Write a commentRono Smith and Sierra Sullivan’s story starts right here in Oswego, where the two grew up just a few blocks from each other.
The two became friends 45 years ago, but it wasn’t until they left the area that their relationship deepened. In 2006, they became business partners, and then two years later became a couple.
"Being in love this long—and running businesses together—isn't always easy. But we've learned how to make it fun, soulful and sacred. Now we help other couples do the same," Rono said.
The couple is in the quarter-finals for America’s Favorite Couple, which fundraises for the LA Regional Food Bank and Oceana, a conservation-based charity. The grand prize is $20,000, which the pair hopes to invest locally if they win.
"Oswego is where it all began for us," Sierra told iHeart Oswego. "This town shaped our love, our values, and our belief in what's possible when two people commit to building something beautiful together."
Currently, the pair run Eden World, a community-based support system for couples. They’re hoping to bring that community back home by renovating a historic building with the prize money. The couple has a vision of “transforming it into a vibrant community and event center where couples can gather, grow, and be supported in their relationships,” according to their America’s Favorite Couple profile.
The idea began when the couple came home to take care of Sierra’s father, former Oswego Mayor John Sullivan, after he was diagnosed with cancer. “By being here in Oswego more often for those months, we recognized that something big was happening in Oswego… we could feel the difference in energy. Something new is happening here.” Between the changes former Mayor Billy Barlow implemented and the incoming promise of Micron, Sullivan and Smith felt a sea change in the community, as though it was preparing for something big.
The couple has already begun making their mark on the community by joining the board of Harborfest; their objective with the iconic festival (started by Sierra’s parents, John and Charlotte) has been to make it more of a cultural destination with new acts and diverse vendors.
The next round of voting for America’s Favorite Couple closes on Thursday, August 21st at 10pm EST. Help these deserving hometown lovebirds write another chapter in their story, right here in Oswego, by voting for them to become America’s Favorite Couple.
