We are recruiting board members. Please email us with information about yourself if you're interested.
The BCM Board of Directors consists of twelve elected officials and three board-appointed officials. The term for elected officials is two years. Appointed members serve a one-year term. Each board member must be a current BCM member, attend monthly board meetings, and participate in board committees. BCM members are welcome to attend board meetings for the Public Comment segment of the meeting.
The BCM Board is interested in hearing from potential board members from a wide range of interests and backgrounds. A commitment to supporting community media and free speech is the most important requirement. Community people with a background or interest in law, finance/business, media production and fundraising are especially welcomed. Most of our board members live in Berkeley but there are a limited number of slots for non-Berkeley residents. For more information, please contact us.
Edmound Broussard: I have been a member of BCM almost since the beginning. I produce Gospel Search and Education in the Community, and videotape community events like the Berkeley High Basketball games, Afro-Haitian Dances and Afro-American roundtable discussions. I have tried to build a rapport between Berkeley High School and the station since they are in the high school building and no one else was doing that. I feel that I have input to share about BCM and I think it’s important for the community to get proper information — what they need to know. I want to make sure that this facility stays open because we need a place to exercise our freedom of speech.
Mark Coplan: I believe in community access broadcasting. Presently the Public Information Officer for the Berkeley Unified School District, my media career began in video production. Early in my career I spent three years producing documentaries in Nicaragua, using cable access for distribution. Returning to the US I produced training videos nationwide for a major corporation, and as a manager for the same company I managed over 300 employees. I am deeply committed to public education, peace and justice and community access television.
Clark Abrea: I came to BCM in 2009 as an Intern. I am a multi-media hobbyist and have passion or helping people. I am the producer of Community Earmark. There was two concepts for the program first, it was created for artist to showcase their talent. Secondly, It was also created for keeping in touch with community affairs and help people find their way in this time of economic hardship and unemployment. My community awareness segments are for the purpose of informing the viewers of what services are available to the residents of Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano and the San Francisco Counties. I feel my program is informative and have helped local artist get the exposure they needed, that otherwise would be unavailable to them. Thanks to BCM. As a Board Member I am motivated and excited, the opportunity to serve allows me to give back to Berkeley Community Media.
Moby Theobald:As an independent producer at B.C.M. since 2001, I’ve seen a lot of changes and I’ve had many experiences that I feel have given me insight into the daily operations of the station. I hear the concerns of staff and community and frankly I’m tired of hearing about it! Nonetheless, I’m personally invested in raising the quality of the broadcasting (if not the programs themselves) at B.C.M. As a board member, I will be dedicated to seeing that equipment and personnel are well taken care of. I will help make Berkeley Community Media the envy of Pinole and Cupertino!
Adnan Touma: Is the Director and Videographer of WEE POETS, holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Industrial Design from San Francisco State University, San Francisco. Adnan has 20 years of experience as Director of WEE POETS. He is in charge of the training program for the teenage interns. He is a WEE POETS Board Member and the Treasurer of WEE POETS. Adnan has received 7 awards for his outstanding work with WEE POETS, and for his volunteer work in the community. Adnan is employed as an Architectural Engineering CADD Specialist at The Presidio Trust in San Francisco. Adnan videotaped WEE POETS as an exchange writing program, on location in schools in Paris, France and Runaway Bay, Jamaica.
Ed Young:As a 45 year resident of the City of Berkeley, and having attended Berkeley High, U.C. Berkeley and worked in Berkeley, I have seen and participated in many historic events and changes. As the years have passed, my perspective has change as well. One thing has not changed and that is the belief that the value of freedom of speech and expression is indisputable.
As I began to participate at Berkeley High School again, this time as a parent through the Performing Arts Department, I realized there is an important connection between the High School and the community that Berkeley Community Media (BCM) could facilitate. To have a local television station on campus, that could broadcast to the community the extremely talent laden productions of the High School, as well as other campuses within the Berkeley Unified School District, was an obvious benefit. I saw an opportunity to have the High School Video Production class to use BCM cameras, to provide the taping of events, for BCM to broadcast on local television. Many students go on to become interns and members of BCM.
When the community can see the positive events that are coming out of the schools, instead of just hearing the negative, there is an inescapable desire to support them. When you connect with the youth of the schools, you can participate first hand in the future of your community.
Michael Vaughn:One of my primary goals as a board member is to support the creative content of Berkeley’s young filmmakers. As a teacher with the Berkeley Unified School District (I am in my sixth year teaching at Berkeley High), and a youth advocate, I am well aware of the amazing stories and talents of Berkeley’s young people; I am eager to connect these stories and talents to Berkeley Community Media. Among my goals are the development of both scripted and news formatted short videos. My plans are to promote, train, mentor, produce and direct youth centered programming. I firmly believe in the promise of how young people will make the most of free speech broadcasting. I hold a B.A in Broadcasting/Theater from Columbia College Chicago and an M.A in Education from U.C Berkeley. I look forward to meeting you and learning about your projects.
Ari Krawitz is a multimedia artist and filmmaker. After being raised in Los Angeles and jaded by the big corporations, Ari sparked a passion for video while volunteering at AccesSF. Ari had an opportunity to volunteer on a number of projects in SF and Berkeley's Public Access Stations, and then later was able to crossover and work professionally on video production.
Among Ari's accomplishments, highlights include: Co-Director of documentary feature film on Venezuela, travelling around the world 3x, Fine Arts program at RMIT in Melbourne, Australia, several online mp3 albums, writer/director of multiple award-winning short films, Certifications in production, Final Cut Pro, & After Effects, recommended video professional by Local 16/IATSE.
Ari is committed to the success of Public Access and helping the public learn techniques of expression and story telling. Ari is interested in working on cutting-edge multimedia productions, including: film, video, television (broadcast and internet), video games, animation, digital imagery, music, and/or sound effects.
Syaft Iadge is a producer at Berkeley Community Media. He has a good eye for details of what's going on around him and is one of the few film makers that still films directly to vinyl. Yeah Live! is a music show filmed at BCM studios featuring local original bands and musicians from Galaxies far and wide. Syaft also produces the Noise Check Show, filmed on location at 924 Gilman, while trying to stay out of the mosh pit.
Brynn Boyle: My education has been concentrated on Juvenile Justice, Fine Arts, Public Administration and Education including Special Education. My inspiratin is to provide a voice for those who have difficulty or cannot express themselves.
I love the light in people's eyes when they understand what makes sense in their world. I enjoy helping people to navigate issues when they have difficulties understanding their options. I've been involved with video for only a couple of years but I find it increasingly valuable and useful for the visual world we live in. It informs and teaches others which keeps the chain of life alive...choices feed creativity, creativity gives life choices. My two years of production experience at BCM have been wornderful and have offered many opportunities for expanding my scope of interests, including how I can share ideas and skills with others. I love working with a team of people! It is truly a new and exciting medium in an increasingly visual world.
Thank you to all of those who came out to support David A. Moss and Berkeley Community Media! It was an awesome night to remember which we'll be talking about for years to come!
BCM Summer Shorts Movie Jam: 48 Hour Film Festival
Berkeley Community Media presents The First Annual BCM Summer Shorts Movie Jam: 48 Hour Film Festival.
Gather your crew and come to the informational launch party July 28th at 5pm.
The contest begins at 6pm and over the next 48 hours you will create an original 5 minute short film to be shown on the big screen Saturday July 30th at 8pm.
