March 4, 2022
Series kicks off yearlong effort to move needle on community issues
The Community Foundation of the Ozarks and the Darr Family Foundation are presenting “Community Focus Report: Network for Progress,” a new approach to resolving the “Red Flags” and maintaining the “Blue Ribbons” identified in the biennial community report card. The initiative will foster connections among public and private organizations to advance progress on issues in Springfield and Greene County through community collaboration.
“Network for Progress” will begin with five facilitated sessions to explore the “Blue Ribbons” and “Red Flags” of the 2021 Community Focus Report. Representatives from organizations serving Springfield and Greene County that work in the related topic areas are invited to attend the initial exploration sessions and join the network for each theme.
Each facilitated session takes place from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Hospitality Room of Missouri State University’s Meyer Alumni Center, 300 S. Jefferson Ave. in Springfield:
- Neighborhood & Built Environment: Wednesday, March 30
- Related topic areas: Natural Environment; Public Order & Safety; Transportation; Recreation, Sport & Leisure
- Education Access & Quality: Wednesday, April 27
- Related topic areas: Early Childhood; Education
- Social & Community Context: Wednesday, May 25
- Related topic areas: Citizen Participation; Arts & Culture
- Economic Stability: Wednesday, June 15
- Related topic areas: Business & Economic Development; Housing
- Healthcare Access & Quality: Wednesday, July 27
- Related topic area: Community Health
The sessions are free to attend but seating is limited and registration is required. For more information and to register, visit cfozarks.org/networkoverview.
A network will be developed for each of the five themes, co-chaired by representatives from both a public and private organization. Following the initial sessions, each network group will meet several times throughout the year to develop strategies to move the needle on “Red Flags” and “Blue Ribbons” ahead of the first planning meetings for the 2023 Community Focus Report in February 2023. Special grant opportunities will be available for viable projects that emerge from the networks.
The initial network sessions will be led by Dr. Jonathan Groves, facilitator for the Community Focus Report and chair of Drury University’s Communications Department, and Dr. Regina Waters, professor emerita of Drury University. “Network for Progress” is coordinated by Holly Beadle, director of philanthropic services from the CFO, and Heather Zoromski, executive director of the Darr Family Foundation.
The biennial Community Focus Report for Springfield and Greene County is produced by subject experts for each chapter topic represented on a joint steering committee that guides final publication. Morey Mechlin, a member of the CFO Board of Directors, chairs the Steering Committee; Dr. Jonathan Groves, chair of Drury University’s Communication Department, serves as facilitator.
