YOUniversal FIT Studio, with the support of a $10,000 grant from the Tacoma Black Fund, is launching "Men Uplift," a groundbreaking program dedicated to the emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being of Black men. This initiative is spearheaded by Mike Ford, whose personal journey from emotional abuser to advocate has inspired this critical program.

Seattle's First Hill neighborhood is home to a hidden culinary gem that transports diners to the vibrant flavors of West Africa. Gold Coast Ghal Kitchen, the brainchild of Liberian-American Chef Tina Fahnbulleh, is a testament to the rich culinary heritage of the region.

Africatown Community Land Trust held its annual Black Wall Street Market as part of The Summer of Soul Series. The event transformed 23rd and Jackson into Seattle's own Black Wall Street, with over 100 Black businesses celebrating the rich history of Black commercial centers.

Influential names in Seattle's Black business community gathered at Byrd Barr Place for Africatown Community Land Trust’s Building Black Wall Street Mixer and Chat. Hosted by Debrena Jackson Gandy and keynoted by Lewis Rudd of Ezell’s Famous Chicken, the event included a panel of successful Black entrepreneurs

Some of the most respected names in Seattle’s Black business community came together last week at Byrd Barr Place in the #CentralDistrict for Africatown Community Land Trust’s Building Black Wall Street Mixer + Chat. The mixer was hosted by author Debrena Jackson Gandy and keynoted by Central District business icon Lewis Rudd, co-founder of Ezell’s Famous Chicken.

On Monday, Africantown Community Land Trust held its annual Black Wall Street Market, which is part of the Summer of Soul Series. This year’s event brought life to the streets of 23rd and Jackson, where over 100 Black businesses gathered to celebrate and honor the rich history of thriving Black commercial centers throughout the country. T

This week on Back2Besa, we are highlighting coffee shops in Seattle and Tacoma you should know about. One of those shops happened to be Luv-A-Late, located in the Tacoma Hill Top area. Owned by Andrea McCarthy, Luv-A-Late is loved not only for its drink and food options but also for the artwork by Bruce Pickford that graces the walls of the coffee shop.

Owned by Quincy and Whitni Henry, Campfire Coffee Co, located in Tacoma, Washington. Was created as the couple wanted to open an outdoorsy coffee shop with the social goal of getting diverse families into nature. They opened their coffee shop in 2020, and have been thriving in their lane of coffee beans and camping ever since. 

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.

Platinum Plush Fashions marked its 23rd anniversary with a Grand Re-opening Celebration. Thanks to the Seattle Office of Economic Development, the store underwent a stunning transformation led by all Black contractors. Our cameras captured the historic ribbon-cutting ceremony as loyal community members joined owner Nikita Mathis in celebrating this momentous occasion.

Our cameras were there last weekend when N The Kutt Dance Studio in Des Moines, WA closed their doors for the last time.. Over the last two decades N The Kutt and it’s founder Koach T have been a staple in the greater Puget Sound community teaching dance to youth including our very own Besa Gordon and giving young people dance opportunities from across the region to around the world.

Photos: Marvin Patterson

Carlos Imani of the Elite Collective stopped by recently to talk with host Trae Holiday on The Day With Trae about his creative journey from selling prints as a side hustle to becoming Executive Producer of Elite Collective.

Keith G. Prez Asphy, the CEO of Presidential Transportation, made an appearance on The Day With Trae, shedding light on the evolution of his luxury transportation business. What began with a single vintage stretch limousine has since burgeoned into a fleet encompassing an array of limos, SUVs, Sprinters, party buses, and Charter Buses—a transformation that Asphy heralded as bringing more opportunity to his work.

Takiyah "TDUB" Ward, the founder of The Re-Sole 206, sat down with Trae Holiday on The Day With Trae to address her business's recent setback and her proactive measures to overcome it. The Re-Sole 206 is Ward's inaugural storefront, specializing in cleaning, restoring, and customizing footwear, a craft she has passionately honed for over two decades. On March 7, two individuals robbed her business, stealing 26 pairs of customer-owned sneakers.

Recently, in keeping with the theme of powerful women, host Trae Holiday featured Marie T Kidhe, the managing principal at RieImagine Solutions, on The Day With Trae. With a track record as an intrapreneur spanning over six years, Kidhe offered insight into business ownership, collaboration, and what it means to be a leader throughout the segment.

Jenefeness Franke, the Executive Officer of Black Owned Business Excellence (BOBE), recently joined Trae Holiday on "The Day With Trae" to discuss BOBE's collaborations with minority-owned businesses statewide to provide support and elevate them onto a broader platform.

This Wednesday on The Day With Trae, host Trae Holiday welcomed director and co-founder of Acts on Stage Theatre, Isiah Anderson Jr., alongside Moses Masith, one of the stars in Anderson's production, "King X: The Meeting." This theatrical showcase delves into a fictionalized conversation between two iconic figures, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday and Anderson discuss the creative journey behind the play's inception while Masith shares his journey in bringing Dr. King to life on stage.

On Tuesday, January 13, Mayor Bruce Harrell, in collaboration with the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) leadership, unveiled a new alliance to bring the NMSDC's Minority Business Economic Forum to Seattle from May 14 to 16, 2024. This event aims to assemble 500 U.S. policymakers, business figures, academics, and community leaders to dismantle obstacles hindering Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) from wholly participating in the U.S. economy. Harrell emphasized Seattle's suitability as the forum's host.

A lifelong creative and graduate of Howard University, Cydney Stephens has been blazing her own trail in the industry for years. The Tacoma native is an accomplished photographer, graphic designer and videographer who’s work continues to showcase her dedication to her craft and the communities she serves.

Recently on The Day with Trae, Logic Amen, an Artist, advocate, writer, and educator, came to the Black Media Matters Studio to talk about the work and history of his organization, the Griot Party. The Griot Party, founded in 2016, is a 'hip hop spoken word storytelling theatre' and collective made up of storytellers and artists focused on community healing, which most recently invited attendees to partake in the 'The Griot Party Experience' at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute this past January.