It’s honestly no surprise that Jarod and I first met through Found Village—an organization that supports youth in becoming their fullest, truest selves. Our very first interaction was during a hike with the kids. Jarod was leading them on a meditative walk through the woods, and I had been asked to grab a quick headshot of him. Before I even spoke to him, I remember chatting with Lailah. I assumed she was one of the young people in the program, but she quickly corrected me with a smile: “No, Jarod’s my dad.” And I remember thinking, Okay, this man is raising a strong, beautiful daughter? Sign me up. When I took his photo, it felt like I could see straight into his spirit—warm, joyful, sincere. He had this quiet boldness, and a touch of shyness that made him even more endearing. What I didn’t know at the time was that one of his coworkers nudged him and said, “She’s gonna be your wife.” Fast forward to March 13, 2022—we committed to building a life together at our traditional Nigerian wine carrying wedding ceremony in Maryland. It was full of love, laughter, and spontaneity. We call it our Spiritual Marriage. And now, here we are—getting ready for Stella to become a Crossty. We’re so excited to invite you into this next chapter with us—a celebration of love, culture, and this divinely guided connection that we’re so grateful for. It would truly mean the world to have you there.