Our 2020-2021 Board of Directors
Kathy Breen - Treasurer
In one part of Kathy's life, she is a SAGE 300 Certified Consultant at KJB & Associates, offering business management solutions in a variety of areas. Another is her passion and career as a Certified L3 Essentrics Instructor. Combined, Kathy is an all-round phenomenal force of a woman who is delighted to be a part of such dynamic feminist organization.
In one part of Kathy's life, she is a SAGE 300 Certified Consultant at KJB & Associates, offering business management solutions in a variety of areas. Another is her passion and career as a Certified L3 Essentrics Instructor. Combined, Kathy is an all-round phenomenal force of a woman who is delighted to be a part of such dynamic feminist organization.
Vanessa Cardoso-Whelan
Vanessa 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 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.
Margot Duley
Margot 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 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 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 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 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 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.
Gabrielle Martin - Vice-Chair
Gabrielle Martin is a Math and Science teacher at St. Bonaventure's College and also works as an Instructional Designer for the Arrupe Virtual Learning Institute. She is an active volunteer at The Gathering Place and while she has no theatre experience whatsoever, she is an unflinching feminist who seizes any opportunity to provoke thought and debate and bring awareness to issues facing women in our community and around the world. She lives in St. John's with her amazing husband, her two children, and her poodle. All of whom are very patient and (thankfully) tolerant of her rants on various subjects.
Gabrielle Martin is a Math and Science teacher at St. Bonaventure's College and also works as an Instructional Designer for the Arrupe Virtual Learning Institute. She is an active volunteer at The Gathering Place and while she has no theatre experience whatsoever, she is an unflinching feminist who seizes any opportunity to provoke thought and debate and bring awareness to issues facing women in our community and around the world. She lives in St. John's with her amazing husband, her two children, and her poodle. All of whom are very patient and (thankfully) tolerant of her rants on various subjects.
Trudy Morgan-Cole
Trudy Morgan-Cole is a writer and teacher who is passionate about telling women's stories and making her community a better place. She is the author of several novels focusing on women's experiences in Newfoundland history, including By the Rivers of Brooklyn, A Sudden Sun, and A Roll of the Bones, as well as forthcoming play about the life of Newfoundland feminist pioneer Armine Gosling. Trudy teaches English and Social Studies to adult learners at The Murphy Centre in St. John's. Being involved with the work of Persistence Theatre combines Trudy's love for feminist storytelling, community activism, and theatre. Learn more on her website.
Trudy Morgan-Cole is a writer and teacher who is passionate about telling women's stories and making her community a better place. She is the author of several novels focusing on women's experiences in Newfoundland history, including By the Rivers of Brooklyn, A Sudden Sun, and A Roll of the Bones, as well as forthcoming play about the life of Newfoundland feminist pioneer Armine Gosling. Trudy teaches English and Social Studies to adult learners at The Murphy Centre in St. John's. Being involved with the work of Persistence Theatre combines Trudy's love for feminist storytelling, community activism, and theatre. Learn more on her website.
Melanie Racette-Campbell
Melanie Racette-Campbell is a professor in the MUN Classics department where she teaches and researches about Latin literature, gender and sexuality, and pop culture receptions of the ancient Mediterranean world. Originally from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, she arrived in Newfoundland via Toronto and Montreal. She loves adventuring through Newfoundland’s amazing natural beauty, talking and thinking about pop culture, and her sweet pug Chubs. She is excited to contribute to making the world a more fabulous and feminist place!
Melanie Racette-Campbell is a professor in the MUN Classics department where she teaches and researches about Latin literature, gender and sexuality, and pop culture receptions of the ancient Mediterranean world. Originally from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, she arrived in Newfoundland via Toronto and Montreal. She loves adventuring through Newfoundland’s amazing natural beauty, talking and thinking about pop culture, and her sweet pug Chubs. She is excited to contribute to making the world a more fabulous and feminist place!
Lori Savory
Lori Savory is a lawyer who has been practicing family law with the Legal Aid Commission for most of her 29 years of practice. She is a fierce advocate for social justice, in particular for women who are disadvantaged within our current societal structures. During her years at Dalhousie Law School, she was the Ombud for Dalhousie University and a member of Women and the Law. She has presented at the National Family Law Conference and is an instructor for the Bar Admission Course of the Newfoundland and Labrador Law Society, as well as a member of the Law Society's Equity and Diversity Committee. She has been a bellydance student, performer and teacher since 2004, was the artistic director of the Neighbourhood Strays, co-founder of the Obsidian Dance Collective and co-owner and operator of Wild Lily Dance Centre. She has served on the boards of WANL, the Writer's Guild, Easter Seals and is currently also a member of the YWCA Board of Directors. In her down-time, she enjoys writing, painting, needle felting, rug hooking, knitting ,playing guitar and travel. She is a proud human and dog mom.
Lori Savory is a lawyer who has been practicing family law with the Legal Aid Commission for most of her 29 years of practice. She is a fierce advocate for social justice, in particular for women who are disadvantaged within our current societal structures. During her years at Dalhousie Law School, she was the Ombud for Dalhousie University and a member of Women and the Law. She has presented at the National Family Law Conference and is an instructor for the Bar Admission Course of the Newfoundland and Labrador Law Society, as well as a member of the Law Society's Equity and Diversity Committee. She has been a bellydance student, performer and teacher since 2004, was the artistic director of the Neighbourhood Strays, co-founder of the Obsidian Dance Collective and co-owner and operator of Wild Lily Dance Centre. She has served on the boards of WANL, the Writer's Guild, Easter Seals and is currently also a member of the YWCA Board of Directors. In her down-time, she enjoys writing, painting, needle felting, rug hooking, knitting ,playing guitar and travel. She is a proud human and dog mom.
Kim Todd - Secretary
Jacinthe Tremblay
Jacinthe Tremblay has been visiting Newfoundland for over 30 years and has lived here for the last decade. From 2013 until recently, she was the executive director and editor of Le Gaboteur, the Newfoundland and Labrador francophone newspaper. Before taking root in St. John’s, she collaborated with several Montreal theatre institutions and cultural organizations. It was in feminist groups that she made her classes as an activist in the 1970s.
Jacinthe Tremblay has been visiting Newfoundland for over 30 years and has lived here for the last decade. From 2013 until recently, she was the executive director and editor of Le Gaboteur, the Newfoundland and Labrador francophone newspaper. Before taking root in St. John’s, she collaborated with several Montreal theatre institutions and cultural organizations. It was in feminist groups that she made her classes as an activist in the 1970s.
Cara Winsor-Hehir
Cara Winsor Hehir is a loud-mouthed feminightmare. She works as a visual and performance artist – performing stand up and musical comedy as Swervy Garland - with a focus on intersectional feminism. Her album, Great Big Ditties, was released in December 2018. While Cara loves being on a stage, she became a PerSISter to be a quieter supporter of womxn in the arts, and to be part of a strong, smart, forward moving, feminist organization.
Cara Winsor Hehir is a loud-mouthed feminightmare. She works as a visual and performance artist – performing stand up and musical comedy as Swervy Garland - with a focus on intersectional feminism. Her album, Great Big Ditties, was released in December 2018. While Cara loves being on a stage, she became a PerSISter to be a quieter supporter of womxn in the arts, and to be part of a strong, smart, forward moving, feminist organization.
Jocelyn Young
Jocelyn Young 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 logistics and distribution, and has been a right-hand-woman with The Telegram for many years. 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 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 logistics and distribution, and has been a right-hand-woman with The Telegram for many years. 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.
