Seattle, WA – The Vida Agency, (TVA) and Converge Media announced today a strategic partnership to align core company competencies to better serve the diverse communities across the Northwest. The Vida Agency, founded by Amalia Martino, is a woman and minority-owned, multicultural communications company renowned for their deep fluency in the nuances of cultural competence and work with diverse and traditionally underserved communities. Converge Media is the trusted resource for culturally compassionate, community news and entertainment tailored for Black and urban Northwest audiences. 

The Founder and Creative Director of Taswira, Avery Barnes, envisioned a store that combined art and culture with empowerment. Taswira, a sustainable African streetwear store, is home to a myriad of products. From stylish cultural clothing to bags, spices, and home goods, Taswira has it all. Furthermore, everything is sourced from the beautifully diverse continent of Africa. 

Washington may be heating up and preparing for the summer weather, but Sierra Jones has us all wanting to look for A Space Inside. Inside is Sierra Jones’ dream vision of a tranquil, inviting space for healing art and business. Inside is a massive collaboration space between small businesses, and it is redefining what it is to be a business owner within Seattle.

All good things must come to an end. A show that we intended to last a few months to give our community curated information about COVID turned into over two years of covering some of the most important stories and issues in the Seattle area. Now 26 months later since our first Morning Update Show on March 19, 2020, our final episode will occur this week.

Nikita Mathis, the owner of Platinum Plush Fashions and a pillar in Seattle’s Black business community stopped by #FeelGoodFriday with Trae Holiday to update us on how she and her business faired through the pandemic. Platinum Plush Fashions, now in its 21st year has been an example of longevity and savvy business acumen on the behalf of Mathis who has had to innovate and adapt over the years in dealing with issues of displacement of Seattle’s Black community, years-long construction in front of her business, and of course COVID. Through it all Mathis has made sure that Platinum Plush Fashions has continued to provide unique and trendy apparel for our community and beyond.

The BP Brand has rocketed into the Black Media Matters Studio last week for #FeelGoodFriday with Trae Holiday. Founder of The BP Brand, Brandon ‘BP’ Parker, and his partner, Eric George, came to spread the word that “Love is Dope.” These two launched this clothing brand with the purpose to inspire youth around the world. There is no better way to spread a movement than with shirts, hats, and a message that reinvigorates the soul.

Metamorphosis; the process of transformation. The world is changing, and so are art and culture. The 51st Northwest Folklife Festival is upon us, and this year's festival is all about change. Metamorphosis is the theme of this year's event, witness the intersection between art and culture, from May 27-30 at the Seattle Center. The time is now to become a participant in the evolution of folk and help metamorphosize what it means to be a part of the Seattle community.

Today, on the Morning Update Show, we were visited by Reese Tanimura, the managing director of Northwest Folklife, a bastion of the Seattle community. Northwest Folklife is a nonprofit organization that has been a part of the Seattle community since 1972. This year is the 51st Annual Northwest Folklife Festival, and it is ready to bring enthusiasm and excitement all throughout the city. Storytelling and folk are the lifeblood of culture and human progression. Be a part of this progression. This year’s theme is metamorphosis; watch the transformation of art, culture, and folk at the Seattle Center from May 27-30.  

Today, Dr. Dwane Chappelle, Director of the Seattle Department of Education & Early Learning (DEEL), arrived at the Black Media Matters Studio to discuss the department's recent announcement of up to $1.5 million in grants for historically underserved youth.

Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall comes into the role of King County Sheriff as the first appointed Sheriff in decades and the very first African American sheriff ever in Washington State. Although previously serving as the Under Sheriff, Cole-Tindall is for sure seen as an outsider inside and outside the Sheriff’s office where she faces the challenges of gaining the support of her rank and file deputies as well as trust from the community her office serves.

Converge Media announces the launch of Portland offices with a production studio to come online later this year. In Portland, Converge Media will focus on content creation that uplifts Black stories and storytellers in the Rose City while also offering production services.

Friday was Vanishing Seattle day at the #BlackMediaMatters Studios and Cynthia Brothers who is the Founder of Vanishing Seattle stopped by for her once-a-month visit to update Trae Holiday on what has vanished, vanishing, un-vanished, and not-vanishing.

Kyle'jacquea Hair, CEO of Debonair Decor Couture stopped by the Morning Update Show and recently shared with Trae Holiday his journey launching Debonair Decor Couture in the Pacific Place Mall nearly two years ago and how he was able to channel the grief of losing his mother and brother 16 months apart into the motivation needed to launch his business in the middle of a pandemic and thrive.

One thing we knew for sure in designing our Black Media Matters studio in downtown Seattle was that we wanted to make a statement loud and clear that our media, our culture, our history matters and that should be evidenced in everything that we create.

Culturally sensitive and relevant end-of-life care is what Nathan Yemane MSW, LICSW who is the Founder and Managing Director of YBG Healthcare seeks to provide for those in our community across King County who are seeking hospice care.

Today on the Morning Update Show, Yolanda Norton creator and curator of the Beyonce Mass, stopped by to talk about what Beyonce Mass is, and what attendees can expect when they come to the Mass happening on May 6th at Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle.

Moni Tep who is the Education Director at Creative Justice stopped by the #MorningUpdateShow to share with Trae Holiday the details of their upcoming event, Somethin' To Say which is this Thursday at the Link Project.

Soulma Ayers is a well-known artist in our community who is currently lending her talents and vision to the Beloved King County campaign. Soulma talked about what attracted her to the program and how she herself has been impacted by gun violence. Soulma also talked about the Beloved call to Action for artists.

Talk about a historic moment! Today on the Morning Update Show, Besa Gordon tapped in to recap what went down between Will Smith and Chris Rock last night. In case you missed it, last night during the Oscars, Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith by saying he couldn't wait to see her in "G.I. Jane two" which is what sparked the smack in the first place.

Watch: Seattle-based real estate developer Jaebadiah Gardner stopped by the #MorningUpdateShow to share with us his plans for the large properties that his company GarderGlobal, Inc. purchased on the 23rd and Union corridor in the Central District of Seattle.

Looking back, I just remember it was so hot that day, well over 100 degrees, and with nothing more than my trusty iPhone and a whole lot of bottled water I crisscrossed Jimi Hendrix Park in the Central District for over 10 hours trying to figure out the story. Taking B(l)ack Pride had gone from a small event centered around Seattle’s Black Trans and Queer community to sparking national headlines and countless death threats against the organizers and attendees.

Converge On The Road is a series in which Converge Media gets on the roads across the Pacific Northwest highlighting and spotlighting stories about amazing people in our region. Our first stop was the City of Spokane, Washington. Your generous support makes Converge On The Road possible, Thank You! #BlackMediaMatters

In this video: Seattle City Councilmember Debora Juarez sat down with Omari to discuss the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) and what the City of Seattle is doing to address this crisis. Juarez also discussed her bid for City Council President. #MorningUpdateShow #WWConverge