Early on in her career in Native American education, Taylor Dawn Maki accepted a role as a youth coordinator at Torres Martinez Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), a social services program for Native Americans in Long Beach, Calif.
On her first day at the TANF office in November 2017, Ms. Maki met Jorge Armando Melgoza, a driver for the organization. Their brief exchange left an impression — enough that Ms. Maki, 31, returned to her desk and immediately scanned the office phone directory.
“I wonder what his name is,” she recalled thinking. “Is it Adrian? Maybe it’s Daniel.”
Mr. Melgoza, 39, who had been working at there for five years, was also curious about Ms. Maki. She had filled a role that his friend had applied for, and he was disappointed that his friend didn’t get the job.
Ms. Maki’s office, which she shared with two colleagues, eventually became a hangout spot. Employees gathered there during breaks, and each time Mr. Melgoza stopped by, she wished that he would stay a bit longer.