Friends of Brentwood Library

07/14/2026

🎒📚 BACK 2 SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE IS UNDERWAY! 📚🎒

The Friends of the Brentwood Public Library is collecting school supplies to help students in our community begin the new school year prepared and confident.

Our biggest need is:

💛 CLEAR (required by DCPS) 17-inch heavy-duty backpacks

We are also seeking gift cards and prize donations for our Spelling Gram Competition and school clothes shopping spree drawing.

Our dedicated FOBL volunteers will assemble all of the donated supplies into backpacks in preparation for the Back 2 School Bash and giveaway on Saturday, August 8.

📍 Drop-Off Location:
Brentwood Public Library
3725 N. Pearl Street
Jacksonville, FL 32206

A donation box is available during regular library hours.

📅 Donation Drive: July through August 3, 2026

Please share this post with friends, churches, businesses, civic groups, neighborhood organizations, and anyone who wants to help local students succeed.

Every backpack, notebook, pencil, gift card, and online order makes a difference. 💛

🌐 www.friendsofbrentwoodlibrary.com
📧 [email protected]

06/29/2026

📚🍎 190+ Students... and Counting! 🍎📚

Because of the generosity of our community, more than 190 students have already participated in the Friends of the Brentwood Public Library's Read & Snack Program this month!

Every day of summer break, students gather at the Brentwood Branch Library to strengthen their reading skills, enjoy a healthy snack, and spend time in a safe, welcoming environment where learning comes first.

Now we need your help to keep the program going!

We're currently accepting donations of:
🧃 Capri Sun fruit drink pouches
🥨 Individual-size SunChips
🍎 Healthy, child-friendly snacks
💚 Monetary donations to help purchase additional snacks

A simple snack may seem small, but it helps fuel a child's ability to focus, learn, and succeed.

If you'd like to support this growing program, please contact the Friends of the Brentwood Public Library or stop by the Brentwood Library with your donation.

Together, we're helping young readers build brighter futures... one book, one snack, and one child at a time.

❤️ Please share this post with your friends, family, churches, businesses, and civic organizations. Every donation makes a difference!

06/10/2026

🎨✨ DAY ONE IS IN THE BOOKS! ✨🎨

What an incredible start to the 2026 James Weldon Johnson Young Writers Festival!

Today's focus was ART, and our talented students jumped right in with creativity, imagination, and enthusiasm. From colorful projects to thoughtful expressions of this year's theme, "What Peace Looks Like to Me," the room was filled with inspiration.

Even better than the artwork were the smiles! 😊

A huge thank you to our volunteers, instructors, mentors, and supporters who helped make the day such a success. Your time, encouragement, and energy are helping young people discover the power of their own voices.

We can't wait to see what tomorrow brings as our young writers continue their journey of creativity, learning, and self-expression.

📸 Check out some of today's highlights below!

06/05/2026

🎉Planning to attend the James Weldon Johnson Young Authors Awards, Scholarship & Showcase? You can also opt to reserve your spot on Eventbrite!

Join us as we celebrate the creativity, talent, and achievements of Jacksonville's young writers. Students from across the city will be recognized for their original poetry and monologues inspired by this year's theme:

🕊️ "What Peace Looks Like to Me."

🏆 Awards & Scholarships
📚 Student Presentations
🎤 Young Voices Showcase
🌟 Community Celebration

📅 Saturday, June 13, 2026
🕜 1:30 PM
📍 Jacksonville Public Library Main Conference Center
303 N. Laura Street, Jacksonville, FL

🎟️ Reserve your free ticket:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/james-weldon-johnson-young-authors-awards-scholarship-showcase-tickets-1991199154272

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post with family, friends, teachers, church groups, and anyone who believes in encouraging young people to read, write, speak, and lead!

Join us as we celebrate youth voices, creativity, and talent during an inspiring showcase themed "What Peace Looks Like to Me."

05/15/2026

📣 REGISTRATION EXTENDED! 📣

Good news for young writers and proud parents... registration for the 2026 James Weldon Johnson Young Writers Festival has been extended through Tuesday, May 26!

