NORA: Providing Support and Advocacy for Survivors of Sexual Violence

NORA team from left to right: Kathy Serna (Victim Advocate), Adriane Lamar Snider (CEO), Karla Saucedo (Director of Operations), Natalie Knox (Program Support Advocate), LaPorscha Lopez (Mental Health Coordinator). (Photo courtesy of NORA).

Overview: NORA, formerly known as the Riverside Area Rape Crisis Center, offers culturally responsive and inclusive advocacy, help, and services to survivors and families affected by sexual violence. The organization provides a hybrid model of in-person and virtual support and offers a 24-hour hotline. NORA’s year-to-date stats include 747 hotline calls, 112 accompanied forensic hospital exams, 1,343 provided counseling sessions, 710 people newly enrolled into programs, and 25 people assisted with restraining orders. NORA’s mental health coordinator, LaPorscha Lopez, emphasizes the importance of honoring the survivors’ autonomy and advises that for any emergency, the primary contact should be 911.During Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, Black Voice News reached out to Nurture, Outreach, Resilience, and Advocacy or NORA and spoke with LaPorscha Lopez, the organization’s mental health coordinator to learn more about the organization and its important work. 

Founded in 1973,  the nonprofit organization NORA was formerly known as the Riverside Area Rape Crisis Center (RARCC) until it changed its name in 2024.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) has ended, but the importance of the cause it highlights, is ongoing. Nearly half of all women and more than 1 in 6 men have experienced some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetimes, according to the CDC.any of these cases go unreported. NORA offers culturally responsive and inclusive advocacy, help and services to survivors and families affected by sexual violence.

Lopez is a licensed associate professional clinical counselor and associate marriage and family therapist who has been with NORA since 2023. She originally joined NORA as a part time therapist, a role that later evolved into her becoming the mental health coordinator and still provides support to survivors therapeutically. 

NORA offers a hybrid model of in-person and virtual support to align with what best suits the survivors’ needs. However, they don’t accept walk-ins and prioritize knowing exactly who’s coming to the center, and when they are coming. NORA’s doors remain locked 24/7 and has a security system in place to screen for visitors in order to protect the folks in the center and staff at all times. 

Their year to date stats include about 747 hotline calls, 112 accompanied forensic hospital exams, 1,343 provided counseling sessions, 710 people newly enrolled into programs, and they assisted about 25 people with restraining orders, according to Lopez.

Lopez shared that not all, but most of the survivors that come to NORA, lack a genuine support system and come from generations of complex trauma. She explained that many of the survivors do not have a lot of people in their lives with  the capacity to support them the way that they need and deserve to feel supported. 

“It genuinely feels amazing. It’s very fulfilling. I always tell people, this work has to be for you, because it’s hard, it’s heavy. Not every day looks the same. Some days are light, but some days can be really heavy. You really have to love this work, and you really have to be invested in this work for those reasons, because burnout can happen,” Lopez stated.

“ If you need someone to listen to you; if you want to learn about available resources; if you are ready to engage and walk a mental health journey; if you just want someone to hold your hand during a forensic exam or even at a law enforcement interview, whatever it is that you need, we at NORA, we can definitely meet you where you’re at,” Lopez expressed.

The NORA team in collaboration with the Inland Southern California United Way team on Denim Day in Riverside. (Photo Courtesy of NORA)

For those who are looking to support survivors Lopez advises that they listen more than they speak. Lopez also suggests one avoids trying to fix the situation because not everyone needs to fix it in the immediate moment. They may just want to be heard first. 

“On the flip side of that, when I’m interfacing directly with a survivor or someone who’s just calling the hotline, it’s always about acknowledging that your reactions and your feelings are valid. We believe you. It doesn’t matter what happened. We don’t always need to know the story. We don’t even always need to know the details,” Lopez said.

 “I always encourage my clients, [to] stay patient. This is a long journey. This can sometimes become a forever journey for some. You just want to take your time with your healing and making the decisions that are best for you,” Lopez continued.

Lopez emphasized the importance of honoring the survivors’ autonomy and whatever they want or need. She always reminds her clients that their only obligation in that moment is themselves and that they can think about others later. Lopez also advises that for any emergency the primary contact should be 911 to ensure a survivor’s safety. If it’s a non threatening or dangerous emergency, the survivor can begin connecting with other hotlines or organizations that can assist them in other aspects such as The Riverside Area Rape Crisis Center 24-hour hotline:  (951) 686-RAPE (7273)/ (866) 686-7273 (toll free), the LGBTQ National Hotline: 888-843-4564, the Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860, the Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255/ Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988,  Adult Protective Services: 800-491-7123, and Child Protective Services: 800-442-4918.

Banner Bank in Riverside, NORA’s (SAAM) partner, came together with NORA to host a Denim Day 2026 Community Celebration at Banner Bank on April 29, 2026. 

Denim Day is a global awareness movement originating from a sexual assault case from Italy in 1992 where a 45-year old driving instructor was convicted of raping an 18-year old driving student and sentenced to jail.Years later the case was overturned with the argument that the girl was wearing tight jeans so she had to have helped the perpetrator remove them which they deemed made it not rape and consensual. Angered by the verdict, women in the Italian Parliament began a protest where they wore jeans on the steps of the Supreme Court.The first Denim Day in L.A. was held in April 1999, and it has continued annually since. Communities wear denim to stand with survivors and promote accountability, prevention and healing.

“It doesn’t matter what anyone has on or what anyone’s wearing, that never gives you the right to touch someone in any way without their consent. We stand in solitude and we stand with folks, just all survivors all across the world,” Lopez said.

NORA had multiple events happening on Denim Day including visiting Moreno Valley College, University of California, Riverside and Banner Banks for their partnered Denim Day event. At the Banner Bank event their goal was to continue to bring awareness to the community, and also to spread the word in terms of fundraising.

“We really are suffering right now from funding loss on a federal and state level. We’ve lost [a] significant amount of funding just within this fiscal year, Lopez. She estimated the loss to be well  over $250,000, funding the organization needs to continue supporting its clients, Lopez explained. 

“In order to continue supporting this community in the way that we are, in the way that we have been, we really need to be able to also rely on our community to help us to continue to provide that support,” Lopez continued.

To reach NORA on their 24-hour hotline call (951) 686-7273.