Jessie Nicholson, Executive Director - Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services

Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS) and its new Power Up Legal Clinic partners, the Twin Cities Cardozo Society and Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, were the inaugural recipients of the Interfaith Action of Greater St. Paul’s Interfaith Progress Award this past May. The Interfaith Progress Award recognizes organizations and programs whose work involves new, renewed, or expanded frontiers in interfaith cooperation, and addresses compelling community needs through interfaith partnership.

The Power Up Legal Clinic was started in 2016 when Morning Star’s Pastor Walker realized that many of his church members were approaching him with legal concerns. The clinic provides free, walk-in legal services to members of the broader community, as well as the church.

The mission of Interfaith Action is to “unite the people, resources, and voice of the faith community to build a more just, safe, and livable East Metro for all.” Read more about the clinic's dates and hours.