Love Feast Dinner #1 (October 15, 2025)
Event Overview
The inaugural Love & Reverence Ward Dinner, hosted at Keith James Auditorium, launched the Model Ward Initiative in Ward I under the leadership of Mayor Pro Tem Jamelle McKenzie and UAFAH.
Event Details
- Date: October 15, 2025
- Location: Keith James Auditorium, College Park
- Host: Mayor Pro Tem Jamelle McKenzie (One Ward 1) and UAFAH
- Type: Community-wide dinner and awards ceremony
- Media Coverage: Featured by 11Alive News
What Happened
The first Love Feast Dinner marked the beginning of Ward I’s transformation into a Model Ward. This was not just another community event. This was the moment when the Model City Initiative moved from concept to reality.
Residents gathered for dinner, yes. But they also gathered for something deeper: an introduction to the Beloved Community as a lived reality rather than historical aspiration.
Event Highlights
Honored Guests The evening recognized women making lasting impact in College Park and beyond:
- Darlene “McCoy” Jackson – Recording artist
- Georgia State Rep. Park Cannon – State representative
- Faith Jessie – 11Alive News Anchor
- DJ Traci Steele – Radio personality who shared her Stage 1 breast cancer journey
- Pamela Grier – Actress, special appearance
- Breast cancer survivors – Women continuing to serve their communities while courageously battling disease
Special Focus: Breast Cancer Awareness The night paid tribute to breast cancer survivors who serve their communities while battling disease. DJ Traci Steele’s acceptance speech emphasized the importance of routine mammograms and early detection, turning her platform into life-saving education.
What Was Introduced
The Model City Initiative Residents learned how College Park could become a Model City for Dr. King’s Beloved Community vision through structured programming and community participation.
The Community Pledge Attendees were introduced to the pledge that would become central to Ward I’s transformation: judging ourselves and others by the content of human attributes, not skin color.
Love and Reverence The cultural concepts that would guide Ward I’s journey:
- Love: Unconditional support for one’s well-being, growth, and development as a human being
- Reverence: Deep sense of devotion to self and others, demonstrated through acts of kindness, gestures of goodwill
Media Coverage
11Alive News featured the Love Feast as a shining example of community transformation in action. The coverage highlighted how College Park was attempting something unprecedented: building the Beloved Community through measurable, structured programming.
11Alive Coverage Link: https://www.11alive.com/article/news/community/college-park-love-feast-2025/85-443c948b-62c5-49c2-b1f4-7076fca903a0
Why This Mattered
October 15 was the beginning. It was the night Ward I residents learned they could be part of something historic. That their ward could lead College Park in demonstrating that racial unity is not aspirational – it is achievable.
The honorees demonstrated service and resilience. The message demonstrated possibility. The community’s response demonstrated readiness.
Impact
- Launched the Model Ward Initiative in Ward I
- Generated significant media attention (11Alive News)
- Introduced Community Pledge to residents
- Created foundation for subsequent Love Feast events
- Honored women leaders and breast cancer survivors
- Built partnership between One Ward 1 and UAFAH
Connection to Mission
The first Love Feast Dinner demonstrated UAFAH’s approach: combine celebration with education, honor individuals while building community, create joy while introducing transformation. The Beloved Community is not built through lectures. It is built through gatherings like this – where people eat together, honor each other, and learn together.