Texas Bar Foundation Awards $5,000 Grant to IEA for Transformative Juvenile Justice Intervention

Judge Gordon Friesz and Joe Evans, IEA Program Director and Court Coordinator

IEA - Inspire, Encourage, Achieve proudly announces the receipt of a $5,000 grant from the Texas Bar Foundation for its innovative project aimed at transforming juvenile justice intervention in Southeast Texas through careful, dedicated court coordination and advocacy.

Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $27 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation's largest charitably-funded bar foundation.

Founded in 1997 by Regina Rogers and the late Julie Rogers to uphold Ben Rogers’ legacy of nurturing children with dignity and respect through knowledge, compassion, understanding, and love. Annually, IEA addresses the needs of hundreds of Southeast Texas youth who have crossed paths with the juvenile justice system or are at risk of delinquency.

IEA's project exemplifies a groundbreaking approach to addressing the challenges faced by youth across Jefferson County. Through court coordination and advocacy services offered in partnership with the Jefferson County Juvenile Court and the Jefferson County Juvenile Probation Department, IEA leads the charge in effecting enduring change in the lives of vulnerable youth. Often left confused and voiceless in court proceedings, youth involved in the justice system find solace in IEA's court coordination, advocacy, and role as guardian ad litem. These services bridge the gap between the court, legal representation, education system, and families, ensuring that youth receive the necessary care and services to prevent recidivism.

Judge Gordon Friesz, presiding over the 317th District Court, underscores the significance of IEA's partnership, stating, "Rather than having to guess what services and plan may be best for each child, IEA is able to give the Court a detailed analysis, in conjunction with the probation department, as to how to best attempt to provide services to our juvenile offenders in a way that can truly attempt to rehabilitate them and put them in a better position than when they first came before us."

For more information or to learn more about the IEA program and volunteer opportunities, please contact the IEA Service Coordinator, Donna Taylor at 409-839-8778.

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IEA – Inspire, Encourage, Achieve

The mission of IEA - Inspire, Encourage, Achieve, in partnership with the Minnie Rogers Juvenile Justice Center (MRJJC), is to inspire and encourage at-risk Southeast Texas youth to achieve through the provision of educational programming and rehabilitative services made available with compassion, understanding and love.