Bravo to Springfield mayor Bob Stephens who, seeing 10,000-plus citizens semi-mobilized in mourning the recent loss of Hailey Owens, said to them in the nicest way possible: now do something about it! Imagine the impact that it could have if everyone who attended a vigil or donated money also donated just a few hours of their time this year to a good cause.
Here’s an excerpt:
There are agencies and programs throughout our city that need our involvement. The Every Child Promise works to increase children’s
readiness for kindergarten. Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Ozarks has a waiting list for Big Brothers. This means there are a number of
boys who are waiting for someone to step up to be a friend. The Northside Betterment Association works every year to help increase
school attendance for north Springfield schools. They are always looking for additional members. The list goes on and on and there are
many needs in our community.
…[I]f we truly want to honor the memory of Hailey Owens, we can do that by helping the young people in our city. As a community, we need to make a commitment to feed them, to teach them, and to protect them. If we make this long-lasting commitment today and moving into the future, then Hailey’s legacy will be one of beauty and love.
Read the full transcript full transcript of the speech or view the video.
