Laura Bernhein is a bilingual journalist, life coach, and mom born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, now rooted in Asheville, where she lives with her two teenage children and a hound. Her experiences living and traveling across cultures have taught her the power of presence and curiosity in creating authentic connection—values that guide her work as Director of Marketing & Communications at Hood Huggers Foundation.

Before joining Hood Huggers, Laura built a diverse background in human resources, travel writing, and literacy advocacy. She believes transformation begins in relationships—through conversations that bridge differences and stories that remind us of our shared humanity. Laura also brings a spirit of lightness (well, serious silliness), laughter, and humor to her work, believing that joy is the most potent force.

Whether crafting narratives, engaging volunteers, or capturing everyday moments of change, Laura’s mission is to embody DeWayne Barton’s call to “make justice real” through authentic communication and joyful collaboration. She believes relationships and communities grow stronger when people share their why—which, despite our differences, is often the same. Her motto:

Be the change you want to see in the world.