Thanks to a kind and thoughtful mutual friend, Derick found himself sitting in the living room of Tamara’s apartment. But, there was one teeny tiny issue – Tamara didn’t know that he was coming! Yet, the night of laughter, gospel singing, and poetry sharing somehow led to the ever-evolving relationship that exists today. Here is the story of love, growth, and board game rivalry that has matured into the union that we invite you to celebrate on Jan. 18, 2026. Imagine going to a conference and not realizing that the person taking your photo is your future husband. In 2016, Derick joined Teach for America - Eastern North Carolina (TFA - ENC) immediately after completing his undergraduate degree. He spent the following years teaching 8th grade in Tarboro, NC. 2018 marked his third year as an educator and his first time as a part of the planning committee for the TFA - ENC Corp Member of Color Retreat (CMoC). Led by Keiyonna Dubashi, CMoC created an affinity space for teachers of color in ENC to experience community, celebrate one another, and share resources over the course of three days. That year in particular, Derick was a part of the storytelling committee for the retreat. His responsibilities included taking photos and interviewing attendees to capture reflections. Guess who was one of those attendees… By 2018, after working at Wright Patterson Air Force Base for a few years, Tamara had been feeling a push to find her next adventure. Having been torn between joining TFA or staying locally, she drove 7 hours from Dayton, OH to Durham, NC for the CMoC as a part of her exploration. She spent a day and a half being inspired, poured into, and surrounded by people who both looked like her and shared the same passion for education. Unfortunately, a snowstorm caused her to leave the conference early. Yet, she left feeling a sense of belonging, solidifying her decision to join TFA for the following school year. In terms of the significance related to Tamara and Derick’s dating journey, that was it! A photo that Derick took of Tamara while working at the retreat is floating around the internet somewhere. However, Tamara claims that she doesn’t remember the encounter. Yet, when asked about how they met, Derick often references meeting at a conference in Durham. Between first meeting in 2018 and finally dating in 2020, Tamara and Derick had a few other encounters. However, as for Tamara, the moment most significant to the origins of their dating relationship is the night Derick showed up at her apartment with Tommy. Earlier that day, Derick made a 2 ½ drive from VA to NC, intending to return just a few hours later. However, while making a pit stop at his old stomping grounds, Tarboro, he ran into Tommy. Given that they both had separate plans to go to Rocky Mount afterward, Tommy invited Derick to hang out with a group of his friends. Among that group was Tamara. After a night of laughter, games, and exchanging playlists, their relationship blossomed into the beautiful union that it is today.