Tierra was gifted a documentary series on Hidden African/ Aboriginal history by her best friend, Marissa on Christmas of 2015. Inspired by the series, Tierra reached out to the featured scholars looking for an opportunity to create collaborations for events in Seattle. Prof. Kaba Kamene was the first to reach back and began a mentor/ mentee relationship with Tierra that lasted for over two years. During that two years, Tierra & Marissa worked to create Willing2Rise featuring Prof. Kamene. In March of 2018, Prof. Kaba finally touched down in Seattle for Willing2rise accompanied by his videographer & son, Heru D. Coleman. The first 2 days Tierra & Heru spent together was in collaboration for the community. "We were having dinner the last night of their trip and I remember Heru saying something to make me laugh, and I'll never forget the starry-eyed grin he gave me. Same one he gave me when he proposed 4 years later." Heru returned to NY with the intention to return to Seattle as soon as he could. After 6 months of long distance courting he did just that, for good. He had declared that the man Tierra needed & deserved was him and that he wasn't going to watch her get scoop up by someone else. Tierra thought he was crazy because she had not seen that type of decisive declaration the past......but the curiosity & dedication of it all created an effect that has changed them both irrevocably. "In the four years we have been together we have parented, planned, schemed and dreamed and now we ELEVATE by joining our lives on the dotted line. That was the plan from the get anyway" - Tierra & Heru