“I work at the Advocacy Center because I believe in creating and sustaining a world where every person is heard, supported, and empowered — especially those whose voices have been silenced by trauma, violence, or injustice. This work allows me to stand alongside the most vulnerable members of our community, advocate for systemic change, and support the dedicated staff who also do this work. Every day at the Advocacy Center reaffirms my commitment to making a meaningful difference, not just in individual lives, but in the broader community.“

Experience

• Larissa sets the organization’s strategic direction and ensures financial sustainability of the organization. She also oversees program development, budgeting, and reporting while also leading fundraising efforts and cultivating key community partnerships advocates for justice, fostering community relationships, and driving thought leadership on key issues.
• Before joining the Advocacy Center in May 2025, Larissa served as the Regional Managing Attorney of Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Piedmont region, where she oversaw the Charlotte, Concord and Gastonia offices. She also served as the Managing Attorney for the Charlotte office, managing the Charlotte office’s operations, personnel and case work in a variety of practice areas, including landlord-tenant, domestic violence, family and consumer law. Prior to serving as Regional Managing Attorney, Larissa worked in various roles at Legal Aid of North Carolina, including as supervising attorney with their statewide Pro Bono Program, supervising attorney with the Domestic Violence Unit at Legal Aid – Charlotte, and as a domestic violence staff attorney in the Concord, Raleigh and Durham offices. In those roles, she primarily represented survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse in their civil protection order cases. Throughout her career, Larissa has been a tireless advocate for marginalized populations, continually working to ensure access to justice and fairness in civil legal matters.

Education

• University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude
• Quinnipiac University School of Law, Juris Doctorate, cum laude
• Harvard Business School, Executive Management Leadership Program

Professional Affiliations:

• American Bar Association
• North Carolina Bar Association
• Cabarrus County Bar Association
• Mecklenburg Bar Association