Vanessa Spence is a professional and creative writer. She is a classically trained theatre performer and lover of her community. But, most importantly, she is a human being. Graduating from the Humber College Theatre Performance Program at the top of her class, Vanessa has developed a passion for telling stories through various creative medium such as writing poetry, theatrical performance, music, and film that has led her to perform on many stages across the GTA. Now, she uses her talents and passions to engage youth through theatrical edutainment, coach aspiring artists and performers, and amplify the stories of people in her community to turn everyday stories into inspiring tales of triumph.

Vanessa is the author and publisher of her debut book, Stretch Marks. Sharing her pregnancy through poetry, Stretch Marks acts as a magnifying glass for the mental, physical and emotional battles one faces during the journey of bringing forth life. After being thrust into the realm of motherhood, Vanessa founded the Stretch Marks movement to capture the humanity of motherhood by giving folks of many backgrounds the opportunity to tell their stories while reminding mothers of all capacities that they are not alone.

As an ambassador for her community, Vanessa volunteers her time with non-profit organizations that focus on the empowerment of young marginalized women. She was recognized for introducing new-age arts culture to Peel Region by the City of Brampton as a recipient of the Mayor’s Making Black History Award for February of 2019.

In her free time, you can find Vanessa with her family or jotting down her hearts desires in verse and prose on her personal Instagram page: @vanessacspence.