Regina Louise

Regina Louise is a sought-after speaker, coach, author and advocate for foster care reform. Born in Texas, she grew up in a series of foster homes and institutions, often experiencing neglect and abuse. Her powerful memoir, "Somebody's Someone," recounts her journey through the foster care system and her struggle to find love, stability, and her sense of self. The book highlights her tenacity in the face of adversity and sheds light on the deep flaws of the system she endured.

In 2019, Louise's story was adapted into a Lifetime movie titled "I Am Somebody’s Child: The Regina Louise Story" and was nominated for an NAACP Award for Best Director. The film depicts her harrowing experiences as a foster child and her eventual adoption as an adult by Jeanne Kerr, a counselor who had formed a deep connection with her during her youth.

As an advocate for systemic reform in foster care, Louise works tirelessly to ensure that children in the system are treated with dignity and care. She was the recipient of the prestigious Christopher Award, given to producers for stories that “affirm the human spirit.” In 2019, she received the Jordan Award for service in transforming foster care through advocacy and the arts; the Community Service Award for Children and Families from the Seneca Foundation; and the NAIMC Vision Award for original programming that “reflects the lives, spirit, and contributions of people of color and represents the ethnic and cultural diversity of the viewing audience.” Through her work, Regina has become a sought-after speaker on trauma, resilience, and personal transformation.

In 2011, wanting to honor a pledge she made to herself as a young foster child and to support her teenaged son who was struggling in college, Louise returned to college and graduated summa cum laude from the California Institute of Integral Studies and then went on to University of California, Riverside, to earn an MFA in creative writing and writing for the performing arts. Her work in the theater was nominated for two NAACP Theater Awards. A Hoffman Process teacher, she also leads workshops and is often featured in the media.