Supporting and Growing Communities

Nonprofits support the quality of life in many neighborhoods. The diversity and breath of the work they do is wide-ranging and remarkable. Fredrikson lawyers and staff help support this work by providing pro bono legal services to new and established organizations.

Finding transportation to and from jobs can be a large problem in rural areas for those who want to work but are unable to find rides. One creative individual developed a transportation program, Job Rides, whose mission is to provide everyone with equal access to employment, including, for example, Afghani refugees, individuals recently released from incarceration, those who are allowed out on a work release program and the homeless. They do this by partnering with businesses, organizations and individuals to provide affordable, reliable transportation for those who need it most and with the belief that work is the key to a better life for all. They partner with employers in the Des Moines area, primarily in the manufacturing space, to shuttle no- or low-income individuals to jobs they otherwise could not access. The organization is committed to ensuring that no one is left behind because of lack of transportation. The project has become so successful, they are looking to expand beyond Des Moines across the state of Iowa. This was a creative team effort that brought together lawyers and paralegals from multiple offices, including Austin Goodnight, Bridget Penick and Tracy Deutmeyer in Iowa who, with David Tibbals and paralegal Christy Carrier in Fargo, incorporated the organization as a nonprofit and provided intellectual property protections. The team continues to assist the organization with ongoing contract review work. The client is very appreciative of the work of the Fredrikson team.