What happens when classic culinary training meets the rich, soulful flavors of the Black diaspora? You get Pizza by Ruffin, Washington State’s first Black-owned pizzeria and a bonafide phenomenon in Seattle’s South Lake Union. 

This week on Back2Besa, we’re tapping into stories that remind us just how powerful it is to show up — for our youth, for our community, and for the people who continue to pour into others in meaningful ways.

This week, Back2Besa host Besa Gordon stopped by Good Day Seattle, where she joined Lauren Donovan, who was filling in for Erin Mayovsky, to preview one of the show’s standout stories — the grand opening of Boon Boona Coffee on the waterfront.

This week’s episode of Back2Besa centers community—what it looks like, how it’s built, and why showing up for one another matters now more than ever. From conversations around youth mental health to moments of celebration, creativity, and legacy, the stories in this episode highlight the many ways people across Seattle continue to connect and care.

By Besa Gordon - Growing up, I spent a lot of time at teen health centers—not because something was “wrong” with me, but because I needed a safe place to talk, process, and breathe. Middle school and high school were the first times I learned what it meant to ask for help, sit with a counselor, and use mental health support as a tool instead of something to fear. Looking back, that access shaped the way I move through life today.

#ConvergeOnTheRoad - The Converge Media crew recently tapped in with DJ Defkawn and DJ Troll King, the dynamic duo behind the legendary radio show, "The Re-Up," broadcasting live from KSVR 91.7 FM in Mount Vernon, Washington. The on-air conversation between the DJs and the Converge hosts was a meeting of minds focused on community, culture, and the importance of Black Media. 

This week on Back2Besa, we're dedicating the show to the youth who are leading the way and shaping the world. Host Besa Gordon is shifting the focus from celebration to accountability, asking a pointed question: if we can come together for the Seahawks, what would it look like if we did the same for our kids?

Besa Gordon joined Good Day Seattle this morning to discuss the Empowering Youth Firearm Outreach Program (EYFO), a partnership between the University of Washington and the Seattle Police Department.  At its core, EYFO shares firearm trauma resources and teaches digital literacy situational awareness, empowering young leaders to use their voices and social media platforms for positive change.

Community members, parents, and leaders gathered last month in the Garfield High School Library for “Reclaiming the Village,” an ongoing series of convenings aimed at addressing persistent challenges and restoring the legacy of the historic Central District school. The event brought together stakeholders to discuss the state of Garfield and mobilize resources to ensure student success.

This episode of Back2Besa highlights the legacy, creativity, and community rooted inside the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute. From storytelling and healing through dance, to artists being supported on and off the stage, the show brings together powerful moments that reflect why Langston continues to matter. Featuring the Griot Party Experience, Create and Thrive, Seattle’s ballroom scene, Kutt N’ Up’s 20-year legacy, Scope Screenings, and a moving one-woman performance by Lakema Bell.

By Besa Gordon - With Super Bowl Sunday right around the corner, I stopped by Good Day Seattle to help folks lock in the perfect place to watch the big game — while supporting local businesses at the same time. I teamed up with my guy Mark TellsYa, who took viewers on a quick tour of several spots around Seattle.

The Re-Sole 206, Seattle's inaugural sneaker dry cleaner, recently hosted Northwest Credible Messenger (NWCM) youth for "Designing the Path,” a custom sneaker workshop. The Re-Sole 206 founder, Takiyah "T-DUB" Ward, whose state-of-the-art facility specializes in sneaker cleaning, restoration, and customizing, was all about sharing her knowledge with the next generation. 

#ConvergePDX - At Converge, we believe in uplifting Black joy across the entire Pacific Northwest. Recently, that Black joy was on full, commanding display at The Mixer: Making P(OR)tland Home in Portland, Oregon. At our second year covering the event, the community transformed The Evergreen into a sacred space rooted in presence, storytelling, and community, bringing together Black professionals, creatives, and leaders across Portland.

Fresh off their five-year anniversary, Communion Restaurant & Bar in Seattle’s Central District recently welcomed Almost The Weekend! co-host Curtis Delgardo II, aka Cuddy, to try Chef Damon Bomar’s house-made Bloody Mary. When Bomar made an appearance on Almost The Weekend! last year, Delgardo famously expressed his distaste for Bloody Marys, but he accepted the challenge to push his palate to new heights. 

Back2Besa host Besa Gordon recently visited Métier Brewing in the Central District for National Beer Can Appreciation Day on January 24th to chop it up with multi-disciplinary artist Damon Brown, a.k.a. Creative Lou, and Métier Brewing Company owner Rodney Hines. Brown, the visionary behind many of Métier’s iconic cans, is all about representing the stories of Blackness and the soul of Seattle’s Central District.

Yesterday, Besa Gordon stopped by Good Day Seattle on FOX 13 Seattle to talk about a powerful new story highlighting the reach of the Mariners Care Foundation — and how Back2Besa continues to follow stories of opportunity and community well beyond the Emerald City.

Amarr’s Heart Foundation recently concluded its annual blanket, socks, and glove drive, a community-wide effort to honor the late Amarr Murphy-Paine nearing what would have been his 19th birthday last month. The drive, a collaborative effort with Garfield High School, the Garfield Teen Life Center, and the Garfield Community Center, successfully collected supplies for the homeless and disenfranchised in the Seattle area.

If you’re looking for an episode that feels like community, culture, and connection all wrapped into one — this week’s show is absolutely for you. This week’s Back2Besa is one of those lineups that really reflects movement. Not just physically, from city to city, but emotionally too through the people we meet, the stories we carry, and the moments that remind us why community-centered storytelling matters so much.

By Besa Gordon - I recently sat down with DEEL's Director Dwane Chappelle and members of the Rainier Beach Health Clinic team for a conversation that felt personal in every way. We talked about youth mental health — and not in a “buzzword” way, but in a real, honest way… the kind of conversation that can actually change outcomes for young people across Seattle.

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.