Seattle, WA – The Vida Agency, (TVA) and Converge Media announced today a strategic partnership to align core company competencies to better serve the diverse communities across the Northwest. The Vida Agency, founded by Amalia Martino, is a woman and minority-owned, multicultural communications company renowned for their deep fluency in the nuances of cultural competence and work with diverse and traditionally underserved communities. Converge Media is the trusted resource for culturally compassionate, community news and entertainment tailored for Black and urban Northwest audiences. 

The Founder and Creative Director of Taswira, Avery Barnes, envisioned a store that combined art and culture with empowerment. Taswira, a sustainable African streetwear store, is home to a myriad of products. From stylish cultural clothing to bags, spices, and home goods, Taswira has it all. Furthermore, everything is sourced from the beautifully diverse continent of Africa. 

Washington may be heating up and preparing for the summer weather, but Sierra Jones has us all wanting to look for A Space Inside. Inside is Sierra Jones’ dream vision of a tranquil, inviting space for healing art and business. Inside is a massive collaboration space between small businesses, and it is redefining what it is to be a business owner within Seattle.

All good things must come to an end. A show that we intended to last a few months to give our community curated information about COVID turned into over two years of covering some of the most important stories and issues in the Seattle area. Now 26 months later since our first Morning Update Show on March 19, 2020, our final episode will occur this week.

Nikita Mathis, the owner of Platinum Plush Fashions and a pillar in Seattle’s Black business community stopped by #FeelGoodFriday with Trae Holiday to update us on how she and her business faired through the pandemic. Platinum Plush Fashions, now in its 21st year has been an example of longevity and savvy business acumen on the behalf of Mathis who has had to innovate and adapt over the years in dealing with issues of displacement of Seattle’s Black community, years-long construction in front of her business, and of course COVID. Through it all Mathis has made sure that Platinum Plush Fashions has continued to provide unique and trendy apparel for our community and beyond.

The BP Brand has rocketed into the Black Media Matters Studio last week for #FeelGoodFriday with Trae Holiday. Founder of The BP Brand, Brandon ‘BP’ Parker, and his partner, Eric George, came to spread the word that “Love is Dope.” These two launched this clothing brand with the purpose to inspire youth around the world. There is no better way to spread a movement than with shirts, hats, and a message that reinvigorates the soul.

Metamorphosis; the process of transformation. The world is changing, and so are art and culture. The 51st Northwest Folklife Festival is upon us, and this year's festival is all about change. Metamorphosis is the theme of this year's event, witness the intersection between art and culture, from May 27-30 at the Seattle Center. The time is now to become a participant in the evolution of folk and help metamorphosize what it means to be a part of the Seattle community.

Today, on the Morning Update Show, we were visited by Reese Tanimura, the managing director of Northwest Folklife, a bastion of the Seattle community. Northwest Folklife is a nonprofit organization that has been a part of the Seattle community since 1972. This year is the 51st Annual Northwest Folklife Festival, and it is ready to bring enthusiasm and excitement all throughout the city. Storytelling and folk are the lifeblood of culture and human progression. Be a part of this progression. This year’s theme is metamorphosis; watch the transformation of art, culture, and folk at the Seattle Center from May 27-30.  

The talented Shaina Shepherd is a revered Seattle musical phenom with a voice full of soul, passion, and imagination. Shepherd once again joined us on the Morning Update Show to update Trae Holiday on what’s been up since her last appearance in December 2021. Shepherd also took some time today to share some introspections and observations and learnings from the past few months and how that is impacting her music today. Shepherd is currently in town as she was taken by KEXP to curate a show this weekend at Tractor Tavern in which she will be performing with several other industry heavyweights including Vitamin D. The show is part of KEXP’s 50th Anniversary celebrations. 

Antonesha Jackson, Owner of Exclusive Boutique, is all about making people as fashionable as possible. Exclusive Boutique has unique clothing and styles that have been known to turn heads not only in the Emerald City but across the country. Jackson, a beloved community member, spoke on #FeelGoodFriday today about Exclusive Boutique, events, and how to uplift small business owners.

Monika C. Matthews, Director of Life Enrichment Group and owner of Queen Care, spoke about the importance of self-care and Black business ownership while updating the community about her group's upcoming event the Dash for Education/Community. This event is an annual spring fundraiser for the Life Enrichment Group, happening this Saturday, from 1-3 pm at 3702 South Hudson Street.

Today, Dr. Dwane Chappelle, Director of the Seattle Department of Education & Early Learning (DEEL), arrived at the Black Media Matters Studio to discuss the department's recent announcement of up to $1.5 million in grants for historically underserved youth.

Anthony Powers of the American Equity and Justice Group stopped by the Morning Update Show to update Trae Holiday on his organization's Equity Dashboard. This tool can be used to see the history of how judges ruled in criminal cases in Washington State back to 1970 so one can gain an understanding of the patterns that judges used in previous cases broken down into several demographics including race, gender, age, and location.

Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall comes into the role of King County Sheriff as the first appointed Sheriff in decades and the very first African American sheriff ever in Washington State. Although previously serving as the Under Sheriff, Cole-Tindall is for sure seen as an outsider inside and outside the Sheriff’s office where she faces the challenges of gaining the support of her rank and file deputies as well as trust from the community her office serves.

Converge Media announces the launch of Portland offices with a production studio to come online later this year. In Portland, Converge Media will focus on content creation that uplifts Black stories and storytellers in the Rose City while also offering production services.

Friday was Vanishing Seattle day at the #BlackMediaMatters Studios and Cynthia Brothers who is the Founder of Vanishing Seattle stopped by for her once-a-month visit to update Trae Holiday on what has vanished, vanishing, un-vanished, and not-vanishing.

Kyle'jacquea Hair, CEO of Debonair Decor Couture stopped by the Morning Update Show and recently shared with Trae Holiday his journey launching Debonair Decor Couture in the Pacific Place Mall nearly two years ago and how he was able to channel the grief of losing his mother and brother 16 months apart into the motivation needed to launch his business in the middle of a pandemic and thrive.

One thing we knew for sure in designing our Black Media Matters studio in downtown Seattle was that we wanted to make a statement loud and clear that our media, our culture, our history matters and that should be evidenced in everything that we create.