Our 2021-2022 Board of Directors
Vanessa Cardoso-Whelan
Vanessa (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist, street performer and clown hailing from Brazil, with a passion for contemporary theatre and body movement awareness, especially related to Flamenco dancing. Graduating in Theatre Arts in 2004, she has performed with several artistic groups onstage and in street productions, as an actress, Flamenco dancer, puppeteer and fire flow dancer. Backstage activities include production assistant and stage manager . She also has given theatre and dance instruction to adults and kids. Vanessa has been actively engaged in the local arts scene since moving to NL in 2014, performing in theatre productions, dancing Flamenco, clowning, doing her Living Statue, participating in diverse artistic workshops and festivals. Vanessa likes to give her art back to the community, by doing volunteer performances for new Canadians/refugees and other Institutions.
Vanessa (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist, street performer and clown hailing from Brazil, with a passion for contemporary theatre and body movement awareness, especially related to Flamenco dancing. Graduating in Theatre Arts in 2004, she has performed with several artistic groups onstage and in street productions, as an actress, Flamenco dancer, puppeteer and fire flow dancer. Backstage activities include production assistant and stage manager . She also has given theatre and dance instruction to adults and kids. Vanessa has been actively engaged in the local arts scene since moving to NL in 2014, performing in theatre productions, dancing Flamenco, clowning, doing her Living Statue, participating in diverse artistic workshops and festivals. Vanessa likes to give her art back to the community, by doing volunteer performances for new Canadians/refugees and other Institutions.
Giovanna Del Negro
Giovanna (she/her) is a writer and scholar interested in the politics and aesthetics of performance. Her research has examined how issues of gender, ethnicity, class, whiteness, and queerness play out in women’s expressive culture, from personal experience narratives, to stand-up comedy, drag cabaret, YouTube videos and beyond. Her books include Looking through My Mother’s Eyes: Life Stories of Nine Italian Immigrant Women in Canada; Identity and Everyday Life; and The Passeggiata and Popular Culture in an Italian Town: Folklore and Performance of Modernity. In addition to her academic work, she has hosted French-language radio shows, worked with the non-profit feminist association Centro Donne, acted in theatrical productions at the Actor’s Studio in Montreal, and organized cultural festivals. She teaches in the Department of Gender Studies at Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Giovanna (she/her) is a writer and scholar interested in the politics and aesthetics of performance. Her research has examined how issues of gender, ethnicity, class, whiteness, and queerness play out in women’s expressive culture, from personal experience narratives, to stand-up comedy, drag cabaret, YouTube videos and beyond. Her books include Looking through My Mother’s Eyes: Life Stories of Nine Italian Immigrant Women in Canada; Identity and Everyday Life; and The Passeggiata and Popular Culture in an Italian Town: Folklore and Performance of Modernity. In addition to her academic work, she has hosted French-language radio shows, worked with the non-profit feminist association Centro Donne, acted in theatrical productions at the Actor’s Studio in Montreal, and organized cultural festivals. She teaches in the Department of Gender Studies at Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Margot Duley - Vice Chair
Margot (she/her) had an unstellar childhood career in three performing arts. Her tap dance appearance as Bo Peep ended ignominiously when a fellow performer shoved her; in a drama production she forgot a crucial line; and at a music festival performance she and her piano duet partner hooked pinkies and, giggling uncontrollably, could not continue. Nevertheless, she Persisted and is on the Board where she is kept out of trouble but draws upon many years of experience as a university dean of arts and sciences, a feminist scholar, and an activist. She is the author of the Cross-Cultural Study of Women; and Where Once Our Mothers Stood We Stand: Women's Suffrage in Newfoundland, 1890-1925.
