Springfield'S Report Card Shows Progress on Key Problems; Others Persist

credit: Pinterest

"The goal behind this is focusing limited resources on unlimited needs in the community," Brian Fogle, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, tells the News-Leader.

That's why the Springfield, Mo., group has released an interim report on the state of the community, focusing on 11 areas, including education, early childhood, housing, safety, recreation, transportation, health, economic development, and more.

Highlights from the Community Focus Report, which is a joint project of the CFO, United Way of the Ozarks, Springfield-Greene County Library District, Junior League of Springfield, and Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce: The number of mental health providers to patients has increased since being identified as a challenge in 2017.

The median rent in Springfield is $900 monthly, and both rents and housing values have jumped sharply since 2021.

Gun violence has increased, with officers responding to a higher number of gunfire reports.

Police confiscated more illegal guns and responded to more injured people in 2022 compared to 2021.

The number of overall crime reports, as well as numbers of vehicle thefts and homicides, are down in the same period.

However, housing costs have increased even more than before, opioid overdoses are on the rise, Springfield police deal with more shootings across the city, and

Read the Entire Article

How's Your Community Doing?
Check Out it's
Community Vital Signs

Explore the
Social Progress Index
for the
Community Foundation of the Ozarks

Momentus Capital Closes $171 Million Equitable Prosperity Fund
Foundation: Marguerite Casey Foundation, Marguerite Casey Foundation, Kresge Foundation

Stephen Stephens' father died of cancer when he was 53, and his message to young people has stayed with him. "Always do the right thing son," he tells Fast Company. "That message has always...more

6 Things to Know When Building an Authentic Green Brand

When it comes to sustainability, Entrepreneur says, "it takes more than just lip service." That's because it takes a "thorough commitment to evaluate every aspect of your operation to develop...more

Who Serves Humanity &Amp; Strives to Make the World a Better Place?
Foundation: Indianapolis Foundation

Lynne Arriale's new album, Being Human, is all about "people who exemplify Passion, courage, love, curiosity, and other human qualities," the Florida pianist tells Rita Kohn of the Indianapolis...more

Unoma Okorafor, Co-Founder, Fairview Data Technologies

When Unoma Okorafor started working on her master's degree in computer science at the African University of Science and Technology in Abuja, Nigeria, in the mid-'90s, she had no idea she'd end up in...more

As Some Question Higher Ed'S Value, Colleges Work To Fix The 'Time Trap'

"Time-trap thinking seems logical," writes Lori Carrell in the Los Angeles Times, "but it's short-sighted: Degrees mean real earning power and career growth, and many students do work during...more

How Philanthropy Can Help to Accelerate Sustainable Development Goals

"If the class register were anything to go by, education would be one of modern civilization's greatest success stories." That's what Peter Wilson, a member of the UBS Accelerate Collective, had...more

As Melinda French Gates Leaves the Gates Foundation, Many Hope She'Ll ...
Foundation: Gates Foundation

Melinda French Gates is stepping down as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which she founded with her ex-husband Bill Gates more than 20 years ago. As part of an agreement made...more

Nada Show Attend

If you're in the market for a new car, the NADA Show in New Orleans in January is your best chance to see what's out there. Here's a look at some of the buzzy new offerings, courtesy of Jalopnik,...more

Potato Power: Ongoing Philanthropic Collaboration Elevates Research in Sustainable Agriculture

Ahmad Al-Mallahi is a professor of agricultural engineering and sensing technologies at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, and he's spent the past five years developing technology that could...more

Microschools Offer Montana Families Creative, Learner-Centered Education Options

When Christa Hayes' kids shut down their public schools in 2020, the Montana math professor started hearing from parents seeking help for their children's schoolwork and wanting to find a way for...more