Heroes Provide Help and Hope
Carousel Child Advocacy Center recognizes Brunswick County Assistant District Attorney Michele Morton as the 2025 Everyday Hero.
As a Brunswick County assistant district attorney, Michele Morton does not hesitate to tackle overwhelming challenges. She has been prosecuting cases for nearly 19 years and is determined to continue fighting to obtain justice for children.
Carousel Child Advocacy Center recently recognized Morton’s dedication and presented her with a plaque that named her the 2025 Everyday Hero. Nearly 200 people gathered for the Everyday Heroes Awards and Fundraising Luncheon at the St. James’ Homer E. Wright Event Center on September 24 to congratulate Morton on receiving the award.
Carousel Child Advocacy Center provides services to children who experience or witness physical abuse, sexual abuse or neglect. It handles 500 cases each year, 40 percent of which come from Brunswick County.
Amy Feath, executive director of the Carousel Center, told the crowd that it is fully accredited by the National Children’s Alliance and has served Brunswick County for 25 years. Its facility in Brunswick County opened in 2019.
In accepting the award, Morton said, “It has truly been an honor and a privilege of my life to be an advocate for victims, particularly an advocate for our most vulnerable population, minor children.”
Despite the oppositions, confrontations and disputes she encounters, Morton said she finds hope in the outcomes of the cases.
People dabbed at their tears as she described a minor girl who faced her molester and testified against him at a trial that lasted three weeks. When the verdict was heard, the defendant was found guilty on every count of child molestation and received 104 years in prison.
“She told her truth, and she became a survivor,” Morton said. “Now she is doing well; she is a thriver. That is because of our office, everyone in this room, and most importantly because of the Carousel Center.”
Another ray of hope Morton gave was a rape case of a 10-year-old girl, who said she did not want to be a lawyer because lawyer’s lie.
“He has a lawyer,” the girl told Morton. “He did this to me, and they’re going to say he didn’t, so they’re going to lie in court.”
Morton told the girl that as a lawyer, she and her team let the girl be heard and speak the truth.
“That’s what we did. After the trial, the judge believed her. That is the power of being heard and being believed. That is what our office is committed to doing with our incredible partner, the Carousel Center.”
The girl later told Morton she might be a lawyer.
Sheriff Brian Chism told the crowd that law enforcement and the Carousel Center rely on volunteers to provide the extensive services offered to the community.
“I promise I will fight to do what we can to correct what is happening and put the ones behind bars who abuse children,” he said. “It takes all of us to make this effective.”
The guest speaker, interior designer and motivational speaker Danielle Saintard Valiente of Wilmington, said that her heroes found her. She did not experience safety in her home when she was growing up in central Massachusetts. Although she was active in school, had friends and received all As, her parents did not acknowledge her successes or her abilities. They were physically and mentally abusive, and she yearned to leave home.
Valiente said her heroes were not blood relatives.
Her friend’s father co-signed her student loans. The Honda salesman helped her get a car when hers died, and painters in Wilmington encouraged her to create her own business, Port City Design Group, which she established 12 years ago.
“I turned my life around,” she said. “If you want to be an everyday hero to a child in our community, what it takes is love, support and protection to break the years of abuse, neglect and trauma.”
Valiente’s memoir, 180 Degrees: Emerging from Childhood Darkness, is available online and at bookstores.
Brunswick County District Attorney Jon David said the average age of a child that comes to the Carousel Center is four years old.
“This D.A.s office is going to continue to show up with you and for you in the future, not just for our partners but for our community,” David said. “We are your public servants, and we are grateful for this opportunity to provide for you.”
MORE INFORMATION
Carousel Child Advocacy Center
Brunwick County location: 20 Medical Campus Drive SW #106, Supply
Pender County Llocation: 311 S. McNeil Street, Burgaw
New Hanover County location: 1501 Dock Street, Wilmington
(910) 254-9898
email: information@carouselcenter.org
carouselcenter.org
Danielle Saintard Valiente
Port City Design Group, 3916 Oleander Drive, Wilmington
email: office@portcitydesigngroup.com
(910) 508-2175
daniellesaintardvaliente.com
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