Besa Gordon recently paid a visit to Seattle’s Marjorie Restaurant, a beloved Central District favourite, as part of her ongoing Support Black Business campaign. Gordon sat down with owner Donna Moodie, affectionately known to many as Miss Donna, to get a full rundown on the restaurant’s globally-inspired menu and commitment to community hospitality.

The Scope Screenings season finale, dubbed the Met Gala Edition, brought together local creatives last month for a night where fashion and film met at a harmonious crossroads. Held at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute in Seattle’s Central District, the event marked the conclusion of Scope Screenings’ fourth season. 

Communion Restaurant recently marked its milestone fifth anniversary with a glorious celebration focused on gratitude and community. The event was deliberately focused on staff appreciation, a theme near to co-owner Chef Kristi Brown’s heart. The evening was a glamorous affair, styled with a Harlem Renaissance theme, enhanced by a quartet from the Garfield Jazz Band.

The Back2Besa crew recently kicked it at Métier Brewing in the Central District, where they connected with multi-disciplinary artist Damon Brown, better known as Creative Lou, the visionary behind many of Métier's striking beer can designs. Back2Besa host Besa Gordon and Converge co-founders The Big O and Erik Kalligraphy held it down behind the scenes. 

During a recent conversation with The Big O, Chef Kristi Brown discussed the significance of narrative and the five-year milestone of Black culinary distinction at Communion Restaurant & Bar. Situated in the Central District at East Union Street and 24th Ave, Communion has dedicated the past five years to providing the community with outstanding care, exceptional soul food, and a remarkable team.

Communion Restaurant & Bar recently marked its milestone fifth anniversary with a glamorous Harlem Renaissance-themed celebration earlier this year that focused on celebrating its staff and community—a theme dear to co-owner Chef Kristi Brown. The evening's festivities featured a quartet from the Garfield Jazz Band, food from De La Soil, a mural timeline of the restaurant's journey, and special acknowledgements to long-time staff members.

The Met Gala Edition of Scope Screenings successfully merged the worlds of fashion and film last month in a beautiful send off to the underground film festival’s fourth season. In a night of joyful creativity and community at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute in Seattle’s Central District, film commissioner Lex Scope rounded out the year by celebrating filmmakers and visual artists.

Reclaiming the Village: A Black Family & Community Summit is back this Saturday, January 10 at Garfield High School, marking the follow up to the inaugural summit last August. An essential conversation and community-building event, Reclaiming the Village is designed to center Black families, students, and the crucial community-based organizations that support them, all with the goal of strengthening the partnership between the school and the families it serves.

November’s “Scopesgiving” edition of the underground film festival Scope Screenings at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center shone a spotlight on the Pacific Northwest’s creative minds in film. The evening celebrated short-form content, from fashion-forward spec ads to documentary-style commercials and metaphysical comedies, including the trailer for Converge Media’s upcoming documentary “Diamond of Opportunity.”

For over 50 years, the Soul Pole has stood tall as a powerful, 21-foot reminder of Black history, endurance, and freedom outside Seattle Public Library’s (SPL) Douglass-Truth Branch in the historic Central District. The Black Heritage Society of Washington State rightfully called this artwork a "beacon of Black pride,” remaining a towering touchstone of Black creative excellence for generations to come. 

Scope Screenings, a monthly independent film festival, has cemented its place as a vital cornerstone of Seattle’s arts ecosystem. Last month, the festival brought together a variety of filmmakers, musicians, and creatives to showcase their short-form content on the big screen. With pride in their people and expression, the local creatives and team members revealed a profound dedication to community, artistic growth, and powerful storytelling.

In the heart of Seattle's Central District, Zara Jo Beauty Supply is redefining the beauty product shopping experience for the Black community. Focusing on representation and Black-owned brands, the store's owner Jamal Wilson and Director of Events and Community Development Autumm Coles shared the inspiring journey behind their business and its commitment to the community.

The Re-Sole 206 is hosting Sole Food: For The Community, spearheaded by Takiyah “T-Dub” Ward, this Saturday, November 29, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. This special gathering is a marketplace rooted in care, culture, and connection, combining The Re-Sole’s sneaker donation program with local vendors, tasty food, and a deep dedication to uplifting the community. 

The Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute is transforming into a sacred space for Black imagination on Sunday, November 30. Former NFL star-turned-creative visionary, Martellus Bennett, aka MR. TOMONOSHi, is bringing his electrifying show, "Slices of Black American Life," right here to Seattle’s Central District.

Besa Gordon joined Good Day Seattle this morning for a Support Black Business uplift of Zara Jo Beauty Supply, a new beauty supply store in Seattle’s Central District owned by Jamal Wilson. After stopping by the storefront with Converge Media host Trae Holiday, Gordon shared that she left feeling joyful and represented. 

In the first episode of Chef Trey Lamont’s new series Food With Melanin, the owner of Jerk Shack Kitchen sat down for a compelling conversation at Fat’s Chicken and Waffles with Chef Erika White. In the first installment of the series airing in 2026, the two owners talked about White’s career as a Southern soul food chef, the establishment of Fats Chicken and Waffles in Seattle's Central District, and the importance of community in running a restaurant.

Chef Wally, the owner of Wally's Northwest Soul, opened the doors to his new storefront last month in Seattle’s Central District. After a decade and a half of serving the community through selling plates, catering, and pop-up spots, the chef described his new brick-and-mortar location as a return home, celebrating the monumental achievement with the community that has deeply influenced him.

Six days a week sits Jamal Wilson, the owner and founder of Zara Jo Beauty Supply, in his new storefront on Martin Luther King Jr. Way. Opened on May 10 of this year, the vibrant Central District storefront provides beauty products and services for the Black community that were otherwise scarce. 

Deaunte Damper is back with another weekly episode of We Live In Color! In this installment, Damper Talked with Erika White, a Central District native and co-owner of Fat's Chicken and Waffles, a community hub and culinary staple within the Central District. Sitting down with Damper, White discussed her background growing up in the neighborhood, the rich community fabric of the Central District, and her journey to opening and running Fat's as it nears its ninth anniversary.

Season two of "We Live in Color," hosted by Deaunte Damper, launched its premiere featuring the remarkable Randy Ford. In this segment, Ford delves into her beginnings, career, and role as the newest Executive Director of CD Forum. Ford was born and raised in Columbia City, Seattle, with a religious background. Ford's youth was marked by nomadic transitions throughout South King County, all while navigating her gender identity.