SEATTLE, WA – September 10, 2025 – Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell today announced a proposed $350 million investment in affordable housing as part of the city's 2026 budget. The announcement, made at Bryant Manor North, detailed a multi-pronged approach to address housing challenges, which includes an $80 million anti-gentrification and reparations housing fund.

In a powerful and moving interview on "The Day with Trae," Zhalena Mathis shared the deeply personal story behind her book, DJ Saves the Day. Her journey is one of resilience, transforming unimaginable loss into a beacon of hope and a tool for positive change.

KeAnna Rose Pickett, owner of The Postman in Seattle's Central District, has announced today that she will be closing the business for good on August 31, 2025. "I'm feeling lighter because it's been stressful," she said in an interview earlier today, explaining the immense pressure of being a single parent, running a business, and working a second job after her husband's murder.

Seattle's Pier 62 transformed into a vibrant hub of Black culture and community last Saturday for the "Soul on the Water" festival, a key event within the "Summer of Soul" series hosted by the Africatown Community Land Trust. This free, all-ages event brought together generations of Black people from Seattle and beyond, celebrating their presence, resilience, and joy on the city's waterfront. 

Trae Holiday sat down for an insightful interview with Dr. Tarance Hart, Principal of Garfield High School, who shed light on an exciting and crucial upcoming event: the inaugural "Reclaiming the Village" summit.

Seattle's Central District is about to come alive with the sounds of jazz, blues, Latin, and soul! Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 6th, from 4:30 PM to 10:30 PM, as the 12th Annual Jackson St Jazz Walk kicks off its yearly celebration of the area's rich African American music legacy.

In a heartwarming and insightful episode of "The Day With Trae," host Trae Holiday sat down with long-time community member and Converge Media supporter, Daemeon "Big D" Burrell, for a deep dive into the essence of growing up in Seattle's Central District, the importance of maintaining community ties, and celebrating significant life milestones.

Here is King County Equity Now’s Juneteenth Celebration at Jimi Hendrix Park in Seattle, Washington through the lens of photographer Susan Fried.

Seattle, WA—In a press statement released this afternoon, the Northwest Association of Retired Black Fire Fighters (NWARBFF) expressed its “shock and disheartening” response to a court decision concerning a historic Seattle Black Fire Fighters Association (SBFFA) house in the Central District. The NARBFF asserted that a previous court ruling had identified an illegal sale of the property, violating an explicit court order. The decision held the defendants in contempt for the sale to Camila Borges, with sanctions expected.

Seattle, WA - In the Central District, a new business of sweetness has emerged with deep roots in family, tradition, and a whole lot of love. PJ's Classic Homemade Ice Cream and Bon Bons, a family business with origins dating back to 2011 in Los Angeles, has finally opened in Seattle, paying homage to their mother's hometown and bringing a unique ice cream experience to the community.

Exciting news from "The Day With Trae" show! Trae Holiday has earned an Emmy nomination for the show's intro, and the excitement is real. Trae shared her joy and gratitude in a call this morning for this incredible achievement.

This week on Back2Besa FOX SOUL, host Besa Gordon takes viewers on a deep dive into the heart of Seattle's Black culture at the historic Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center. From its origins as a synagogue in 1915 to its transformation into a community hub in the 1970s, Langston Hughes has stood as a beacon of creativity, resilience, and celebration in the Central District.

On March 30, 2025, the Northwest African American Museum in Seattle’s Central District was filled with joy, reverence, and celebration as the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle Guild hosted its first annual Trailblazing Black Women in Washington State brunch.

Olympia, WA – In a ceremony decades in the making, the legendary Jimi Hendrix was posthumously awarded the Washington State Medal of Merit. The event, held at the state capitol, celebrated Hendrix’s profound and lasting impact on music and culture. This highest civilian honor recognizes individuals who have provided exceptionally meritorious service to Washington and its residents.

A complex legal battle involving a Seattle property and the Seattle Black Firefighters Association (SBFFA) continues to unfold, marked by court hearings, contempt orders, and disputes over hundreds of thousands of dollars in funds. Yohannes Sium, the attorney representing the plaintiffs Erwin Chappelle, Clarence Williams, and Cardell Thompson, provided an update on the ongoing proceedings, highlighting both delays and potential avenues for resolution.

The March 2025 CD Art Walk in Seattle's Central District was a deliberate effort to energize the neighborhood, spotlight local artists, and support Black-owned businesses. Stephanie Morales, the coordinator of the CD Art Walk and executive director of Made Space Seattle, stated the goal was to bring "energy, money, and attention" to the Central District, and importantly, to show "the history of the Central District and the people of the Central District."

Seattle 1960s Civil Rights Movement pushed to crush barriers and bring about awareness and just treatment across all vital and basic human needs and rights. Community-based organizations, some with national affiliations and all with volunteers who were dedicated to the causes they strongly supported, were advocates for equity in housing, education, jobs, and actively protested police brutality and demanded police accountability.

Members of the Seattle Black Fire Fighters Association (SBFFA) await the ruling of a King County Superior Court judge over the property title of the association’s historic house. In the three weeks since the court found the defendants in contempt for illegally selling the property, the SBFFA has faced significant internal obstacles leading up to another ruling next week. 

Tucked behind a fluorescent mural of fruits and beaches is Taste of the Caribbean and Red Lounge, a vibrant restaurant and bar committed to bringing authentic Jamaican culture to Seattle’s Central District. 

#SupportBlackBusiness - Stephanie Morales is looking to fight gentrification through community ownership. Her business, Made Space Seattle, is a local event and art space rooted in support for Black creatives. Originally an artist herself, Morales has taken on the role of manager, fundraiser, program coordinator, and everything in between — often falling back on her artist income to keep the business running.