(Christiansted, St. Croix, USVI – January 25, 2024) – The Virgin Islands Architecture Center for Built Heritage and Crafts, known as VIAC has hired an Operations and Finance Manager and Administrative Assistant and has added a new board member.  VIAC is the community development organization which is converting the Old Barracks Property on Hospital Street, Christiansted into an historic preservation education center for the architectural and building arts of the Virgin Islands and Caribbean.

VIAC welcomes Amanda Sackey as the new Operations and Finance Manager. Amanda will lead the non-profit’s efforts to begin the rehabilitation of Building 2 of the Barracks Property complex and the establishment of its pilot programs and college internships in historic preservation and building arts. Amanda, who grew up in LaGrange, Frederiksted, St. Croix is a 20-year STEAM educator, agroecologist, social justice, and environmental activist. She is a graduate of the Good Hope School and has worked as an environmental specialist at DPNR and a performing arts educator at the Good Hope School.  Amanda has returned home to work in her beloved St. Croix community after working for 10 years as a science and performing arts educator at Rye Country Day School in Rye, New York.

VIAC welcomes LaToya Willis as the new Administrative Assistant.  LaToya will provide administrative support to the Board of Directors, Advisory Council and the Operations and Finance Manager in tasks related to the development of VIAC’s historic rehabilitation and educational pipeline programs.  A graduate of the St. Croix Educational Complex, LaToya has experience as a Human Resource Executive Assistant at Cruzan Rum, a Program Coordinator at The Village and an Office Manager at the Behavioral Health Network in Springfield Massachusetts.  Amanda and LaToya join Monique Clendinen Watson who works as the VIAC grant writer and public relations specialist as operational staff.  Their hiring was funded through a Department of Interior Office of Insular Affairs Technical Assistance Grant for Capacity Building.

VIAC welcomes financial and business development consultant Jed JohnHope to its Board of Directors. Jed will bring his expertise in engineering, business development and finance to the Board of Directors as they advance the $14 million rehabilitation of the Old Barracks Property and the creation of the historic preservation, architectural and building crafts center. Jed joins the VIAC Board which consists of  Chair – Mary Dema, businesswoman and community activist; Vice-Chair Donna Christensen – doctor and former Congresswoman from the Virgin Islands; Secretary – Jerri Farrante, businesswoman; Treasurer, Christiana Williams, banker; and Members Bo Manderup-Jensen, leader in Parliament and NGOs in Denmark; Chenzira Kahina, cultural community activist; Robert Schuster, retired STEM educator and inventor; and Lee Rohn, attorney, and community activist. VIAC is supported by an advisory council of local, national, and international members.

“This year is pivotal for VIAC as we secure our long-term lease from the Virgin Islands government, begin rehabilitation of the Old Barracks and begin our pilot programs and internships in historic preservation and the building arts,” said Board Chair Mary Dema. “We believe that Amanda, LaToya and Jed will bring great energy to our team as we continue on the path to make the Virgin Islands Architecture for Built Heritage and Crafts a reality.  For more information visit our website at www.viacstx.com.  Contact us at info@viacstx.com.