MANSFIELD — The Richland County Foundation, Mansfield/Richland County Public Library, Renaissance Performing Arts and Richland Source are presenting the last iteration of the 2024 Kaleidoscope Speaker Series on Oct. 29.
Award-winning media executive Andrew Ramsammy will be at the Mansfield Senior High School auditorium at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday to offer his perspective on accurate media representation and storytelling, particularly among marginalized communities.
“I want to emphasize the power of local journalism and community-driven media to provide authentic narratives that reflect the realities of all residents, and hope to do that through a look at how the the Black Press in America developed and the purpose it serves today.” Ramsammy said.
After a multimedia presentation, Ramsammy will be interviewed by Richland Source CEO, Jay Allred.
Ramsammy is a two-time Emmy award-winner raised in New York City. He serves as the interim president at Vermont College of Fine Arts.
He said he wants to highlight how media and personal biases can affect people’s worldviews and understanding of their communities.
“By supporting and promoting media platforms that prioritize inclusivity — whether through reporting, hiring practices, or community engagement — we can build a media landscape that is both representative and equitable,” he said.
“In Richland County and similar areas, this means encouraging local storytelling that amplifies diverse voices and fosters a greater connection between the media and the community it serves.”
Ramsammy said he has observed how misrepresentation of different communities can “distort reality, limit empathy and perpetuate stereotypes” throughout his career.
These observations drove him to advocate for news institutions that reflect the diversity and complexities of different people and stories.
“Accurate representation goes beyond tokenism. It involves portraying communities in all their complexity, addressing both their challenges and triumphs, and breaking away from stereotypes,” he said.
Ramsammy has served as the Local Media Association (LMA) chief impact officer and also has a background in radio, TV, digital news and corporate communications. He is the co-founder and managing partner of Equimedia Advisors.
Ramsammy was also a Sulzberger Executive Leadership Program fellow at Columbia Journalism School in 2022.
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Debra Weaver, a Mansfield-based professional business and education strategic planning consultant, has attended all of the Kaleidoscope Community Conversations this year.
Weaver is the board president for Love on a Mission, co-President of the Mansfield United Lions Club, and also involved in the Richland County Foundation’s Women’s Fund, Mansfield Art Center and the Domestic Violence Shelter.
She spent multiple years as a public school educator and a residential home supervisor for people with developmental disabilities. Weaver is currently an adjunct professor at Ashland University.
“What drew me to the Kaleidoscope series is I felt the speakers they booked really had a grip on some of the challenges our community is facing and what a lot of the nonprofits in our area try to address,” she said. “Majora Carter’s work with urban revitalization reminded me of what NECIC is doing with the community center.”
Weaver has helped businesses and non-profits including NECIC, Renaissance Performing Arts, Richland Outreach Center, United Way of Richland County, Mind Body Align, Richland Public Health, Mansfield Gay Pride Association, Leapyear Studios and others with analysis and strategic planning.
She said she hopes Ramsammy will have actionable takeaways like Amanda Ripley’s “looping” technique taught at August’s Kaleidoscope.
“I like how Andrew Ramsammy talks about accurate information, community connections and breaking down walls to allow marginalized communities to access and provide transparent information,” Weaver said.
The strategic planner also said she wants attendees to share what they learn with people who can’t attend the event.
“Events like this do tend to be like preaching to the choir,” she said. “We will have a lot of conscientious people in the room and I hope they talk about what they learn with people who aren’t in the room.”
Accurate representation goes beyond tokenism—it involves portraying communities in all their complexity, addressing both their challenges and triumphs, and breaking away from stereotypes.
Andrew Ramsammy
Ramsammy said he wants attendees to leave Tuesday’s event with the ability to seek diverse viewpoints in their local communities and in their media diets.
“Events like Kaleidoscope can play a critical role in this by creating immediate opportunities for underrepresented groups to share their stories in real time,” he said. “By directly involving these communities in the conversation, the event helps break through the traditional media gatekeeping that often delays or distorts their voices.
“This proactive approach allows marginalized communities to define their narratives, engage with media professionals, and develop the skills necessary to participate more fully in the creation and distribution of content. It’s not just about keeping up with the news cycle — it’s about ensuring that underrepresented voices are shaping it.”
The event will be held in the Mansfield Senior High School auditorium at 5:30 p.m., and features “pay-what-you-can” tickets with a $25 suggested donation.
