Our Team
Lara Purnell Hayley Harris
Co-Founder, Executive Director Co-Founder, Visionary
Sisters Hayley and Lara moved to Raleigh, NC, from West Kilbride, Scotland, with their parents, John and Alison, and brother, Robbie.
They both earned bachelor’s degrees in nursing at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Hayley lives in Raleigh with her husband, Josh, and their two sons, Hayes and Noah. Lara lives in North Raleigh with her husband, Ben, and their daughter, Isla.
As a Pediatric Emergency Nurse, Hayley has seen the trauma caused by sexual assault far too many times. Lara has experience in Labor & Delivery and Pediatrics nursing and an interest in SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) nursing.
In 2016, the trauma of sexual assault became personal. Since then, Hayley and Lara have felt called to care for, speak up for, and walk with survivors of sexual assault.
Katie Kelly
Operations Manager
Born and raised in Durham, North Carolina, Katie joined the Layers of Dignity team in 2024 after graduating with a Bachelor of Social Work from North Carolina State University.
At Layers, she maintains day-to-day operations as well as community outreach, volunteer coordination, and event planning.
Jillian Keefe
Site Coordinator
Jillian was born and raised in the Northern California Sierra Nevadas and has now settled herself in Raleigh with her husband Ryan, two daughters, Lilly and Sadie, and dog Willow.
Jillian joined the Layers of Dignity team in 2022 and serves as the chairperson of the board, in addition to being the facilities coordinator and liaison; ensuring that all of our sites stay fully stocked.
“Our hope is to put a tote in the hands of as many survivors as possible. Each tote represents a survivor met in the darkness.”