About Me

Jessica Whitbread (she/her) is an established global movement builder incorporating feminist perspectives into her art and advocacy work. She was born in Toronto, Canada but has spent the last 8 years living in Eastern Europe and Central Asia work with HIV and key populations. A graduate of the York University Masters of Environmental Studies program, she has a degree in Building Communities to Ignite Social Change with a graduate diploma in Environmental and Sustainability Education. She works in the realm of social practice and community art, merging art and activism to engage a diversity of audiences in critical dialogue prioritizing long term, collaborative processes. Her work includes LOVE POSITIVE WOMEN (2012 – present) and the infamous dance party – No Pants No Problem (2004 – 2022). 

Whitbread was the youngest and first queer woman to be elected as the Global Chair for the International Community of Women Living with HIV – ICW (2012), the founder of the first International Chapter of Young Women, Adolescents and Girls living with HIV (2010) as well as a long standing Steering Committee member for AIDS ACTION NOW!, and a Board member of the Canadian HIV Legal Network. She is currently the Community Relations & Mobilization Manager for ICW in the Global Office.

Although she might seem like she is a girl about town, she can most often be found in her house, baking food for friends and hanging out with her Pomeranian.

Curriculum Vitae

Exhibitions:

2015

  • Party Out of Bounds: Nightlife as Activism Since 1980, La MaMa Gallery, New York City, curated by Emily Colucci and Osman Can Yerebakan
  • Queer Threads: Creating Identity and Community, MICA, Baltimore, Maryland, Curated by John Chaich

2014

  • It’s Not a Secret, Installation, McColl Center for Art and Innovation, Charlotte, North Carolina (Solo Show)
  • Space Date, Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne, Australia (Solo Show with Morgan M. Page)
  • Fall Winter Residence, McColl Center for Art and Innovation, Charlotte, North Carolina
  • Re/Presenting HIV/AIDS, William H. Van Every Gallery, Davidson, North Carolina
  • Queer Threads: Creating Identity and Community, Lesley Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art, New York, NY, Curated by John Chaich
  • Strange Bedfellows, College Art Association Conference, Chicago, Illinois, Curated by Amy Cancelmo
  • Tea Time: Mapping Informal Networks of Women Living with HIV, NDQ, Montreal, Quebec, Book Launch
  • Tea Time: Mapping Informal Networks of Women Living with HIV, , Book Launch
  • Tea Time: Mapping Informal Networks of Women Living with HIV, NDQ, Montreal, Quebec, Book Launch

2013

  • Space Date, Rats 9 Gallery, Montreal (Solo show with Morgan M. Page)
  • Transgression: Breaking the norms of gender and sexuality, Caesar Chavez Student Centre Gallery, San Francisco, Curated by Carolyn HoAds for People: Selling Ethics in the Digital Age, Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto, Curated by Lisa Smith
  • Ephemera As Evidence, La Mama Gallery, New York City, curated by Joshua Lubin-Levy and Ricardo Montez
  • Strange Bedfellows, Root Division, San Francisco, California, Curated by Amy Cancelmo
  • Strange Bedfellows, Samek Art Gallery at Bucknell University,  Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, Curated by Amy Cancelmo
  • A Day Without Art: PosterVIRUS, Hen House, Toronto, Canada
  • Tea Time: Mapping Informal Networks of Women Living with HIV, Dynamite Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
  • Recipe and Ambiguous Dating Station, Installation for Sweaty Bones, Hen House, Toronto, Canada

2012

  • A Day With(out) Art: PosterVIRUS, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Canada
  • Radical Queer Semaine X Pose Vernissage, Radical Queer Semaine, Fresh Paint Gallery, Montreal, Canada
  • Foundational Sharing 2, a salon of art, conversation, and readings, New York City, Curated by Aldrin Valdez & Ted Kerr

2011

  • A Day With(out) Art: PosterVIRUS, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Canada
  • Reflections Over Tea, Zig Zag Gallery, Toronto, Canada

Social Practice/ Performance/ Installation:

  • No Pants No Problem, Performance and Installation, 2004 – present
  • Canada: Vancouver; Montreal; Winnipeg; Toronto – International: New York; Melbourne, Australia; Bangkok, Thailand; New Orleans; Washington, DC; New Orleans; San Fransisco; Charlotte, North Carolina.
  • Tea Time: Mapping Informal Networks of Women Living with HIV, Performance, 2011 – present
  • Canada: Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, Barrie, Richmond Hill, Victoria, Vancouver – International: Nairobi, Kenya; Bangkok, Thailand; Amsterdam, Netherlands; New York; Kingston, Jamaica.
  • Intergenerational Feminist Banner Making, Social Practice, 2013 – present
  • Kampala, Uganda; Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan; Nairobi; Kenya; Harare, Zimbabwe; New York
  • Space Date, Collaboration with Morgan M. Page, 2012, 2013
  • Inspirational Women’s Tea Parties, Performance, Toronto, 2010 – 2013

