by Naomi Ishisaka
(This article was originally published in The Seattle Times and has been reprinted with permission.)
Protector. Community builder. Organizer. Entrepreneur.
These are just some of the words used to describe Elijah Lewis, whose life was tragically cut short by gun violence April 1.
Continue reading OPINION | Elijah Lewis Left Us Words to Live Byby Victor Simoes
Baseball Beyond Borders (BBB), a Kent-based organization that uses baseball as a tool to increase opportunity and support academic excellence for student-athletes of color, released its first documentary, Reconciliation Tour, in September. The film centers on baseball’s healing power through community building and the athletes’ shared experiences while paying homage to the sport’s historic role in the fight for civil rights and its place in Black American culture. Made in partnership with local Black media production company Converge, the documentary follows 21 BBB members on a trip to the South.
Continue reading ‘Reconciliation Tour’ Documentary Connects Black Baseball History-Makers to Young Athletes Todaycurated by Vee Hua 華婷婷
by Lauryn Bray
On Oct. 24 and 25, TraeAnna Holiday of Converge Media hosted a two-day live broadcast of her TV show and podcast, The Day With Trae, at the Paramount Theatre. For her first broadcast, Holiday invited Jack McLarnan of Seattle Theatre Group (STG), The Drive Project Podcast’s Jay Martin Jr., and musical duo Black Stax. The next day Holiday spoke with Converge Media founder Omari Salisbury, Rex Kinney of STG, Proof N The Play of Converge’s The Truth With Proof, and Africatown President and CEO K. Wyking Garrett to engage in conversation about the phenomenal work they are doing in their respective communities.
Continue reading Converge Media’s TraeAnna Holiday Celebrates ‘The Day With Trae’ Live Broadcast at the Paramount Theatreby Amanda Ong
Converge Media, the largest producer of Black media in the Pacific Northwest, has seen several major milestones in the last month alone. Since its founding in 2017, Converge has operated out of its Black Media Matters Studio in downtown Seattle and has been working to uplift Black voices in ways that have been incredibly radical and influential throughout the media industry. Co-founder Omari Salisbury has notably gained recognition for his work covering Seattle’s response to the murder of George Floyd in 2020, the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest, and through their show, The Morning Update. Now, Converge is both saying goodbye to some of its past work and looking forward to exciting new coverage on the horizon.
Continue reading Converge Media’s TraeAnna Holiday and Deaunte Damper Look to the FutureThe Morning Update Show — hosted by Trae Holiday and The Big O (Omari Salisbury) — is the only weekday news and information livestream that delivers culturally relevant content to the Pacific Northwest’s urban audience. Omari and Trae analyze the day’s local and national headlines as well as melanin magic in our community. Watch live every weekday at 11 a.m. on any of the following channels, hosted by Converge Media: YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, Periscope, and whereweconverge.com.
We also post the Morning Update Show here on the Emerald each day after it airs, so you can catch up any time of day while you peruse our latest posts.
Converge Media Launches Portland Production Offices | Uplifting Black Stories Across the Pacific Northwest | LIVE — Anthony Powers of American Equity and Justice Group | LIVE — Blaze Vincent of Seattle Clemency Project
Continue reading The Morning Update Show — 5/9by Marcus Harrison Green
Black History Today, created by Marcus Harden in celebration of Black History Month, pays tribute to the living legacy of Black history in our community and beyond and recognizes the people shaping the future.
Presented in collaboration with Rise Up for Students.
“We all have dreams. In order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.”
—Jesse Owens
What best reveals someone’s true character is the moment their life is ambushed by a heap of public awareness. In this moment, all of their work, exploits, and ambitions — once largely unknown to larger pop culture — become unhidden. With this fresh (and in some cases renewed) notoriety, discarding your community, your friends, your promises that initially set you up for recognition is an enticing option. One chosen so often that the tale of someone reaching the pinnacle of their profession only to leave us mere mortals behind as they fly “too close to the sun” before their inevitable crash landing is a well-recited cliché.
Less evoked are the stories of those who skyrocket and grab hold of their community to take them along on their journey.
I think of this every time I reflect on Omari Salisbury.
Continue reading Black History Today: Omari Salisbury, Uplifting and Empowering His Community by Sharing the Truth at Any CostThe Morning Update Show — hosted by Trae Holiday and The Big O (Omari Salisbury) — is the only weekday news and information livestream that delivers culturally relevant content to the Pacific Northwest’s urban audience. Omari and Trae analyze the day’s local and national headlines as well as melanin magic in our community. Watch live every weekday at 11 a.m. on any of the following channels, hosted by Converge Media: YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, Periscope, and whereweconverge.com.
We also post the Morning Update Show here on the Emerald each day after it airs, so you can catch up any time of day while you peruse our latest posts.
Live From King County Elections HQ | Converge The Vote! | Learn How to Register and Vote
Continue reading The Morning Update Show — 10/25by Mark Van Streefkerk
In an effort to increase access to journalism for BIPOC youth in the Duwamish Valley, journalists and community storytellers Bunthay Cheam and Jenna Hanchard are launching the first-ever Duwamish Valley Youth Storytelling Project. The project is in collaboration with the Port Community Action Team and sponsored by the Port of Seattle.
A series of four workshops, the project will help youth shape a story of community interest that will ultimately be featured in South Park Roots, on the Port of Seattle communications website, and on Hanchard and Cheam’s own storytelling platforms, Lola’s Ink and TnouT, respectively.
Continue reading Tell Your Story: Apply to the Duwamish Valley Youth Storytelling Projectby Chamidae Ford
On April 2, Converge Media launched its new series: Mochaculture. Hosted by Shaina Shepherd — also the executive producer — the show explores the history of Black musicians while highlighting local Seattle talent along the way.
Mochaculture initially began as a live event pre-COVID-19, but it has since adapted to the current state of the world.
“I was a musician two years ago, just kind of starting to make my way into bigger clubs. I had just got to know some of the artists that I used to just listen to and be a big fan of, and we would be in our little Columbia City bubble, and I just got the idea of ‘Let’s make a show,’” Shepherd said. “There’s no reason why a venue or a booker can book these people and I can’t, you know — so why not just try it out?”
Continue reading With Mochaculture, Converge Media Highlights Local Musicians
