Wedding Date on Nov 11, 2019

In 2010, two college students met on a summer internship in Harlem, New York. Jessica, from Chicago, looked forward to the excitement of experiencing another new city. Kadia was simply excited to be back in her hometown (and have a break from school). Mistakenly, she had applied to a summer internship she did not want, but committed to after being offered a spot. There would at least be, she was told, another Posse scholar like herself to meet and, hopefully, befriend. The internship, teaching reading and softball to kids, was perfect for Jessica, who played sports since she could walk; and for Kadia who loved English and writing. During the first three weeks on the job, the so-called coaches were trained before they met their student-players. While Kadia mostly kept to herself, scribbling ideas and questions in her journal or scrap paper she could find, Jessica made friends with her warm, Midwestern spirit. It was when Jessica spoke up in a group conversation between coaches, that Kadia first noticed Jessica. She herself dreaded having to talk to the room, but Jessica was the only person who stood up when it was her turn to speak. It was in that moment, Kadia was instantly drawn to Jessica. Not long after that day, they finally spoke to each other. While grabbing breakfast (bagels, of course, because…New York), Jessica approached Kadia in the kitchenette of the training room, and gestured to the strand of bracelets on Kadia’s wrist. “You’re missing a color," she said. Each band on Kadia's arm represented a part of her—one from church, another from her Posse scholarship, another from Babson. The only color missing was yellow. Kadia was surprised Jessica noticed her bracelets--noticed her. From then on, Jessica and Kadia would spend nearly every day after work together. Jessica would bring Kadia to the nearby playground in a housing project to teach her how to play softball, and Kadia made Jessica laugh and tel her things she'd never told anyone before. Regardless of how long their days were, they would find each other, sit on a stoop and talk for hours till dark. Weeks went by, and Jessica and Kadia finally had their teams (Go Peaches! Go Blue Sox!). It was during a coaches-only game that Jessica told Kadia she had a gift for her. In the dugout, Jessica told Kadia to close her eyes. Kadia heard the rustling of plastic and when prompted by Jessica opened her eyes. First she saw Jessica's smile, the one that made her feel at home. The one that made her feel seen. Then in the palm of Jessica's hand, she saw a yellow band. And on that day, Jessica completed Kadia’s rainbow and they've felt lucky ever since.