Opinion: Where Did Jim Lescault Go?
Jim Lescault
Faithful readers of the Amherst Media membership newsletter of September 19, were able to infer a change in leadership by the absence of my name after seventeen years as Executive Director. This article described some of the major movements the organization had accomplished over the past twenty years and how it was time for a change. My leadership during seventeen of those years was erased.
Many people cautiously reached out to me. Worried by the absence of my recognition in that newsletter and not wanting to intrude on my personal life, they gently inquired about my health. At seventy-one years of age, people expect one’s health to be the potential problem; I assured them it wasn’t.
An article appeared in the Daily Hampshire Gazette, September 27, 2024, in which I was described as “tight lipped” regarding my removal as Executive Director. In response I wrote an Op-ed piece which ran in the Gazette on October 7, 2024. I feel it is time to let the wider community know the truth of what occurred at Amherst Media. I have waited under advice of counsel, only to learn that employment laws are not created equal when it comes to small staffed non-profits.
In July, 2024, I was ousted without cause, notice, or explanation. I must now question the organization’s current leadership for their lack of commitment to upholding the critically important objectives that honor the organization’s mission statement.
The current Board of Directors blatantly disregarded personnel policies and dedicated bylaws to egregiously and summarily dismiss me. Free speech and transparency have been surpressed, manipulated, and falsely portrayed.
Since 2010, I have been requested to help raise the necessary funds, facilitate design creation, and lead the organization through multiple and exceptionally complicated steps in obtaining the land and building permit for our proposed new facility at Main and Gray Streets.
Within a June report to the Board of Directors, I informed them on how I was able to lower the construction cost to $1.2 million from the $3.5 million estimate and obtain bank financing and foundation and state grants — we were ready to break ground this October, 2024.
The Board’s response to this joyous news was a Personnel Committee meeting, where three silent Board members: President Vira Douangmany Cage, Personel Committee Chair Jennifer Shiao, and Treasurer Michael Burkhart, had their appointed attorney read me my “separation” document, offering me one month’s pay as severance in return for a “non-disclosure agreement.” I was coldly informed that as an “at-will employee,” the Board could remove me without cause. My separation was immediate and I was escorted out of the facility. I did not accept the non-disclosure agreement and was immediately confronted by loss of my family health insurance.
To date, I have not been formally told what provoked this ruthless action, but have heard from supporters that a grievance was launched against me by an employee. Personnel policies instituted to protect both employees and employers were knowingly disregarded, eviscerating my right to answer any and all criticisms leveled against me. While I was unceremoniously removed after seventeen years of dedicated service, the complaining employee, Yanna Ok, was promoted to Interim Director.
My fundamental right to defend myself was violated. Free speech is not for one side of an argument to be selectively used to move someone’s agenda. For an organization that has always had free speech as its cornerstone, to internally suppress that ideal is extremely disturbing to me as it should be to you.
For forty-six years this small non-profit has stood for transparency and Free Speech- where are the organizational sign posts indicating those beliefs are being enacted? Its the community’s right to know what Amherst Media is doing in its name. I worked and fought for the stability and ongoing growth of the organization enough to assure a new building that would have broken ground this month. A building that was to be named in loving memory of Dr. Demetria Rougeaux Shabazz, the former Amherst Media Board President, and a beloved member of the Amherst and Western Mass communities.
It is now the responsibility of the Amherst Media membership, the town and people of Amherst, to look beyond the self-promoting empty words and window dressing of this “new direction”, and find out what is truly going on fiscally, programatically, and educationally at Amherst Media. Who does it now serve, and how exactly is that happening? What are the qualifications of the new leadership? What has happened to the new building that would have broken ground this month?
Lots of questions. I urge you, Amherst, do not accept silence, smiley faces and platitudes as the response. Amherst Media is part of U.S. history, and belongs to the people of Amherst and all who walk through it’s doors. Who will keep those doors open and how?
Jim Lescault was the Executive Director of Amherst Media for 17 years.
As a human in and out of his committed role at Amherst media, Jim Lescault has always been a champion of the values we collectively purport to hold dear – moral integrity, free speech, transparency, inclusion, fair access to all, etc. There are countless more who can attest to this. The “powers” at be responsible for this back handed and unceremonious ousting spit in the eye of those values as well as to what they meant not only for Jim and his immediate family but for the greater Amherst community as well. May the righting of this imbalance arrive swiftly and thoroughly.
Having been at the mercy of Boards of Directors at two small not for profit art centers where I served as Executive Director I cannot say I am surprised at this. In my opinion I think Jim may have done his job too well. His initiative in reducing the cost of the project may have unintentionally upset some board members Apple carts. The manner in which he was dismissed suggests it was in reaction to his good work. The vague nature of the “complaint” and the fact that there was no due process suggests an excuse for dismissal cooked up by board members. Serving at will may give Jim little recourse but I am glad he chose not to take the offer to not expose the injustice.Having been at the mercy of Boards of Directors at two small not for profit art centers where I served as Executive Director I cannot say I am surprised at this. In my opinion I think Jim may have done his job too well. His initiative in reducing the cost of the project may have unintentionally upset some board members Apple carts. The manner in which he was dismissed suggests it was in reaction to his good work. The vague nature of the “complaint” and the fact that there was no due process suggests an excuse for dismissal cooked up by board members. Serving at will may give Jim little recourse but I am glad he chose not to take the offer to not expose the injustice.
