About US

History

In January 2000, Justice for Our Neighbors(JFON) legal clinics were begun by churches in Sioux City, Des Moines and Omaha. Attorneys from JFON in Washington DC flew in once a month to supervise the clinics and advise the clients. Volunteers coordinated the clinics and conducted the interviews.  In 2001 the three sites worked together to hire an attorney who was located in Omaha and drove to Sioux City and Des Moines twice a month for clinics and follow-up appointments with the clients. The program continued to expand - Iowa and Nebraska each became separate JFON regions with their own attorneys.  In 2008, Iowa hired a second full-time attorney. One attorney served JFON sites in Storm Lake and Des Moines, and the other served the JFON sites in Cedar Rapids and Columbus Junction.  In June 2010, Trina Scott Zuor resigned and Gary Walters conducted legal clinics at all four Iowa JFON Sites and served all of our clients until April 2011.  Brynne Howard began to work with Gary in March, and in April she was licensed as an attorney with the Iowa State Bar.  Now she will be conducting the JFON clinics in Storm Lake and Des Moines.

Although we are historically a project of the United Methodist Church, Iowa Justice For Our Neighbors is looking to the future.  We know that congregations in many denominations and faiths are looking for opportunities to welcome the newcomers in their communities.   We believe that our program offers such an opportunity. We want to expand by inviting representatives from other faiths and denominations to serve on our board and volunteers to serve at the legal clinics.  Financial support is needed and is an important way for congregations to be involved.  In return, Iowa JFON speakers welcome the chance to provide a space for faith-based dialogue on immigration issues and to present information about immigrants, their experience, and the gifts that they bring to our communities.

Iowa JFON Committee Members:

Ed McIntosh, Chairperson, Des Moines

Frank Camp, Vice Chairperson, Cedar Rapids

Jessica Maffitt, Financial Secretary, Des Moines

Mary Ellen Barber, Secretary and DM Site Coordinator, Polk City

Jim Davis, Financial Secretary, Ames

Kathleen Clark, Personnel Committee, Des Moines

Judy Wanned, National JFON, Sioux City

Judy Kading, Resources Coordinator, Creston

Jeff Abbas, Northeast District Representative, Dorchester

Maria Cardenas Downs, Central District Representative, Des Moines

Merle Ayres, North Central District Representative, Humboldt

Don Cullers, Northwest District Representative, Storm Lake

Mary Morris, South Central District Representative, Creston

Judy Brotherton, Southeast District Representative, Muscatine

Stephanie Simmons, Southwest District Representative, Guthrie Center

Dorothy Higdon, CR Site Coordinator, Cedar Rapids

Marsha Gerot, CJ Site Co-Coordinator, Coneseville

Carlos Rich, CJ Site Co-Coordinator, Washington

Marilyn Fields, SL Site Coordinator, Storm Lake