• TWP was Awarded the 2013 NAACP ODU Community Image Award
• TWP new home at Vivian C. Mason Arts & Technology Center times and directions
• TWP now offers meetings on the Peninsula at the Downing-Gross Cultural Center times and directions
• TWP is the 2012 Youth Group winner of the City of Norfolk Crime Prevention Award
• TWP is the 2012 Youth Volunteer Group Award from Volunteer Hampton Roads

• HRYP Slam Fest 2013 - Grand Slam Finals
  Sat, June 1st, 2013, 5:00pm-7:00pm
  Norfolk State University, Student Center Theatre Rm. 149, 700 PARK AVE, Norfolk, VA
• THE WALL

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Born Deirdre Allyson Smith to Wilhelmina and Roosevelt Smith. Brought up in Harlem New York. One of seven children; one brother and five sisters. Attended St. Charles Borromeo Parochial School in Harlem, and St. Jean Baptist High School on the upper east side of Manhattan. Graduated from Manhattan Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration; mother to three sons.

Became an AIDS activist after the death of best friend and cousin Stephen who lived with and died from AIDS related illness in 1995. Was invited to started a youth AIDS Ministry, later named Teens with a Purpose, as volunteer coordinator at The Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Norfolk in 1996. Worked twenty two years for Stihl Incorporated. She began as an Administrative Assistant then promoted to Export Coordinator and finally Export Specialist and Systems Analysis. Deirdre resigned from Stihl Incorporated to start an organization that was her passion and her purpose in life.

In 2007, Ms. Love founded the community based organization now known as Teens With a Purpose – The Youth Movement a 501(3) ( c ) not for profit entity. Ms. Love worked as subcontractor of ACCESS AIDS implementing an intervention called Community Promise for at risk African American youth from 2007 - 2011. This partnership helps to fund the programs currently offered by Teens With a Purpose. Ms. Love has since secured two grants, funding their program addressing teen violence prevention, from the State of Virginia. She has formed collaborative community partnerships with several organizations such as Norfolk Health Department, The AIDS Fund; Urban League and Norfolk and Virginia Beach Public Schools, Norfolk Parks, Recreation and Open Space, Garden of Hope, Gethsemane Community Fellowship Baptist Church and GEICO. She is a member of Virginia Health Department Planning Team on Violence Prevention. In the past few years alone, this group of committed and talented teens with Ms. Love beside them was able to present over 60 free TWP community events for teens and three outstanding Teen Forums. She had led the organization to participate in countless church, civic and community events including AFRAM Fest; City of Norfolk’s Multi-Cultural Youth Festival; Youth March for Peace, and World AIDS Day events. Ms. Love attends numerous training courses yearly and is certified to facilitate and train others on evidence based curriculums addressing HIV prevention and education for youth as well as several initiatives addressing youth violence.

Graduate of Project Inclusion - Board Governance Training offered by United Way; She is a committee member for PHAT Conference promoting teen health and fitness, Committee member for Eastern Virginia Regional AIDS Coalition and Yoga enthusiast. She lives her life to serve youth and believes that this generation can and will change the world for the better. She only wants to be a gust of wind propelling them forward.

• Recognized as an outstanding African American by Virginian Pilot January 29, 2010
• City of Norfolk Proclamation awarded by Mayor Paul D. Fraim –TWP Outstanding Youth Citizens October 2010
• Volunteer Partner Organization of the Year awarded by GEICO February 2011
• Executive Appreciation award for Community Service by Hampton Roads Live, June 2011
• 10 Who Care award for Community Service by WAVY-TV 10, November 2011