Like most people, I thought I knew the story. Love story, romance, the whole thing. But what I didn’t expect was how deeply it would hit when the story reached their older years — when dementia enters the picture and love starts looking different.

Another weekend means another episode of Back2Besa hosted by Besa Gordon, and this week we’re tapping into community, creativity, and the people who continue to show up and make a difference across the Pacific Northwest.

By Besa Gordon - March is Women’s History Month, and during my latest appearance on Good Day Seattle, I wanted to take a moment to highlight something a little different.

Unapologetic Black excellence defined the energy of the 2nd Annual Black History Month Market & Celebration in Tigard, Oregon, centering unity, culture, and commerce in the greater Portland area.

Boon Boona Coffee recently achieved another major milestone with the grand opening of its newest location at the Waterfront Park Overlook in Downtown Seattle. The event marked an expansion of Boon Boona’s footprint across the region, which already includes locations in Renton, Capitol Hill, University District, and Redmond. 

The Seattle King County African American Reparations Committee (SAARC) is inviting you to engage in a profound civic dialogue through the "Days to Come" Reading Challenge. Running through Juneteenth, the challenge is centered on a critical question for the region: How can the community imagine and achieve reparations for King County Black communities? 

The recent GSBA Impact Awards Ceremony was a night of celebration, community, and recognition for those actively working to uplift the LGBTQ+ community across Washington State. The event at Town Hall Seattle was co-hosted for the second year in a row by a Converge Media dynamic duo, Besa Gordon and TraeAnna Holiday. 

On a recent episode of “The Day With Trae,” host Trae Holiday welcomed Dr. Rachel Issaka, a gastroenterologist at Fred Hutch Cancer Center dedicated to increasing colorectal cancer awareness and improving screening rates within the community. Issaka discussed Fred Hutch’s upcoming Colorectal Cancer Awareness Event happening Saturday, March 7th, 2026.

Veteran journalist and genre-bending talent Angela Poe Russell is set to headline the annual Seattle Association of Black Journalists (SABJ) Black Voices Matter Showcase, offering the community an exclusive preview of her original musical, “Aviatrix.” 

On Sunday, March 8th at 2:00 PM, something special is happening at T-Mobile Park. The HBCU Seattle Series finale is bringing the heat as the Seattle University Redhawks take on the Jackson State University Tigers. This isn’t just a game; it’s a celebration of culture, a spotlight on collegiate opportunity, and a vision for the future of our youth.

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.