If you have a student in 3rd grade through 12th grade who loves to write, create, perform, or simply has something meaningful to say, this is their moment. ✍️

For just $25 per student, participants will enjoy three full days of inspirational workshops, creative activities, mentorship, cultural enrichment, and the opportunity to compete for CASH PRIZES!

This year’s theme:
“Our Voices Matter – What Peace Looks Like to Me”

Students may enter in:
📝 Poetry
🎭 Monologue

We are making registration easy by providing a printable registration packet right here in this post. Simply download, complete, and submit!

Parents, grandparents, teachers, youth leaders, pastors, homeschool families, and community mentors... PLEASE SHARE THIS WIDELY.

Know a student with a story to tell?
A budding poet?
A future speaker?
A creative young mind who just needs the right opportunity?

Tag a friend. Share with your church youth group. Forward to your school PTO. Send it to your homeschool network. Tell your neighbors.

Let’s help young voices across Jacksonville be heard.

04/13/2026

Saturday night, the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists recognized the incredible story by WJXT reporter Amanda DeVoe for her work, “Echoes of Freedom: 125 Years of Lift Every Voice and Sing,” at their annual awards ceremony in Orlando. 🏆✨

Sharon C**n proudly represented the Friends of Brentwood Library and was honored to be part of celebrating this well-deserved recognition. 💛

📺 You can watch Amanda's feature story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH7s6Ch_mVo

👏 Congratulations to WJXT, and a heartfelt thank you to Amanda and the entire WJXT team for helping the Friends of the Brentwood Library amplify the message behind our annual Lift Every Voice & Sing Festival.

While Amanda may now be reporting in Minneapolis—an exciting move to a Top 15 media market—Friends of Brentwood Library is proud to have been part of her journey, and she will always hold a special place in our hearts. 💫

Moments like this remind us how powerful storytelling can be in preserving history and inspiring future generations. 🎶📖

04/13/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out to Brentwood Library on Saturday to celebrate the power of reading and the bright future of our community! 📚✨

We were so proud to host the Mr. T’s Reading Challenge – “Readers Are Leaders” Awards Ceremony—and it was nothing short of inspiring:

🥁 The Andrew Jackson High School Tigers drumline set the tone for a powerful and uplifting afternoon!

🎤 A special thank you to our dynamic emcee, Deja Mayfield of Action News Jax, who kept the energy high and the program moving seamlessly!

📖 Director Tim Rogers of the Jacksonville Public Library kicked off the program and welcomed everyone.

🏛️ We were also honored to hear from Charles Griggs, Director of Community Initiatives for the City of Jacksonville Mayor’s Office, whose words reinforced the importance of investing in our youth.

👏 And a huge thank you to Paula S. Renfro, Chief Academic Officer for Duval County Public Schools, for leading such a meaningful and FUN student recognition!

💛 A very special acknowledgment to our Matriarch and Founder, Sharon C**n—it wouldn’t be a Friends of the Brentwood Library event without you!

🌟 The true stars of the day though, were the incredible student readers from:
📚 Highlands Estates Academy
📚 North Shore Elementary
📚 Pickett Elementary
📚 KIPP VOICE Academy

Your confidence, passion, and love of reading inspired everyone in the room—you are truly leaders in the making. 💛

🤝 Many thanks to all of the incredible volunteers, including the brothers of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity 💙🤍 and several Omega Psi Phi Fraternity members too 💜💛, as well as Masonic organizations and Eastern Star—this event would not have been possible without your support of time, talent, and treasure!

This is what it looks like when a community comes together to uplift literacy, leadership, and opportunity!

📖 BECAUSE WHEN OUR CHILDREN READ, THEY WILL BE PREPARED TO LEAD!

03/22/2026

✨ Legacy + Community = A Reason to Celebrate! ✨

The story of the 126th Anniversary of Lift Every Voice and Sing couldn’t fit into just a standard-size newsletter for March — so we’ve expanded it to share all the great events!

From unforgettable performances and community partnerships to a powerful celebration of history and culture, this issue captures the heart of Brentwood.

📖 Take a moment to explore all the pages and photos — and witness what happens when our community comes together with purpose.

💜 This is what impact looks like.