Professional Experience:

  • International Community of Women Living with HIV, 2014 – present, Community Relations & Mobilization Manager
  • International Community of Women Living with HIV, 2014, Interim Global Director
  • AIDS Activism History Project, Carlton University, 2013, Researcher and Community Organizer
  • Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, Toronto, 2013, Consultant
  • Plus ou Moins: Open Conference on HIV, Access and Visibility, Montreal, 2013, Project Coordinator and Visionary
  • Canadian Treatment Action Council, Toronto, 2012 – 2013, National Project Coordinator/ Capacity Building Coordinator
  • Shampoo, Toronto, November 2005 – 2013, Hairstylist/Curator
  • Positive Youth Outreach, Toronto, 2009 – 2012, Youth Support Worker
  • York University, Toronto, 2011 – 2012, Teaching Assistant
  • York University, Toronto, 2010 – 2011, Graduate Assistant
  • Global Network of People Living with HIV, Amsterdam, 2010, Consultant
  • Planned Parenthood Toronto, Toronto, 2009 – 2010, Positive Prevention Project Peer Educator

Selected Events And Conference Presentations:

2013

  • Funders Concerned About AIDS Philanthropist Conference, Washington, DC, The Rise of Women’s HIV Advocacy, Panelist
  • ATHENA, ASAP & Global Fund, Geneva, Switzerland, Global Fund Gender Equality Training, Participant
  • US Conference on AIDS, New Orleans, US, Positive Women: Exposing Injustice, Presenter
  • Beyond Failure: Thinking Critically About HIV Prevention, Research, and Services, Montreal, Canada, Hunter or Ally? The poaching of young women living with HIV from peer led networks, Paper Presentation
  • UN Commission on the Status of Women 58, New York City, US, High Level Meeting on HIV and Gender Based Violence, Participant
  • Activate T.O., Toronto, Canada, Fuck Positive Women, Lecture
  • Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, New York City, US, Positive Women: Exposing Injustice, film Screening and Panelist
  • Canadian Association of HIV Researchers, Montreal, Canada, Tea Time: Building Communities of Women Living with HIV, Poster Presentation

2012

  • The Normal Heart, Toronto, Canada, Criminalization of HIV Non-Disclosure, Moderator
  • XIV International AIDS Conference, Washington, Canada, 30 Years of the Epidemic: A Woman’s Perspective, Panel Speaker

2011

  • The Normal Heart, Toronto, Canada, Community-based Activism, Panelist
  • UN High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS, New York City, US, Official Canadian Delegation
  • Sexual Health Research Symposium, Toronto, Canada, Criticisms of Community-Based Research, Panelist
  • ACT Community Health Forum, Toronto, Canada, Living Well with HIV: From Youth to Long Term Survivors, Guest Speaker

2010

  • Y-PEER Partnership Meeting, Istanbul, Turkey, Women Living with HIV: The Empty Chair at the Table, Panelist
  • XVIII International AIDS Conference, Vienna, Austria, MTV/Paramount/Viacom Leadership in Motion, Keynote Speaker
  • Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+) Youth Consultation, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Invited Participant
  • Canadian HIV/AIDS Skills Building Symposium, Youth Satellite, Montreal, Canada, Facilitator and Presenter
  • University of Western Ontario, London, Canada, Guest Lecturer

2009

  • UNICEF and Permanent Mission Canada: Consultation on Gender and AIDS, New York City, US, Gender Dimensions of Young People Living With HIV, Presenter
  • Y-PEER Annual Partnership Meeting, Tunis, Tunisia, Young Positives, Presenter
  • 411 Initiative for Change, World AIDS Day Event, Toronto, Canada, Presenter
  • University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, Guest Lecturer

Artist Talks:

2013

  • In Conversation: Fredrick Weston and Jessica Whitbread, Bluestockings, New York, NY
  • Positive Assertions, The LGBT Center of New York, New York, NY
  • GenderFest, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MA
  • United in Anger: Arts-based Activism in Canada (PosterVirus lecture), Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, ON

 2012

  • A Day With(out) Art: PosterVIRUS,  Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, ON
  • Art and Activism: Community-Based Actions in the HIV Movement, XIV International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC
  • Women + Femmes +, Radical Queer Semine, Montreal, QC

 2011

  • A Day With(out) Art: PosterVIRUS, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, ON
  • Tea Time Tragedies and How to Avoid Them, Encuentro: A Popular Education Gathering Conference, York University, Toronto, ON

2009

  • Empower: Youth, Arts, HIV/AIDS Activism Manual Launch, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON

Media:

