Honoring and celebrating the team creating the Autism Play Date for their work on autism awareness, and inviting all to attend the Autism Play Date at Smith Memorial Park this August.

WHEREAS, The annual Autism Play Date has been held in August at Smith Memorial Park each year since it began in 2018 under Councilmember Derek Green. Councilmembers Derek Green, Sharon Vaughn and the teams producing this wonderful celebratory community event - including Rochelle Gordon, Tonya Woods, Duwayne Terry, Frank Iannuzzi, Jamiel Owens, Kyra Harris, and Shadirah Myrick - have devoted themselves to providing resources and opportunities to people, particularly children, living with autism; and

WHEREAS, This year will be the 7th Annual Playdate, and it will be held on August 10 from 12 pm to 4 pm at Smith Memorial Playground; and

WHEREAS, Smith Memorial Playground is a Philadelphia institution that offers a safe and unique free play space for children. The Autism Play Date will include sensory-friendly activities, food and music; and

WHEREAS, The team has compiled and made critical autism resources freely available and accessible, and has enlivened the Autism Play Date event every year with their charisma, leadership and care; and

WHEREAS, Supporting neurodivergent individuals including young people with autism is a critical component of facilitating healthy environments and accessibility for every person in Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, As research tools have developed, behavioral health experts and families are gaining more and more tools to create supportive and nurturing environments for people with autism at an earlier and earlier age; and

WHEREAS, The August Autism Play Date will be a fun-filled family-friendly event free for all to attend. The Council of the City of Philadelphia is an enthusiastic supporter and encourages all people to attend; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Honors and celebrates the team creating the Autism Play Date for their work on autism awareness, and inviting all to attend the Autism Play Date at Smith Memorial Park this August.

FURTHER RESOLVED,

That nine engrossed copies of this resolution be presented to the Hon. Derek Green, the Hon. Sharon Vaughn, Rochelle Gordon,

Tonya Woods, Duwayne Terry, Frank Iannuzzi,

Jamiel Owens, Kyra Harris, and Shadirah Myrick, as an expression of the admiration and respect of this legislative body.

End