Women & Immigration
Tuesday August 3rd - 7pm
Doors open 6:30pm at the
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 56 Pleasantville, 66 The Boulevard
Free in-person admission by pre-registration
Also streaming via Facebook Live
In homage to the original Ladies' Reading Room that was founded as a haven for women's opinions, the Ladies' Reading Room evenings will be held on the first Tuesday of each month from April-November 2021.
Each month features a theme that was relevant to the struggle for women's rights in both 1921 and 2021. For our August evening, the theme is Women & Immigration.
The event will happen live and free of admission charge for registered guests, who may register to attend on a first-come, first served basis. Parking is also free. Doors will open at 6:30pm, with the event getting underway at 7pm.
The evening begins in 1921 with a new short play inspired by the evening's theme: PRATHIDHVANI is written by Prajwala Dixit, directed by Ananya Antony, and performed by Vasantha Adluri as Laali's voice and Divya Murali Krishnan as dancer Laali. Collaborative sound design by Lacy O'Connell and Ana Luísa Ramos.
We conclude in 2021 with a live panel discussion on the evening's theme, moderated by Dr. Sonja Boon, Professor of Gender Studies, Memorial University of Newfoundland. Guest speakers include:
- Dr. Smita Joshi, Human Rights Commissioner of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Mimi Sheriff, owner and operator of Gursha Ethiopian Catering, St John's
- Veselina Tomova, visual artist
Chai Tea will served in both period-appropriate and environmentally-sustainable china cups to all.
Important COVID-19 Info:
These events are run in strict adherence to public health guidelines and regulations. The venue is large and well-ventilated. Masks may only be removed while seated - as per current guidelines, attendees will be seated in groups of 4-5 per table - please keep this in mind when deciding to register.
Accessibility:
For those with mobility impairment, this second floor venue is accessible via an exterior ramp up to the side entrance of the Legion Ballroom, which is located on the second floor. Please connect with us at [email protected] or 709-743-7287 to advise if you would like to utilize the ramp and/or if you require any assistance.
Votes for Women 100:
In 2021, Votes for Women 100 commemorates and reflects upon 100 years since women in St. John’s first achieved the right to vote in municipal elections. In doing so, they became the first women in Newfoundland and Labrador to achieve this right. Learn more here: www.votesforwomen100.ca
The Play
Playwright - Prajwala Dixit
Prajwala Dixit, a journalist/columnist, playwright, documentary filmmaker and author is an award-winning community catalyst. With bylines in CBC, SaltWire Network and the Globe and Mail, she's had creative pieces featured in respected publications such as the Newfoundland Quarterly. Her annual fundraiser, Diyas for Diversity, highlights diversity within the public libraries of Newfoundland and Labrador. A mother, wife, and daughter, she makes sure to catch up on Hindi cinema when she has a free minute!
Prajwala Dixit, a journalist/columnist, playwright, documentary filmmaker and author is an award-winning community catalyst. With bylines in CBC, SaltWire Network and the Globe and Mail, she's had creative pieces featured in respected publications such as the Newfoundland Quarterly. Her annual fundraiser, Diyas for Diversity, highlights diversity within the public libraries of Newfoundland and Labrador. A mother, wife, and daughter, she makes sure to catch up on Hindi cinema when she has a free minute!
Director - Ananya Antony
Ananya Antony is an Indo-Canadian actor/creator, who is currently completing her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting at the University of Ottawa. She has been a part of many amazing St. John’s based productions. Some of her most recent roles include Julia in a stage adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984, Gower in William Shakespeare’s Pericles: Prince Of Tyre, and of course, Mima in Prajwala Dixit’s Tales of Dwipa. She is so excited to take on her first directorial role in Pratidhvani, and is so thankful for the support from the amazing cast and crew!
Ananya Antony is an Indo-Canadian actor/creator, who is currently completing her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting at the University of Ottawa. She has been a part of many amazing St. John’s based productions. Some of her most recent roles include Julia in a stage adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984, Gower in William Shakespeare’s Pericles: Prince Of Tyre, and of course, Mima in Prajwala Dixit’s Tales of Dwipa. She is so excited to take on her first directorial role in Pratidhvani, and is so thankful for the support from the amazing cast and crew!
Dancer Laali - Divya Murali Krishnan
Divya Murali Krishnan is an ambitious student at MUN, currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in computer engineering. Apart from her education, she spends a lot of time on her extracurricular activities. She been practicing Bharatnatyam, a form of Indian Classical Dance for the past 14 years, under the tutelage of Smt. Lakshmi Viswanath. She also provides dance lessons in the city. She enjoys playing tennis and soccer. Additionally, she is the founder and president of MUN Orators Forum, a student society at MUN. During her free time, she enjoys going on long drives, hiking and camping.
