Community First Credit Union Presents EDTalks, Featuring Stanford’s Isabelle Hau, on the Future of Education, AI, and Workforce Readiness
Jacksonville Public Education Fund’s Signature Luncheon Returns Sept. 23, Bringing Local and National Voices Together to Explore the Future of Learning
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., July 21, 2025 — Technology is changing how students learn and how people work. This fall, education and business leaders from across Northeast Florida will gather to chart a path towards a future where students are equipped to thrive in the rapidly evolving workforce.
The Jacksonville Public Education Fund (JPEF), in partnership with presenting sponsor Community First Credit Union, will host its fifth biennial EDTalks on Tuesday, Sept. 23, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Marriott Jacksonville Downtown. The event brings together hundreds of educators, business leaders, and advocates to spark action around the most pressing issues in public education today.
“Today’s students are navigating a world where technology is shaping how they learn and communicate, and also how they prepare for the careers of tomorrow,” said Rachael Tutwiler Fortune, president of the Jacksonville Public Education Fund. “EDTalks offers a pivotal opportunity for our community to unite, ensuring that we are equipping them with the skills and mindset they need to thrive in an increasingly digital and dynamic future.”
This year’s program features keynote speaker Isabelle C. Hau, executive director of Stanford University’s Accelerator for Learning. A nationally recognized leader at the intersection of education and artificial intelligence, Hau will share groundbreaking insights into how schools and communities can adapt in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
"We are thrilled to present this insightful and impactful speaker on a topic many leaders are working to understand," said Sam Inman, president and CEO of Community First and JPEF Board Member. "This JPEF EDTalks provides an unprecedented opportunity to connect with a leader in artificial technology and how to harness its great power and improve how we prepare our workforce."
Chaired by community leaders Buck Williams and Mary Goldsmith, EDTalks 2025 will also shine a spotlight on local educators, students, and advocates who are already innovating in the classroom and beyond. Their stories will anchor the conversation in the realities of teaching and learning in Duval County in this new era.
Since its inception, EDTalks has catalyzed collaboration between education and business sectors, fueling investment in student achievement, teacher leadership, and educational opportunity. This year promises to continue that legacy, driving forward solutions to insure Jacksonville’s students are equipped for our community’s future.
Tickets and sponsorships are now available at jaxpef.org/edtalks.
About JPEF
Since 2009, the Jacksonville Public Education Fund has been dedicated to bridging gaps in public education by investing in strong school leaders and educators. Through bold ideas, strategic resources, and trusted relationships we help build the bridges that connect students to opportunity, educators to support, and our community to lasting change. For more information: www.jaxpef.org.
About Community First Credit Union of Florida
Community First Credit Union of Florida, celebrating 90 years of service in 2025, is a statechartered credit union based in Jacksonville serving anyone who lives or works on the First Coast. Community First is one of the largest credit unions in Florida, with $2.8 billion in assets, 180,000 members, 24 locations, and more than 450 employees. A not-for-profit, Community First is a full service financial institution offering banking, loans, mortgages, and investments for consumers and businesses across Northeast Florida.
