By Destany Fuller | WeINSPIRE Journalist

IRVING, Texas  – Years ago, a young Dianna Smiley used her light to help her high school best friend through her teenage pregnancy. Fast forward to now, the same light has only grown brighter. What started as a desire to help her best friend has grown into a passion for helping as many teenage mothers as possible with her organization Generation Her.

Generation Her is a free weekly program available to pregnant teens and young mothers between the ages of 13 and 25 years old. There are both virtual and in-person options for interested girls to become enrolled.

While enrolled in Generation Her, girls can expect to go through a series of life skills courses with topics including: cooking, parenting, job searching, resume building, relationships, self-help and more. Smiley said there are little to no course repeats within a year. 

The California native had the idea for the organization about 15 years before she actually founded it. She said she noticed a need in the teen mom community outside of her friend.

“I was [in] cheer and there were at least four more girls that were my friends that were also pregnant,” Smiley explained. “It wasn’t only [my best friend], and I thought, ‘Wow, there’s a need for more than just my friend.’”

After high school, Smiley attended and graduated from Biola University. She then became a youth pastor for junior high students and saw the same need once again. Back in the presence of pregnant teenagers, Smiley wanted to be of service to them; this led her to join an already existing group at her church that focused on helping the girls. 

“I became involved and I loved it,” Smiley said. “I loved it so much and I just knew, ‘Okay, this is what I need to do next with my life… Full time and make this something not just here at my church, but something everywhere for all young moms to experience and be a part of’.”

In the initial stages of Generation Her, Smiley set a goal for herself to have two locations open within five years. This didn’t happen. Because of an increasing need for support for teenage mothers, Smiley opened five locations in just her first two years of operation.

“Back then, teen parenthood and teen pregnancy was at an all-time high,” Smiley explained. “I made one [location] and then another city was like ‘What are you doing over there? Come and do it over here’ and then another city and a school district. It was just such a huge need that wasn’t being met. [Locations] were just popping up everywhere and growing faster than I could keep up.”

Smiley explained the taboo surrounding teen pregnancy, especially around the start of Generation Her. She mentioned how the show “Teen Mom” helped shed light on her mission. 

“I feel like the ‘Teen Mom’ show made people aware of… the everyday life [of teen parents] in a sense, but also made people think about a population that no one was really thinking about,” Smiley said. “Everybody was sending them [pregnant teens] to different schools and brushing them under the rug, and I feel like it [the show] brought this population to light.”

Aside from all the work Smiley does with Generation Her, she still finds the time to be present and active in the lives of the girls that come through her program. She even stays in contact with some of those who have aged out. 

“My heart is being hands-on with the girls, the moms, the kids and creating programs… and curriculum for them, just to help them grow and to serve them,” Smiley said. “I know that the program works because I see the fruits of it through their [lives].” 

The former youth pastor expressed that the girls she works with are her inspiration to continue doing all that she does. 

“I’m not the [inspiration]; I feel like it’s the girls,” Smiley said. “These girls are in a tough situation, they’re finding themselves so young and pregnant and they have a choice to make. ‘What am I going to do now?’ they’re faced with such a rough choice… and just a tough spot. I feel like they’re the ones that are inspirations. They’re the ones that are inspiring me to keep doing this.”

To donate, or learn more about Smiley’s work with Generation Her, visit the organization’s website or social media.

Watch Full Interview Here