and Justice, the organization has addressed the ever-changing needs and challenges that come with promoting interfaith respect, acceptance and inclusion. In 2005, the Jacksonville chapter disaffiliated from its national group and formed OneJax.

The reputation of OneJax and its work continued to grow over the next several years. The range of topics addressed in its many forums of discussion expanded to include ethnicity, race, culture, ability/disability and sexual orientation. In February 2012, OneJax formally affiliated with the University of North Florida to become an Institute of the University. This partnership has brought numerous benefits to both OneJax and UNF; by bringing OneJax onto its campus, the University has positioned itself to strengthen its community partnerships to play an even more significant role in Northeast Florida's conversations about diversity and inclusion.

While OneJax works closely within the UNF community to support its initiatives, it also continues its work in the broader Northeast Florida region in areas such as education, advocacy and community engagement. OneJax is a member of the National Federation for Just Communities (NFJC), an alliance of organizations across the nation dedicated to addressing issues of diversity and inclusion.

Meet Our Staff

Kyle Reese

Executive Director

Kyle Reese is the Executive Director of OneJax and former pastor of Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida. A native of Texas, Kyle is married to Amy and they are parents of three children. Kyle is active in the Jacksonville community. He serves on the Baptist Health System Board as well serving Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville as secretary/treasurer of the board. For several years he co-hosted, with Nancy Broner, “Faith Matters” on WJCT, which examined current issues through the lens of faith. Kyle is an alumnus of Leadership Jacksonville (Class of 2008) and Leadership Florida Class XXVIII. Active in Baptist life, Kyle is the past moderator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. He served as preacher at the 2011 Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly in Tampa, Florida. Kyle also served on the board of Baptist News Global for nine years, six of which as chairperson. Dr. Reese earned degrees from Wayland Baptist University, George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University, and Northern Seminary.

onejax.reese@unf.edu

Nancy Broner

Executive Director Emerita

Nancy Broner was named the Executive Director Emerita of OneJax in June 2020 after having served for seven years as Executive Director. OneJax, an Institute of the University of North Florida, is an interfaith organization dedicated to achieving civility, understanding and respect for all peoples. Broner has worked to improve the Jacksonville community in many roles, serving on several nonprofit Boards of Directors and Task Forces in Northeast Florida including UNF’s Commission on Diversity and Inclusion, Baptist Health’s Social Responsibility and Community Health Committee, Board Chair of Baptist Beaches Medical Center, and member of WJCT’s Community Advisory Board. Nancy is a former member and past chairman of the Duval County School Board, serving on the board from 2002-2010. Active in the Jacksonville community for many years, she also served as an independent consultant providing policy and governance training to clients such as the United Way of Northeast Florida, Duval County Public Schools, School District of Philadelphia, Fulton County Public Schools, and many others. Nancy Broner served on the faculty of the Center for Reform of School Systems, based in Houston, Texas, for more than 10 years, working with large urban school districts across the country. She has experience working with school boards and superintendents on conflict resolution, appropriate governance, communications, public engagement, superintendent searches, and strategic planning.

onejax.broner@unf.edu

Deidre Lane

Associate Director of Youth Programs

Deidre is a diversity and inclusion practitioner who oversees OneJax's youth programs linked under the umbrella of OneYouth - Different Together. The three components are: Diversity Education, Metrotown Institute, and Leaders of United Diversity (LOUD). Deidre has extensive experience in leadership coaching, facilitation and group processing, team building and conflict resolution. Deidre previously served as Hotline Coordinator with the City of Jacksonville's Sexual Assault Response Center, a position she held from 2003 to 2013. She also served on the Mayor's Commission on the Status of Women, as the First Chair, appointed by former Mayor John Peyton.

onejax.lane@unf.edu

Jacey Kelley

Associate Director of Operations

Jacey joined the OneJax team in early 2017 as the Assistant Director of Operations. In her role at OneJax, Jacey focuses on all aspects of event planning, communications, office administrative work, and more. Jacey graduated from Flagler College in 2011 with a degree in Business Administration and a minor focus on Psychology and she earned her Master's degree in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education Administration from UNF in 2017. Jacey loves being a part of the OneJax team, working toward inclusion in the Jacksonville community, and celebrating being different together.

onejax.kelley@unf.edu

Jan Phillips

Coordinator of Administrative Services

Jan is the Coordinator of Administrative Services and comes to OneJax from St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, where she was an Executive Assistant to the Rector as well as an Administrative Assistant to the Senior Staff. Prior to her time with St. Mark’s, she had a long 25-year career with AT&T, where team building and helping customers were the key components of what she did on a daily basis. She is a graduate of Stetson University and during her time at Stetson, was fortunate enough to be able to study a year abroad in a school that was comprised of students from around the world. During this year, she came to really appreciate and celebrate different ethnicities and cultures – sharing daily life and making new friends from everywhere in the world. It was a life changing time. Jan is married to her best friend and has one daughter, and is an animal lover who tries to rescue every creature who has need. She is excited to be a part of OneJax helping to improve Jacksonville’s community.

onejax.phillips@unf.edu

Lisa Drew

OneYouth Coordinator

Lisa Drew joins OneJax after teaching health and wellness in high school and middle school classrooms for over two decades. She has her undergraduate degree in exercise science and her graduate degree in health education. Since the late 90’s, Lisa has directed wellness programs in schools where she focused on student social-emotional learning, healthy relationships and communication while helping students feel seen and heard in their learning communities. Lisa has created health and wellness curriculum for schools in NY, Tennessee, and Florida. She has experience leading faculty trainings and student leadership programs to help create a more inclusive, welcoming school culture. Lisa sits on the advisory board for GenWow here in Jacksonville. She works with Deidre Lane on Diversity Education, Metrotown and LOUD youth programming at OneJax. Lisa is passionate about helping students feel valued, heard, and connected. She strives to empower students to create positive change in our city of Jacksonville and the world beyond.

onejax.drew@unf.edu

Evin Willman

OneJax Consultant

Evin is a seasoned strategic marketing, public relations and development consultant working with nonprofit organizations and socially conscious corporate clients that want to become more strategic about their philanthropic giving. Evin was President & CEO of Willman & Company for 10 years, one of Jacksonville’s “Top Ten” full service advertising, public relations and interactive agencies at the time. As a consultant, Evin helps nonprofits and corporations build their brands with compelling messages to targeted audiences that create a strong case for support. She has an extensive, successful track record in creating new brands (names, logo, strategies) for organizations and/or programs in transition, local market launches of new nonprofit programs or initiatives, fund development efforts (including annual appeals and capital campaigns), producing signature events or recruiting volunteers, among other activities. She takes a strategic, integrated approach to marketing and has worked with many prominent organizations.

Mickee Brown

OneJax Consultant

Clanzenetta “Mickee” Brown is a Jacksonville native. In 2007 she founded Special Project Partners; a research and planning consultancy - fulfilling her lifelong dream of business ownership. Over the past twelve years Mickee has worked on a wide range of projects, particularly those focused on organizational sustainability including: grant readiness, preparation and training; social indicators research; community problem solving via civic engagement; program development, management, and evaluation; volunteer training and management; focus group design and facilitation; strategic planning; change management; and small group facilitation. While maintaining her firm Mickee also served as the Operations Director for the Chartrand Foundation (2009-2011), where she managed grantmaking processes, provided technical support to foundation grantees, and built relationships with mission aligned agencies. Prior to founding Special Project Partners, Mickee was a Study Director at Jacksonville Community Council, Inc. (JCCI) overseeing community-based policy inquiries on affordable housing, race relations, education reform, waterways conservation, and economic development. She also worked as the Community Health Manager at Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital directing research and business planning efforts benefiting people living with physical limitations. Mickee has earned degrees in Humanities (Bachelors) and Organizational Management (Masters). She has also served as a volunteer leader with Keep Jacksonville Beautiful, JCCI Forward, Theater Jacksonville, Eldersource Institute, the Eartha M.M. White Legacy Fund, Leadership Jacksonville, and the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center. Last, but certainly not least Mickee is a wife, mom, grandma, avid reader, and a food enthusiast who enjoys time at home and traveling with family and friends.

Brenda Priestly Jackson

OneJax Project Breakthrough Consultant

Brenda Priestly Jackson is the president of Direct Education Forward, Inc. (DirectEd), an S corporation and education foundation that assists high school athletes with NCAA eligibility and athletic and academic scholarships and high school students with timely graduation from high school, post secondary opportunities, including college and university enrollment, career certifications, military enlistment and apprenticeships. Brenda is currently writing a book about navigating K-12 education and successful college enrollment and completion that is based on her husband and sons’ experiences in school, college and sports and she will follow-up with a book about her daughters and their K-12 and collegiate journey. Brenda has also written a middle- years culturally relevant fantasy novel, MK’s First Commission. Brenda is a fourth generation Floridian on her paternal side and in grace shares that some of her maternal ancestors were enslaved in Fernandina, Florida for generations. Brenda graduated high school from Jean Ribault H.S., in Jacksonville, Florida and earned her B.A. degree from Grambling State University. Brenda earned her J.D. from the University of Florida-College of Law and has been a member in good standing with the Florida Bar for more than 24 years. Brenda previously served as an elected member and chairperson of the Duval County School Board in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida. During Brenda’s tenure (2002-2010) on the school board, the school board members and district focused on reading proficiency, regional access to academic acceleration programs, a multi-year teachers’ contract, academic achievement for all students, especially diverse ethnoracial groups and students on free or reduced lunch and built a new high school. As an attorney, Brenda specializes constitutional law and civil rights, education, family law and serves as a legal consultant to school districts, foundations, and colleges and universities. She is currently a member of the Florida Bar, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the D. W. Perkins Bar Association and Historic Mt. Zion AMEC. Brenda is married to DeAndre’ Jackson, her college sweetheart, a robotics teacher and adjunct faculty member, and they are the grateful parents of four, Imani, Malik, Kalif and Kya. Imani, Malik, and Kalif graduated from Duval County Public Schools and earned their undergraduate degrees from Grambling State University, Princeton University and the University of Florida. Kya graduated from Atlantic Coast H.S. and she is a sophomore and attends the University of Vermont. Brenda believes that this period of ethno-racial reckoning in our city, country and the world requires the dismantling of the vestiges of de jure segregation and eradicating the structural racism that furthers inequality and denies opportunities to our neighbors. Brenda attended the Aspen Institute to study study structural racism in June 2006. Further, Brenda served as a research assistant to Prof. Nagan and further studied the New South African Constitution and completed her independent study on affirmative action in higher education while a student at UF College of Law. She is grateful for this opportunity to foster understanding, justice and equity for those pushed to the margins at this critical time in our world.

Contact Us

Mailing Address

Physical & Mailing Address:

112 West Adams Street, 4th Floor

Jacksonville, Florida 32202

By Phone

Office Phone:

(904) 620-1529

Office Fax:

(904) 620-5604

By E-mail

Office E-mail:

onejax@unf.edu

Guiding Principles Infographic Information

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

We believe that through education, advocacy, and community building, we can empower members of our community to make decisions today that will make for a more inclusive tomorrow.