Margot (she/her) had an unstellar childhood career in three performing arts. Her tap dance appearance as Bo Peep ended ignominiously when a fellow performer shoved her; in a drama production she forgot a crucial line; and at a music festival performance she and her piano duet partner hooked pinkies and, giggling uncontrollably, could not continue. Nevertheless, she Persisted and is on the Board where she is kept out of trouble but draws upon many years of experience as a university dean of arts and sciences, a feminist scholar, and an activist. She is the author of the Cross-Cultural Study of Women; and Where Once Our Mothers Stood We Stand: Women's Suffrage in Newfoundland, 1890-1925.
Sylina Jones - Chair
Sylina (she/her) is happiest when being creative and helping others. As a lawyer, she is privileged to enjoy a fast-paced career in social justice at Legal Aid NL where she routinely sees the toxic effects of patriarchal standards and systemic bias on people through the lens of criminal law, family law, and child protection. Outside of work, Sylina enjoys spending time with her child, dog, husband, and two moms, and recently completed her yoga teacher training. She has been an actor, stage manager, PA, and festival manager with various local film and theatre productions, and often explores gender and socioeconomic dynamics in her song-writing as frontwoman for the band The Why and The Wherefore. Sylina is thankful to be a part of a group of women interested in creative activism who share her belief in sharing stories, and making space for those who have not been afforded the same opportunities to do so.
Sylina (she/her) is happiest when being creative and helping others. As a lawyer, she is privileged to enjoy a fast-paced career in social justice at Legal Aid NL where she routinely sees the toxic effects of patriarchal standards and systemic bias on people through the lens of criminal law, family law, and child protection. Outside of work, Sylina enjoys spending time with her child, dog, husband, and two moms, and recently completed her yoga teacher training. She has been an actor, stage manager, PA, and festival manager with various local film and theatre productions, and often explores gender and socioeconomic dynamics in her song-writing as frontwoman for the band The Why and The Wherefore. Sylina is thankful to be a part of a group of women interested in creative activism who share her belief in sharing stories, and making space for those who have not been afforded the same opportunities to do so.
Susan Kelsey - Treasurer
Susan (she/her) is a multidisciplinary performing artist and a St. John’s native. She has been involved in theatre for over two decades, primarily as an actor but also as a writer, director, producer, and costumer. Most recently she has been working in television on the shows Maroni, Hudson & Rex, and The Surrealtor. In addition, she works as a freelancer in communications, public relations, and event coordination. As well, she is a fashion and arts writer for The Racket and started the column Sin Jawns Style, which profiles fashionable locals. She also spends her time volunteering with several organizations including V-Day St. John’s, The St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival, and the LSPU Hall.
Susan (she/her) is a multidisciplinary performing artist and a St. John’s native. She has been involved in theatre for over two decades, primarily as an actor but also as a writer, director, producer, and costumer. Most recently she has been working in television on the shows Maroni, Hudson & Rex, and The Surrealtor. In addition, she works as a freelancer in communications, public relations, and event coordination. As well, she is a fashion and arts writer for The Racket and started the column Sin Jawns Style, which profiles fashionable locals. She also spends her time volunteering with several organizations including V-Day St. John’s, The St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival, and the LSPU Hall.
Lauren Flynn
Lauren Flynn (she/her) is a Manager at Intact Insurance in St. John's, and loves spending time with her cat Russell. She volunteers on the boards of Pride at Work Canada, and Kittiwake Dance Theatre in Newfoundland. Lauren is passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion and is very excited to join the board of PerSIStence Theatre Company.
Lauren Flynn (she/her) is a Manager at Intact Insurance in St. John's, and loves spending time with her cat Russell. She volunteers on the boards of Pride at Work Canada, and Kittiwake Dance Theatre in Newfoundland. Lauren is passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion and is very excited to join the board of PerSIStence Theatre Company.
Caroline Nicholson
Caroline (she/her) is the Office Manager for a commercial fishing enterprise, a position she has held for many years. She also volunteers with the Newfoundland and Labrador Shooting Association. Caroline has extensive non-profit board experience and is looking forward to working with PerSIStence Theatre. As a lifelong theatre lover, she is excited to be involved with a theatre company in this way since you will never see her on stage! Caroline has lived all over Canada but having spent more than half her life in Newfoundland is once again very happy to call St. John’s home.
