Laura Formentini

Speech

For more than 25 years, I practiced “love in action” as a nonprofit photographer and fundraiser - supporting children’s education, creating animal sanctuaries, and fostering hope in vulnerable communities. 

Then, in rural Ethiopia, I received the devastating news that my son Blaise had died by suicide. 

As I waited to begin the long journey back to the United States, a kind man named Assefa sat beside me, holding my hand for ten hours. 

That simple gesture did not erase my grief, but it revealed something profound: even the smallest acts of care can ripple outward with immeasurable strength. 

Since then, I have carried this deeper understanding into all my work, from creating peace gardens in places scarred by conflict to nurturing global projects of compassion. 

The human touch, I have learned, is not only physical—it is the empathy, presence, and love we extend to one another. 

This talk reflects on how the human touch - whether through a life’s mission or a moment’s kindness - can heal, connect, and transform.