FMH Fest brings mental health resources and family fun to Flint on Oct. 4

FLINT, Michigan — For Ken Williams, co-founder of Fighting Mental Health (FMH), the fight for awareness is deeply personal.

“FMH started out of lived experience,” Williams said. “I saw firsthand how many people around me were struggling in silence, especially in communities like Flint, where resources are hard to find and stigma still keeps people quiet. I didn’t just want to talk about the problem, I wanted to build something that would actively bring healing and hope into places where people often feel forgotten.”

FMH was co-founded by Williams and business partner Andre Barnett, who first launched FMH Apparel as a way to spark conversations about mental health. The pair soon realized they could expand their mission into a nonprofit organization that brings resources directly into underserved neighborhoods.

That mission is coming to life at FMH Fest: A Day of Healing, happening Saturday, Oct. 4, at 4314 W. Carpenter Road in Flint.

The day will begin with a Healthy Convos seminar from 10 a.m. to noon, featuring a panel of mental health professionals, educators, parents, youth advocates, and community leaders. The main festival runs from noon to 5 p.m. with wellness vendors, live music, entertainment, kids’ activities, food trucks, and free resources.

“The idea for FMH Fest came from Andre’s vision of creating more than a typical event — it had to be a full experience of hope, healing, and community,” Williams said. “By making it a celebration, not just a seminar, we’re breaking down barriers and meeting people where they are.”

While conversations about mental health may feel more common today, Williams believes awareness doesn’t always translate to access.

“In underserved communities, the reality is that people still don’t know where to turn, or they feel resources are out of reach financially or geographically,” he said. “That’s exactly why FMH is intentional about bringing resources directly into those spaces.”

As for what he hopes people will take away from FMH Fest: “I hope they leave lighter than when they came. My hope is that they leave knowing that they are not alone, that resources are available, and that healing is not something distant — it’s within reach.”

Williams envisions a Flint where, five years from now, talking about mental health is as normal as talking about physical health. “A healthier culture would mean fewer people suffering in silence, fewer crises born out of untreated pain, and more people embracing the fact that healing and hope are always nearby,” he said.

FMH Fest: A Day of Healing takes place Saturday, Oct. 4, at 4314 W. Carpenter Road in Flint. To learn more about Fighting Mental Health, visit fightingmentalhealth.org.