Seattle’s Black Arts and Culture scene took a hit with the closing of the Sankofa Theater, a space created for Black artists and storytellers to share their talents with the world in Seattle’s Central District. The Theater, which was located at the Inscape Arts Building, was forced to close in September due to a lack of funding and a push from other tenants. While owner Teme Wokoma looks for a new space, Back2Besa host Besa Gordon took a deep dive into the remarkable story behind the theater and those who served as it’s driving forces.

As we continue our Black History Month uplift, on episode 33 of Back2Besa, we highlight some of our favorite people we've met this season on the show, like Seattle's Tiffany Willison, who is playing Madam Z in Teatro Zinzanni, the Rose City Father, and Son DJ duo, DJ OG ONE, and DJ OG TOO.

Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate and share the stories of talented individuals. This week on #Back2Besa, we're highlighting some of our favorite people we've met this season. Stay tuned for this week's spotlight and catch up on past episodes at whereweconverge.com/back2besa or on the FOX Local App.

Back2Besa airs Saturdays at 10:30 pm on FOX 13 Seattle and replays Sundays at 10 am on FOX 13 +

The Harlem Globetrotters are more than just basketball players. They’re global icons of family entertainment. With over 90 years of breaking down barriers and acts of goodwill, the Globetrotters have entertained over 148 million fans in 123 countries. Last week, I had the pleasure of watching them take on The Washington Generals at Climate Pledge Arena, and as usual, they didn’t disappoint. From the slam dunk to the fast break, the Globetrotters have left their mark on the sport. And those who watch this play.

Excited to announce that youth-led radio station, Ground Zero Radio, will be joining us once a month right here on Back2Besa! Their goal is to connect local communities, amplify youth voices, and inspire new leaders. This week, Lucia Flores-Wiseman brings us a story about Totem Star, a new studio near the King Street Station that's FREE and open for youth ages 14-25. It's amazing to see a space where money isn't a barrier for young musicians to make their music.

Simply Soulful Café's newest location in the Central Area on 23rd and Jackson is the perfect place to go for some good old soul food to help take your mind off of the cold and, at times, gloomy weather here in Seattle. After relocating their restaurant to 23rd and Jackson, the new location offers twice the capacity of their original location in Madison Valley, with an upstairs meeting space, additional seating, and a parking garage.

Remember those fun P.E. days in elementary school when Double Dutch was the highlight of the class? Well, for those of us who miss those days, let us introduce you to Seattle's Double Dutch Divas! Founded in 2021 by Angie Mosley during the pandemic, Double Dutch Divas is a fantastic way to get out of the house, get in a good workout, and learn all about the sport of Double Dutch.

The Griot Party Experience recognizes the legacy of Black Copper Brown and indigenous people in the Central District of Seattle and honors their contributions through hip-hop, spoken-word storytelling theater. On January 13th, the event, produced by Logic Amen, celebrated 50 years of hip-hop in Seattle and provided a platform for people to share their stories and reaffirm their humanity at Langston Hughes. The energy on stage was electric and made braving the cold weather worth it!

Looking for a hairstylist who can keep you looking sharp? Look no further than Ena'Vative Hair Studio! This Black Owned salon, owned by Seattle native Ena Robinson, recently opened in the Federal Way Commons mall and offers a variety of cosmetology services, including hair, nails, and makeup. But that's not all - they also offer a unique training-based structure through their program "Level Up Beauty Bootcamp" by Ena'Vative, which provides essential foundational haircare courses for both licensed and unlicensed students.

Seattle-based artists Moses Sun, and barry johnson, recently wrapped up their two-month tandem residency at The Understory. The public exhibit space, situated at the base of the Amazon Spheres, invited Moses and Barry to hold studio hours as part of Amazon's latest efforts to uplift the local arts community. Vivid Matter Collective Co-founder and Queen of Converge Takiyah Ward caught up with the duo to discuss their experience at Understory, their collaborative process, and the reception of their art.

There is a saying at Converge Media that "The uplift is real" and nothing epitomizes this phrase more than the consistent uplift of Black-owned businesses across our region by TraeAnna Holiday and her show The Day with Trae on Converge Media and Besa Gordon and her show Back2Besa on KCPQ FOX13 Seattle. Episode after episode there is a consistent and intentional uplift of Black-owned businesses across our region, especially Black woman-owned businesses.

Going into the New Year, Besa Gordon's Back2Besa is proud to announce renowned Relationship and Love expert Debrena Jackson Gandy as a new show regular. With over 20 years of experience, Gandy is a nationally published best-selling author, keynote speaker, Master Life Coach, and transformational facilitator. As the founder of the Love Academy, she teaches and coaches a new relationships paradigm centered on attracting and sustaining JUICY love relationships and JUICY marriages.

Back2Besa host and nationally syndicated radio host Besa Gordon is set to once again host on the red carpet of the Seattle Sports Star Awards. The annual event brings together the best of the Seattle Sports Scene, and Gordon is quickly becoming a large part of that.

This winter in the Pacific Northwest has brought everything from wind and rain to freezing temperatures and even snow! But just because the weather isn't ideal doesn't mean you can't be warm and fashionable. After Seattle experienced historically low temperatures, Besa turned to her personal stylist, Akia Ronai, for some winter fashion advice.

Boon Boona Coffee, owned by Efrem Fesaha, celebrated five years of being in their Renton location on Sunday, January 14th. The event was not just a celebration of their success, but of the community and local businesses that have supported them along the way. During the event, Fesaha expressed his gratitude towards everyone who has contributed to their growth over the years, including five local breweries that have used their coffee in brews. Among the breweries were Holy Mountain, Fast Fashion, Four Generals, Métier, and Hellbent.

Join us this week on Back2Besa as we explore some of the most creative and inspiring places and events in Seattle! Vivid Matter Collective co-founder and Queen of Converge Takiyah Ward takes us on a tour of The Understory to discover the incredible art residency of Moses Sun and barry johnson. We also visit Totem Star, where our friends from Ground Zero show us their new studio space in the King Street Station. We relive the Griot Party Experience at Langston Hughes, and get some winter fashion tips from Besa's personal stylist Akia Ronai. Plus Back2Besa contributor TT Frosts takes us to the Commons in Federal Way to learn all about Ena'Vative Hair Studio and their mission.

Back2Besa TV host Besa Gordon very well might be one of the most traveled TV personalities in the Pacific Northwest. Whether it’s planes, trains, or automobiles, in her first 8 months on air Besa has traveled to every corner of the PNW and beyond including Spokane, Portland, Boise, and even Califonia all to bring back the very best stories about the people, places, and things across our region to the FOX 13 Seattle viewing audience.

It was the end of an exciting week that started on January 1—a week that was filled with long days for Jaime Mendez and his wife Diana Oliveros, as they launched Se Habla Media and its newscast, Jaime Mendez News, with Mendez delivering his news program live in front of an audience on a Friday, capping the end of a busy week for them.

Every third Saturday of the month, #Back2Besa is joined by Anthony and Marlie Love of Traveling While Black, to get their tips on how to live your best life in Washington State by suggesting things to do, and places to visit. This month, they gave us their recommendations for where people should live when moving to Western Washington.

Do you know about Oble Reed? Well, if not, you need to. Besa Gordon recently caught up with Seattle artist Oble Reed, where they talked about how he grew up listening to contemporary Christian music and his first experience with hip-hop, which was when his dad brought home one of Lecrae’s CDs and instantly became a fan. They also talked about why he doesn’t cuss in his music, what he learned from his most recent tour, what he would say if he could speak to himself ten years from now, and more.