Hey Black Seattle's "Let's Pull Up!" Community Meetup Tour Kicks Off at The Scene
#SupportBlackBusiness Hey Black Seattle, a hub connecting Black residents of central Puget Sound with community organizations and businesses, launched its inaugural "Let's Pull Up!" Community Meetup Tour this month. The first stop on the tour was The Scene in South Park, a Black-owned coffee shop serving up more than just coffee.
The Scene: A Welcoming Community Hub
The Scene, co-owned by Michelle Lang-Raymond, is more than just a coffee shop; it's a community hub where people can gather, connect, and feel at home. "When you walk into the scene, we hope you actually feel that in terms of the energy, the joy, the lift," Michelle shared. "We want them to feel like they just went to their favorite cousin's house."
The Scene's warm and inviting atmosphere, coupled with its focus on community and cultural representation, makes it a unique and essential space for the South Park neighborhood. As Michelle noted, "We are the only Black-owned business in the South Park neighborhood... We think ever."
"We want them to feel like they just went to their favorite cousin's house." - Michelle Lang-Raymond, co-owner of The Scene in South Park
Hey Black Seattle: Building Community Connections
Hey Black Seattle founder Kiesha Free emphasized the importance of community and connection, especially in the geographically dispersed Puget Sound area. "The Black community is very spread out across the Puget Sound," Kiesha explained. "I want to provide an opportunity to meet other Black people that live or work closer to where a person is already going about their daily life."
The "Let's Pull Up!" tour aims to do just that, bringing people together in local coffee shops to foster connections and support Black-owned businesses.
"I want to provide an opportunity to meet other Black people that live or work closer to where a person is already going about their daily life." - Kiesha Free, founder Hey Black Seattle!
Community and Connection: The Heart of the Meetup
Attendees at the meetup echoed the importance of community and connection. KC Jorgensen, who attended the event, shared, "I miss community, and I really want to get in touch with community here in Seattle." KC described the meetup as feeling "like a family gathering," a place where they felt safe and could relax. "Being in community with like people... with other Black folks that understand what it is, I feel safe in my skin."
"Being in community with like people... with other Black folks that understand what it is, I feel safe in my skin." - KC Jorgensen a transplant from Chicago who resides in Mercer Island.
Supporting Black Businesses: A Key Focus
The meetup tour also highlighted the importance of supporting Black-owned businesses. "The basis of the Hey Black Seattle existence is [to] support Black Business, Black opportunity, Black leaders," Michelle affirmed.
By bringing people together in Black-owned coffee shops, the tour encourages community members to support these businesses and recognize their vital role in the community.
Looking Ahead: More Meetups to Come
The "Let's Pull Up!" tour will continue throughout February, with stops at Black-owned coffee shops across the region. For more information and a full list of tour stops, visit heyblackseattle.com.
The Scene in South Park and Hey Black Seattle are shining examples of the power of community and connection. By creating welcoming spaces and fostering opportunities for people to come together, they are helping to build a stronger and more vibrant Black community in the Puget Sound region.
The Scene at South Park
1249 S Cloverdale St, Seattle, WA 98108
https://www.instagram.com/thesceneinsouthpark
#HeyBlackSeattle #LetsPullUp #BlackOwnedBusiness #SceneInSouthPark
