One Nation One Project GNV Arts & Culture Jamboree at Depot Park to focus on gun violence

A celebration of arts and culture is set to take place on Saturday evening in Gainesville as part of the national One Nation One Project initiative.

The city, in collaboration with its community partners, will host a free jamboree Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Depot Park, located at 874 SE Fourth St., that will feature nationally-known recording artists, music, dance, an art walk and more.

Gainesville was one of nine cities selected in April 2022 by the National League of Cities to take part in the initiative, which is designed to spotlight the role of arts in improving the overall well-being and resilience of communities across the country.

“Our specific focus is to help our local communities that have been affected by gun violence,” said Marion J. Caffey, artistic director for One Nation One Project GNV (ONOPGNV), in a news release.

More: Hundreds attend two-day gun violence prevention summit in Gainesville

Caffey, who has performed, directed, written, produced and choreographed on Broadway, grew up in Gainesville and attended Williams Elementary, Lincoln and Gainesville high schools. He currently produces the iconic Amateur Night at the famed Apollo Theater in New York City.

This weekend’s Arts & Culture Jamboree will be Caffey’s first contribution as artistic director. Those scheduled to appear at the event include singer/songwriter and voice actor Dawnn Lewis as celebrity host, Christian Guardino of “America’s Got Talent” and “American Idol” fame, and saxophonist Austin Paul Jr. Local groups also are scheduled to perform, including the United for Change Community Choir.

“One Nation One Project GNV is more than a collaborative effort of local artists, educators and innovators, said Gainesville City Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker, in a news release. “It’s an investment in our youth and in the future of our community through the transformative power of the arts.”

Community partners of ONOPGNV include UF’s College of the Arts, SPARC352, Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, Alachua County Public Schools, UF Health Shands Arts in Medicine, Alachua County, the Gainesville Police Department, and the Center for Arts, Migration and Entrepreneurship.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: ONOPGNV Arts & Culture Jamboree at Depot Park to focus on gun violence