Joan P. Garner Walk & Health Fair

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

The Annual Joan P. Garner Walk and Health Fair honors the legacy of the late Fulton County Commissioner Joan P. Garner, who spent six years as a member of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners championing health access, and who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2017. Funded by the Board of Commissioners, this annual event allows Fulton County residents and guests to enjoy a fun-filled day while increasing access to health resources. With its emphasis on health, the annual event honors Commissioner Garner’s longtime life spent advocating for civil and human rights and health issues. She served as the Executive Director of the Historic District Development Corporation, a nonprofit founded by Coretta Scott King to revitalize the Old 4th Ward and Martin Luther King Historic District. During her tenure as commissioner, Joan P. Garner worked tirelessly to fight against health inequity, fought for assistance with the HIV crisis in the region, and became the Executive Sponsor of Fulton County Government’s “All People Are Healthy” strategic priority area. After her death, in 2017, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution creating the Joan P. Garner Walk & Health Fair. The event has been held annually since 2017, with the exception of 2020 during the COVID-19 Pandemic.