Meet the team
Jeannie Piercey
Co-Founder & Director of Program Services
Jeannie Piercey is a dedicated and compassionate leader with more than 25 years of experience in the helping profession. Throughout her career, she has worked alongside individuals, families, and communities, providing guidance, advocacy, and meaningful support to help people overcome challenges and build brighter futures. Much of her career has been spent in the non-profit sector, where she has successfully developed and led programs and initiatives designed to meet the needs of vulnerable populations.
Jeannie’s areas of expertise include mental health and wellness, trauma-informed care, resilience, harm reduction, grassroots community development, personal growth, and community capacity building. As an accomplished Program Coordinator, she has a proven track record of designing and implementing innovative, person-centered programs that respond to the unique needs of the communities she serves. She is recognized for building strong partnerships with youth, families, community organizations, and stakeholders, creating collaborative approaches that lead to lasting positive change. A highly organized and service-driven professional, Jeannie is known for her exceptional leadership, communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills. She is passionate about empowering individuals, strengthening communities, and fostering environments where people feel valued, supported, and connected. Her unwavering commitment to advocacy and community engagement has made her a trusted and respected leader throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
Riley Moss
Co-Founder & Director of Legal Services
Riley Moss is the Co-Founder and Director of Legal Services at Roots of Resilience. A dedicated lawyer with over 20 years of experience, Riley has practiced throughout Newfoundland and Labrador in private practice, mediation, and public service since 2003. Her work has spanned all levels of court and a wide range of legal matters, with extensive expertise in family law and a specialized focus on child protection.
Throughout her career, Riley has been committed to advocating for individuals and families navigating some of life’s most difficult circumstances. She has significant experience working with clients living with mental health and substance use challenges, as well as Indigenous clients, many of whom are among the most vulnerable individuals involved in the justice system. Her practice has included representing clients before Mental Health Court, Provincial Mental Health Care and Treatment Act Review Panels, and the Federal Review Board for individuals found unfit to stand trial or found not criminally responsible. Riley is also fluent in French.
Riley has completed specialized training in mediation, collaborative practice, trauma-informed practice, and restorative justice, bringing a compassionate, client-centred approach to every aspect of her work. She is known for building strong, trusting relationships and providing practical, transparent legal guidance while helping individuals and families navigate complex systems with dignity and confidence.
Jerry Young
Chair of the Board
Jerry Young is a devoted husband, father, grandfather, retired pharmacist, and lifelong community leader whose commitment to serving others has spanned more than 50 years. As Chair of the Board for Roots of Resilience Inc., he brings a wealth of leadership, healthcare expertise, and a deep passion for strengthening communities across Newfoundland and Labrador.
After graduating from pharmacy school in 1976, Jerry built a distinguished healthcare career, co-owning and managing several independent pharmacies, including Bayview, Metro, and Villa Nova Pharmacies. He also owned and operated a Shoppers Drug Mart franchise in Manuals and became the first pharmacist to oversee Eastern Health’s Methadone Maintenance Program in Pleasantville. Throughout his career, Jerry remained committed to advancing the pharmacy profession, serving as President of the Newfoundland Pharmacy Association from 2005–2006 and receiving the prestigious Bowl of Hygeia Award in 2000 in recognition of his outstanding community service. Jerry’s dedication to volunteerism began early and has remained a defining part of his life. Since joining the Lions Club in Conception Bay South in 1976 and the Rotary Club of Avalon Northeast in 1990, he has served in numerous leadership roles, including Rotary Club President, Assistant District Governor, Co-Chair of the Topsail Beach Development Association, Board Member of United Way Newfoundland and Labrador, Chair of the Conception Bay South Parks Commission, and Vice-Chair of the Conception Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. A passionate advocate for diabetes awareness and support, Jerry has also held significant leadership positions with the Canadian Diabetes Association. He served as Regional Chair in Newfoundland, helped establish the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in Newfoundland and Labrador, and, in 2007, became the first pharmacist and first Newfoundlander to serve as National Chair of the Canadian Diabetes Association. Throughout his professional and volunteer career, Jerry has remained dedicated to improving the lives of others through compassionate leadership, collaboration, and community service.
Amy Stoodley Thorne
Strategic Communications Director
Amy Stoodley Thorne is the Strategic Communications Director at Roots of Resilience Inc. and a strategic communications and public affairs professional with more than 20 years of experience helping organizations build relationships, navigate complex issues, and engage communities. A national award-winning journalist and writer, Amy has worked across the public, private, and non-profit sectors, bringing extensive expertise in strategic communications, government relations, stakeholder engagement, media relations, advocacy, and partnership development.
Throughout her career, Amy has helped organizations build trust, strengthen partnerships, and advance initiatives that create meaningful social and economic impact. She has held senior communications and external affairs roles in government and industry, where she advised executives, elected officials, and organizational leaders on public policy, strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, community relations, and reputation management. Her work has spanned regional, national, and international initiatives, with a strong focus on collaboration, community engagement, and navigating complex public environments.
As Strategic Communications Director, Amy provides strategic leadership in communications, advocacy, partnership development, and community engagement, helping to strengthen the organization’s visibility, foster meaningful collaborations, and support the continued growth and sustainability of Roots of Resilience. Her expertise plays a vital role in advancing the organization’s mission of providing safe, compassionate, and recovery-focused supports for women, children, and families.
Linda Warford
Member at Large
Linda Warford serves as a Member at Large on the Board of Directors for Roots of Resilience Inc. She brings more than 20 years of leadership and clinical experience in mental health, addictions, youth services, homelessness, housing, and public policy. Throughout her career, Linda has been dedicated to improving the lives of children, youth, adults, and families through compassionate, evidence-informed practice and system-level change.
Linda holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Simon Fraser University and began her career as a Child and Youth Mental Health Therapist in British Columbia, providing clinical care to children, youth, and young adults experiencing mental health and substance use challenges.
After relocating to Newfoundland and Labrador, Linda served as Director of Programs at Choices for Youth, where she provided strategic leadership for housing, mental health, and youth support programs while helping shape integrated services for young people across the province. She later joined the Department of Health and Community Services, where she played a key role in implementing recommendations from Towards Recovery: A Vision for a Renewed Mental Health and Addictions System for Newfoundland and Labrador. Her work included developing transition standards for youth mental health services, advancing provincial suicide prevention and life promotion initiatives, and supporting housing policy for individuals with complex mental health and addictions needs.
As Transitional Housing Consultant with the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, Linda led the development of the province’s first hotel-based transitional housing project for adults experiencing homelessness, creating innovative service models and strengthening collaboration between government, healthcare, and community organizations. Most recently, as a Mental Health Policy Consultant with Goss Gilroy Inc., she developed and updated mental health and addictions policies for an Indigenous government in Newfoundland and Labrador, drawing on best practices and ethical standards. Before beginning her career in health and human services, Linda spent 15 years as a journalist with CBC Radio, working as a reporter, producer, and news editor in St. John’s, Edmonton, and Whitehorse.
Hayleigh Lucas
Advisory Board Member
Hayleigh Noël serves as an Advisory Board Member with Roots of Resilience Inc., bringing lived experience, compassion, and a deep commitment to supporting women and families on their journey toward healing and recovery.
A mother of four and a full-time restoration professional, Hayleigh is passionate about creating meaningful change within her community. Having experienced firsthand the impacts of addiction, trauma, and adversity, she understands the importance of compassionate, non-judgmental support and the transformative power of hope, resilience, and connection.
As a member of the Advisory Board, Hayleigh provides invaluable insight through her lived experience, helping ensure that the voices of those with firsthand experience remain at the heart of the organization’s programs and services. She is dedicated to fostering safe, supportive spaces where women and families can heal, rebuild, and thrive while working to break cycles of trauma through understanding, opportunity, and community. Outside of her volunteer role, Hayleigh enjoys spending time with her four children and supporting them in their many activities. She is proud to be part of an organization that is creating lasting, positive change and empowering individuals and families to build brighter futures.
Hayleigh believes that every person deserves the opportunity to heal and that, with the right support and community, lasting transformation is possible.
Brittany Stockley
Advisory Board Member
Brittany Stockley serves as an Advisory Board Member with Roots of Resilience Inc., bringing lived experience, advocacy, and a deep commitment to supporting individuals and families on their journey toward healing and recovery.
A mother of three, photographer, and disability advocate, Brittany is a person in long-term recovery who is passionate about helping others navigate adversity with hope, connection, and resilience. Her understanding of resilience began early in life when she entered foster care after her mother became paralyzed by a rare genetic neurological condition. Growing up through family separation, loss, and uncertainty shaped her belief in the importance of compassionate support, community, and accessible services for children and families facing difficult circumstances. With more than a decade in recovery, Brittany brings both lived experience and empathy to her role with Roots of Resilience. Her personal journey through addiction, recovery, chronic illness, disability, and advocacy has strengthened her commitment to helping others overcome barriers and build meaningful, fulfilling lives. She believes that lasting healing happens when people are met with understanding, opportunity, and a community that refuses to give up on them.
As an Advisory Board Member, Brittany provides valuable insight that helps ensure lived experience remains at the heart of the organization’s programs, services, and decision-making. She is passionate about raising awareness of recovery, accessibility, and the challenges individuals and families face while navigating complex systems of care. Outside of her volunteer role, Brittany enjoys spending time with her fiancé and three children, growing her photography business, and giving back to her community.