Takiyah Ward and The Re-Sole 206 Bring Sneakers, Vendors, and Community Spirit
Last week on Almost The Weekend!, the Art Queen of Converge Takiyah “T-Dub” Ward joined host Besa Gordon to discuss Sole Food: For The Community, The Re-Sole 206’s upcoming event that combines T-Dub’s love of sneakers with a dedication to uplifting community this Thanksgiving season.
As the brain behind The Re-Sole 206, T-Dub introduced the organization as a sneaker dry cleaner and a center of community. With the upcoming event adding to Re-Sole’s mission, Sole Food quickly grew in scope, driven by a desire to respond to current events and create a safe space free of negative energy, according to T-Dub.
Sole Food is also a reaction to what T-Dub described as insecurity in the community, referencing the federal government’s SNAP benefit cuts and prolonged shutdown.
“It felt like the right time to…take a thing and make it bigger and make it impactful. And so that's how Soul Food was born,” she said.
A collaborative event, Sole Food brings together The Re-Sole 206, House of Hattie and the Autumn Club, with the cumulative goal to focus on local support. "How do we make sure that we're giving back to our communities and our local businesses and organizations?" T-Dub said.
Besa Gordon (left) and Takiyah “T-Dub” Ward (right) pose in the Black Media Matters Studio last week. (Photo: Erik Kalligraphy)
A key component of the event is the sneaker giveaway, and The Re-Sole 206 is currently accepting donations. "Sneaker donation is something that's built into our business model," T-Dub said, noting that the event was a good way to introduce this aspect of The Re-Sole to a larger community.
According to her, the hope is that people realize they don't have to throw away their old shoes, but can instead "breathe new life into them or give them to somebody who can actually utilize them."
The focus on community service is a deep, personal commitment for T-Dub, who credited her mother for her own dedication. "She is the ultimate caregiver,” T-Dub said about her mom. “And she has shown me what it means to make sure that you have eyes on your people."
All proceeds from Sole Food: For The Community will go towards helping families in need, T-Dub said, including the Black-owned community arts center Wa Na Wari.
"I feel like those grassroots…things that are already existing are the ones that we need to feed into. I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel...Support what's there,” she said.
Takiyah “T-Dub” Ward poses in the Black Media Matters Studio last week. (Photo: Erik Kalligraphy)
The event embodies the idea of shopping with intention behind every dollar. "If you're shopping with purpose, you're educating yourself on what you're buying,” T-Dub said. “You know where it's coming from and you know where it's going."
The event promises delicious food, local vendors, a live DJ, and raffle prizes. Most importantly, T-Dub hopes attendees leave with a sense of fulfillment.
“I know that we have the strength. I know that we have the fortitude. I know that we have the skills. I know that we have the resources,” she said. “I think events like this…is how we get through these hard times."
Sole Food: For The Community is going down Saturday, November 29 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at The Re-Sole 206, 1133 24th Ave Suite M in Seattle. Visit The Re-Sole’s website theresole206.com, their Instagram, or stop by the shop in the Central District to learn more.
Donations of gently used sneakers are being accepted at The Re-Soul 206 shop during business hours, Tuesday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Catch Almost The Weekend! Thursdays at 9 p.m. on all Converge Media streaming platforms.
Did you enjoy this blog post? Then consider donating to Converge and supporting our mission here.
