Join us this week on Back2Besa as we explore some of the most creative and inspiring places and events in Seattle! Vivid Matter Collective co-founder and Queen of Converge Takiyah Ward takes us on a tour of The Understory to discover the incredible art residency of Moses Sun and barry johnson. We also visit Totem Star, where our friends from Ground Zero show us their new studio space in the King Street Station. We relive the Griot Party Experience at Langston Hughes, and get some winter fashion tips from Besa's personal stylist Akia Ronai. Plus Back2Besa contributor TT Frosts takes us to the Commons in Federal Way to learn all about Ena'Vative Hair Studio and their mission.

On Thursday, January 24, Mayor Bruce Harrell, joined by members from the Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects, Alliance for Pioneer Square, and Seattle City Council members, announced the beginning of construction for the Pioneer Square East-West Pedestrian Improvements project at a groundbreaking ceremony.

Back2Besa TV host Besa Gordon very well might be one of the most traveled TV personalities in the Pacific Northwest. Whether it’s planes, trains, or automobiles, in her first 8 months on air Besa has traveled to every corner of the PNW and beyond including Spokane, Portland, Boise, and even Califonia all to bring back the very best stories about the people, places, and things across our region to the FOX 13 Seattle viewing audience.

Today, we revisit CD Panthers: The Marathon. This film took a look at the historic and beloved CD Panthers youth football and cheer program, which has been positively impacting the lives of children in the Central District for decades.

It was the end of an exciting week that started on January 1—a week that was filled with long days for Jaime Mendez and his wife Diana Oliveros, as they launched Se Habla Media and its newscast, Jaime Mendez News, with Mendez delivering his news program live in front of an audience on a Friday, capping the end of a busy week for them.

People braved the cold to attend a community conversation with the Women of the Black Prisoners Caucus, supported by Seattle’s Martin Luther King Jr Organizing Coalition, Creative Justice, Puget Sound Sage, 350 Seattle, and Washington Hall. The event featured spoken-word performances, art stations, and a panel discussion with some of the inspiring women of the Black Prisoners Caucus. Community leaders Dr. Maxine Mimms and Gilda Sheppard also spoke at the event. The event created a space to hear from those who are often not given a voice.

The Seattle Kraken snapped their four-game losing streak, as Vince Dunn returned to the lineup and the team put up six goals on the visiting Chicago Blackhawks. Goaltender Joey Daccord, making his 17th start in the past 19 games, remained rock solid while Tomas Tatar led the way with two goals in the victory.

The January 24th, 2024 Morning Skate for the Seattle Kraken, ahead of their battle against the Chicago Blackhawks later in the day, featured a few returns for the team in terms of players that had been dealing with injury, and potential progress updates.

Every third Saturday of the month, #Back2Besa is joined by Anthony and Marlie Love of Traveling While Black, to get their tips on how to live your best life in Washington State by suggesting things to do, and places to visit. This month, they gave us their recommendations for where people should live when moving to Western Washington.

Do you know about Oble Reed? Well, if not, you need to. Besa Gordon recently caught up with Seattle artist Oble Reed, where they talked about how he grew up listening to contemporary Christian music and his first experience with hip-hop, which was when his dad brought home one of Lecrae’s CDs and instantly became a fan. They also talked about why he doesn’t cuss in his music, what he learned from his most recent tour, what he would say if he could speak to himself ten years from now, and more.

An injured and reeling Seattle Kraken suffered their fourth straight loss, ultimately failing to take advantage of the opportunities that a Toronto Maple Leafs team playing in the second game of a back-to-back gave them. Jordan Eberle scored the lone goal, Joey Daccord was strong in net, but Seattle's play wasn't sharp enough to edge one of the NHL's best teams.

Ahead of the 2024 NWSL regular season, Seattle Reign FC have announced that they'll be heading to warmer parts of the planet for at least the majority of their preseason.

Going into the New Year, Converge Media will feature relationship and love expert Debrena Jackson Gandy as a show regular on Besa Gordon's Back2Besa.

Growing up in Yakima County, Drip Media Founders Mat Bermudez and Belinda Garcia watched from afar as Seattle sports teams like the Seahawks, Storm and Mariners captured the hearts of the region.

Fat Con, a convention focused on body acceptance and highlighted as "the biggest Fat celebration of the year," premiered last weekend at the Hyatt at Olive 8.

The Convention is arranged by Puckduction, an arts and culture organization headed by Mx. Pucks A'Plenty, a well-known burlesque performer based in Seattle, and five other directors. While Fat Con had its inaugural event in 2024, the foundation of the event has been in the works since before the pandemic.

The Seattle Sports Star of the Year Awards are back! The 89th annual ceremony is coming up soon, and this years nominees for the main three categories have been released! Learn about the nominees and how you can vote!

This week on the Day with Trae, host Trae Holiday sat down and talked to Melany Bell, a Seattle-based poet and writer from the African American Writers' Alliance (AAWA), and Tha Def Chef, a chef focused on giving back to the community through delicious food. Both guests and your host are ambassadors for the Covenant, a collective of anti-racist & anti-bias community organizers whose mission is to uplift the black community locally and globally. One of their main goals is the commitment to ending gun violence.

With the impending drop in temperatures and potential for freezing rain and ice accumulation in the coming days, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) recommends that people minimize outdoor activities and avoid travel when possible, as conditions may be slick and icy.

This Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Black Heritage Society of Washington State (BHS) and the Black Genealogy Research Group (BGRG) of Seattle will be hosting a workshop entitled "The Power of Black Narratives: Claiming Your Story" at 9:15 a.m. on the Garfield High School campus in the Central District of Seattle. In the video below, you can learn more about the workshops from Stephanie Johnson-Toliver from the BHS and Brenetta James from BGRG, as they explain the importance of not only learning our history but documenting and memorializing it.