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About 1Love: Darrick & Melva
1Love was never just an idea. It is a lived theology.
It was born at the intersection of love, memory, music, and movement—where two people chose not only each other, but the work of building a world where love could be practiced as liberation.
We are Darrick Young, MBA and Rev. Melva L. Sampson, Ph.D.
Our story is not simply about romance. It is about covenant. The kind of covenant that insists love is not passive, not private, not performative, but active, communal, and world-making. What we call a love supreme is not perfection. It is practice. It is choosing, again and again, to show up for each other and for our people with integrity, imagination, and care.
Darrick brings a builder’s mind and a strategist’s discipline, grounded in business, innovation, and the belief that Black communities deserve infrastructure that sustains our brilliance. Melva brings a prophetic voice shaped by womanist theology, sacred memory, and insurgent imagination, calling us to remember who we have been and to dream beyond what we have been told is possible.
Together, we are architects of experience.
1Love Festival is one expression of that calling. It is a gathering, yes—but more than that, it is a living ecosystem. A space where African diasporic culture is not consumed but honored. Where art is not entertainment alone, but an intervention. Where wellness is not an afterthought, but a collective responsibility. Where joy is not frivolous, but sacred.
Everything we create is guided by a simple, radical belief:
Love is a technology for liberation.
Through 1Love, we invite our community into that practice—into restorying what abundance looks like, into reclaiming cultural memory, into building relationships rooted in reciprocity rather than extraction.
This is our offering.
This is our work.
This is our love—made visible.
And we believe, deeply, that when love is practiced this way,
it does not just change us.
It changes the world.
our vision
The 1Love Festival envisions a world where art serves as a universal language, bringing people together in a shared celebration of creativity, authenticity, and connection. By embracing transformative storytelling as an embodied form of sacred artistic proclamation—rooted in culture and creative expression—we seek to re-story and reclaim the narratives that shape our collective identity. Transcending boundaries, we invite individuals to explore fresh ideas, cultivate a deep sense of belonging, and engage in experiences that spark positive change. Through innovation and collaboration, we strive to be a global platform for artistic expression, empowerment, and collective healing—shaping a brighter future for generations to come.
our mission
The mission of 1Love Festival is to cultivate transformative experiences celebrating art, innovation, and entrepreneurship. We honor transformative storytelling as an embodied form of sacred artistic proclamation—rooted in culture and creative expression—to re-story and reclaim personal and collective narratives. By creating spaces for authentic expression and collective wellness, we nurture sustainable relationships that unite communities across cities and counties. Harnessing the power of art as a catalyst for growth and awareness, our festival promotes openness, self-love, and meaningful connection. We aim to educate, inspire, and uplift, while also supporting local economies and shining a spotlight on creative talent. At the heart of our mission is the belief that through art and human connection, we can foster a world where love and creativity flourish.