Coffee, Questions & Community: A Cozy Q&A for Autism Awareness

Hosted by Rae at Her Name Was Irene Coffee & Internet Café

Whether you're a parent in the thick of it, a family member wanting to help but unsure how, or a community leader trying to better support the Littles around you—this space is for you.

Pull up a chair, grab your favorite drink, and bring your honest questions—especially the ones you’ve been too nervous to ask anywhere else.

This isn’t a lecture or a panel. It’s an intimate coffee chat with someone walking the same road, where you’re invited to:

• Ask about the signs, systems, and next steps around Autism
• Learn how to support families navigating special education
• Get real talk on ARD meetings, IEPs, and school advocacy
• Explore how we, as community members, can remove stigma and help our kids thrive
• Connect with others who want to do right by the children in our communities

You don’t need the right words.
You just need the heart to show up.

👩🏽‍💻 About the Host

Your host, Rae (some folks call her Cathi Rae), is a Southern-rooted systems thinker, mother of four, and advocate by lived experience—not title. She’s spent her life building structure around chaos, clarity inside of overwhelm, and safe space for people who’ve had to figure things out the hard way.

Her work began in the world of business operations and logistics, but over time, God began rerouting her toward deeper service: advocating for neurodivergent children, supporting families navigating special education, and helping entire communities rise with them.

She’s not a professional expert—she’s a parent in it, with four Littles of her own:
An 18-year-old daughter preparing to become a teacher,
A 14-year-old Girl Scout whose dyslexia journey was Rae’s first real walk through the ARD system,
An 8-year-old son—late-diagnosed, autistic, and already a little entrepreneur,
And a 5-year-old with a quick mind, bold spirit, and no shortage of adventure.

Rae now creates spaces that reflect her own journey—imperfect, real, and rooted in purpose.
She hosts three types of events year-round, all under the Rae & Co. umbrella:

• Family & Fun – Lighthearted gatherings meant to spark joy, connection, and release. Sometimes kid-friendly, sometimes just for Bigs.
• Fundamental – Intimate, grounded spaces like this one, focused on autism awareness, special education, and advocacy for underserved families.
• Faith – Quiet, reflective gatherings like Jesus & Journaling that make space for presence, direction, and spiritual grounding.

Everything Rae offers is designed to serve the whole person—not just the part that shows up for the meeting.

If you're looking for a space to keep showing up, asking questions, or just being seen—you’re always welcome here.