Divya Murali Krishnan is an ambitious student at MUN, currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in computer engineering. Apart from her education, she spends a lot of time on her extracurricular activities. She been practicing Bharatnatyam, a form of Indian Classical Dance for the past 14 years, under the tutelage of Smt. Lakshmi Viswanath. She also provides dance lessons in the city. She enjoys playing tennis and soccer. Additionally, she is the founder and president of MUN Orators Forum, a student society at MUN. During her free time, she enjoys going on long drives, hiking and camping.
Voice of Laali - Vasantha Adluri
Vasantha Adluri is an educator, a wife and a mother who has made St. John's her home for the past 25+ years. She spends her free time volunteering at the local non-profit organizations.
Vasantha Adluri is an educator, a wife and a mother who has made St. John's her home for the past 25+ years. She spends her free time volunteering at the local non-profit organizations.
Sound Design - Lacy O'Connell
Lacy O'Connell is a former radio journalist who loves all things sound and story-related. Her first documentary, Sailor on the Hill, screened at the St. John's International Women's Film Festival in 2018. When she isn't coming up with ideas for podcasts and short stories, she's teaching English as a second language and working as a writing tutor. Lacy spends her free time reading crime novels and watching horror movies with her husband and her cat, Emmylou.
Lacy O'Connell is a former radio journalist who loves all things sound and story-related. Her first documentary, Sailor on the Hill, screened at the St. John's International Women's Film Festival in 2018. When she isn't coming up with ideas for podcasts and short stories, she's teaching English as a second language and working as a writing tutor. Lacy spends her free time reading crime novels and watching horror movies with her husband and her cat, Emmylou.
Sound Design - Ana Luísa Ramos
Ana Luísa Ramos is a singer-songwriter, vocal coach, and performer. Based in St. John's, NL, since 2019, and born in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, Ana for the last two decades has been working in the classical and popular fields and has performed in Europe, South, Central, and North America. She holds a Licentiate in Music Education and has studied singing in Brazil, Argentina, Austria, and Canada. Throughout her career, Ana has recorded over 15 albums for different projects. In 2016 Ana released her first solo album, entitled "Um".
Over the last few years, Ana has been focusing on her solo career and her duo with Eric Taylor Escudero, Ana & Eric, which released their debut self-titled EP through NL label Citadel House in November 2020.
Recently, Ana has also signed with Citadel House as a solo artist and has a new solo album to be released in the Fall of 2021.
Ana Luísa Ramos is a singer-songwriter, vocal coach, and performer. Based in St. John's, NL, since 2019, and born in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, Ana for the last two decades has been working in the classical and popular fields and has performed in Europe, South, Central, and North America. She holds a Licentiate in Music Education and has studied singing in Brazil, Argentina, Austria, and Canada. Throughout her career, Ana has recorded over 15 albums for different projects. In 2016 Ana released her first solo album, entitled "Um".
Over the last few years, Ana has been focusing on her solo career and her duo with Eric Taylor Escudero, Ana & Eric, which released their debut self-titled EP through NL label Citadel House in November 2020.
Recently, Ana has also signed with Citadel House as a solo artist and has a new solo album to be released in the Fall of 2021.
The Panel
Moderator - Dr Sonja Boon
Sonja Boon is Professor of Gender Studies at Memorial University. She has published on a variety of topics, from considerations of gender, embodied identity, and citizenship in eighteenth-century medical letters, to breastfeeding selfies and virtual activism, autobiographies of infanticide, auto/ethnography and the embodiment of maternal grief, and craftivism in the feminist classroom. Her literary work appears in ROOM magazine, The Ethnic Aisle, and Geist, as well as in anthologies.
Sonja was principal flutist with the Portland Baroque Orchestra (Oregon, USA) for six years, and she has also appeared as a soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician with the Toronto Symphony, Hallé Orchestra, and the Holland Festival of Early Music, among others. In 2020, she was awarded the Ursula Franklin Award in Gender Studies.
Sonja Boon is Professor of Gender Studies at Memorial University. She has published on a variety of topics, from considerations of gender, embodied identity, and citizenship in eighteenth-century medical letters, to breastfeeding selfies and virtual activism, autobiographies of infanticide, auto/ethnography and the embodiment of maternal grief, and craftivism in the feminist classroom. Her literary work appears in ROOM magazine, The Ethnic Aisle, and Geist, as well as in anthologies.
Sonja was principal flutist with the Portland Baroque Orchestra (Oregon, USA) for six years, and she has also appeared as a soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician with the Toronto Symphony, Hallé Orchestra, and the Holland Festival of Early Music, among others. In 2020, she was awarded the Ursula Franklin Award in Gender Studies.
Panelist - Dr Smita Joshi
Dr. Smita Joshi, a Newfoundlander by choice, is a graduate of, Memorial University of Newfoundland and holds a Doctoral of Education from the University of Toronto.
