No one is impacting the Portland media scene quite like Tra’Renee, a foundational member of the city’s media landscape for nearly two decades. The Back2Besa crew, including producer Juma Blaq and photographer Dean Bechard, recently traveled to Portland to document Tra’Renee’s journey and the unparalleled role she plays in uplifting Black stories in the Rose City. 

Through her 15-year tenure as an on-air personality for JAM’N 107.5 at iHeartMedia, she established herself as a trusted voice in Portland, setting the stepping stones toward her Emmy Award-winning work as a host and producer. 

Tra’Renee’s professional approach is uniquely informed by her background as a clinically licensed social worker, a trade that allows her to be a trained listener who seeks to identify the “heartbeat” of every guest. This ethos is codified in her "five E's" philosophy: to empower, elevate, educate, enlighten, and entertain. 

Through her show, "Situations and Conversations with Tra’Renee," she uses this purpose-driven framework to "blow the lid off" the shame and stigma of difficult topics by starting raw, honest dialogue. 

"One of my gifts is being able to assess other people's superpowers and then assisting them in elevating. That actually brings me the most joy,” she said. 

This story represents Back2Besa TV, Converge Media, and FOX 13 Seattle’s commitment to featuring the impactful and influential voices in Portland’s Black community. This is why Black Media Matters.

Catch Back2Besa every Saturday at 10:30 p.m. on FOX 13 Seattle and Sundays at 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. on FOX 13+. Viewers can also stream episodes anytime on the FOX Local app.