OUR STAFF
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Colt Politte (he/they)
Colt Politte comes to Quadrangle after serving several years in different community agencies focused on supporting our most vulnerable neighbours. An experienced contributor in not-for-profit and charitable organizations that focus on access, equity, and social justice. Colt's background includes work in communication, education and outreach, strategic planning, and building strong collaborative teams. Previously he has worked with United Way Newfoundland and Labrador, End Homelessness St. John's, and most recently with Choices for Youth as Manager of Housing Services. Active in the community, Colt has served on the St. John's Food Policy Council, LGBTQ-MUN as Resource Director (now MUNSAGA), and most recently has volunteered with the Addictions Treatment Services Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (ATSA-NL). In his free time Colt enjoys photography, being creative in the kitchen, writing, and spending time with his close family and friends. He is excited to be joining Quadrangle as we enter this next phase of growth. Please join the board of Quadrangle in welcoming Colt as our new Executive Director.
Email: colt@thequadnl.com
OUTREACH PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Britt Ávila-Byrnes (they/them)
Britt is a queer individual with a diverse background in community service, education, campaigns and research. They have worked with various local organizations offering community support, fund development, research, and peer support. They also have experience teaching English as a Second Language locally in a volunteer capacity and abroad as an ALT with the JET Programme Canada. With an educational background in gender studies and sociology their skill set includes effective communication, project management, and a strong dedication to promoting equity and inclusion. In their spare time they enjoy biking, playing ice hockey, gardening, and spending time at home with their wife and their puppy, Mango.
Email: britt@thequadnl.com
COMMUNITY & STRATEGIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR
Morgan Moakler Jessiman (she/they)
Morgan Moakler Jessiman (she/they) is a queer, multidisciplinary artist and communication specialist originally from Ktaqmkuk. After obtaining her degree in Communications (Intermedia) from Concordia University, Morgan has specialized in accessibility, diversity, equity and inclusion. Working for almost 10 years in the non-profit sector, they are excited to flex their communications skills in this new role. Morgan is a proud member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and in her spare time engages in advancing her education of queer rights, queer medial politics, and more. In the journey of always finding joy, Morgan has four beautiful fur babies, a voracious appetite for 2SLGBTQIA graphic novels, and a healthy fear of birds.
Email: morgan@thequadnl.com
TRANS NAVIGATOR
Neska Savage (they/them)
Neska (they/them) is a queer, transfemme nonbinary individual of white settler and Nunatsiavut Inuit heritage, born and raised in St. John’s on the island of Ktaqmkuk. Neska holds a BSc (Psychology) and a MSc in Medicine (Neuroscience), which allowed them to learn about the intricacies of human and animal brains, and also that academia was definitely the wrong career path for them! Neska has had goals of working with people in the mental health and wellness field since high school, and after their brief stint in academia they have been working frontline in the community sector since 2019. Their educational experiences provide them with a biological understanding of human behaviour and mental health, however they believe that the majority of their expertise comes from their extensive lived and living experiences in a number of marginalized identities. They wear their intersectionalities with pride, and enjoy voicing their experiences as a form of resistance against the stigma that these communities face. Their previous work focused on providing services and support for local sex workers, people who use drugs, and people living with poverty and homelessness. When Neska isn’t dreaming about dismantling the cis-heteronormative capitalism we all struggle under, they enjoy lying down and cuddling up with their partner and animal children to play video games and watch cartoons.
Email: neska@thequadnl.com
HOUSING SUPPORT WORKER
Serena Payne (she/her)
Serena, who identifies as lesbian/queer, holds a BA (Honours) in Sociology and a Bachelor of Social Work from Memorial University. She has spent many years working in community with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, in mental health, education and housing. Serena has sat on numerous boards throughout her career including currently sitting on the Mental Health and Addictions Recovery Council. Serena is passionate about equity for all and assisting individuals in reaching their own goals in life. She is an advocate first and foremost. When not doing the nine to five grind she can be found spending time with her wife and their two dogs, watching whatever sport is on TV or with her nose deep in a good book.
Result Based Management Coordinator
Jian Fu (he/they)
Jian is an Asian queer researcher. He holds a Ph.D. from the Department of Sociology at Memorial University of Newfoundland. His research interests encompass the globalization of sexuality, nationalism, LGBT activism, and political psychology, employing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Jian's scholarly contributions have been recognized with acceptance for publication in the Journal of Human Rights. Passionate about evidence-based diversity, equity, and inclusion advocacy, Jian actively promotes these principles in his professional endeavors. Outside of work, he finds joy in exploring hiking trails and experimenting with diverse culinary traditions.