2013

  • Hyperallergenic, Creating Queer Communities Through Art, written by Emily Colucci
  • Visual AIDS, So Many Ways to Love, written by Ted Kerr
  • Xtra, FUCK POSITIVE WOMEN, written by Andrea Houston
  • Toronto Life,
  • PositiveLite, LOVE POSTIVE WOMEN

2012

  • Toronto Standard, Arts-Led Activism Wins the AIDS Day, written by Sholem Krishtalka
  • Positive Frontiers L.A., Revisitation Righs: poster/VIRUS And A New Era Of Response, written by Ted Kerr
  • Xtra, In Your Face: AIDS ACTION NOW! commemorates 24 years with new poster campaign, written by Jonathan Valley
  • PositiveLite, PosterVirus 2012, written by John McCullagh
  • The Gaily, But Things Are Changing: AIDS ACTIONNOW! Launches Second Poster/Virus Campaign, Ian Salt Bradley-Perrin
  • No More Potlucks, The Positive Side, CBC Radio,
  • Xtra, No pants, no problem ON THE TOWN / Relive your teen years at playful underwear fundraiser, written by Serafin LaRiviere

2011

  • Xtra, In Your Face: Dare you to look deeper: Art campaign challenges HIV/AIDS sterotypes and taboos, written by Jonathan Valley
  • No More Potlucks, AIDS ACTION NOW! Fuck Positive Women
  • Community Feministing, No Pants? No Problem, written by Tracy
  • 2B Mag, No Pants No Problem: After Montreal, Washington, DC, written by Jordan Arseneault
  • I Like You Podcast, #57 Positive, by Elah and J.P

Publications:

  • Whitbread, J. (2014). Tea Time: Mapping Informal Networks of Women Living with HIV. Toronto, Jessica Whitbread Press.
  • Whitbread, J. (2013). Hunter or Ally? The Poaching of Young Women Living with HIV from Peer led Networks. Montreal: Beyond Failure.
  • Whitbread, J. and G. Mallias (2013). Facilitator’s Training Manual and Workbook. Toronto: CTAC publication.
  • Whitbread, J (2012). Tea Time as Participatory Research: Mapping Informal Networks of Women Living with HIV. (MES final paper)., Toronto: York University
  • Whitbread, J (2012). Tea Time: An Overview of an Emerging Method. (MES final paper). Toronto: York University.
  • Whitbread, J and K. Ngui (2012). Reflections Over Tea: Making Friends the Old Fashion Way. (MES final paper).Toronto: York University.

Governance & Committee Experience:

  • The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, 2014 – preset, Board Member
  • The International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (ICW), 2012 – 2014, Global Chair
  • AIDS ACTION NOW!, 2010 to present, Steering Committee Member
  • Positive Youth Outreach, 2008 to 2012, Advisory Committee Member
  • The International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (ICW), 2009- 2014, North American Representative for the International Steering Committee
  • HIV/AIDS Legal Clinic of Ontario, 2009 to 2010, Board of Directors, Vice Chair

Research Experience:

  • Tea Time: Mapping the Informal Networks of Women Living with HIV, York University, September 2011 to 2012, Principle Investigator
  • Canadian HIV Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Cohort Study (CHIWOS), Young Women and HIV Sub-Committee, November 2011 to 2012
  • Research with Purpose, AIDS Committee of Toronto, 2010 to 2012, Co-Investigator
  • Ontario Women’s Study, Young Women Affected by HIV Sub-Committee, 2011, Advisor and Focus Group Facilitator
  • Young People Living with HIV in Networks of People Living with HIV and Youth Led Organizations, The Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+), September 2010 to 2011, Regional Research Assistant

Education:

  • Master’s of Environmental Studies, Building Communities to Ignite Social Change, York University, Toronto
  • Graduate Diploma in Environmental and Sustainability Education, York University, Toronto
  • Community Worker (graduated with honors), George Brown College, Toronto
  • Sociology/Interdisciplinary Studies in Sexuality, Concordia University, Montreal

Grants/Fellowships:

  • McColl Center for Art and Social Innovation, Wesley Mancini LGBTQ Artist in Residence, 2014
  • CIHR Social Research Centre in HIV Prevention: Student/Trainee Awards Program, 2013/2014
  • CIHR HIV Community-Based Research Program Master’s Award, 2011/2012
  • University Without Walls Fellowship, 2011/2012
  • UNESCO Chair International Regional Training Program, Kigali, Rwanda, January 2010
  • UNESCO Chair International Leadership Training Program, University of Connecticut, Hartford, CT, August 2009

Awards/Recognition:

  • Ontario Colleges Premiere’s Award, 2014
  • Leading Women, Building Communities Recognition Award, 2011
  • The Phyliss Eileen Edwards Memorial Award, 2009
  • The Pinball Clemons Scholarship, 2009
  • Outstanding Community Worker, 2009
  • Citation for the City of Toronto, 2008