Hampton Roads Hear the Future Now! 2013 HRYP Slam Fest Sweeps the Region

Hear the future as young spoken word artists  take the stage this spring. The 2013 HRYP Slam Festival joins young writers, emcees, spoken word artists & performers from the Hampton Roads area.
 
Through qualifying slams and a grand final slam, poets compete for the chance to join the HRYP Slam Team the elite group of the Hampton Roads Youth Poets that represent and compete at various Slam's throughout the country. It also makes them eligible for a chance to represent at Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival in Chicago this summer. 
 

Brave New Voices, as seen on HBO, is committed to building safe spaces that challenge young people to develop and present the power of their voices. Carla Crane wrote: 'Besides offering young people the chance for true transformation, it excels at community building, mentoring, and improving literacy and communication skills'

Teens With a Purpose is proud to be a part of a network that reflects our values and mirrors our mission. 

 

The 2013 HRYP Slam Festival kicked off at the First Qualifying Slam on March 30th at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Arts. Rhonda Arrington, Face of Fox 43 hosted the event alongside Quayshaun Moore, a youth leader of Teens With a Purpose. Sylvantria Hawkins, Emme Rose and Khayla Walker will be moving on to the Grand Slam in June.

 



Sylvantria 'Boobie' Hawkins, 1st Place



Emily 'Em' Allison, 2nd Place





Khayla 'Cuyjet' Walker, 3rd Place

 

Emeka "S.o.u.l' Onyirimba

 

Nicole 'Sageflo' Peeples

 

Richard 'Testimony' Love

 

Rhonda Arrington, Face of Fox 43
& Deirdre Love, Executive Director of Teens With a Purpose

 

Nathanial 'Rasahn' Lovell, HRYP Coach

 

 2013 HRYP SLAM FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:

 

PENINSULA QUALIFYING SLAM

Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center, April 20th, 5-7p


SOUTHSIDE QUALIFYING SLAM 
TCC Roper Performing Arts Center, May 11th, 5-7p

GRAND SLAM!
NSU Student Center Theatre, June 1st, 5-7p

      

Youth ages 13-19 can register online at

TWPTheMovement.org or by completing the 2013
HRYP Slam Festival Registration Form.

 

Order a free 2013 HRYP Slam Festival Poster & Flyer Bundle for your organization or school by emailing, Michelle Sims twpmichelle@gmail.com.

 

Download the official press release here.

 GET YOUR FREE ONLINE TICKETS! 2013HRYPSLAMFestival.eventbrite.com

 

TWP ACTIVISTS MARCH AT AIDS CONFERENCE 2012

  Teens With a Purpose joined thousands of Medical professionals, policy makers, and advocates for those living with HIV/AIDS at the 19th  International AIDS Conference to “Turn Back the Tide of the Epidemic.” They hailed in from from more than 180 countries, making it the largest AIDS conference in the world and assembled in Washington, D.C., for a week of speeches, symposiums, exhibits and more.

A group of Teens With a Purpose youth activists joined the march led by TWP Mentor, Andrea Castleberry. Teens With a Purpose has been at the forefront of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Awareness since 1996. TWP uses creative & evidence-based methods to spread the message including Peer education, Spoken Word, Drama, Dance and Original Music inspired by Role Model Stories. Role Model Stories are stories that have been collected from real teens in Hampton Roads. The primary purpose of the role model stories is to model risk-reducing behaviors, suggest solutions to risky situations, and illustrate positive outcomes of taking steps toward protecting oneself. Last fall, Teens With a Purpose hosted their first full theatrical production titled “Imagine Me”. The event was held at the Crispus Attucks Theatre and included break-out sessions and workshops. The production was well received and included over 300 guests. This theatrical event, written, produced and featuring local Teens, raised awareness so Youth can better understand the consequences of their actions thus reducing their risk for: HIV/STI, Dating Abuse, Bullying, Suicide and Dropouts. To view our current Role Model Stories click here.

Teens With a Purpose work is imperative, the numbers are alarming, according to the CDC In 2009, young persons accounted for 39% of all new HIV infections in the US and young blacks accounted for 65% (5,404) of diagnoses of HIV infection reported among persons aged 13-24 years. TWP is committed to finding new and innovative ways to educate young people on how to protect themselves from HIV infection.