Community event: October 18, 2026 · College Park, Georgia
A family should not have to explain its right to belong before it can enjoy a community afternoon. That spirit shaped You Are Not Alone, the Autism Community Giveback presented by Food in the City in collaboration with College Park Ward 1 Councilwoman Dr. Jamelle McKenzie.
The city’s announcement placed the gathering at Brady Recreation Center on Sunday, October 18, from 2 to 5 p.m. Food, resources, giveaways, games, and sensory-friendly activities were part of the announced program. The event connected a message of acceptance with a familiar local gathering space.
People showing up for the city
In the publisher’s account of the event, Mik Flyy and her daughter Dallas hosted, with Meelah, lead singer of 702, also participating as a host. Jakeem Smith of Food in the City helped bring the occasion together. His work deserves recognition for putting families and connection at the center of a day created for the city of College Park.
The collaboration with Dr. Jamelle McKenzie made the neighborhood connection visible. Autism inclusion becomes more meaningful when community leaders make room for it in local spaces and public conversations. A recreation center, an organizer, and people willing to participate can help families find one another.
Why a giveback is about more than a giveaway
For a caregiver, finding a resource may begin with a conversation that feels safe enough to have. For a child, belonging may look like joining a game, watching from a distance, or taking a break without anyone treating that choice as a problem. There is no single way a family must participate to be part of a community.
Events like this also create an opening for the next question: how can the welcome continue after the tables are packed away? Local businesses, elected leaders, recreation programs, and neighbors can keep building relationships with disabled people and their families throughout the year.
Carry the welcome forward
Share verified resources, ask families what would make a future event easier to attend, and invite autistic people into planning conversations. Celebrating an event should lead to more opportunities to be seen, heard, and celebrated in everyday life.
Have a community initiative we should know about? Send the magazine an editorial tip. Include the organizer, date, location, and an official source.
Reporting note: the date, venue, and collaboration are documented in the city’s announcement. Hosting details and recognition of the organizing work come from the publisher’s event account. The image is the event announcement, not an on-site photograph.
