One of Seattle’s most iconic poets hosted a book reading and signing event at Cultural Art Gallery and Event Space TASWIRA last week. Rajnii Eddins, founder of The Poetry Experience, shared words from his book ‘In The Coded Language Of This Mortal Tongue’ amongst an audience of artists, friends, and fans.

The Vida Agency (TVA), trailblazers in social impact marketing, announced today the launch of Shatter + Forge™, a groundbreaking model for community engagement. Shatter + Forge is a new and better way for companies, government agencies, and community organizations to gather feedback from diverse communities by connecting their voices to the projects and policies directly affecting them.

Recently, Besa Gordon headed down the I-5 corridor to the Rose City to tap in with some of the folks who make it special. While there, she hit up the Moda Center for a Trailblazers game and linked up with her good friend DJ OG One.

On Saturday, Seattle welcomed another Black-owned business to the city. Intentions Juice and Smoothie Cafe opened their brand new location in South Lake Union with an outpouring of community support.

Last week on Back2Besa, Host Besa Gordon headed to Providence Park in Portland to tap in with Portland Timbers and Thorns FC VP of Community and Social Impact Dr. Robin Beavers, who works to build community through soccer in the Rose City.

The Seattle Kraken showed a solid effort in the first period and got a strong performance from Joey Daccord, but the negatives continue to show up and were especially highlighted against a talented Colorado Avalanche team.

The Seattle Kraken, fresh off a disappointing and frustrating loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday followed up by an intense practice, dropped a dud against the Colorado Avalanche despite a strong first period start for the home side.

Besa Gordon tapped in at the Columbia Tower Club’s SipNShop Art Expo, which featured local artists displaying and selling their work alongside local food and drink options. The event featured a wide variety of art, from painting to sculpture and even candles and gems.

For a third time in their history, the OL Reign have fallen just short of reaching the mountain top. The Reign fall in heartbreaking fashion to NJ/NY Gotham FC in the NWSL Championship, as Megan Rapinoe had to leave the match just five minutes in and the Reign missed numerous opportunities in the second half to equalize.

The Seattle Sounders are moving on to the Western Conference Semifinal following their victory over FC Dallas in the deciding third match of their first round matchup. Sounders midfielder Albert Rusnak continues his hot run of form, and the Seattle defensive unit collects another shutout.

The weather is getting colder, and that means it’s candle season. Besa Gordon took a trip over to Noir Lux  Candle Co. to tap in with Owner and CEO Colina Bruce, who founded the company in her kitchen during the pandemic.

The Black Spiritualist Sierra Jones is bringing her healing skills to the community by hosting sound baths at Inside, a space she owns in Seattle. A certified Reiki Master Teacher and Sound Healer, Jones has been helping people around Seattle find their peace and heal for years.

Burna Boy took center stage at the one and only Climate Pledge Arena right here in the heart of Seattle. The Grammy-winning Nigerian powerhouse brought the heat, blending Afrobeat vibes with reggae, dancehall, and hip-hop, creating a musical experience that transcended borders and brought together a diverse crowd of fans.

Recently, the Seattle Association of Black Journalists hosted their fourth annual Beyond The Byline event which celebrates the impacts of legendary Black Journalists in the city and provides an opportunity for community members and peers to connect and learn.

Saturday marked Elijah Lewis Day in King County, and was an emotional day as community gathered to remember Lewis on what would have been his 24th birthday. The day kicked off with a gathering at Seward Park honoring his life featuring speeches and a vigil. Family members, community leaders, and council member Girmay Zahilay were present.

On this week’s edition of BackstagePass, Back2Besa Host Besa Gordon headed over to Langston Seattle for this year’s KuttNUp Massacre. The Massacre is an annual dance show which has been a staple in the community for over a decade, showcasing crews from all over the city.

The OL Reign marched into San Diego, defeating this years Shield winning Wave squad, to squash their semifinal curse dating back to 2015 and advance to their first NWSL Championship since the same year. Forward Veronica Latsko was the hero again, scoring the lone goal in the match for a second straight postseason match.

A Seattle company is using new technologies to help people around the city remember the past. Revere XR is showcasing the power of Virtual Reality by creating immersive storytelling experiences based on the history of communities around Seattle.

Last weekend, Holistic Coalition NW teamed up with the YMCA and Marvin Thomas Memorial to host a wellness day at Rainier Community Center which brought people together to experience the joy that comes from communal healing. Trae Holiday, the host of The Day With Trae, was there to check out the event and hear from those present why health and wellness is so important. 

The Seattle Kraken returned from their tough four game road trip and rewarded their home fans with a victory as they defeated the visiting Nashville Predators in a hard fought game filled with thrills and oddities.