$613K in funding gathered for gun violence initiative

Nearly $613,000 in funding is in place to support a new gun safety and gun violence initiative in Springfield and Greene County.

Community Partnership of the Ozarks Inc., the city of Springfield and Greene County are among organizations leading Springfield-Greene County’s Gun Safety and Gun Violence Reduction Collaborative, according to a news release. A news conference announcing the initiative was held Monday.

Melody Shuck, CPO's vice president of communications, said in an email yesterday that the collaborative has secured a $488,580 grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health, $94,050 in startup funds from the city of Springfield and $30,000 from CPO. That puts the total at $612,630 over the next three years, Shuck said.

Francine Pratt, a CPO employee who leads the Prosper Springfield poverty reduction initiative, is serving as co-chair of the new gun violence collaborative. She said the initial funding is "crucial to learn and understand what we know and do not know to save more lives in our community."

"The funds will be used for outreach and marketing in the community to educate responsible gun owners about ways to safely secure their personal firearms," Pratt said via email yesterday. "Funds will also be used for several pilot type projects and community analysis to build trusting relationships with youth and young adults who may not have access or know about opportunities for successful futures."

Planned pilot projects include personal development and self-expression workshops, the creation of a street outreach program and the provision of safe spaces for youth, Pratt added.

Pratt is co-chairing Springfield-Greene County’s Gun Safety and Gun Violence Reduction Collaborative with Clay Goddard, president of Burrell Behavioral Health's southwest region, according to the release.

The collaborative's guiding team also includes:
• Springfield Mayor Ken McClure
• Springfield City Council member Monica Horton
• Springfield City Manager Jason Gage
• Cora Scott, the city of Springfield's director of public information and civic engagement
• Springfield Police Department Chief Paul Williams
• Greene County Sherriff Jim Arnott
• Pastor Roger Franklin of Action Center/Heart Church
• Roc Hagen of Hip Hop Dress Out Fashion
• Janet Dankert, CEO of CPO
• Chris Davis, vice president of prevention and youth support at CPO