Meet the Board!

I'Jaz Ja'ciel, President

I'Jaz Ja'ciel is an investigative reporter and a Buffalo native. Ja'ciel has worked at a number of prestigious local news organizations, including Buffalo's NPR station, 88.7 WBFO FM, Spectrum News 1 Buffalo, and currently at Investigative Post, where she serves as head of Urban Affairs and the publication's first-ever African-American reporter. Ja'ciel has received a number of recognitions for her work and community contributions, including the Changemakers 30 Under 30 Award, an Edward R. Murrow Award, and the Rising Star award at the InfoTech BETAs. A graduate of Buffalo State University, Ja'ciel earned a Bachelors of Arts in Journalism and Masters of Science in Data Science and Analytics.

Adriana "Adri V." Viverette, Vice President

Adriana "ADRI.V" Viverette is a dynamic multimedia journalist, syndicated on-air personality, podcaster, adjunct professor, and marketing professional with a fervent passion for marketing, music, education, and community. Hailing from Buffalo, NY, Adriana is a proud alumna of McKinley High School. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a minor in Media

Studies, along with certifications in Journalism, Advertising/Public Relations, and Project Management from the University at Buffalo. Additionally, she earned an MBA with a concentration in Marketing from Medaille University, a certification in Music Essentials from

NYU Tisch School of the Arts' Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, and a certificate from the Bank of America Institute for Women's Entrepreneurship at Cornell.

In her professional career, Adriana excels in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. She is the Digital Communications Manager for the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, an on-air journalist for Townsquare Media, owner of the podcaster “The G Code” on REVOLT Podcast Network, an adjunct professor teaching communication and marketing, and an entrepreneur owning Adriana & Associates Communication, a boutique marketing and communications firm. Adriana is also deeply involved in her community, serving on several nonprofit boards, a part of different organizations and being an active member of the National Association of Black Journalists'

Buffalo Chapter and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Gamma Phi Omega Chapter. She is the proud daughter of the late Crystal Viverette and the sister of Krystiana Clement.

Al Vaughters, Vice President of Broadcast and Founding Member of the BABJ

Al Vaughters is BABJ's Vice President of Broadcast. Al retired as WIVB's "Call 4 Action" reporter, wrapping up a broadcasting career that spanned more than 45 years, starting in Indianapolis, Indiana, at WTLC-FM as a reporter, anchor, and assistant news director. He covered local and state government for a radio news department that won several local and regional awards for excellence in journalism.

Shantee Perkins, Secretary and Treasurer

Shantee Perkins born and raised in Buffalo New York. She is currently employed with Global Technology Distributor Ingram Micro for 25 years.

Shantee directed, produced, and hosted her talk show, The DJ Starr Show. The mission of the show is to showcase local unsung heroes who bring inspiration and positive messages to the WNY community. Perkins is the creator and Executive Producer of Real Teens Reel Talk Show. The mission is to create a platform for young people 13-19 years of age to openly discuss key issues that affect them and the lives of their peers.

Perkins graduated Magna Cum Laude from Bryant and Stratton College with an Associate Degree in Business Administration. She received a bachelor’s degree in business communications from Buffalo State College.

Shantee was showcased in M &T Bank’s Black history month calendar for upcoming African American Entrepreneurs. Shantee received awards for Stop the Violence Coalition Community Service Youth Award in 2012, Help Stop Bullying Sponsor Appreciation award in 2017 and Women of the Roses Award in 2018.

Rod Watson, Board Member and Founding Member of the BABJ

Rod Watson recently retired as a weekly columnist for The Buffalo News, a role he began in 1992. Writing most often about socioeconomic and political issues affecting minorities and/or the poor, he often used humor or a tongue-in-cheek approach to turn stereotypes upside down. The goal was to puncture ingrained mindsets pertaining to race and class in a city often described as among the most segregated in the country and in which the impoverished often seem to be voiceless.

In addition to writing a weekly column, Watson was urban affairs editor since 2000. Prior to that, he spent 12 years as a member of The News’ editorial board. In that post, he helped formulate Buffalo News editorial policy and wrote editorials on everything from the federal budget and health care to school funding and the need for election reform. He won industry and community awards for his editorials and columns.

Before joining the editorial board in 1988, Watson spent time as both a city government and county government reporter for The News. He began his career in 1979 at The Saginaw News in Saginaw, Mi., and came to The Buffalo News in 1983.

Watson earned a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Michigan in 1978 and a bachelor’s degree from the same university in 1976. He is a native of Detroit.