Cuppa Jax - Chris Hand, "20 Questions for Jacksonville Candidates"

Cost $15 -- Breakfast by Village Bread Cafe provided

Wednesday, Feb. 1

8 a.m.- 9 a.m.

Riverplace Tower Skyline Room

Chris Hand has a long record of public, civic, and legal service. He currently leads Hand Law, a Florida law firm which helps clients seek opportunities and solve challenges with government.

From 2011 to 2015, Hand served as Chief of Staff at the City of Jacksonville — the largest city by area in the contiguous United States, 12th largest by population in the nation, and most populated city in Florida. As Chief of Staff, he led the advancement of strategic initiatives, coordinated Mayor Alvin Brown’s Cabinet of direct reports, and managed the Mayor’s Office team, with oversight for policy, advocacy, communications, outreach, and scheduling. Hand also led efforts to achieve retirement reform and participated in economic development and Downtown Jacksonville revitalization initiatives.

In 2018, Hand returned to City Hall for the Task Force on Civil Rights History. Task force members were recognized with the Melody Starr Anne Bishop Community Service Award for “outstanding community involvement, public service and commitment to enhancing and improving the quality of life for others.” He also authored the 50th Anniversary update to the chronicle of Jacksonville’s historic city-county consolidation: A Quiet Revolution–the Consolidation of Jacksonville-Duval County and the Dynamics of Urban Political Reform.

Hand has also been engaged with federal and state government. From 1996 to 2000, he served as speechwriter, campaign press secretary, and Senate press secretary for U.S. Senator and former Governor Bob Graham. With Senator Graham, Hand is co-author of America, the Owner’s Manual: You Can Fight City Hall – and Win, a guide to helping Americans flex their citizenship muscles to make government respond. He was also a member of the 2018-2019 transition team for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

In 2008, Hand served as one of 27 Florida electors in the U.S. Electoral College. Ten years later, Hand helped to lead the bipartisan Groveland Four Clemency Coalition, which worked to achieve justice for four Floridians unjustly accused of crimes. On January 11, 2019, the Florida Cabinet unanimously pardoned the Groveland Four. On November 22, 2021, the Fifth Circuit Court restored their legal innocence.

Hand graduated from the Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs. He was honored with the Daily Princetonian Award for efforts to reform the university’s then century-old Honor Code. Hand later graduated from the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law. The law school student body elected him as president of the student bar association.

Hand is an author and speaker who provides political, legal, and governmental analysis for Jacksonville media. He has been active in Leadership Florida and Leadership Jacksonville and is a member of the Jacksonville University Public Policy Institute Board of Advisors. An enthusiastic hiker who loves the Florida outdoors, Hand lives in Jacksonville with his wife and two children.

Cuppa Jax holds gatherings for neighborhood and community leaders that are open to everyone in Jacksonville. Join us on Wednesday mornings in Riverplace Tower on the Southbank to discuss important issues facing our city.

Scheduled speakers will talk for 10-15 minutes. The rest of the time is spent with Q&A and discussion of relevant issues brought up by participants. We also encourage attendees to make community announcements at the beginning of the program.

No membership fee. Unlike many other discussion forums in Jacksonville, there is no membership fee to attend or participate in Cuppa Jax. We do ask attendees to cover the cost of coffee and breakfast provided by Village Bread Cafe. If you cannot attend due to the cost of the event, please email [email protected] with a request for a scholarship and we will be glad to cover your ticket.

Topical and timely. We are seeking local thought leaders who can discuss and educate about important community issues to speak at future dates. We don’t accept offers to speak about or pitch organizations. Cuppa Jax is non-partisan, and does not endorse candidates or issues. An offer to speak does not constitute an endorsement. It's simply an opportunity for the community to have a meaningful discussion.

We meet at Riverplace Tower, also known as the Ameris Bank building. This is a walkable location along the Southbank Riverwalk and also convenient to JTA's First Coast Flyer and the Skyway's Riverplace Station.

There is limited free street parking, and paid parking is also available in a neighboring surface lot and garage.

Entering from the Riverwalk: take the stairs or elevator next to Village Bread Company up to the mezzanine.

Entering from Riverplace Blvd: take the escalators and walk toward the back of the building, behind the Ameris Bank offices.

Entering from the garage: make a right at the first bank of elevators and another right into the hallway between the Ameris Bank offices.

Entering from the driveway between Riverplace Tower and the Doubletree: Walk down the hallway to the left, and make another left toward Village Bread Company. Take the elevator or stairs near Village Bread Company to the meeting space.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Riverplace Tower, 1301 Riverplace Boulevard, Jacksonville, United States