The former leader of Isabel’s House and a past executive for Drury and Missouri State universities is returning to Springfield to lead a new city poverty initiative.
Francine Pratt is scheduled to start this spring as director of the Prosper Springfield campaign. City officials yesterday held a news conference about the initiative.
In her new position, Pratt will work with over 300 partner organizations to help Springfieldians in poverty gain access to education, health care, housing, employment and financial security programs. Prosper Springfield is intended to build off two current poverty initiatives underway: the city’s Zone Blitz and The Northwest Project, according to a news release. Those initiatives have worked to reduce poverty in Zone 1.
Pratt moved to California in
October 2015 to care for her ailing father; his health has since improved.
“This 18-month experience made me appreciate more of what is important in life. My father is still very important to me and now has a stronger support group around him,” Pratt said in the release. “However, I missed my husband, I missed my home and Springfield has always been my home.
“I missed serving and providing opportunities to those who may need a hand up.”
In January, the city officials through the Impacting Poverty Commission released a one-year update detailing the poverty status in Springfield.
During 2016, median household income ticked up to $32,473 from $32,333 in 2015, and the unemployment rate dropped to 4.8 percent from 5.1 percent.
“Our nonprofits, social service and health care providers, educational institutions, employers and local government have a tremendous positive impact on those less fortunate,” Mayor Bob Stephens said in the release, referencing Prosper Springfield. “We believe that by working more efficiently together, we can increase that impact exponentially.”
The Impacting Poverty Commission was created by Community Partnership of the Ozarks, and it issued a call to action in 2015. Efforts since have largely focused on the northwest Springfield Zone 1 district.
Pratt will report directly to CPO Executive Director Janet Dankert, according to the release.
Prior to leaving for California, Pratt worked as coordinator for Drury's Scholars program as well as executive director of MSU’s multicultural resource center and programs. She previously led nonprofit Isabel's House for two years.
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