Connect How did your love story begin?

Victor and I first met when we were in sixth grade, he was the new boy in school. We were each other's first kiss and first relationship until we parted before entering high school. Years later Victor reached out to my neighbor to get my phone number and we rekindled our relationship while we were in college. Although we started out as friends, Victor finally revealed that he never stopped loving me and he would be with me however he could be, even if that was just as friends.

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

After nearly 20 years together, it’s hard to choose just one memory, but I’d say some of the most special times were when we lived in a tiny apartment in Boyle Heights before our baby was born. During those years, we explored the city side by side, spending countless hours in the arts district. Back then, that area was still emerging, and it quickly became our home. We were finally building our life together, dreaming of the future that would one day become our reality.

What would you do with $20,000?

We would put it toward our daughter's education and future. Both of us are children of immigrants and we both feel strongly that financial wellness is something we want for our family and our communities. We want to build a life together that would make our families proud and change the trajectory and fates of the generations that follow. Our goal is to honor our families’ sacrifices and break stereotypes, so that people like us feel worthy and know we truly belong.