FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jacksonville, Fla. (June 19, 2025) – Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP) has promoted Katie McDade to market manager and hired Arianna Rodriguez as market specialist, both roles heavily dedicated to the Riverside Arts Market (RAM), the weekly market that RAP produces every Saturday featuring more than 150 local artists, farmers, and makers. The 16-year-old market continues to grow in cultural significance and importance to our community and all of northeast Florida, continuing to solidify itself as the premier market in the region, amassing an average audience of over 5,000 people each week.
McDade will join existing staff member, SJ Osborne, and together will assume tandem roles as market managers, but with varying and distinct responsibilities that will allow for a stronger, operational focus. The increased staffing is vital as RAM prepares to expand its operations east into Artist Walk, across Riverside Avenue in the space between RAM’s existing footprint and the Artist Walk Skate Park. Activating the space, once ready, will require an increase in planning and coordination, as well as volunteers, which McDade will oversee.
Both McDade’s and Rodriguez’s positions will support RAP in certain capacities, also.
With the announcement, RAP has now seen a staff increase of 200 percent from just four years ago when Shannon Blankinship was hired as the organization’s executive director and initiated a strategic reorganization of the staffing structure.
McDade was previously volunteer coordinator, overseeing the volunteer programs at both RAM and RAP, including recruitment, training and fulfillment of volunteers. She will retain that responsibility and also guide merchandising and vendor compliance for RAM. McDade holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science and a minor in Spanish from Florida State University.
Rodriguez provides administrative and logistical support for RAM in a part-time role. Her responsibilities include fulfillment of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Florida Access Bucks (FAB) benefits, as well on-site support during the market every Saturday. Her experience is strong in event management, volunteer coordination, and operations with companies like Limelight Theatre, AAA Inc., and Phase 8 Theater Company.
About Riverside Avondale Preservation
The purpose and mission of Riverside Avondale Preservation, Inc., colloquially known as RAP, is to preserve, enhance, and celebrate the historic fabric, arts, culture, local businesses, and public spaces of the Riverside and Avondale neighborhoods in Jacksonville, Fla. The weekly Riverside Arts Market, under the administration of RAP, is hosted every Saturday under the canopy of the Fuller Warren Bridge from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine.
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