AMHERST — An executive committee and board of directors reflecting Amherst’s racial and ethnic diversity is now overseeing Amherst Media, which provides public, education and government access to the community.
Vira Douangmany Cage, who was born in Laos and came to the United States from a refugee camp in Thailand in 1980, is the new Amherst Media president, replacing Artie McCollum. McCollum will continue on the board as vice president.
Demetria Shabazz, another past president, will serve as treasurer and oversee the capital campaign that is raising money for a new building planned for a lot at the corner of Main and Gray streets. Amherst Media currently operates from space it is renting in a University Drive building.
The other member of the executive committee is Justin Beatty, a multi-disciplinary artist of Native American, Ojibwe and Saponi, and African American descent. Beatty joined the board in December as secretary.
Among goals Cage has as president are increasing the number of members and interns who will be trained as producers to meet an increasing demand for coverage of government meetings and public events.
Other board members are Margaret Sawyer, Razvan Sibii, Marita Banda, Manpreet Kaur, Brianna Sunryd, Ruth Bass Green, Ben Herrington and Jamahl Jackson.