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Tuesday, 07 April 2026
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Written by Amanda Ransom
Sometimes the best community events are the simplest ones with a little friendly competition, a welcoming environment and maybe a box of donuts to bring people together. That is exactly the idea behind the upcoming Donuts and Dodgeball event hosted by DaVille Athletics on April 11. The event is the latest initiative from DaVille Athletics founder Semaj Street, whose organization focuses on athletic development, mentorship and building opportunities for youth athletes across the Fayetteville area.
“DaVille Athletics is a sports and performance organization focused on developing and enhancing athletic performance for youth to professional athletes,” Street said. “Our mission is to provide access to high-quality training, mentorship and character development for athletes in Fayetteville and the surrounding area.”
Street founded the organization after recognizing a need in the community for structured training and mentorship programs for young athletes. While many students had talent and passion for sports, not all had access to the resources needed to reach their potential.
“I saw a gap where many kids had talent but didn’t always have access to structured training, mentorship or positive guidance,” Street said. “I wanted to build something that could provide those opportunities while also creating a supportive community around youth athletics.”
That sense of community is exactly what inspired the upcoming Donuts and Dodgeball event. After discussing the concept with Fayetteville Next and the Dogwood Festival organization, Street saw an opportunity to create something that was simple, welcoming and fun for people of all ages.
“The idea behind Donuts and Dodgeball was to create something fun, simple and community-focused,” Street explained. “Dodgeball is something everyone can enjoy, and adding donuts just makes it even more fun and welcoming.”
The event will feature organized dodgeball games, friendly competition and plenty of opportunities for attendees to connect with others in the community. Participants can expect a high-energy atmosphere where laughter and teamwork take center stage.
“Attendees can expect a fun environment where people can come together, play dodgeball, connect and enjoy some good donuts,” Street said. “It’s really about having fun, being active and bringing people together.”
Unlike many sports events that focus strictly on competition, Donuts and Dodgeball is designed to be inclusive and open to everyone.
“The event is designed for everyone in the community,” Street said. “The goal is to create an inclusive event where people of all ages can participate, connect and have a good time.”
For Street, events like this reflect the broader mission of DaVille Athletics. While training and athletic development remain central to the organization’s work, building relationships and fostering positive environments are equally important.
“Sports are not just about competition,” he said. “They’re about community, teamwork and having fun.”
Since launching DaVille Athletics, Street has seen countless rewarding moments as young athletes develop confidence and grow both physically and mentally.
“Watching kids gain confidence, improve their skills and realize their potential makes it all worth it,” he said. “Seeing athletes improve their performance, win championships or even earn college opportunities keeps me motivated.”
Community support plays a major role in helping the organization continue to grow. Partnerships with local businesses, sponsors and community members allow DaVille Athletics to expand its programs and reach more young athletes. Looking ahead, Street hopes to continue building opportunities for Fayetteville’s youth through sports, mentorship and community engagement. “Our goal is to expand programs, reach more youth athletes and become a positive force in the Fayetteville community,” he said. The Donuts and Dodgeball event will take place on April 11 beginning at 10 a.m., bringing together members of the Fayetteville community for a morning of fun, connection and friendly competition.
To register for Donuts and Dodgeball, either as a team or as a single player, visit https://www.eventeny.com/events/donutsanddodgeball-23572/.DaVille Athletics is located at 1116 Chairman St.
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Tuesday, 07 April 2026
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Written by Crissy Neville
The combination of family fun, education, diversity and connection in the greater Fayetteville area is easy to find if you follow the spectrum. Not the pretty prism that comes to mind, but something even better. The third annual Follow the Spectrum Autism Festival arrives at the Crown Complex on April 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
Everyone is invited to join autism families, ABA providers and autism-friendly businesses from across North Carolina for this jam-packed day celebrating and bringing awareness of neurodiversity. In conjunction with the event’s presenting sponsor, Breaking Barriers Behavioral Services LLC, and other sponsoring organizations and individuals, the popular event is hosted by the non-profit Follow the Spectrum of Fayetteville.
