Volare: Redefining Justice Through Survivor Advocacy

Volare was founded in Washington, DC in 2012 (formerly the Network for Victim Recovery of DC) to answer a simple but urgent question: what can we do to ensure every survivor of crime can heal and pursue justice on their own terms? From day one, our answer has been comprehensive and practical—free wraparound support and services delivered together, and a motivation to ensure the existing responses to harm can meet the diverse needs of survivors. Today, Volare is a 501(c)(3) serving all survivors of crime with free legal, therapeutic, and advocacy services, while advancing policy and practice change across the District and beyond.

Origin and Impact

Volare was founded in 2012 as Network of Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC), with the goal of filling a gap to expand, support, and defend crime victims’ rights. In addition to providing legal and advocacy services, Volare provided crisis hospital response to sexual assault and rape survivors, maintaining a 100% response rate year one—advocating for survivors 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Since then, the organization has grown into a multi- disciplinary team of advocates, therapists, and attorneys that has empowered more than 13,000 survivors and launched dozens of initiatives to reach underserved communities and victimizations.

Survivor-Defined Justice

At the center of Volare’s model is survivor-defined justice—the belief that healing and
accountability must be decided by the person who experienced harm. Choice and agency remain with the survivor; our role is to provide accurate information, skilled guidance, and an array of pathways so each person can decide what justice looks like for them. That philosophy is not a slogan—it’s a practice embedded in every intake, every courtroom appearance, every therapy session, and every follow-up call we make.

A Vertical Advocacy Model that Reduces Re-Traumatization

Retelling one’s story can be re-traumatizing. Volare’s vertical advocacy model ensures
continuity: wherever possible, the same small team accompanies a survivor throughout their journey—attorney, a personal advocate, and a therapist working in tandem. This lowers the burden on survivors, preserves trust, and speeds problem-solving when needs evolve. It’s why, for example, a survivor can get help securing emergency housing, preparing for testimony, arranging safe transportation, and accessing EMDR therapy without starting over at each step.

From Direct Services to System Change

Volare pairs one-on-one services with strategic policy advocacy and litigation to shift the conditions survivors face. Through our legal program, survivors receive direct representation in crime victims’ rights matters, civil protection and anti-stalking orders, and Title IX processes—whether or not they choose to pursue criminal charges. Our DV LEAP project extends that advocacy to appellate courts nationwide, challenging unjust outcomes and filing amicus briefs—even up to the Supreme Court—so individual cases can advance rights for many. We also innovate where the system falls short. Survivors’ Rights Watch mobilizes trained volunteers to observe DC Superior Court proceedings and document rights violations or gaps in support—data that helps us press for reforms that make rights real in courtrooms.

Building Trauma-Responsive Ecosystems

Volare’s mission reaches beyond the individual to the ecosystem—because healing doesn’t end with a single case. We train partners in healthcare, education, and justice systems to embed trauma-informed principles: safety, stability, empowerment, and choice. Our goal is a restorative ecosystem where schools, hospitals, corporations and public agencies prevent re-traumatization and respond effectively when harm occurs. Organizational leadership advances this vision through the international Trauma-Education Project and ongoing community education initiatives, including specialized trainings that help organizations build resilient teams.

Why Now

The demand for survivor-centered, trauma-informed services remains high—and the window for systemic progress is open. Volare’s blend of direct service, impact litigation, and policy advocacy ensures every donor dollar touches both the person and the process. With over 13,000 survivors supported to date and robust programs across legal, advocacy, and therapeutic services, Volare is positioned to convert generosity into durable, measurable change in the nation’s capital and beyond.

In being recognized by UNA-NCA, we celebrate a shared commitment: that human rights begin at home, in every emergency room, courtroom, classroom, and neighborhood. Together with UNA-NCA’s community, Volare will keep building a trauma-responsive ecosystem where survivors define justice—and where systems are redesigned to deliver it.

To learn more about Volare, visit our website at volare-empowers.org. You can also sign up for our newsletter to get involved with events, and pro bono and volunteering opportunities using this link: https://bit.ly/volare-updates.