JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Friends of the Brentwood Public Library, Inc. will host the inaugural James Weldon Johnson Literacy Walk-A-Thon on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Jacksonville. The event will take place from 8 a.m. to noon at Andrew Jackson High School, located at 48th and Main streets.
The one-mile literacy walk in Jacksonville’s Urban Core is intended to bring together residents, schools, churches and civic groups to promote literacy, education and healthy living. The gathering also celebrates Jacksonville native Johnson, an author, poet, educator, civil rights leader, diplomat and attorney who wrote the lyrics to “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
Sharon Coon, founder of the Friends of the Brentwood Public Library, Inc., emphasized the broader goals of the event. “The Johnson Literacy Walk-A-Thon is more than a walk,” Coon said. “It is an opportunity to bring our community together around literacy, health, pride and the future of our children. Every step we take honors the legacy of Johnson and strengthens our commitment to building readers, writers, leaders and lifelong learners.”
Registration for the event is currently open. Individual registration costs $45, youth registration is $25, and registration for teams of up to 12 people is $500.Sponsorship opportunities are available across three financial tiers: Legacy Sponsor at $2,000, Community Sponsor at $1,500 and Literacy Sponsor at $1,000. Depending on the tier, sponsor benefits include logo placement, on-stage recognition, booth space, event signage, digital recognition and community acknowledgment.
Registration, sponsorship opportunities and volunteer sign-ups remain open ahead of the Oct. 10 event.
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