2025 - 2026 Florida Forum
Speaker Series
Presented by
Former Russian Political Prisoner
February 3, 2026, 7:00 p.m.
Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts
Instrumental in advancing international Magnitsky sanctions against human rights abusers
Arrested in 2022 for opposing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; sentenced to 25 years, later released in a 2024 prisoner exchange
Contributing writer at The Washington Post, winning a Pulitzer Prize for his columns written from prison
Active leader in global human rights organizations
Vladimir Kara-Murza is a Russian politician, author, and historian who played a central role in advancing international Magnitsky sanctions targeting human rights abusers. Arrested in 2022 for speaking out against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison before his release in a landmark 2024 East-West prisoner exchange. Kara-Murza won a Pulitzer Prize for his columns for The Washington Post; he continues his advocacy through leadership roles in global human rights organizations.
Vladimir Kara-Murza
José Andrés
Chef, Restaurateur, Humanitarian
March 31, 2026, 7:00 p.m.
Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts
World-renowned chef and humanitarian
Founder of World Central Kitchen, providing meals during global crises
Twice named to Time’s “100 Most Influential People” and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Heads José Andrés Group, with 40 restaurants worldwide including the two Michelin-starred minibar
Founder of the Global Food Institute at George Washington University, advocating for food as a force for change
José Andrés is a world-renowned chef, humanitarian, and founder of World Central Kitchen, which delivers meals in response to global crises. Twice named to Time’s “100 Most Influential People” and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, he also leads the José Andrés Group, operating 40 restaurants worldwide, including the two Michelin-starred minibar. He is the founder of the Global Food Institute at George Washington University, championing the power of food to drive change.