Violet Villanueva #46
What does being a powerful woman mean to you?
To me, being a powerful woman means choosing every day to live authentically, resolutely go after what I want, and respond to difficult situations and immaturity with grace and tact—even when I sometimes desperately want to do otherwise! It means empowering others to lead with that same bravery, integrity, and empathy.
What is something you have done, overcome, created, or accomplished that makes you proud?
I believe it’s essential to be involved in your local community, and I’m proud of my community engagement! I love serving as a mentor to youth and students; they inspire me greatly, and hopefully vice versa!
Shout-out to some organizations I’ve been a part of that are doing amazing things for the community: Minds Matter Boston, Julie’s Family Learning Program, and my local library in Brighton!
I’m also proud of my drive to produce and spearhead getting cool, diverse stories on stage and my commitment to creating more representation in theatre.
Who is a woman who has influenced, inspired, or empowered you—and why?
My girlfriends! I admire how they speak their minds, their hardworking nature, and their persistent pursuit of their passions, to name a few.
What is something you know about yourself now that you didn’t know when you were younger?
My ability to name my anxiety and depression and the cognitive skills to understand that those things are just one part of me. Similarly, I’m on a continuous journey of learning that asking for help is a strength.
What do you bring to your family, your work, your community, or the world that you believe matters?
I’d like to think I bring an optimistic, hopeful energy to those around me. I bring an open mind, a calm vibe, and a listening ear as well!
What is one thing you will never apologize for being?
One thing I’ll never apologize for is wanting to get to know the whole person, beyond what they do for a living! During introductions at a party or social function, I like to start with, “What do you like to do for fun?” rather than “What do you do?”
I encourage others to try it out as a more interesting conversation starter!
I’ll also never shut up about free library resources—one of our last third spaces! Libby has free books and audiobooks, and Kanopy has free, ad-free films and documentaries.
And finally: What makes you roar?
I couldn’t pick just one, so I chose three:
Everyone’s right to education and equitable access to good schooling.
Theatre as social justice—a way to broaden people’s horizons and increase empathy and understanding.
Women’s rights, gay rights, disability rights—it’s all intertwined and intersectional. Fighting for one oppressed group means fighting for all!
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Performance Dates:
September 25 & 26 at 7:30 PM | September 27 at 2:00 PM
October 2 & 3 at 7:30 PM | October 4 at 2:00 PM
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