Laura and Vie's Legacy, LLC
Building businesses rooted in community, culture, and continuity.
A portfolio of ventures honoring the legacy of two women who built everything from the ground up.
About
Laura and Vie's Legacy, LLC is an umbrella company founded to house a range of businesses and creative work across industries.
At its core, it is a continuation of a legacy shaped by two women who led with strength, generosity, and independence.
This company exists to build, support, and grow ventures that prioritize people, culture, and long-term impact over short-term gain.
The Legacy
Laura
Laura was born and raised in Reidsville, North Carolina, during the Jim Crow era. She briefly attended Bethune-Cookman University before financial constraints forced her to leave.
She later moved to New Haven, Connecticut, where she built a life rooted in activism, service, and community leadership. She helped sew the first uniforms for students at Helene Grant School, promoting equality regardless of economic background.
She became the first female chairperson of the Trustees at Community Baptist Church. She was known for her generosity, her activism in workers' rights, and her unwavering commitment to others.
She passed in 2020 after a battle with bone cancer, having also survived breast cancer twice.
Vie
Vie was born and raised in Colón, Panama, to Jamaican parents who migrated to work on the Panama Canal. She later moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where she worked in a Gillette factory until retirement.
She raised three children, all of whom graduated college and built successful careers. She helped dozens of family members migrate to the United States, opening her home as a place of transition, stability, and care.
Her love language was food, blending Jamaican and Panamanian traditions into meals that brought people together.
The Founder
Janelle Cooper is a Tuskegee University graduate and trained mechanical engineer who has built a global, nontraditional career at the intersection of systems, storytelling, and community.
Her professional background spans project management, marketing, and communications, where she supports mission-driven organizations and entrepreneurs in building strong backend structures, clear messaging, and scalable operations.
Her path has taken her across 10 countries, where she has lived, worked, and immersed herself in diverse cultures. She speaks four languages and spent four years teaching English abroad before transitioning into remote work and entrepreneurship. These experiences have shaped her ability to navigate different cultural contexts, build relationships across borders, and approach her work with both structure and empathy.
Based in Virginia, currently working and traveling internationally, Janelle continues to build across cultures, supporting projects that center community, creativity, and long-term impact. Her work is grounded in both strategy and intention, balancing operational excellence with meaningful storytelling.
In 2023, she tattooed “Laura and Vie's Legacy” on her wrist as a daily reminder of the women who came before her and the responsibility she carries forward.
For Janelle, this work is more than a business. It is a way of life and a constant north star guiding how she shows up in the world.
Our Work
Marketing Consulting
Strategic marketing, communications, and operational support for brands looking to grow with intention and clarity.
Joyriding With Jash
Content, storytelling, and digital influence rooted in culture, travel, and lived experience.
El Puente del Sabor
A food and cultural experience bridging communities through storytelling, history, and cuisine.
Custom Software Solutions
AI-powered tools, apps, and SaaS products designed and customized specifically for you or your business.
Philosophy
This is not a traditional business model.
We believe in:
- Supporting local economies, not replacing them
- Building with communities, not around them
- Measuring success beyond profit
From bartering to reinvesting time and resources, this work is grounded in reciprocity.
Get in Touch
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