On Friday February 19th Metro TeenAIDS commemorated National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) by hosting For the Love of You, an open mic event targeted specifically to youth ages 13-17. Held in the newly renovated Freestyle Youth Center, the event offered youth the opportunity to perform poetry, song, and spoken word on the Freestyle stage.

For the Love of You was hosted by MTA’s own Dwayne Lawson Brown, also a famed DC poet, as well as REALtalk reps Deron Perkins and Shawnna Isaac. MTA created a fun post-Valentine’s Day atmosphere with everything from dimmed red lighting to roses on the tables to non-alcoholic, frozen daiquiris. Additionally, the event offered free raffle prizes, including an iPod Touch, to those getting tested. Check out a few photos from the event: