Vania was born in Los Angeles but grew up in San Diego, Guam, and Chicago’s North Shore before attending college in Washington, D.C. Although she was raised in a military family, her roots trace back to Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, and Virginia. In 2017, Vania Kinard and Dom Flemons got married in Washington, D.C. and in 2018 they welcomed their daughter Cheyanne Love Kinard-Flemons. In 2020, they relocated to the Chicago area and currently call Naperville their home.

During her free time she enjoys listening to vinyl records, watching documentaries, creating video content, photography, nature walks, cooking, yoga, interior design and vintage fashion. Plus, Vania has spent many years documenting her family story by conducting oral history interviews, genealogy research, and organizing her family archives.

In 2023, Vania Kinard was elected to the Board of Directors for the Folk Alliance Region Midwest (FARM) Chapter and she is currently serving as an Advisory Board Member for the Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI). She is part of an active alumni network that includes the Obama Foundation, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and PPIA.

In 2024, Dom and Vania attended the Red Carpet and GRAMMY Awards where they were nominated in the “Best Folk Album” category for Traveling Wildfire which was released on the Smithsonian Folkways label. Vania was the album curator and co-wrote the 50 page liner notes to the GRAMMY nominated album. She is passionate about building bridges in the roots music community and helping artist with special projects.