The 12th annual Reign of Style Hair Show & Competition recently electrified Seattle Center, reaffirming its status as the Northwest’s premier event for the beauty industry. With Back2Besa host Besa Gordon in attendance, this spectacular day brought together a galaxy of talent for a celebration of artistry, community, and friendly competition. 

Last Friday, the Mediums Collective storefront on Capitol Hill was transformed into a powerful sanctuary for “palabras sin miedo” (words without fear). The collective’s “Brown Voices Poetry & Spoken Word Night” successfully gathered local artists and community members to share stories that resonated with themes of resilience, advocacy, and resistance.

Last Thursday, the community gathered for King County’s Black History Month recognition and flag-raising ceremony at King County’s Administration Building in Seattle. King County Executive Girmay Zahilay and King County Councilmember Rhonda Lewis, the county’s first Black woman councilmember, addressed the crowd. 

The future of baseball recently shone brightly at the Mariners Training Center in Columbia City as the Mayor League Baseball (MLB) ID Tour returned to Seattle for its second year. This "pro-style" workout is designed to uncover local gems like Kobe Reese and Cameron Dietrich, who were discovered at last year's tour stop and are now highly-touted prospects in the class of 2028.

#ConvergeOnTheRoad - The energy was high in Mt. Vernon, Washington when Converge's own Curtis Delgardo II, aka Cuddy, and Besa Gordon linked up with DJ Defkawn and DJ Troll King on “The Re-Up” on KSVR 91.7 FM radio. While Besa and Cuddy regularly light up the Black Media Matters Studio like nobody’s business, they’re also everywhere like air, demonstrating Converge’s commitment to connecting with the community on the road.

Photojournalist and host of “The Rundown” ProofNThePlay captured magic in the Hangar 30 parking lot at Magnuson Park during a recent Seattle Snap photo meetup. What makes a Seattle Snap event special isn’t the location, the gear, or even the images themselves — it’s the vibe, Proof said. Every meetup is a chance to encounter new creatives and subjects, enjoy a shared enthusiasm for photography, and ruminate in the unfiltered joy of creating with others. 

Taking the long way around isn’t just about the miles. For Converge Media co-founder Erik Kalligraphy, it’s about the narrative found in the margins. Recently, the Converge Media team hit the pavement for another installment of Converge on the Road, a series dedicated to capturing the pulse of the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

For over three decades, community legend Earl Lancaster of Earl’s Cuts and Styles has been a perpetual presence in the Central District, existing as a sanctuary for the culture and a cornerstone of the community. Converge Media has been spending the past few months with Earl for an upcoming Community Legends documentary, photography, and podcast series.

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.

In the ever-evolving landscape of Portland’s creative scene, a new voice is emerging—not through words, but through the evocative, storytelling power of a Canon EOS Rebel T7. Dean Bechard, a 24-year-old photographer and creative director, has spent the last six months transitioning from a long-time hobbyist into one of the city’s most promising professional visual journalists.

Since joining the Circling Seattle Sports and Converge family over a year ago, Bryan Saldana has made his mark visually across both our sports and event coverage. A talented photographer and a first-generation college student at the University of Washington, Saldana seeks to tell stories through his lens and bring the Circling Seattle Sports and Converge audience into every experience.