news release

The Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation announces its new President, Jacqueline (Jackie) A. Grady, previously the VP of Operations. Jackie is founder of Grady Legal and is an accomplished attorney who provides clients with creative solutions for their legal issues.  She has been a member of LRJF since 2019 and is an active member of LRJF Tuesday Writers Group.

In other Board positions:  Scott Cox is VP Operations; Carrie Adams is VP Programming; Dee Patberg is Treasurer and Susie McDaniel is Secretary.  Two new Board members Laura Kelley and Nick Samuel have joined alongside existing board members Sean Sexton, Dr. Bruce Fraser, Jonnie Perry, Joanne Mitchell, Cynthia Calander, Susan Boyd and Dr. Bonnie MacDougall and Past President, Dr. Jacque Jacobs.  Sara Wilson is Executive Director and Ren Church is Administrative Assistant.

“We look forward to a very robust and busy year ahead in supporting our community as the literary heart of the Treasure Coast,” Jackie Grady stated.  She added, ” We are working on several key fundraisers with our Board and are excited to announce that the 15th Annual Poetry and Barbeque is slated for Saturday, March 28, 2026.  Tours for the historic home of Poet/Author Laura (Riding) Jackson will begin again in November, 2025.

The generosity of the community supports LRJF to offer writing workshops and interdisciplinary literary programs for students and adults by some of the greatest authors and educators in the US. We believe exposure to quality literature enriches our community.”

About Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation

LRJF is dedicated to preserving the author’s home and nurturing writers of all ages through a series of literary offerings including writers’ groups, summer camps, workshops, and poetry festivals. The Foundation honors writer Laura (Riding) Jackson’s belief in the promise of language by creating community through the literary arts.

The author’s Florida Vernacular (aka as a cracker-style) home is located next to Brackett Library on Mueller Campus of IRSC in Vero Beach at 6155 College Lane, Vero Beach. The historic house is open for tours on Monday and Tuesdays from 1:00–5:00 and the 2nd Sunday of the month from 1:00-5:00 from November to May, as well as by appointment.

LRJF has a Writing Center at 1914 14th Avenue in Vero Beach where we host writing groups, poetry readings, teen and adult writing workshops, and our LRJF gift shop. The annual Poetry and Barbeque Event celebrates National Poetry Month each April.