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Dating as adults was different. No passing notes in class, no curfews or secret texts under the table. It was intentional. Grounded. And for Jalen and Imani, it felt like rediscovering something they had only glimpsed in their youth. They started small—Saturday coffee at Black-owned cafés, long walks on the BeltLine, late-night talks on the phone that stretched into morning. Jalen admired how Imani carried herself: full of warmth, power, and direction. Imani was drawn to Jalen’s quiet steadiness, his unwavering discipline, and the way he listened—not just with his ears, but with his whole soul. “I love how you never interrupt me,” she said one night over dinner. “I love hearing you speak,” he replied simply. One afternoon, sitting across from each other at a community finance seminar, Jalen leaned in and said, “What if we merged?” Imani raised an eyebrow. “You mean, like...?” “Our missions. Your nonprofit and my firm. Imagine what we could do together—wraparound services for single moms. Therapy. Housing. Financial coaching. Credit repair. Child care. Career training. Full-circle healing.” Imani blinked, stunned by the clarity of his vision—and the fact that it mirrored her own. “We could change the city,” she said. “Let’s start with one block.” Together, they birthed Roots Rising, a revolutionary initiative that blended business and nonprofit power under one umbrella. Jalen handled the numbers and structure. Imani brought in social workers, case managers, and policy thinkers. They hired returning citizens, single parents, and passionate volunteers. As they built Roots Rising, their love deepened. Not through grand gestures, but through purpose—early morning strategy meetings, celebrating a young mother’s new apartment, walking hand-in-hand after exhausting but fulfilling days. Then one quiet night, while locking up the center, Jalen looked at her. “Imani,” he said, nervous for the first time in years. “Marry me.” She looked at him—eyes soft, heart steady. “Yes.” There was no ring yet. No fancy setup. Just love. Just roots that had finally dug deep enough to bloom into something undeniable.

Rooted in Love

ProudMommy0321

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Ceria Mcgrone

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