Springfield Business Journal_2021-01-25

SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 15 JAN 18-24, 2021 NONPROFITS PRESENTED BY PRODUCED BY PREMIUM SPONSOR Interviews by Christine Temple, SBJ Features Editor Local women share their journey to the top of their professions and the challenges and triumphs they faced along the way. They’re rewriting the script on success and there’s no ceiling. Listen at SBJ.net or wherever you find your podcasts. Listen at SBJ.net/NoCeiling left to right: Jordan McAdoo StitchFix Stephanie Ireland Ireland Architects Shurita Thomas-Tat e Missouri State University Susan Haralson Premier Home Health Care Jennifer Jackson Springfield Business Journal Darline Mabins Arvest Bank Carol Taylor Evangel University Lt. Jennifer Charleston Springfield Police Department Brandy Harris Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield Anne Baker Finnegan’s Wake, Civil Kitchen and Tinga Tacos supportive services from Life360 and other agencies built into the complex. “There’s a strong story in Branson on the need for workforce housing,” said Creason, who has developed affordable housing for 25 years. “What can we do to help mom and dad while they are working? How can we engage them in breaking cycles of poverty? “I’ve worked with so many nonprofits over the years because services is always something [partner] Debbie [Hart] and I have tried to incorporate no matter what. Life360 has hit it out of the park.” Leap of faith Life360 Community Services was orga- nized in 2011 as a way for Life360 Church to feed foster kids during its summer camps. It was feeding just a few dozen kids a day when Hahn came on board in 2015. He had a vision for much more. Hahn was working at the Assemblies of God national office in north Springfield, helping place missionaries across the country. “One day I said, ‘What about Spring- field?’” he recalled. “I just saw this huge hole here.” At the same time, his family began foster- ing kids and that work tugged at his heart. “I left my job with no promise of anything and volunteered for two years,” he said. His self-described “faith walk” paid off. He’s since taken a salary, grown the non- profit to 160 employees and manages a $10 million operating budget. The nonprofit to- day feeds 18,000 kids a day through its feed- ing services in partnership with 70 school districts across the state. Later this year, he said Life360 plans to expand its programs into Arkansas, Kansas and Tennessee. “We’re looking for an HR director,” Hahn said with a smile. The nonprofit focuses on reversing the crippling effects of poverty through its em- phasis and tagline: Feed, house, educate and empower. Although it started its out- reach efforts in Springfield, it now operates 20 community development partnerships in communities across southwest Missouri from Monett to Cape Girardeau. “Life360 has long dreamed of going ru- ral,” he said. “We like to focus on asset- based community development.” He said the community hubs debut with two Life360 employees establishing services in a community, and that usually starts with feeding kids. But the additional services are as unique as the communities themselves. For instance, in Plato, about 85 miles northeast of Springfield, that need turned out to be an after-school program for kids with disabilities. Hahn said the city’s site director learned from school district offi- cials they had a 50% jump in students with special needs. Life360 recently purchased a building to start the program. In Branson, Hahn said the organiza- tion has a feeding service through the Reeds Spring School District, but he knew housing would be a critical next step. Creason said the Fall Creek Townhomes project will be completed through Branson Affordable Housing Developers LLC, a part- nership between Creason and Hart, along with developers Kendall and Mike Combs, and Mark and Dan Ruda. There likely will be units available starting this summer. Crea- son said the funding came from the Missouri Housing Development Commission and a Community Development Block grant. She said her passion for working with Life360, specifically its mission of support- ing foster kids, is personal. “I have two girls adopted out of foster care, so that was truly a labor of love for me,” she said of her first project with Life360, Y Gardens. Creason and Hahn say they have plans for more projects in Springfield and surrounding communities as funding be- comes available. Skills building Meeting basic needs of food and housing is a critical founda- tion, but Hahn said empowering people to break cycles of poverty also takes personal development. That’s where the Jobs for Life program comes in. So far, the nonprofit has graduated 110 individuals through the 8-week course, and they have all remained employed. Hahn said Life360 has relationships with 50 area employers to help build resumes and interviewing skills for graduates, and some employers guarantee interviews for graduates. Partners include Midwest Dairy, CoxHealth and Terminix Inc. “Each student is assigned a champion – it’s a one-on-one relationship,” he said. “It’s that social capital that people need. “I just heard from one volunteer last week who heard from a student and said they are going for a promotion at work and it is 24 months later. We’re building that relationship. We didn’t teach them a new talent or skill set except to be confident in an interview.” The nonprofit also is creating its own op- portunities for employment and internships. In March 2020, it launched Fairbanks Coffee within The Fairbanks. Hahn said he plans to start another coffee shop inside Life360’s church in Chesterfield Village. They also run Mocha Jo’s Cof- fee Cafe in Monett. Hahn said the nonprofit is shifting focus to its own busi- ness model. Currently, 95% of its budget is government fund- ing. He’d like to balance that and increase private donations. Much of the $350,000 in gifts in 2020 came from members of Life360 Church, he said, where the nonprofit got its start. He said Life360 Community services is considered the “action arm” of the congregation, but the nonprofit does not provide religious services. “We don’t care what religion a kid is to feed a kid. I don’t care what religion they subscribe to, to give them a safe place to live,” he said. “This is where we can agree. Let’s love on people.” Life360: Expansion planned outside state Continued from page 9 Tammi Creason : Branson townhomes will be ready for lease this summer.