Shuttleworth & Ingersoll Partners with Four Oaks for Juneteenth Service Project
Juneteenth commemorates the anniversary of the day in 1865 when the last group of enslaved black Americans were freed by Union troops. It is not only a celebration of freedom, but also one of opportunity, equity, and access.
This year, in recognition of Juneteenth and the firm’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, roughly 60 attorneys and staff of Shuttleworth & Ingersoll donated over 300 hours to make improvements to outdoor spaces and assist with legal forms for the Four Oaks Enterprise. They generously gave their time and effort to help at the Jane Boyd Community House and Cedar Valley Townhomes in Cedar Rapids.
Shuttleworth & Ingersoll representatives constructed a pergola on the playground at the Jane Boyd Community House for the children attending Achievement Academy, an out-of-school educational enrichment program for children in under-served areas. The trees shading the playground were destroyed in the 2020 derecho, and the pergola will allow children to safely play outside again on hot, sunny days. They also mulched the entire playground, providing a protective ground cushion for active children.
The firm partnered with the Entrepreneur Edge Program at the Jane Boyd Community House to prepare general legal forms. The program focuses on developing and supporting minority-owned entrepreneurs and small business owners in the Cedar Rapids area.
At Cedar Valley Townhomes, an Affordable Housing Network, Inc. property for diverse populations with lower incomes, attorneys and staff refreshed garden beds and filled them filled with flowers for an inviting atmosphere, and spread mulch throughout the playground shared by the townhomes. In addition, they went above and beyond to fill the community’s food pantry with over $400 worth of food.
The day kicked off with Mary Beth O’Neill, Four Oaks President and CEO, welcoming volunteers and speaking of the impact their work would have on the community. Four Oaks’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program Coordinator Ashley Turner also greeted the group and shared highlights of Four Oaks’ commitment to DEI. At lunch, a Cedar Valley resident spoke to the crowd, sharing her inspirational story of moving into Cedar Valley Townhomes with Section 8 funding and her climb to home-ownership.
Four Oaks would like to thank Shuttleworth & Ingersoll for their Juneteenth initiative, and the generous sponsors listed below for plant and tree donations. Additionally, we thank all volunteers for their time and effort. Their selflessness and service to our community at a grassroots level impacts many lives and exemplifies Shuttleworth and Ingersoll’s motto that “We Are Stronger Together.”
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About Four Oaks
Four Oaks, headquartered in Cedar Rapids, is one of Iowa’s largest child welfare, juvenile justice, and behavioral health agencies. For more information, visit fouroaks.org.