NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — This weekend, Teens With a Purpose, or TWP, is bringing the community together at the 12th Annual Fuse Fest.
For 12 years, Fuse Fest has celebrated life and culture. On Saturday, Aug. 3 the free community event is scheduled to take place from noon to 7 p.m. Visit Purpose Park, 801 Church St. for Fuse Fest 2024.
TWP is a non-profit organization that offers year-round programming to youth in the surrounding community. Trinity with TWP said it’s about taking youth and building them into our future leaders.
She’s been involved with Fuse Fest. This year, she is a part of the musical lineup, performing as a DJ.
“It’s a big event,” said Trinity. “There’s lots of music, inspiration, inspiring people, artists.”
Fuse Fest features local and regional artists. This year, there will be Hip Hop Olympics, Reiki healing, interactive art, plant-based chef demos, tastings and performances. Community resources will also be on site.
“Bringing a lot of community partners in,” said Andre Love, Creative Program Director at TWP. “We have vendors. We call it the village, a place for artisans, people that are being creative, and just giving back to have a place to showcase what they have going on.”
Love said from little kids to artists there are activities and entertainment for everyone and every age. He will also perform.
“I’m going to be performing alongside a lot of awesome artists,” said Love.
Alongside the entertainment, there will be access to essential community resources.
“We have health screenings and stuff, basically things that a lot of people aren’t able to receive or get benefitted from, basically having that for them,” said Trinity. “Like with the food, clothing, we also have a back-to-school drive that will be going on. With all of that, it just helps.”
Fuse Fest wants to engage and bring people in the community together.
“It’s bridging the gap, you know, connecting people with resources they might not usually be connected to,” said Love.
The event also features free food, made possible by partners, like Support and Feed. With help from partners, Love said the event has the opportunity to give out over 250 meals.
Love hopes the event will continue to grow — one way being through word of mouth.
“That’s how these things really get out there,” said Love. “Hope the people tell the people to come.”
Trinity said events like Fuse Fest that give youth a chance to meet and connect are important.
“Over the years, I’ve lost quite a few people around my age,” said Trinity.
She said she felt there is lack of positive outlets and activities for kids to engage with.
“We didn’t really have a good place to start,” said Trinity. “With this, being able to have an outlet for kids, have them be given a voice, and talk about this, and just be themselves.”
Love said now Trinity is taking younger people under her wings, and that’s what it is all about.
Fuse Fest is free and open to the public. For more information about the event and the non-profit, visit www.twp-themovement.org/fusefest.
