One of the big endeavors they have taken on this year is the second year of BLASTFEST in July. BLASTFEST is a celebration of Seattle's vibrant and diverse population, uniting people through the vibrant sounds and cultural richness of Afrobeats music.

Joining Trae Holiday on this episode of "The Day With Trae" is the opera sensation Taylor Raven. Raven will soon be captivating audiences with her upcoming performance of the Seattle Opera's rendition of ‘The Barber of Seville,’ the timeless comic opera by Gioachino Rossini. In this segment, Taylor shares insights into her journey, from her early career beginnings to her experiences as a distinguished opera singer, and delves into her collaborations with the Seattle Opera.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell convened a second public safety forum on Tuesday, April 30, to address gun violence and explore comprehensive solutions to community safety concerns. Held at Garfield High School's gymnasium, the event brought representatives from 14 city departments, offering citizens an interactive opportunity to discuss public safety and related concerns directly with officials.

In this segment of The Day With Trae, host Trae Holiday is joined by Kolawole Akinlosotu, a Senior Program Manager at Common Power, a proactive civic organization focused on empowering individuals from education into action. Additionally, Akinlosotu founded Africa Now, a nonprofit organization committed to educating and nurturing connections within the African Diaspora. Akinlosotu sheds light on his organization's history, initiatives, and upcoming event slated for April 14.

Leoma James-Sarr, an educator, writer, and the founder of Harambee House Global joined host Trae Holiday on The Day With Trae to spotlight her organization's impactful work and shed light on the forthcoming Pan-African Perspectives event taking place this weekend. Harambee House Global is a non-profit advocating for youth, education, community engagement, and social justice.

Visionary fashion designer Luis G. Vélez, the creative force behind the Guillermo Bravo brand and now the Creative Director of Sonics Was Taken, stopped by The Day With Trae to share insights into his journey in the fashion industry, the evolution of his clothing label, and the exciting upcoming event dedicated to celebrating the Seattle Sonics' legacy through fashion and design.

Innovative designer and artist Neal Sotelo joined Trae Holiday for a conversation about Sonics Was Taken, a cultural movement dedicated to reigniting the passion surrounding Seattle Sonics. The movement embodies the community's collective longing to reclaim its beloved team. Scheduled for April 20th, Sonics Was Taken will orchestrate an event celebrating the illustrious history of basketball in Seattle, offering various food, music, and communal spirit featuring a pop-up store. At the heart of this gathering will be a showcase of reimagined Sonics apparel and artwork, prominently featuring Sotelo's distinctive pixelated art style—an homage to his passion for video games.

Comedian and Federal Way-based community organizer Alison Fine was on The Day With Trae to talk with host Trae Holiday about the upcoming Federal Way community festival. Fine started comedy in late 2021, and created the Open Mic Collective PNW, a production collective that offers 12-14 mics and shows in South Puget Sound, along with her own production company. 

Dr. Orisade Awodola, the president of the Institute of African Centered Thought (IACT), joined host Trae Holiday on the Day With Trae last week to discuss her upcoming African Centered Healing Conference and her new book, African Centered Ancestral Healing.

On March 8th and 9th, The Seattle Project and Velocity Dance Center will present their newest showcase, Here Because. This production will feature an array of voices, films, and performances from Seattle's thriving dance community. Amanda Morgan, a prominent Pacific Northwest dancer and co-founder of The Seattle Project alongside Zane Ellis, underscores the driving force behind this exhibition.

On Sunday, March 3, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc. Greater Seattle Chapter partnered to co-host the Colorectal Cancer Community Awareness Event at Seattle's First African Methodist Episcopal (FAME) Church

With it being International Womens Month, and the sun coming out more, there are a lot of fun events popping up across Seattle and we want to make sure you’re not missing them. Below are 6 events happening around Seattle this week you should know about.

On Friday, February 23, Young Black Homeowners (YBH), partnering with the African American Leadership Forum (AALFWA), hosted the second Black Equity Ball. This red-carpet affair was created to honor the journey of current and future black homeowners as they embark on the experience of gaining first-time homeownership. The event showcased DJing, musical performances, vendors, a champagne toast, and a dinner catered by That Brown Girl Cooks! that set the tone for the evening. 

Africatown Community Land Trust will host its annual State of Africatown on March 2. The event has been running for the last decade, serving as a platform for community voices to discuss issues facing Seattle's Central District. With a focus on strengthening the Black Community amidst challenges like gentrification and resident displacement, the event emphasizes initiatives to promote neighborhood security. Kennesha Poe-Buycks, the Communications & Marketing Manager of the ACLT, and Jacqueline Armstrong, Vice Chair of the organization's board, stopped by The Day with Trae to talk about the event.   

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.

The Black Home Initiative and Western Washington Realtists are excited to announce their first Homeownership Symposium at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Theater in Seattle on January 26, 2024, followed by our Western Washington Realtist Gala on January 27, 2024.

Did you know there is a monthly Trap Brunch put on by Events By Intentions that happens in Tacoma? If not you’re missing out! Check out what you missed this past Sunday below!

Join SABJ for the third edition of our Black Voices Matter series, in which we highlight the work of Black media professionals. This time, we will talk to Essex Porter, an icon among Seattle journalists. Essex spent 43 distinguished years as a broadcaster, 39 of them with Seattle’s KIRO 7. KING 5’s Joyce Taylor will talk with Essex about his illustrious career, the state of the local journalism industry, what the future holds for Black journalists and media, and other pieces of wisdom he’s gained during his time in the media business. The event will be live-streamed from Converge Media’s headquarters in Seattle and will conclude with a Q&A portion.

A compilation of photos from the Arab Spring in Yemen and the George Floyd Protests in Seattle, revealing love and unity amid oppression. The opening reception will feature speakers from the Seattle and Yemeni communities along with photographer Jordan Somers. Seattle-based and Yemeni refreshments will be served.

Join us for an inspiring evening event featuring our guest speaker and author of “The Other Side of Yet,” Michelle D. Hord. In memory of her daughter, Gabrielle, Hord started a nonprofit, Gabrielle’s Wings, a group that is actively removing barriers globally to the success of BIPOC youth and families. In collaboration with the YMCA of Greater Seattle, Gabrielle’s Wings is committed to helping BIPOC children and their families learn to swim and providing marginalized communities access to aquatic safety programs. The Y and Gabrielle’s Wings are motivated by the importance and value of access to aquatic safety programs like the Y’s swimming lessons.