C.H.A.N.C.E. is a North Carolina non-profit dedicated to empowering crime victims through legal advocacy, navigation, and targeted community education. We connect victims with trained volunteer attorneys, help them understand their rights, and build the professional capacity of the organizations that serve them.
Our current primary initiative focuses on military-connected victims of sexual assault, harassment, and domestic violence — survivors who routinely fall into the gaps between military and civilian systems.
C.H.A.N.C.E. exists to empower and inform North Carolina's crime victims and the public of crime victims' rights through legal advocacy, navigation, and targeted community education.
To fulfill this mission, we coordinate a growing network of volunteer attorneys who provide legal representation to crime victims. We also deliver victims' rights education and training to advocates, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, attorneys, jurists, and the public.
Our Primary Initiative: Military-Connected Victims. While C.H.A.N.C.E. serves all crime victims, our first primary project focuses on military-connected survivors of sexual assault, harassment, and domestic violence. These survivors face unique and significant challenges navigating overlapping military and civilian systems, with critical gaps in victim counsel services and limited access to attorneys who understand both worlds.
Identifying and addressing spaces where Victim Counsel cannot, including civilian survivors assaulted by military members.
Connecting survivors with trained volunteer attorneys and helping Victim Counsel answer questions of state law.
Educating, training and mentoring organizations, attorneys and advocates to better serve this population.
Providing clarity when military justice, civilian courts, and family law collide — preventing preventable failures.
Building toward a recognized competency standard for attorneys representing victims in this critical practice area.
This focused initiative builds deep expertise and a replicable model that will strengthen our ability to serve all crime victims as we grow.
Whether you are a survivor seeking support, a professional looking for training, or someone who wants to understand our work — we have dedicated pages for each.
Our story, our founder Diva Edel, and our Executive Director Ruth A. Cresenzo, J.D. — a retired Lieutenant Colonel, Judge Advocate, and nationally recognized authority on military-connected victim advocacy.
Meet the Team →Legal advocacy and navigation for victims, training and technical assistance for professionals, and information about our volunteer attorney program. See how C.H.A.N.C.E. can help you or your organization.
See Our Services →Real talk about what happens at the intersection of military and civilian justice. Ruth's Truths explores the systems, the gaps, the patterns, and the survivors caught between them.
Read Ruth's Truths →As a new and growing nonprofit, the support of donors and volunteers directly shapes our ability to serve crime victims — beginning with our primary initiative supporting military-connected survivors — and to educate the professionals who work alongside them.
Your support helps us:
C.H.A.N.C.E. is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All donations are tax-deductible.
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C.H.A.N.C.E. is a registered 501(c)(3) organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 919-814-5400. The license is not an endorsement by the State.
Volunteers are essential to C.H.A.N.C.E.'s work. We welcome attorneys, advocates, and professionals who want to contribute their skills to support military-connected survivors. No prior military law experience required — we provide the training.
Contact us to learn about volunteer opportunities.
Whether you are a survivor seeking information, a professional looking for training, or an organization interested in collaboration, we would like to hear from you.
C.H.A.N.C.E.
P.O. Box 3013
New Bern, NC 28564
Email us with a brief description of your situation. We will respond to assess whether your needs fall within our mission and current capacity. Do not include sensitive details in your first message.
Indicate whether you are seeking training, technical assistance, or consultation. We will follow up to discuss the right approach for your needs.
Use the contact info on this page to reach us with your contact information and a brief description of the matter.