The impact of Jim’s work at Amherst Media has been felt beyond Amherst. Jim’s knowledge of the impact of media and its role to strengthen community has served as an example for emerging media leaders in search for models and mentorship. How his dismissal has been handled speaks volumes of the frightening direction in which such a community anchor is heading.
I have known Jim and Magdalena for nearly three decades and can speak to their character and commitment to uplifting the human condition through advocacy, education, connection, hard work and sacrifice. This is a travesty to remove a man with so much integrity and 17 years of investment in Amherst Media without just cause. I hope the community stands up tall and fierce to those board members who lack the moral compass to lead. Those hungry for power and leading with ego destroy everyone and everything they perceive to be standing in their way. The world needs more humble servants like Jim who are willing to stand up for the oppressed, the vulnerable and the voiceless. There will be justice. Even if it is karmic. At least Jim can stand tall and without fear when having to answer to a higher power who will judge him by his countless good deeds and character.
It is so troubling to read this knowing everything that Jim has given and done for this community the opportunities he has opened for so many countless people to tell their stories. Jim has always had an unshakable ethical foundation and commitment to social justice that goes well beyond the platitudes and “selfie activism” of today. The injustice done to him and this community by his removal, after all his years of hard work is just unconscionable
I know how hard Jim worked to create an environment where creativity, integrity and justice were nurtured. When Jim talked about projects and programming and initiatives that empowered people, particularly young people, his deep caring and dedication came shining through. How awful a handful of power hungry and petty people would arbitrarily cast aside Jim with no explanation.
It must not be coincidence that documentation for the meetings regarding his removal and replacement are not available on the website.
Fierce and righteous words. I hope the public will hold the new “leadership” to account. A travesty to oust someone who has done so much for the Amherst community so abruptly and without any fair process.
What happened to Amherst Media? Where is Jim? Jim’s accomplish are too numerous to name over the past 17 years!!! Jim devoted himself to serving the community including the black, Asian, Latinx members. The old and the young. The programming was so professional at times I wondered how this could be a local cable channel. Jim raised money through grants to supply families who needed but could not afford computers and he held family classes to teach those same people how to use them.
I remember programs where Jim taught young adults how to use technology and produce films that were posted on the channel. Jim understood the needs of people who had little income as well as those who were comfortable and extended his friendship and programs to meet their varied needs. Jim worked like a dog—spending extended hours with teens who he loved. Jim raised funds for the new permanent building that was supposed to break ground this fall. Those who let Jim go do not have the interests of the broad community at heart. What is wrong with them? He should be honored for his work. And by the way, the website looks awful now.
This is truly awful and very disheartening. Hope the board does what’s right and at the very least gives Jim and the larger Amherst Media community an explanation soon.
I am deeply aghast that the board decided to remove Jim Lescault from leadership at Amherst Media. A more passionate advocate for social justice and cultural democracy will be hard to find. Without his presence at Amherst Media, the fabric of so many projects will unravel. It is truly a travesty that he’s been let go. He brought loving care to his community and so many innovative initiatives – it’s hard to keep count of them over the decades. I hope that this loss will generate some action on the part of the community to hold Amherst Media accountable for their actions.
We were shocked to hear about this firing and appreciate Jim Lescault for all that he has brought to Amherst Media. For an organization to do this without explanation goes against the principles that Amherst Media stands for, as well as the values of the overall community.
Ten years ago, our independent film, “Cassanova was a Woman” had its first screening at the Springfield Film Festival. Secretly one of us was worried about the reception of our romantic comedy because it involved a same-sex couple’s discovery of love with all of its doubts and family reactions. Luckily in our corner were two wonderful friends and supporters, the brilliant artist, Magdalena Gomez and her fascinating husband, Jim Lescault. They afforded us an appearance on Magdalena’s show at Amherst Media which Jim headed. Magdalena’s interviewing was animated and deeply thought provoking, and Jim ran the event with calm precision and a keen understanding of the message of our film. What impressed us most was how Jim worked simultaneously as a leader and a team member. No showboating, no condescension, just calm, intelligent, precise management. Clearly he and his staff shared a mutual admiration and respect for each other. It’s one thing to be in support of a friend’s work at a dinner table, but to be provided a public platform such as Magdalena’s smoothly run talk show on Amherst Media under Jim Lescault’s management, now that’s a sterling start! It helped us to push forward, and our film went on to win several festival awards and distribution.
We remain in much gratitude.
Margo Singaliese and Jezabel Montero
Jim Lescault created something amazing at Amherst Media, even as he shepherded it through outside crises such as the loss of its long-time facility and the need to construct a nedw one. He made space for outsider viewpoints, championed social justice–and, of course, trained a whole generation in video skills.
He deserves far better treatment than this! For shame, Amherst Media!