Smita has worked for the provincial government of Newfoundland and Labrador for over 36 years and has held various leadership positions with the Department of Education and the provincial Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism. Nationally, and provincially, Dr. Joshi is known for her contributions to Social Studies, Human Rights Education, Enterprise Education and Multicultural Education.
In 2007, she was appointed as the Director of Multiculturalism of the newly established Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism. Smita was responsible for the development and implementation of the provincial policy on multiculturalism.
Dr. Joshi believes in partnerships and has served on several other provincial and national committees including the Conference Board of Canada’s Leaders table on Immigration. She was the co-chair of the Federal-Provincial-Territorial network of Officials Responsible for Multicultural Issues and the first president of the Women's Multicultural Organization.
Currently, she is enjoying her work as a Human Rights Commissioner for Newfoundland and Labrador, and serves on several Immigration partnerships committees with the City of St. John's and with local community organizations such as the Association for New Canadians.
Dr. Smita Joshi, a Newfoundlander by choice, is a graduate of, Memorial University of Newfoundland and holds a Doctoral of Education from the University of Toronto.
Smita has worked for the provincial government of Newfoundland and Labrador for over 36 years and has held various leadership positions with the Department of Education and the provincial Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism. Nationally, and provincially, Dr. Joshi is known for her contributions to Social Studies, Human Rights Education, Enterprise Education and Multicultural Education.
In 2007, she was appointed as the Director of Multiculturalism of the newly established Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism. Smita was responsible for the development and implementation of the provincial policy on multiculturalism.
Dr. Joshi believes in partnerships and has served on several other provincial and national committees including the Conference Board of Canada’s Leaders table on Immigration. She was the co-chair of the Federal-Provincial-Territorial network of Officials Responsible for Multicultural Issues and the first president of the Women's Multicultural Organization.
Currently, she is enjoying her work as a Human Rights Commissioner for Newfoundland and Labrador, and serves on several Immigration partnerships committees with the City of St. John's and with local community organizations such as the Association for New Canadians.
Panelist - Mimi Sheriff
Mimi lives between worlds and calls Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and St. John’s home. She began her career working with international non-profit organizations before joining the St. John’s tech. industry with Bluedrop Learning Networks (BLN). Certified as a Sustainability Associate Mimi is an advocate of socially responsible business operations and leads these community projects at Bluedrop.
With a passion for diverse foods, she is the owner of Gursha, the first caterer of authentic Ethiopian food in Newfoundland.
Mimi sits on the Board of Directors for the St. John’s Farmers Market and Genesis. Mimi has a Bachelor’s degree in Gender Studies and a Bachelors of Law (LL.B) from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. She has a Master’s in Gender Studies from Memorial University and a Graduate Diploma in Social Responsibility and Sustainability from the University of Toronto.
Mimi lives between worlds and calls Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and St. John’s home. She began her career working with international non-profit organizations before joining the St. John’s tech. industry with Bluedrop Learning Networks (BLN). Certified as a Sustainability Associate Mimi is an advocate of socially responsible business operations and leads these community projects at Bluedrop.
With a passion for diverse foods, she is the owner of Gursha, the first caterer of authentic Ethiopian food in Newfoundland.
Mimi sits on the Board of Directors for the St. John’s Farmers Market and Genesis. Mimi has a Bachelor’s degree in Gender Studies and a Bachelors of Law (LL.B) from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. She has a Master’s in Gender Studies from Memorial University and a Graduate Diploma in Social Responsibility and Sustainability from the University of Toronto.
Panelist - Veselina Tomova
Veselina Tomova grew up in Bulgaria, behind the iron Curtain, went to the Art School of Printmaking and Book Design in Leipzig (then eastern Germany), and settled in Newfoundland 30 years ago, one of 3,000 Bulgarians who claimed asylum in Gander in the early 1990s.
Since then she has been working in the field of printmaking, illustration and publishing, painting, pottery and interpretive design. Her book “The Wall & The Wind,” based on her life story and a tribute to the wonderful people she met on her journey, was on the Globe & Mail best 100 books in 2020 list, and a finalist of Next Generation Indie Book Awards.
Veselina Tomova grew up in Bulgaria, behind the iron Curtain, went to the Art School of Printmaking and Book Design in Leipzig (then eastern Germany), and settled in Newfoundland 30 years ago, one of 3,000 Bulgarians who claimed asylum in Gander in the early 1990s.
Since then she has been working in the field of printmaking, illustration and publishing, painting, pottery and interpretive design. Her book “The Wall & The Wind,” based on her life story and a tribute to the wonderful people she met on her journey, was on the Globe & Mail best 100 books in 2020 list, and a finalist of Next Generation Indie Book Awards.
