Pro Bono Assistance Helps Save After School Programs and Jobs

Los Angeles partners David Zaheer and Ted Dillman along with associate Scott French quickly and diligently negotiated an agreement to facilitate the transfer and continued operation of after-school programs on approximately 80 school campuses from Youth Policy Institute to Latham pro bono client, Think Together. Support was also provided by partners Julie Crisp and Joe Farrell, counsel Emily Yu and paralegal Susan Omokawa. 

Think Together is a California-based nonprofit organization that partners with school districts to offer expanded learning programs for children in low-income communities and is stepping up to assume the operation of many of the Youth Policy Institute programs. Youth Policy Institute, an LA based non-profit, offered critical after school programs, job training, tax preparation and other services targeting low-income families. Youth Policy Institute recently announced that, following the removal of its Chief Executive, it would cease operations. 

Thankfully, Think Together stepped up and with the help of the Latham team, negotiated the transfer of programs and staff. Working with Think Together leadership, along with the California Department of Education, the Latham team helped to facilitate the continuation of programs on MANY campuses along with over 400 full and part-time positions, serving over 10,000 children. 

“We knew that Think Together was in a unique position to step in to offer immediate financial and operational support to these programs, so that children and their families would receive uninterrupted services. We had to act quickly, and we are grateful to Latham & Watkins for their valuable counsel and unselfish dedication of their time as we navigated this transaction, ” said Randy Barth, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Think Together. 

“Thanks to Think Together, many of the programs that would have closed will be able to continue on to help serve the needs of students in low-income communities,” said Latham & Watkins partner, Ted Dillman. 

“It’s a great day when we can use our knowledge and experience to find a solution to what could have been a devastating blow to the community,” said Latham & Watkins partner, David Zaheer. 

The Latham team had only days to evaluate and determine the options for Think Together and were able to turn around a winning solution that helped keep these vital programs going in these underserved communities as well as protect jobs. In the days to come, the team will continue to help Think Together implement the agreement.