Community Advisory Board Coordinator
Diana Flemming (she/they)
Diana brings over a decade of community-based qualitative research experience, with a particular focus on gender equity and economic wellbeing. Diana holds a Master of Science in Applied Gender Studies with Distinction from the University of Strathclyde and a Bachelor of Commerce (Co-operative) from Memorial University. Diana is invested in disrupting inequalities, advocating for gender expansiveness and creating connections in community to further resources and shared goals.
Office Administrator
Michelle Hanrahan - Brown (she/her)
Michelle Hanrahan Brown (she/her) is a spreadsheet loving, business management graduate with decades of office administration and accounting experience, mostly with gender equality seeking organizations. Their advocacy work in diversity, equity and inclusion, particularly in sport, has resulted in hosting a workshop on body image and research into gender barriers to sport participation within our province. Michelle volunteers with their local soccer club and serves as a finance administrative advisor with a community organization that focuses on supporting newcomers. A shoshin practitioner, she is an avid houseplant collector who enjoys spending time in the garden or at the beach, listening to waves and admiring unique rocks and shells.
Entrepreneurship Navigator
Mark Adams (he/him)
Mark Adams, born and raised on Fogo Island, has been living and working in St. John’s since 2010. He has been a active member of the local business community, running his own custom apparel printshop Living Planet Studio since 2015. Mark has been an active part of the local 2SLGBTQIA+ community though volunteering, contributing to fundraising events and performing in local drag as the crafty and loveable Valveeta. When not at work, he enjoys tinkering with tech, thrift shopping and hanging out with his partner (Dan) and dog (Mochi).
Entrepreneurship System Mapping Officer
Willa Small (she/her)
Willa is a queer, trans woman from Conception Bay South, NL. She holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce (hons.) with a concentration in marketing from Memorial University of Newfoundland & Labrador. During her studies she worked as a research assistant and copy editor with the Asia-Pacific business research unit, in addition to being voted class VP and class clown. She is experienced in the non-profit and private sectors, and has worked in industries such as tech, hospitality, and arts and entertainment. In her free time she enjoys learning various instruments, attempting to make the perfect pavlova, and occasionally acting on stage.
RAINBOW ENTREPRENEURSHIP KNOWLEDGE HUB RESEARCH OFFICER
Matthew LeDrew (he/they)
Matthew LeDrew has written over twenty novels, some of which have gone on to become Canadian and international bestsellers.
Since 2007 he has traveled all over Canada promoting his work as well as teaching seminars on writing and publishing.
He currently holds a Canada Council for the Arts Research and Creation Grant and an ArtsNL Professional Projects Grant for the completion of his first two Newfoundland-set novels. He holds an Honours Degree in English from the Memorial University of Newfoundland with a minor in Anthropology. He studied Journalism at College of the North Atlantic in Stephenville, Newfoundland. He has worked with Transcontinental Publishing as well as student-youth magazine The Troubadour.
He has been called "the face of Newfoundland genre writing" and is one of the most successful authors working and living in his province today.
IT INTERN
Fable Blackmore (they/them)
Fable Blackmore (they/them) is a nonbinary IT Intern living in St. John’s, Newfoundland. They are in the Computer Systems and Networking program at College of the North Atlantic, where they learn varied IT skills. Fable is the author, illustrator, and manga artist for the Myrios Series novels and Of Spark and Cats manga. In their spare time, they enjoy cute fashion, floral design, computers, and sewing.
OUTREACH INTERN
Patrick Squires (he/him)
Patrick Squires (he/him) joins the Quad as a summer intern with our outreach team. He is currently completing his Master in Gender Studies at Memorial University. He holds a BA in Gender Studies and Communication Studies from Memorial University. His current research interests include queer flourishing, queer inclusion and accessibility, and interrogating the commodification of queer culture. Patrick has several years of experience working with the queer community, most notably as a hairstylist for the past 7 years specializing in queer and gender affirming haircare. He has worked with Quadrangle in the past as part of our Self-Care Sundays team. Patrick is thrilled to be working with the team as he starts the next chapter of his professional career. In his spare time, he loves to listen to Lady Gaga, whom he has seen perform 7 times, and is a parent to a fiesty cat named Moira.