Friends, family, and members of the Brothers United In Leadership Development (BUILD206) recently gathered at Acts on Stage in White Center, Washington to celebrate videographer and storyteller Darryl Glover’s 58th birthday with a roast and fundraiser for his health funds. 

Emmy Award-Winning Seattle native and Federal Way resident Anita M. Cal is making significant waves in national cinema as the co-writer and co-producer of the acclaimed boxing drama, “Undercard.” 

Host Trae Holiday recently welcomed Thamu Dube, the Head of Design at Yoodli, to “The Day With Trae” to discuss the intersection of artificial intelligence and human communication. The interview explored how Yoodli, a Seattle-based startup, utilizes AI to help people become more effective speakers through objective, data-driven feedback.

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.

As excitement builds for the upcoming HBCU Seattle Series, Bookie Gates, Founder and President of Baseball Beyond Borders, stopped by Good Day Seattle to talk about the importance of bringing Historically Black Colleges and Universities to the Pacific Northwest — and why the culminating game on March 8 at T-Mobile Park is such a big moment for the region.

Seattle City Council President Joy Hollingsworth recently joined “The Big O Show” to share her perspectives on the urgent need for a more empathetic, community-centered approach to the city’s ongoing gun violence crisis. 

“We Live In Color” host Deaunte Damper recently stopped by McCaw Hall for Seattle Opera’s production “Fellow Travelers,” an operatic romance that delves deep into queer love and resilience during the 1950s Lavender Scare. During his visit, Damper met with “Fellow Travelers” lead performers Jarrett Ott and Colin Aikins, and director Kevin Newbury.

On a recent episode of “We Live in Color,” host Deaunte Damper welcomed Dr. Tiffany M. Johnson to explore her extensive journey as an author, community leader, and tireless advocate for youth development.

Last Friday, the Mediums Collective storefront on Capitol Hill was transformed into a powerful sanctuary for “palabras sin miedo” (words without fear). The collective’s “Brown Voices Poetry & Spoken Word Night” successfully gathered local artists and community members to share stories that resonated with themes of resilience, advocacy, and resistance.

For 12 years, the Reign of Style Hair Show & Competition has served as a primary platform for showcasing the brilliance of the Northwest beauty industry. Reign of Style producer Aisha Ellis Asim, a seasoned stylist and business owner, recently sat down with host Trae Holiday on “The Day With Trae” to discuss details for Reign of Style 2026.

Visual artist Yolanda Galery recently joined host Trae Holiday on “The Day With Trae” to discuss her journey as a full-time creative and the upcoming fourth annual Black Makers & Creatives event. The celebration of culture and community is scheduled for Sunday, March 1st at the Hyatt Regency Lake Washington in Renton.

Last Thursday, the community gathered for King County’s Black History Month recognition and flag-raising ceremony at King County’s Administration Building in Seattle. King County Executive Girmay Zahilay and King County Councilmember Rhonda Lewis, the county’s first Black woman councilmember, addressed the crowd. 

Seattle JazzED has announced Courtney D. Clark as its new Program Director, with her tenure beginning earlier this month. Clark is an accomplished arts executive, strategist, and artist-educator known for her dedication to accessible and equitable arts education.

On the season premiere of “The Day With Trae,” host Trae Holiday welcomed Debrena Jackson Gandy, co-founder and co-producer of an upcoming eight-week Black business cohort designed to address critical gaps in small business management.

A collective of community leaders, youth, and organizations convened last week in White Center, Washington for "Feed the Streets,” a recurring event where the community prepared and distributed free meals with the help of teen volunteers.   

Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB) is seizing the narrative of classic storytelling and bringing it to the stage with the premiere of Resident Choreographer Jessica Lang’s “Momotaro.” Presented by the students of the PNB School, this narrated, family-friendly ballet is an exploration of timeless themes of courage, forgiveness, and the enduring power of family and friendship.

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.