On Wednesday night the Historic Seattle Preservation Awards presented the Preserving Neighborhood Character award to Stephanie Johnson-Toliver on behalf of community stakeholders who contributed to the effort to save the Soul Pole. In June, Converge Media released a short film titled Legacy of the Soul Pole, showcasing the history and rehabilitation of the iconic landmark.

Pacific Northwest Ballet’s 50th Anniversary Season kicks off with a grand celebration of music, dance, and song in fan-favorite Carmina Burana. Also on the program, an early Balanchine classic Allegro Brillante, and a world premiere from Ukrainian choreographer Alexei Ratmansky, titled Wartime Elegy.

Global Majority Nights at The 5th Avenue Theatre across the 22/23 season. These performances are dedicated to inviting Black communities, Indigenous communities, and communities of color to experience shows at The 5th together.

Wa Na Wari celebrated its second annual Walk the Block festival, which featured the artwork and performances of local, national, and international Black and Indigenous artists. The block party provided ample space for makeshift venues for artists, entrepreneurs, as well as for dance floors and art installations. Arts-and-crafts, prizes, photo booths, and refreshments were also ubiquitous throughout the event.

When Nate Jackson took the stage on a dare at the Eastern Washington University student comedy competition, he didn’t know it would be the start of a life-long passion which he would parlay into a successful career. Jackson was studying Aeronautical Engineering, and initially had thoughts of going into insurance or home financing. The change, though, wasn’t as drastic as you might think.

On Saturday, September 17th, Arte Noir celebrated its grand opening in the main hub of Central District’s 23rd Avenue and Cherry Street. Founder Vivian Phillips and CEO Jazmyn Scott celebrated with Seattle residents throughout the day, showcasing a vast space that serves to propel black art and culture. Their first day brimmed with activity, featuring a variety of Black-owned products – from children’s books to apothecary products - and providing a full-scale gallery of artwork made by Black artists.

Converge Media’s latest short film Finding Go: The Legacy of Adé Hogue honors the life of Broderick Adé Hogue, a groundbreaking designer and inspirational artist. It follows his journey from a quiet kid in Asheville, North Carolina to becoming one of the most acclaimed hand-letterers of our generation in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to his tragic death last year, Adé completed numerous projects including the lettering on the side of Alaska Airlines’ Our Commitment aircraft. It was through this project that Hogue made his way onto Converge’s radar, and through that we were able to feel the passion and innovation so present in his work and life.

This week we caught up with multidisciplinary artist Kimisha Turner, our season one episode eight featured artist. Kimisha has since moved to the east coast with her family and has spent the last year settling into east coast life with her sister and son Malcolm. Kimisha has been making incredibly impactful art in Seattle for years, ever since an incredibly pivotal moment in her life. She was faced with choosing between the armed forces and art school and that choice led her to Cornish where she studied and graduated.

All rise for Academy Award® winner Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize winning masterwork. The New York Times Critic’s Pick TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is “the most successful American play in Broadway history.

The 9th annual Jackson Street Jazz Walk (JSJW) commenced on Friday, September 9th, 2022, with a Black and White Gala at the Central Area Senior Center. The gala brought in residents throughout the Central District community, featuring live music from the award-winning singer and songwriter Eugenia Jones, as well as from the E. Pruitt & Maureese Itson Quartet.

Finding Go is a film documenting the life and legacy of Broderick Adé Hogue. An art director, designer and letterer, Hogue’s influence was felt in many spheres across the country and even around the world. One of Hogue’s crowning achievements was creating the lettering for Our Commitment, a specially-designed 737 commissioned by Alaska Airlines in partnership with the United Negro College Fund to showcase their commitment to racial equality and education.

On this #ThrowbackThursday, we take a look at The Commitment. Converge Media released this short film in April of 2021 and it showcased Alaska Airlines' Our Commitment Aircraft.

The Seattle Mariners took game two against the San Diego Padres, powered by three homers and the starting pitching of Luis Castillo. Win #80 of the season for the Seattle Mariners, the 15th time in franchise history the club has achieved that mark.

On Saturday, September 10th, the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute (LHPAI) celebrated its 50th anniversary of Black excellence and cultural expression. The four-hour block party event highlighted the work, contributions, and achievements that artists and community members have cultivated over the last 50 years in the Central District community – and beyond.

The Seattle Mariners were shutout by the San Diego Padres, the first time the Mariners have been blanked since June 19th. The Mariners season was much different back then, but it is imperative that the Mariners bounce back well.

Joy Shigaki, a fourth-generation Seattleite and national leader in helping fund, deliver and program civic projects like major parks, has been named the new President & CEO of Friends of Waterfront Seattle.

Through an effective public private partnership with the City’s Waterfront Seattle program, Friends of Waterfront Seattle has been working since 2014 in support of the City of Seattle’s efforts to revitalize 20 acres along Seattle’s shoreline.

The 9th annual Jackson Street Jazz Walk (JSJW) continued on Saturday, September 10th, 2022, commemorating the African American music legacy throughout the Central District community. The twelve-band, seven-stage celebration commenced at 6:00 PM throughout multiple Central District venues, including the Liberty Bank Building, Pratt Fine Arts Center's Plaza, Cheeky Cafe, Wonder Bar & Restaurant, and the Jackson Apartments.

Just in time for the new school year, the Tiny Tots Development Center unveiled a first-of-its-kind outdoor learning classroom at its new location at Othello Square, which opened earlier this year.

Kids will play and learn in an outdoor, natural environment with garden beds, bench seating and more. According to Tiny Tots staff, this type of set up encourages students to learn with hands-on activities and accelerates early childhood learning.

Not long ago, Baseball Beyond Borders took a powerful, eye opening journey through the heart of the south which included baseball, civil rights and reconciliation. It featured a baseball clinic, tour of a Historically Black College/University - Jackson State U - and a trip to Montgomery AL by way of Edmunds Pettis Bridge, to visit the Equal Justice Initiative Museum and Memorial. We were accompanied by a host of friends and allies to find serenity in a sport and preserve the cultural legacy.

We are in the final stages of repairs and testing, and we are excited to reopen the bridge. We know the closure has created big challenges. Thank you for your patience and resilience.