Meet Us

Laura Helton serves as Interim Executive Director of JusticeMatters, providing leadership during a critical period of organizational transition. A mission-driven nonprofit executive with experience leading complex organizations through growth and change, Laura is committed to ensuring that vulnerable children, families, and immigrants continue to have access to high-quality legal services and advocacy.

Laura has a lengthy history with JusticeMatters, first joining staff in 2011 as Director of Operations. Laura returned to JusticeMatters staff in 2023, serving as Managing Director, where she led organizational operations and administration, including finance, development, human resources, information technology, and cross-functional strategic initiatives. Throughout her career, she has built expertise in nonprofit leadership, board governance, fundraising, organizational development, and stakeholder engagement. Her professional background also includes leadership roles in nonprofit real estate development and management, banking, and community development, where she managed multimillion-dollar budgets, complex operations, and highly matrixed team structures.

A lifelong advocate for strengthening communities, Laura is actively involved in civic, educational, and faith-based organizations throughout the Triangle. She serves in volunteer leadership roles with local schools, youth programs, and her church, and is passionate about creating systems and partnerships that help individuals and families thrive.

Laura received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, during which she spent a year in the Czech Republic, where she researched both the systemic marginalization of the Romani, the country’s largest ethnic minority, as well as the political and social transition from communism to democracy through the Velvet Revolution and beyond. Laura has dedicated much of her career to advancing mission-driven organizations that create meaningful and lasting impact. She lives in Durham, North Carolina, with her husband and four children. 

Betsy Divers is Director of Education & Client Support Services with JM, overseeing both internal and external training and the provision of trauma-informed client support services. A member of the JM team since 2018, Betsy developed JM’s trauma-informed language access services and assisted in the provision of client support services. Born in Argentina to parents from Virginia and North Carolina, Betsy was raised speaking two languages and embracing life between cultures. She left Argentina to attend the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA, where she obtained a B.S. in Psychology and Spanish Language and Literature. Previously, Betsy worked in the field of Training and Instructional Design, which happily involved travel to many places, both domestic and abroad. JM is a space where the things that matter most to Betsy happen on a daily basis, and for that she is continually grateful. 

Cheryl Chew is Managing Attorney of JM, overseeing the provision of trauma-informed family law and immigration legal services through a team of eleven attorneys and paralegals. Cheryl joined JM in 2013 as the agency’s first immigration staff attorney and then immigration section lead, specializing in humanitarian immigration law to serve survivors of human trafficking and other crimes. Cheryl continues to represent clients in seeking immigration relief before the Department of Homeland Security. Over the past 11 years, Cheryl has led in the development and implementation of trauma-informed design across all areas of the organization, particularly within JM’s direct services teams. Prior to JusticeMatters, Cheryl obtained immigration law experience with the North Carolina Justice Center’s Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project and UNC School of Law’s Immigration Clinic. Cheryl received her B.A. from Duke University and her J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law. 

Edith Galvan Lopez is Director of Impact & Engagement with JM. A member of the Client Services Team since 2020, Edith works to support clients and their families, as well as the JM team, through leadership in program design, monitoring, and evaluation and community engagement. Edith’s devotion to social justice brought her to JM during her final year of college, and after completing her Social Work Practicum with JM, she joined staff as Client Services Specialist to provide client support services. Integral to the development of JM’s trauma-informed client support services, Edith was quickly promoted to Program Specialist to assist with program design, monitoring, and evaluation and to ensure access for JM’s clients with limited English proficiency. Edith’s commitment to the immigrant community has also prompted her to serve as a volunteer advocate with immigrant-serving organizations and as a mentor to undocumented immigrant families. Originally from Mexico, Edith’s family moved to North Carolina when she was five years old and she considers Raleigh her hometown. Edith received her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Meredith College and her Master of Social Work degree from the University of North Carolina School of Social Work. She will serve as project coordinator and support program design, monitoring, and evaluation for the Trauma-Informed Legal Services Program for Kinship Caregivers.

Jessica Jones serves as Chair of the Board of Directors and brings a lifetime of leadership, service, and community engagement to the organization. A dedicated homeschooling mother of three, Jessica has devoted her adult life to investing in families, faith communities, and local organizations through ministry, mentorship, coaching, and volunteer leadership.

A former church planter and Christian ministry leader, Jessica has helped build and strengthen faith communities while providing spiritual guidance and support to individuals and families. Her leadership is marked by wisdom, discernment, and a deep commitment to servant leadership. She is widely respected for her ability to bring people together around a shared mission and navigate complex decisions with grace and clarity.

Jessica is also a former standout lacrosse player at the University of North Carolina and an accomplished coach. As head coach of the East Chapel Hill High School women’s lacrosse team, she led the program to a state championship in 2021 and mentored numerous athletes who went on to compete at the NCAA Division I level.

As Board Chair, Jessica combines strategic thinking, relationship-building, and a steadfast commitment to JusticeMatters’ mission. She lives in Durham with her husband, Matt, and their three children.

Andre Mann is a strategic leader and entrepreneur with extensive experience leading businesses, nonprofit initiatives, and ministry efforts in complex and emerging markets around the world. Throughout his career, he has held operational and leadership roles across the Caribbean, Mexico, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Indonesia, and the United States, developing expertise in organizational strategy, cross-cultural leadership, and sustainable impact.

Currently serving as Strategy Director for a family charitable fund based in Atlanta, Andre works with nonprofit organizations and mission-driven initiatives to maximize effectiveness and long-term impact. He also brings decades of experience in international ministry, leadership development, and community engagement, helping organizations navigate growth, change, and innovation in diverse settings.

Andre earned a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. His service has included leadership and support for numerous local and international ministries, including Team Hope and JusticeMatters. Known for his entrepreneurial mindset and global perspective, Andre brings valuable strategic insight to the board’s work.

Based in Atlanta with his wife and family, Andre maintains deep roots in the Triangle region and remains committed to advancing justice, opportunity, and community transformation.

Dzidzai Muyengwa is a public health professional and research leader with expertise in global health, health equity, maternal and child health, and implementation science. She currently serves as Research Program Manager for the UNC Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, where she oversees research operations and supports collaborative efforts to improve health outcomes in communities around the world.

Prior to her current role, Dzidzai worked with the UNC Center for Health Equity Research, providing program management and operational leadership for research initiatives focused on reducing health disparities. She also served at the Global Health Innovation Center, where she conducted research on the development, introduction, and scaling of innovative maternal and child health solutions in low-resource settings.

Raised in Zimbabwe, Dzidzai brings a global perspective and a deep commitment to ensuring that all people have access to the resources and opportunities needed to live healthy lives. Her work is driven by a passion for health equity, community-engaged research, and translating evidence into meaningful impact. She brings valuable expertise in research, program management, and community partnership to the board’s work.