We're getting married!

Alicia and Ackeem’s story began in the summer of 2006, just before the school year started at Science, Technology and Research Early College High School. That same summer, a classmate drew their names together inside a heart on a chalkboard—a small moment at the time, but one that would later feel like a quiet sign of everything that was to come. Ackeem quickly expressed his attraction to Alicia, but it took her some time to come around. What began as a spark grew into a meaningful friendship, especially as Ackeem chose to take many of the same college classes Alicia was enrolled in at Brooklyn College. Somewhere between shared schedules, long days, and growing familiarity, they became inseparable. After high school, life took Alicia and Ackeem in different directions—Ackeem to Syracuse, New York, and Alicia to Washington, D.C. Even with the distance, they stayed connected, visiting each other and holding onto the bond they had built. Like many love stories, their journey wasn’t perfectly linear. After college, they spent some time apart as life pulled them in different directions, but even in those moments, there was always an unspoken understanding of where their hearts belonged. In time, they found their way back to one another, and just like that, the spark was re-ignited. In 2023, they welcomed their beautiful daughter into the world, beginning a new chapter rooted in love, growth, and family. In 2024, Ackeem asked Alicia for her hand in marriage, bringing their story full circle. Now, they look forward to celebrating this next chapter—surrounded by the people who have been part of their story from the very beginning.