C.H.A.N.C.E. was founded by Diva Edel, a victims' rights attorney who identified a gap in access to legal services for crime victims in North Carolina. After voters passed Marsy's Law in 2018, Diva recognized that many victims still did not understand the protections available to them. She founded C.H.A.N.C.E. in 2023 to provide education, awareness, and legal advocacy so that no victim would navigate the justice system alone.
When Ruth A. Cresenzo, J.D. — a retired Lieutenant Colonel, Judge Advocate, and nationally recognized authority on military-connected victim advocacy — assumed leadership of the organization, she continued the commitment to all crime victims while launching the organization's first primary initiative focused on military-connected survivors.
Drawing from more than 24 years of military legal service, including senior leadership in developing and resourcing the National Guard's Special Victims' Counsel program, Ruth recognized that military-connected victims routinely fall into gaps between systems. Under her direction, C.H.A.N.C.E. is developing a volunteer attorney network model, expanded professional training, and building toward competency standards in this critical practice area.
C.H.A.N.C.E. today stands on a foundation of victims' rights and education for all crime victims, with a focused first initiative building expertise, partnerships, and a model designed to expand across all areas of victim representation.
Executive Director, C.H.A.N.C.E. | Retired Lieutenant Colonel (Judge Advocate), U.S. Army & National Guard
Attorney • Educator • Victim Advocate
Ruth A. Cresenzo is a nationally recognized authority on military-connected victim advocacy and cross-system legal practice. After more than 24 years of military service — including senior national leadership roles where she helped develop, structure, and secure resourcing for the National Guard's Special Victims' Counsel program — she assumed leadership of C.H.A.N.C.E. to address the critical gaps she witnessed firsthand.
Her career has focused on one central purpose: ensuring that victims are not lost in the space between systems, and that the professionals who serve them have the knowledge, tools, and coordination to do it well. Closing gaps for victims is not just her mission — it is her life's work.
As Executive Director, Ruth serves as the central hub for C.H.A.N.C.E.'s volunteer attorney network. She screens cases, identifies legal issues, matches victims with trained volunteer attorneys, and provides ongoing mentorship and technical support throughout representation. This model ensures every case benefits from her deep expertise while expanding the organization's capacity to serve victims across the state and nation.
When survivors understand their systems, and have someone to help navigate them, they reclaim power.
Ruth speaks nationally on the intersection of military and civilian justice, victims' rights, and cross-system advocacy. With 30+ speaking engagements nationwide, she brings practical expertise to conferences, bar associations, and professional trainings.
May 2026 · Upcoming
"Working With Military Victim Counsel to Supplement Representation" — Ruth is honored to present at the National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI) conference in Portland, addressing the gaps between military victim counsel systems and civilian legal practice.
Interested in connecting at the conference or booking Ruth as a speaker? Contact us
C.H.A.N.C.E. was founded by Diva Edel, a victims' rights attorney who recognized that many crime victims in North Carolina lacked access to clear information about their rights and effective legal advocacy. After Marsy's Law passed in 2018, Diva created C.H.A.N.C.E. to educate victims, hold systems accountable, and empower survivors with the knowledge and support they needed — and received 501(c)(3) non-profit status in 2023.
Diva's founding vision — that every crime victim deserves to be informed, supported, and heard — remains at the heart of C.H.A.N.C.E.'s mission today.