One of the biggest blessings to the Heart of the Westside Neighborhood is Flourish Community Development Corporation. Established in 2020, Flourish is a local nonprofit established by Schweitzer Church, that endeavors to reach out to the local community. After surveying the City of Springfield and holding some preliminary meetings with neighbors, they felt they wanted to have a presence in the Heart of the Westside Neighborhood.
According to studies done by Flourish, HOW currently faces some significant socioeconomic challenges, as 22% of adults have not completed high school, 52% of HOW households have incomes of less than $30,000 and crime in the neighborhood is twice the national average.
This led to Flourish setting up an office on West Division Street in the Heart of the Westside Neighborhood in July 2023. This new location establishes Flourish as a member of the community it desires to serve, and it makes them a neighbor to those in need.
In the nearly two years they have been on West Division Street, Flourish has:
- Visited neighbors, going door to door and handing out flags for Memorial Day and goodie bags for Thanksgiving and Good Neighbor Day.
- Held three community events, serving hot dogs, hamburgers, and ice cream, and playing games and making crafts.
- Served doughnuts and held a photo op for the first day of school at York Elementary.
- Helped to support the Good Dads program at York and Bisset elementary schools.
- Helped with the Heart of the Westside annual Neighborhood Clean-up.
Flourish also partners with businesses, churches, and nonprofits such as Convoy of Hope; operates a food pantry on East Sunshine Street, the Coach House program, supporting women emerging from challenging circumstances; life- change programs to help individuals secure employment, improve financial management, and develop healthier lifestyles and relationships; and serves as the resource coordinator for two mixed-income apartment communities in Springfield.
Wayne Thompson is the executive director of Flourish. He joined the Flourish team in the summer of 2022 and has his office on West Division Street. He has a heart for reaching the community and regularly attends the Heart of the Westside neighborhood meetings.
Wayne and Flourish have become an integral part of the mission of the Heart of the Westside Neighborhood to improve the quality of life of our community and to uphold our motto as “The Community That Cares.”