Today April 29, 2022, marking Ron Cox’s last official day as Executive Director of Urban Media Arts, Ron offers a smile and a farewell message to the UMA community. With unplanned synchronicity, this evening Ron Cox will also be inducted into the Malden High School Hall of Fame with a presentation and a banquet, along with several other notable honorees. The Alumni Association is recognizing Ron, an MHS alum, for his contribution to community through media. Very good timing we think!

From Ron Cox

When I officially announced my retirement in October I never dreamed how fast the actual date of my final exit would arrive. But like the sands through the hourglass of time, so are the days of our lives and after 16 years, I will be completing my final working day with UMA, Urban Media Arts formerly known as MATV on Friday, April 29th.

It has been my honor and delight to have served not only this media center but the many individuals, students and groups I have come to know over the years. From my work with the young videographers from the KVA (Kids Video Adventure) workshop that I founded in 2006 to the hundreds of events, activities, parades, and concerts I have recorded, it has been a joy to have shared my production and teaching skills with all of you.

Day 4 of KVA and final Red Carpet Celebration, with screening and interviews with the participants.

It has been my privilege to have created the 12 years of Open House Showcase, that marathon production of community talent and cultural celebration (not to mention incredible food) that we produced each spring until COVID came into our lives and changed everything. That production was something I looked forward to each year and I miss it tremendously. I have always strived to bring excitement, adventure and engagement to our great city and that was one event that truly lived up to our expectations. I hope it comes back one day.

I will miss the many political forums I helped produce over the years that gave each candidate a chance to share their views and tell us who they were so the public could make thoughtful decisions on their choice in the ballot box. I have always believed that UMA/MATV was the conduit that let’s the voice of the people be heard and that’s what we did and that’s what we will continue to do.

It was over 30 years ago that we opened our doors in 1989 and I became one of the first Maldonians to walk in. I was full of excitement and in awe of the possibilities. I dived right in and before I knew it, I had started producing my own little show, “Live on Tape” and the rest is history. Last month we recorded our 228th production. The experience fulfilled one of my wildest dreams.

I am also grateful that I was part of the transition of MATV to UMA, Urban Media Arts. This transformation was vital for our media center to evolve with the times and prepare for the new reality before us. I am pleased with the outcome and I encourage everyone to get involved to be part of this new phase of our history.

It has been an incredible ride and I am thankful to everyone who has been a part of this wonderful experience. I’m grateful to the first board of directors that hired me and to the exceptional staff that I have served with since I began that summer in 2006. I especially want to thank Associate Director, Anne D’Urso Rose who has been my colleague, my editor, my sounding board and is my true friend for all these years. She was the one who first hired me to teach video for youth and I’ll always be indebted to her and the first ED, Rika Welsh for convincing me to change careers.

And of course, there is Terlonzo Amos, UMA’s Director of Operations. For over 25 years, he has been my tech teacher, confidant, and through his humor, the man who makes me laugh for the last almost three decades. I will always carry his smile, his friendship, his compassion for life with me always.

And finally, I want to thank the community of Malden, the people who I have come to know, the city workers, the community leaders, the everyday people who have walked in and joined us in this thing we call community media arts.

Thank you all and know, that I leave with a smile and many memories to carry me through the coming years of retirement for this isn’t the end of the road but just a turn in that road of life.

With love and gratefulness,

Ron Cox