Lauren Bard is a Senior Training Manager, Capacity Building Assistance at HRiA.
She works as a training facilitator and curriculum developer on the BEST Initiative and Youth Worker Certification program as well as the Behavioral Health and Racial Equity (BeHERE) Training team for drug overdose prevention and rescue. Lauren’s trauma-informed, strengths-based, and healing-centered approach to youth development stems from her many years of directly supporting young people and their families in Boston. Before joining HRiA, Lauren directed youth development programs in the arts, athletics, and youth employment and previously worked in drop-out prevention, transitional living, and the juvenile justice system. She also did youth development work as a Peace Corp volunteer in Honduras. Lauren is a Licensed Social Worker and holds degrees in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University, where she focused on juvenile justice, youth development, and restorative practices. She is a fluent Spanish speaker and a seasoned training facilitator in youth mental health, suicide prevention, and gender-based violence prevention.