By Darcy Brown-Martin

Journalist Belva Davis made history in 1966 as the first black female TV news reporter on the West Coast.

But more recently she’s been playing a new role as board president of San Francisco’s Museum of the African Diaspora. The 20,000-square-foot museum, which opened in December, fills the first three floors of the new St. Regis Hotel in the city’s growing arts district south of Market. Information: (415) 358-7200, www.moadsf.org.

Q What’s a diaspora?
A The scattering of people far from their ancestral home.

Q Why memorialize the African diaspora?
A All humanity originated in Africa. Regardless of race, religion, or other differences, we are connected through our DNA.

Q What will we see first?
A A three-story-high mosaic portrait of a little African girl, composed of some 2,100 photos from around the world. We’ve also collected the life stories of many of the people pictured.

Q And elsewhere in the museum?
A We have a theater showing videos on heroes in different ethnic groups, a culinary center exploring African cooking traditions as adapted by other cultures, and a gallery with stories of individuals who escaped slavery.

Q Who will these touch?
A I hope all people will receive an affirmation that they fit in with their worldwide family—especially young African Americans. Here they can feel included.