2014 Most Influential Women Honoree: Cora Scott

Cora Scott is the voice of the people. As director of public information and civic engagement for the city of Springfield, Scott describes herself as a cheerleader, leading individuals and groups to dream big.

“I lead by example and always try to be a spark plug, encouraging innovation and out-of-the-box thinking,” she says. “Success is attainable if you have the right attitude.”

Scott’s voice can be heard spearheading new initiatives such as the Public Entities Diversity Communication Team, Community Attitude Survey Team, Birthplace of Route 66 campaign and the Springfield Emergency Management Public Information Team. Scott also has opened a new Citizen Resource Center on the first floor of the Busch Building, is in the process of revamping the city’s online properties to provide more access to residents and will launch a smartphone app to help facilitate more connections.

“In a few months, [residents] will be able to interact with their local government in so many additional ways,” she says.

Scott’s voice was heard loudest in August 2013 as she organized the Unity March on the Square to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. She spearheaded the event with members of the newly formed Greater Springfield Race & Faith Collaborative.

“It was a moment of healing in Springfield and I believe the start of the dawn of a new day,” she says, noting it drew a crowd of about 1,500 people.

More than a year later, Scott says the Queen City has turned a corner on embracing diversity to become a more welcoming community. Through the Unity March, Scott helped launch a year-long journey to help promote a deeper understanding of race and race relations in the community, culminating in July with the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act.

When she’s not speaking up for Springfield residents, Scott says she also is a connector of people and ideas, saying she goes the extra mile to connect needs and resources.

“I encourage people to follow their passion and work for the common good that relates,” she says, noting the work of more than a dozen of her former interns now impacts the Springfield community.

In just under three years with the city, Scott’s voice is coming through loud and clear.

“When Cora was hired, the civic engagement portion of her title was added because we felt with routine voter turnouts of 9, 10 and 12 percent, there needed to be extra effort,” says Springfield Mayor Bob Stephens, noting during her tenure the city’s civic trust rating  has gone up twice. “I attribute that increase, although incremental, to Cora’s expanded role and improved communications with the community.”

Scott’s latest project teams her with Springfield City Manager Greg Burris to tackle the city’s growing poverty rate.

“We continue to shine a white-hot spotlight on the issues of poverty in our community,” she says. “We are working to address the causes, not just the symptoms.”[[In-content Ad]]