Our Team
Iliana Hernandez
Storytelling & Network Weaving Director (she/her/ella)
Iliana (ee-lee-AH-nah) joins Cooperate WNC as Director of Storytelling & Network Weaving. A Chicana storyteller and strategist rooted in Western North Carolina’s mountains, she brings over a decade of experience in community organizing, storytelling, and network weaving — grounded in racial equity, language justice, and disability celebration.
Through her consultancy, Atrévete, she partners with grassroots leaders to craft narrative-driven strategies that grow bold, community-led movements. Her work blends ancestral wisdom, creative practice, and a deep commitment to joy, courage, and intergenerational thriving.
Recently, she facilitated a $125K grant initiative to diversify Western NC’s outdoor economy. Beyond Cooperate WNC, you might find her on screen or stage, climbing rocks, or shepherding her family farm’s sheep and chickens.
Connect with Iliana to talk all things comms, farms, and equity: iliana@cooperatewnc.org