FTS provides support, services, educational programs, resources and inclusive events for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families. “Follow the Spectrum, Find Yourself” is the FTS motto.
An adventurous superhero festival theme sets the scene and serves as a reminder that each person has a superpower to discover and use. Festival attendees are encouraged to wear their favorite superhero costumes and accessories to join in the action, which includes a photo booth, DJ, superhero-themed activities, free giveaways, educational resources, mascots, arts and crafts and other interactive experiences.
Numerous ABA—Applied Behavior Analysis—therapy providers and clinics will be on hand to discuss services and resources available to parents, guardians, educators and others. Several North Carolina Autism-friendly businesses, community organizations and nonprofits supporting neurodiverse youth and families will also join in for the day.
Refueling all the superhero tanks will be JLNL Eatz, serving up everything from wings and nachos to meatloaf and fish. Following the savories are the sweets from Made with Love Cakery, which proudly bakes more than 100 cake flavors and delicious baked goods for the insatiable sweet tooth.
Vendors selling various handmade and artisan goods, cups, t-shirts, pens, organic body soaps, jewelry and other merchandise afford shoppers the chance to give back with their greenbacks. Examples include DM creations, Whimsical Wooden Boutique and various sensory-friendly jewelry merchants. Pretty Lit Creations is the artistic venture of Delilah, a young girl on the autism spectrum who was diagnosed with 17q12 Deletion Syndrome at 3 years old. She and her family will be at The Follow the Spectrum Autism Festival, offering artwork, jewelry and custom pens for sale.
Proceeds support autism awareness. Deliliah was Follow the Spectrum’s Entrepreneur All Star at last year’s festival. This year, however, is more about engagement versus recognition, according to festival leaders.
An exciting Super Powered Lab leverages engagement, plus excitement! The fun, interactive lab gives kids and youth the chance to showcase two superpowers, speed and strength, through fitness and agility trials. An arts and crafts table shines the light on creativity and spotlights young artists.
Kyle Johnson, the founder and CEO of Follow the Spectrum, discovered his talent—or superpower—for music late in elementary school after an early diagnosis of high-functioning autism and ADHD initially placed him on the wrong trajectory.
“I was nonverbal for the first three years of my life, and after receiving my diagnosis, I started multiple therapies. My mom, Ginger, took an extended leave of absence from her job to help me,” Johnson shared.
“When I started kindergarten, I unfortunately was placed in the wrong setting; the environment was not right for me. I changed schools and then had an excellent teacher. Still, a psychologist told my mother I would only be able to complete high school and receive a certificate, but not graduate and earn a diploma. This angered my mom, and it motivated me. I found I had musical ability, which then led me to prove the psychologist wrong. I graduated from Pine Forest High School with a 3.4 GPA and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in management and a minor in music from Methodist University.”
Just as Johnson found himself through music, his journey also helped his mom find her life’s purpose, too. Ginger Johnson’s diligence in getting the right education for her son stirred within her a desire to teach, propelling her to a new career with Cumberland County Schools. Today, she is a 7th-grade science teacher at Pine Forest Middle School.
Johnson, who dons a bright red Superman-style cape to the festival each year, loves to share his story. Grateful for what his mom, family members, teachers and friends have done for him over the years, the festival founder is eager to give back to and help others. Expecting even larger numbers than last year’s nearly 200 festival goers, Johnson extends the welcome wagon to all.
“This is going to be our biggest festival yet; buckle up and join us for a great day of love, celebration and awareness for neurodiversity here in Fayetteville and the surrounding area. It’s an all-inclusive festival, so everyone is welcome.”
Learn more at https://followthespectrumnc.com/.
(Photo: Follow the Spectrum Autism Festival in 2025 saw the largest attendance in the history of the event. Founder and CEO Kyle Johnson says he expects this year to be even larger. Photo courtesy of Kyle Johnson)
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