Monday, the Seattle Kraken host the Vegas Golden Knights for the 2024 Discover NHL Winter Classic at T-Mobile Park, but I wanted to take a moment and make sure you know about all the things happening not only on the ice, but also off the ice. Check out what’s happening starting tomorrow below via www.nhl.com

Because we are heading into a new year, we wanted to relive some of our favorite stories we have covered here on Back2Besa. This week on Back2Besa, we relive the time I headed to Boon Boona Coffee in Renton and not only learned more about coffee but how to make it in the traditional Ethiopian way; we remember and honor those whose lives were taken from us far too soon over at Day Of Remembrance which took place at First AME Church in Capitol Hill.

The National Fair Housing Alliance, Abt Associates, Northwest Fair Housing Alliance and the Fair Housing Center of Washington are completing a study as a requirement of a law passed in Spring 2023 that creates a program to address the role of government institutions in housing related racial discrimination in Washington.

Jonathan Batista, the pioneering Black Principal Dancer at the Pacific Northwest Ballet, adds another accolade to his illustrious career.

Awarded the prestigious Entertainer of the Year 2023 title by POCAAN, Batista’s triumph arrives a year after his historic elevation as the first Black Principal in the ballet company’s history.

Behind the storybook start of goaltender Chris Driedger, the Seattle Kraken collected only their second ever victory against the Calgary Flames as Kailer Yamamoto got the scoring started and Alex Wennberg got the clutch game winning goal in the third period to extend the teams point streak to seven games.

Written by Besa Gordon - With Christmas now behind us and the New Year fast approaching, it’s important to remember the power of giving and creating a moment of joy for someone who may not have had any of this year. Last weekend on Back2Besa we wanted to take a moment to look back at some of the people around the region who have taken time to give back to others.

The Black Home Initiative and Western Washington Realtists are excited to announce their first Homeownership Symposium at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Theater in Seattle on January 26, 2024, followed by our Western Washington Realtist Gala on January 27, 2024.

Our friends Anthony and Marlie, Love of Traveling While Black, are back on Back2Besa to give us their suggestions on how to live your best life this holiday season. Check out their activity suggestions.

Written by Besa Gordon - With Christmas being next week, I wanted to remind you of something really dope that occurred last month that will help you shop Black this Christmas season. On Black Friday, I pulled up to Métier Brewing Company in the #CentralDistrict as Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell proclaimed it "Black Black Friday" in partnership with Laura Clise of the Intentionalist, BECU, and DNA - Mayor Harrell emphasized the Black Black Card issued by BECU will give shoppers 20% back on their money loaded onto the card with the intention that they use the card to shop at Black businesses across the greater Seattle area. And what's really dope is the card has a 7-year expiration date, so it's not just for this holiday season. It's truly about shopping Black all year round.

The Seattle Sports Commission announced the initial lineup of award honorees and a special celebration of Washington sports following a year packed with major accomplishments.

Last month, the community showed up for Trae Holiday and The Day With Trae when she put out a call to appear in her new intro video at Medgar Evers. The video shoot was a part of a greater relaunch of her show, which will see a total revamp of her set, graphics, and more heading into the new year.

Behind a strong night in net by Joey Daccord and goals from Brandon Tanev and Jordan Eberle, the Seattle Kraken evened up the season series against the Los Angeles Kings with a tight 2-1 victory on the road.

A hockey rink is being built at T-Mobile Park for the 2024 Winter Classic! Here’s a timeline of the rink itself being built as well as the surrounding structures inside of T-Mobile Park ahead of the New Years day game.

Growth, development, leadership, and all the signs of future success are definitely things I found in my short time with the Rip City Remix a few weeks ago. The Remix is a new NBA G League team in Rip City (aka Portland, aka The Rose City) where players who are not quite ready for the bright lights of the NBA can literally develop their talents through a close partnership with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Written by Besa Gordon - Recently, Monika C. Matthews from QueenCare, a health and wellness shop in the Central District that I highlighted back in August has opened up a spa called The Spa House in Columbia City. WOOT WOOT! I remember when Monkia told me about her plans to open this spa; she said it had been years in the making, and I'm so happy for her that it's finally here.

Meet Converge Media’s longest-tenured host. Julia Jessie began her journey to becoming the host of Clap Back Culture over a decade ago, when she first met Converge Media Founder Omari Salisbury.

Seattle City Council President Debora Juarez was recently honored by Coast Salish Tribal and Indigenous community leaders for her years of public service. The celebration was hosted by the Muckleshoot, Lower Elwha Klallam, Lummi, Jamestown S’Klallam and Suquamish Tribal Nations, Washington Indian Gaming Association, Seattle Indian Health Board, and Huy, and held at the Kraken Community Iceplex – a facility that Juarez successfully advocated be developed in her neighborhood of North Seattle’s District 5.

Today, the Tubman Center for Health & Freedom announced it has purchased the future site of a transformative health center that will serve 8,000 patients seeking care designed to meet the needs of marginalized communities, such as Black, Brown, and LGBTQIA+ people.

With over 1000 people through the door on Saturday, the Seattle Opera’s Black Artist Market was a clear example of when intention meets purpose with the outcome being business success for the 30 Black businesses that participated while at the same time bringing a sense of belonging and welcoming for many in Seattle’s Black community in attendance whom for the majority of them was their first time inside Tagney Jones Hall and their first interaction with the Seattle Opera.

Reflecting on what happened at Holiday Jam, I'm reminded as to why I love being in radio. Jumping on stage and making thousands of people scream is such a wild and energizing feeling. The first time I did it, I instantly knew what artists meant when they said there's nothing like performing on stage and feeling the energy of the crowd. It's a vibe I wish I could bottle up for when I'm having a bad day and need a pick-me-up.