“My pieces of advice would be to come in with humility, enjoy your passion, and be ready to work,” NBA Champion Channing Frye said.

Our Besa Gordon traveled down to the Rose City to check in with some Black-owned businesses for #NationalBlackBusinessMonth. While there, she stopped by Trap Kitchen PDX ahead of Dame D.O.L.L.A.’s listening party at the Roseland Theater. 

“My advice for people coming into any space is to keep an eye out for the people that are doing the thing that you want to do.” - Tiquette Bramlett, Founder of Our Legacy Harvested.

All month long, Converge Media is uplifting Black businesses from across the Pacific Northwest. The Uplift is Real! We’ve been collecting nominations from the community and featuring businesses around the greater Seattle area.

Chef Trey Lamont put out a call requesting community support in his mission to re-open Jerk Shack, Downtown Seattle’s only 100% Black-owned Restaurant. Lamont says that the staffing shortages, supply chain issues, and residual effects of the pandemic has led them to reconsider the way they operate, and now inflation has begun to slow the flow of business.

QueenCare Owner Monika C. Mathews spoke with Besa Gordon about the importance of leading by example and the ways she’s using her business to influence the community to focus on self-care on multiple levels.

For National Black Business Month, we’re featuring some of Seattle’s favorite Black-owned businesses. Exclusive is a Black-women owned clothing boutique located on East Union Street in the heart of Seattle’s Central District. Their mission is to bring fashion to the community, making everyone feel free to express themselves through their clothing choices.

The Bite Of Seattle returned this year following a hiatus to the pandemic. Widely regarded as one of the top food festivals in the United States, the Bite featured over 100 vendors and 50 musical artists. We sent our Besa Gordon and her TV in search of Black businesses at the Bite and they found a handful including Jumping Jambalaya, Kenyan Kitchen, Boss of Sea Moss, Glory Bucha, Ma and Pops, and more.

The uplift is real! The Converge Media Support Black Business Production Team is heading back on the road this month to find and feature the best Black businesses around the Pacific Northwest. We’ll be in Seattle, Portland, Tacoma, Spokane and more to tell the stories of the people and businesses who make our community great.

We stopped at Mizzter Chuck's auto detail to hear from owner Marcus Windom. Windom said the name of the company came from his nickname ‘Mizzy’ as well as his legal first name of Charles. He’s been detailing cars for over two decades, and launched the mobile side of his service three years ago.

This week, we’re telling the stories of some Black-owned businesses in the Rose City. This is one of a series of Support Black Business segments in the coming weeks and months. Led by hip-hop legend Cool Nutz, our production crew spent time in Portland visiting local staples.

We stopped at The Black Mannequin to visit CEO Bryan Walden, who started the company in 2017 as he pursued his passion for fashion and clothing sales. Always an entrepreneur, Walden was looking for ways to expand his business horizons and did so when he opened the brick-and-mortar store in 2019.

This week, we’re telling the stories of some Black-owned businesses in the Rose City. This is one of a series of Support Black Business segments in the coming weeks and months. Led by hip-hop legend Cool Nutz, our production crew spent time in Portland visiting local staples.

Creative Justice hosted their Black Health and Wellness Day at Washington Hall last weekend, featuring numerous organizations, guests and resources focused on community well-being. Organizer and Musician Rell Be Free said the goal of the event was to fulfill community needs and provide opportunities for healing.

“Sole Mates is all about the sneaker community,” owner of Sole Mates Parris Johnson said. “Sneakers are more than just a shoe. They’re an icebreaker, a way to get to know people. Sneakers bring people together.” 

Colina Bruce, owner and CEO of Noir Lux Candle Bar, says she believes candles can be a conduit for community building, networking and growth.

The multi-talented Latrice Williams has not only built one of Spokane's fastest growing Real Estate companies, but she’s also a talented musician, the legislative lead for housing and homeless advocacy for District 4, and an author. Her journey, though, hasn’t been easy. As a formerly incarcerated Black woman, Williams fought her way into the world of corporate real estate firms before realizing it wasn’t for her. She said she felt overlooked and knew that she needed a change.

“Someone said to me that maybe folks of Color don’t enjoy a good beer. I called bull****,” Rodney Hines, owner and founder of Métier Brewing, said.

“I realized I needed to do something to create a space that didn’t exist for me.”

Joyce's Market and Cafe serves and sells fresh, scratch-made food with a focus on community and health. Owner Joyce Hosea has focused on the culinary arts from a young age, attending culinary school and working towards her dream of providing the community with her food.

Seattle native Ashanti Mayfield is serving ice cream sourced from right here in the Pacific Northwest at the Creamy Cone Cafe. Watch the video to see what delicious flavors are available at the cafe and what other options are on the menu.