“No matter how plain a woman may be, if truth and honesty are written across her face, she will be beautiful.” - Eleanor Roosevelt
Our History Timeline
2005
Founded by Damika Howard, CEO and Founder
(First members; Dominique Young , Celina Clark, Adrienne Lanier, Amber Todd , Crystal Cole,
Jasmine Sills, Co-Founder, Tiffany Brown, Co- Founder)
2006
22 High School Students and seven middle school students became members in the Hampton Roads Area.
Received Community Service Award Hampton Roads
2007
First Board of Directors inductions ceremony.
Shanna Ruffin , Vice President
Founded the Bearable Gift project. Donated over 75 plush bears to children hospital and foster homes.
2008
Partnered with Elizabeth City State University with volunteering and campaigning, with the mini grant program called S.T.E.P Up . Awarded $10,000 SAMHSA, Suicide Prevention Program.
2009
Founder, Damika Howard-Wayne Awarded the North Carolina Community Impact Award,
UNC-ASG North Carolina
North Carolina Community Impact Award
2010
Awarded Organization of the Year , Given by the Hope Foundation
2011
Awarded Key to the City of Elizabeth City, Awarded by the Honorable Mayor Roger Mclean of Elizabeth City, NC
Created D.E.W Scholarship Foundation
Co-partner with The Hampton Roads Missing Voter Project
2012
Awarded Ida B Carson Award by UNC-General Assembly
Attended the first March of Dimes as a Sponsor
Scholarship Recipient
Amelia Bailey , College Sophomore
2014
Created Chapters in Maryland, North Carolina , Mississippi and Virginia .
Scholarship Recipient
Celeste Young , Collège Freshmen
2016
October 11, Created Urban Farming and Sustainability, Director- Kateia Barrett
Certified as Mental Health First Aid Instructors to certify the community as Mental Health First Aiders
Scholarship Recipient
Ashlee Jordan, College Sophomore
2017
Implemented Girls to Pearls , Director Shawntae Taylor
Scholarship Recipient
Naomi Rogers , Senior- High School
2018
Co-Founded G.L.O.W , Founder- Kennedy Wayne
Girls Leading Our World
Targets ages 5-13
Kennedy Wayne, author of Kennedy's Affirmation from A-Z
Scholarship Recipient
Brandi Patrick , Senior - High School
2019
Awarded Elizabeth City State University UNC 40 under 40 Beta Co-Hort
College Commencement Speaker
Scholarship Recipient
Stephanie Miller , DPT White Coat
2020
Developed the Virtual Mentoring Program
Scholarship Recipient
Erin Harvey , DPT White Coat
2021
Created Girls Talk -Facebook Live
Scholarship Recipient
Jousephine Araya , College Junior
2022
Co-Founded, Barbershop Talk- Founder Mr. Manley (Norview)
Scholarship Recipient
Kwan Miles, , Trades School ,First Male Recipient
2023
Kennedy Wayne, Founder of G.L.O.W Girls, published Kennedy's Careers From A-Z and Kennedys Affirmations from A-Z hosted 4 book signings
Scholarship Recipient
Tierra Johnson , Educator
2024
DEW is emerging with InspirHer Foundation 501 (C) 3
Founded by Damika Howard, CEO and Founder
(First members; Dominique Young , Celina Clark, Adrienne Lanier, Amber Todd , Crystal Cole,
Jasmine Sills, Co-Founder, Tiffany Brown, Co- Founder)
2006
22 High School Students and seven middle school students became members in the Hampton Roads Area.
Received Community Service Award Hampton Roads
2007
First Board of Directors inductions ceremony.
Shanna Ruffin , Vice President
Founded the Bearable Gift project. Donated over 75 plush bears to children hospital and foster homes.
2008
Partnered with Elizabeth City State University with volunteering and campaigning, with the mini grant program called S.T.E.P Up . Awarded $10,000 SAMHSA, Suicide Prevention Program.
2009
Founder, Damika Howard-Wayne Awarded the North Carolina Community Impact Award,
UNC-ASG North Carolina
North Carolina Community Impact Award
2010
Awarded Organization of the Year , Given by the Hope Foundation
2011
Awarded Key to the City of Elizabeth City, Awarded by the Honorable Mayor Roger Mclean of Elizabeth City, NC
Created D.E.W Scholarship Foundation
Co-partner with The Hampton Roads Missing Voter Project
2012
Awarded Ida B Carson Award by UNC-General Assembly
Attended the first March of Dimes as a Sponsor
Scholarship Recipient
Amelia Bailey , College Sophomore
2014
Created Chapters in Maryland, North Carolina , Mississippi and Virginia .
Scholarship Recipient
Celeste Young , Collège Freshmen
2016
October 11, Created Urban Farming and Sustainability, Director- Kateia Barrett
Certified as Mental Health First Aid Instructors to certify the community as Mental Health First Aiders
Scholarship Recipient
Ashlee Jordan, College Sophomore
2017
Implemented Girls to Pearls , Director Shawntae Taylor
Scholarship Recipient
Naomi Rogers , Senior- High School
2018
Co-Founded G.L.O.W , Founder- Kennedy Wayne
Girls Leading Our World
Targets ages 5-13
Kennedy Wayne, author of Kennedy's Affirmation from A-Z
Scholarship Recipient
Brandi Patrick , Senior - High School
2019
Awarded Elizabeth City State University UNC 40 under 40 Beta Co-Hort
College Commencement Speaker
Scholarship Recipient
Stephanie Miller , DPT White Coat
2020
Developed the Virtual Mentoring Program
Scholarship Recipient
Erin Harvey , DPT White Coat
2021
Created Girls Talk -Facebook Live
Scholarship Recipient
Jousephine Araya , College Junior
2022
Co-Founded, Barbershop Talk- Founder Mr. Manley (Norview)
Scholarship Recipient
Kwan Miles, , Trades School ,First Male Recipient
2023
Kennedy Wayne, Founder of G.L.O.W Girls, published Kennedy's Careers From A-Z and Kennedys Affirmations from A-Z hosted 4 book signings
Scholarship Recipient
Tierra Johnson , Educator
2024
DEW is emerging with InspirHer Foundation 501 (C) 3