Last month, the City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture launched the iconic Complexity exhibit at ARTS inside the historic King Street Station. The exhibit, part of the DogTown Collection, is in partnership with The American Graffiti & Urban Art Conservation Project and APEX Art & Cultural Center. This epic collection showcases masterpieces created by some of the most influential graffiti writers of the last 50 years.

The Seattle Theatre Group's ELEVATE program recently showcased the talents of young Black and Brown artists at the historic Neptune Theatre. Among these talented performers was Maya Michelle Russell, a 16-year-old spoken word artist making waves in the Seattle arts scene.

Seattle Theatre Group’s Elevate is a transformative annual program, now four years in the making, that empowers young artists to find their voice and express themselves through spoken word. Each year, Elevate provides a platform for talented young performers to showcase their skills, share their stories, and connect with their community. Converge Media has been a proud partner of STG Elevate since its inception, and Back2Besa is honored to continue this tradition of uplifting youth voices.

Seattle's vibrant film scene came together last month as Scope Screenings, the city's leading platform for short films, hosted its latest event. Founded in 2022 by Lex Scope, the festival has quickly become a beloved hub for showcasing exceptional short films, music videos, and short-form content.

Seattle recently came alive with a vibrant Juneteenth celebration, showcasing the city's dedication to honoring Black history and fostering community unity. The Africatown Community Land Trust's Summer of Soul Juneteenth celebration, hosted by Trae Holiday, drew a diverse crowd eager to commemorate this important day in American history.

Juneteenth is a time to commemorate Black freedom and liberation, and this year the Northwest African American Museum (NAAM) hosted a vibrant weekend of events to mark the occasion. With a focus on community, education, and the celebration of Black history, art, and culture, Juneteenth 2024 was a resounding success.

Seattle Theatre Group is hosting a free audition class for the musical, Girl From the North Country. This is an amazing opportunity for theatre/drama students ages 14 and up to learn from the cast members themselves.

Seattle came alive this Juneteenth with a vibrant celebration of Black freedom, community, and culture during Africatown Community Land Trust’s Summer of Soul Juneteenth celebration hosted by Trae Holiday. The event, held at the iconic Jimi Hendrix Park, drew a diverse crowd eager to commemorate this important day in American history.

In November 2023, Washington became one of the first states to open its health insurance marketplace to all residents, including undocumented immigrants. Everyone who lives in Washington state now has the opportunity to buy health and dental insurance through Washington Healthplanfinder, regardless of immigration status.

Towers of Tomorrow features replicas of famous skyscrapers like the Marina Bay Sands Hotel in Singapore, the Chrysler Building in New York, the CN Tower in Toronto, the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and many more.

Recently, Converge Media producer Curtis Delgardo II and Central District’s very own recording artist, Mafi D, teamed up with the Black Equality Coalition and students from Panther Lake Elementary to create an anthem for the 4th and 5th grade Unstoppable Coaching Program. This powerful partnership highlights the incredible impact of community and shared purpose.

Not too long ago at A Space Inside, Dr. Ben Danielson and Abigail Echohawk had a panel discussion moderated by Sierra Jones, co-owner of A Space Inside. The conversation took the audience on a journey of examining, accepting, and declaring what is deserved by the institutions that are meant to serve, specifically in the health and wellness department. Dr Ben and Abigail co-chair the County's "Racism is a Public Health Crisis" Initiative under County Executive Dow Constantine, which seeks to mitigate the harm done by government institutions toward BIPOC communities in the area.

Aishé Keita joined Trae Holiday on a recent segment of The Day With Trae to discuss her career, her work, and "Fat Ham," a Pulitzer Prize-winning theatrical production created by James Ijame currently being presented at Seattle Repertory Theatre. With a passion for storytelling ingrained in her since childhood, Keita's journey as an actress and storyteller has been deeply influenced by her own father's storytelling.

In honor of National Poetry Month, Back2Besa host Besa Gordon highlighted four talented poets from the greater Seattle area. One of those poets was Joel Duran, an Afro-Latino poet born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Brooklyn, New York, who now calls Seattle home. Joel's poetry touches on themes of love, gentrification, and the complexities of city life. During the segment, Joel performed his poem "The Girl On The Bus." Be on the lookout for Joel's upcoming release of his bilingual poetry collection, "Infatuated: Un Poeta Enamorado," which explores the initial stages of love.

Sonics fans, unite! Earlier this month, the SonicsWasTaken event that took place in SoDo brought together fans from all over the city to celebrate their love of basketball, fashion, art, design, music, culinary delights, libations, and community. Host Trae Holiday from The Day With Trae caught up with Sonics to discuss why they want the team back and what the community is doing to make it happen.

In a recent segment of The Day With Trae, host Trae Holiday met with Brodrick Ryans, the director of the thought-provoking production ‘Brown Bodies on a Blue Earth.’ During the episode, Ryans delved into his journey into the world of theater and directing, offering viewers a glimpse into the inspirations and motivations behind his work.

For National Poetry Month, Besa Gordon highlighted talented poets around the greater Seattle area on Back2Besa over the weekend. One of those poets was Rhea Melina, who performed her poem “Pulling Down God Is Easy” at the Black Media Matters Studio. 

Our cameras were there as the community was brought together once again by the annual Bubblin Brown Sugar dance competition at Garfield High School. This event has been a beloved tradition for decades, uniting generations through dance and community fellowship. Dance teams from across Seattle came together to showcase their passion and talent, captivating the audience and uplifting one another in a display of unity.

In honor of National Poetry Month, Besa Gordon highlighted some incredible poets here in the greater Seattle area on Back2Besa over the weekend. One of the featured poets was Ebo Barton, who performed his poem "Freedom Cut Me Loose" at the Black Media Matters Studio.

Dr. Georgia McDade, Cofounder and Charter Member of the African American Writers Alliance (AAWA), stopped by The Day With Trae, joining host Trae Holiday to delve into her rich literary journey and shed light on The Genius Conference, an upcoming collaborative effort between AAWA and Langston Seattle. As the segment commenced, McDade offered a glimpse into her affection for literature, tracing it back to the spur that ignited her love for reading.