Mariah Barry- JWJ’s Events Amabassador
Mariah Barry
Events Ambassador
Q: How long have you worked here and what drew you to the job?
Barry: I have worked here for a year and a half. What initially drew me to the job is that Liz (McCoy) proposed working with this organization. I think what really kept the ball rolling for me is that I really love Jacksonville. It’s my hometown. Even as a little kid I dreamt of having a park and working with the community. Being able to actually do that and become part of the process has been awesome. It definitely drew me in and kept me going.
Q: What does your job involve?
Barry: I play a couple different roles. I organize all of our food trucks for Live at Lunch and any other events that we put on. I make sure food trucks are certified, inspected, licensed with the city of Jacksonville, and are following their guidelines. I make sure we have different food options during the same week or even the same day. Additionally, I manage our bars, so I create all our bar menus, do all of the inventory, ordering, and organizing. I also manage a small staff of bartenders, create speciality cocktails, and I’m lucky to work with some local breweries and their reps. In addition to the food and beverage side of my role, I’m involved with the interactive activities around each event such as crafts, games, and decorations.
Q: What’s your favorite spot in James Weldon Johnson Park?
Barry: I truthfully really love, it’s going to sound silly, but I love where the bar is set up across from the stage, closest to Monroe Street. It’s my favorite part of the park because it’s kind of my lookout tower when I’m working in the park. You can see everything, a good view of the stage, you can turn and see food trucks, you can get a view of every component when an event is happening. If an event isn’t happening, I like the cafe, but when I spend a good amount of time in the park it’s usually for an event. It’s a great vantage point to be in the mix of things.
Additional comments:
I would just like to say I’m excited to be part of a team that’s striving to make big changes in downtown Jacksonville because it is the heart of the city. I think it can be so vibrant and have a truly rippling effect if we let it.
