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Photography, By: Jordan Somers, Back2Besa Omari Salisbury Photography, By: Jordan Somers, Back2Besa Omari Salisbury

PHOTOS: G. Prez Asphy joins the Clipper Round The World Crew on 70 Foot Racing Yacht

Earlier this week eleven 70 foot racing yachts and 200 fearless non-professional sailors arrived at Bell Harbor in Seattle after a 6000 nautical mile race across the North Pacific Ocean from Qingdao, China as part of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is the only event of its kind which trains everyday people to become ocean racers.

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Back2Besa Omari Salisbury Back2Besa Omari Salisbury

Seattle Storm Gets a New Center for Basketball Performance

The Seattle Storm unveiled their Center for Basketball Performance, a home for our Storm players so they no longer have to occupy the SPU courts for practice. The Center provides the Storm two brand new courts and a strength training room for training, but also options for recovery in a health and wellness suite and aquatics center. A great way for the Storm to begin training camp for their 25th season!

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Black Excellence, Susan Fried Besa Gordon Black Excellence, Susan Fried Besa Gordon

Honoring a Legacy: The Rededication of Powell S. Barnett's Portrait

On April 27, 2024, a heartfelt gathering took place at Leschi in Seattle, where more than 20 family descendants of Powell S. Barnett, along with school officials and community members, gathered to rededicate his portrait. This event not only honored Barnett's remarkable life but also highlighted his enduring impact on the community.

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Back2Besa, Arts & Culture Besa Gordon Back2Besa, Arts & Culture Besa Gordon

Joel Duran Performs “The Girl On The Bus” on Back2Besa

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.

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Photography, By: Jordan Somers Omari Salisbury Photography, By: Jordan Somers Omari Salisbury

PHOTOS: White Center Vigil for Thomas Joe Garrett

“We are  here today to make sure that people know that he was very well loved by his family and by his community. He graduated from Garfield High School and attended Eastern Washington, a real renaissance man and musician, inventor, and very spiritual person who brought peace and positive energy,” said Wyking Garrett about his uncle, 81 year old Thomas Joe Garrett who was killed in a hit and run on Monday, April 22nd just south of the intersection of SW Roxbury Street and 15th Ave SW in unincorporated White Center.

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PHOTOS: Hoops, Hype, and Heart: Inside SonicsWasTaken

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.

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Director Brodrick Ryans Delves into 'Brown Bodies on a Blue Earth' on The Day With Trae

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.

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The Day With Trae, Trae Holiday Emma Schwichtenberg The Day With Trae, Trae Holiday Emma Schwichtenberg

Embracing Healing: Kweli Vuur's Journey to Self-Motherhood

Kweli Vuur, a poet of healing and spiritual development, recently joined host Trae Holiday on "The Day with Trae" to talk about her Mother’s Day event “A Mother is Healing.” The event is a space for healing, a space to contemplate how each person has been mothered and how they may mother themselves in turn.

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Back2Besa Besa Gordon Back2Besa Besa Gordon

In Case You Missed It: Watch Back2Besa Episode 41 Hosted by Besa Gordon

On this episode of Back2Besa, we talk Spring fashion trends with my stylist Akia Ronai, we uplift the Northside Step Team as they get ready for the 2024 West Coast National Youth Step Show Competition in Vegas, we get a look at the new Seattle Storm “Center for Basketball Performance” practice facility, we learn how to write your first poem with Converge media procedure and poet, Acacia Salisbury, we see poetry performances from Ebo Barton, Rhea Melina, and Joel Duran, Besa goes to her Dad's job bring your kids to work day at Rite In The Rain. Plus, we have events to know about.

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Back2Besa, Support Black Business Besa Gordon Back2Besa, Support Black Business Besa Gordon

PHOTOS: Celebrating 23 Years of Style: Platinum Plush Fashions' Grand Re-Opening

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.

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Back2Besa, Arts & Culture, Susan Fried Besa Gordon Back2Besa, Arts & Culture, Susan Fried Besa Gordon

PHOTOS: Bubblin Brown Sugar 2024

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.

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The Day With Trae, Trae Holiday Lorcan Stokes The Day With Trae, Trae Holiday Lorcan Stokes

AP Diaz Talks Swim Seattle's Mission to Eradicate Youth Drowning Disparities

AP Diaz, Superintendent of Seattle Parks and Recreation, recently sat down with host Trae Holiday on a "The Day With Trae" segment to discuss Swim Seattle, an innovative pilot program spearheaded by the department. Uniting various organizations throughout the Northwest, this initiative strives to dismantle barriers to swimming education and address the alarming disparity in drowning rates among youth of color, something Diaz highlights as the critical importance of this initiative, particularly due to Seattle's unique geography.

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Circling Seattle Sports, Seattle Mariners Charles Hamaker Circling Seattle Sports, Seattle Mariners Charles Hamaker

Mashing their way to victory: Mariners use great starting pitching and the long ball to take series opener against Diamondbacks 

Returning home from a successful road trip with stops in Colorado and Texas, the Seattle Mariners returned home to T-Mobile Park to begin a six-game homestand with a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, taking that series opener by a 6-1 result behind three homers and a strong start by Emerson Hancock.

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