Prosper Springfield is a collective impact model initiative knitting together the community’s efforts to lift people out of poverty. The initiative connects all the work currently being done and capitalizes on the momentum of successful programs such as the City’s Zone Blitz and The Northwest Project. Prosper Springfield’s goal is to achieve a 5 percent reduction in poverty in Springfield by 2025.
This important initiative is led by Francine Pratt with Community Partnership of the Ozarks and United Way of the Ozarks. She is described by fellow colleagues as having a “strategic mind and a compassionate heart,” and has more than 25 years of experience in leading government, private, public and non-profit organizations with a focus on developing community client sustainability, customer service and family support work in the public and private sectors.
Through Prosper Springfield, Pratt is working with more than 300 partner organizations to develop a strategic alignment of efforts to create an environment in which people can measurably improve their education, health and housing while becoming better employed and financially secure.
“I am excited to be a part of this collaborative opportunity to make true positive impact for the community,” Pratt said. “Bringing together all of those who are moving toward the same goal of helping lift people out of poverty is going to create significant change in many lives.”
Comprehensive efforts to address poverty began when Community Partnership of the Ozarks convened the 30-plus member, multidisciplinary Impacting Poverty Commission. From the beginning, the commission was trained on the aspects of collective impact. Every sector of the community was represented around the meeting table, and with the City’s Community Listen tour through nine northwest Springfield neighborhoods, the community was well represented in sharing what they wanted and what they needed, Pratt said.
The commission issued a Report and Call to Action in 2015 and provided an update in early 2017. From there, Prosper Springfield was launched to put the commission’s Call to Action to work. Pratt became director of Prosper Springfield in early 2017. Pratt continues to develop new partnerships with those working to reduce poverty in Springfield. If your group or organization would like to learn how to be involved in the Prosper Springfield collective impact model, contact Pratt at fpratt@cpozarks.org to schedule a time to meet with her.
In her own words …
What do you hope to personally accomplish through your work with Prosper Springfield?
“To reach the goal of reducing poverty by 5% by the year 2025 in our city, county, and ethnic groups.”
What benefits have you seen from using the collective impact model to approach poverty reduction?
“The collective impact model is beneficial because the people who benefit from the initiative are the ones at the table, designing it. In other words, the creators of the project are directly impacted by its outcomes and therefore invested in its success. In addition, the collective impact model provides an opportunity for different entities in our community to learn more about one another. This serves to reduce overlap and allows our community partners to leverage resources more efficiently.”
How has your past work prepared you to lead the Prosper Springfield initiative?
“All of my prior work has involved assisting people who need a hand up. I have worked in the health care field, child support, and consumer services. Here in Springfield, I’ve worked with Isabel’s House, the Drury Scholars Program, and Multi-Cultural Programs at MSU. What’s unique about my work experience here in Springfield is that I am now able to identify needs from newborns to college graduates, rather than just adults at their time of need.”
What is your dream for Prosper Springfield with regard to our community?
“My dream for Prosper Springfield is for employers (who can/are able) to provide more opportunities for entry-level, low-income employees to earn just a few more dollars. This would not only fill vacant positions and benefit businesses, but it allows these individuals to improve their skills and prove their capabilities. When entry-level, low-income individuals are given the opportunity to prosper, their families will prosper too.”