Caroline (she/her) is the Office Manager for a commercial fishing enterprise, a position she has held for many years. She also volunteers with the Newfoundland and Labrador Shooting Association. Caroline has extensive non-profit board experience and is looking forward to working with PerSIStence Theatre. As a lifelong theatre lover, she is excited to be involved with a theatre company in this way since you will never see her on stage! Caroline has lived all over Canada but having spent more than half her life in Newfoundland is once again very happy to call St. John’s home.
Hanna North
Hanna (she/her) is a writer, devoted dog mom and proud queer. She works as a gender and social inclusion consultant for international agricultural organizations, as a freelance proofreader and editor, and as Communications Officer for the Resilient Food Systems programme. Hanna is currently studying a Master of Applied Research in Gender, Feminist and Citizenship Studies through Universitat Jaume in Spain, and holds an MSc in Environmental Forestry from Bangor University in Wales. She is passionate about storytelling, advocacy and collective action.
Hanna (she/her) is a writer, devoted dog mom and proud queer. She works as a gender and social inclusion consultant for international agricultural organizations, as a freelance proofreader and editor, and as Communications Officer for the Resilient Food Systems programme. Hanna is currently studying a Master of Applied Research in Gender, Feminist and Citizenship Studies through Universitat Jaume in Spain, and holds an MSc in Environmental Forestry from Bangor University in Wales. She is passionate about storytelling, advocacy and collective action.
Christine Taylor
With three decades of professional work history as a writer, comedic performer and filmmaker, Christine Taylor Fearing (she/her they/them) is a feminist thinker who has written and performed on stages the world over and for film and television in Canada, the United States and Australia. Based in Vancouver, Christine has has recently completed her Master of Arts in women’s studies at Mount Saint Vincent University and is specializing in the history of butch lesbians. Christine has a long time connection to the Newfoundland and Labrador feminist performance community, and brings an emic perspective on how the gift and dis/ability of neurodiversity can foster public outreach and intersect with the neurotypical world.
With three decades of professional work history as a writer, comedic performer and filmmaker, Christine Taylor Fearing (she/her they/them) is a feminist thinker who has written and performed on stages the world over and for film and television in Canada, the United States and Australia. Based in Vancouver, Christine has has recently completed her Master of Arts in women’s studies at Mount Saint Vincent University and is specializing in the history of butch lesbians. Christine has a long time connection to the Newfoundland and Labrador feminist performance community, and brings an emic perspective on how the gift and dis/ability of neurodiversity can foster public outreach and intersect with the neurotypical world.
Kim Todd - Secretary
Kim Todd (she/her) is founder of Guide to the Good, a social enterprise striving for provincial sustainability through building brand and market share for local, social and green companies. A communicator by trade, Kim believes in inspired thinking, community collaboration, and practical action and is excited to work with Persistence toward making positive change for women and everyone.
Kim Todd (she/her) is founder of Guide to the Good, a social enterprise striving for provincial sustainability through building brand and market share for local, social and green companies. A communicator by trade, Kim believes in inspired thinking, community collaboration, and practical action and is excited to work with Persistence toward making positive change for women and everyone.
Jocelyn Young
Jocelyn Young (she/her) is an advocate for the women and human rights, particularly in the areas of pro-choice, education, political and judicial matters in Newfoundland and Labrador. A Twillingate-native, Jocelyn works in elder care.. Her experience as a mother to four children reinforces her strength as a “get-it-done” go-getter and straight-talker on the PerSIStence board of directors.
Jocelyn Young (she/her) is an advocate for the women and human rights, particularly in the areas of pro-choice, education, political and judicial matters in Newfoundland and Labrador. A Twillingate-native, Jocelyn works in elder care.. Her experience as a mother to four children reinforces her strength as a “get-it-done” go-getter and straight-talker on the PerSIStence board of directors.
