AICS’s Powwow Celebrates Culture and Community 🧡 A steady drum pulse served as the heartbeat of the American Indian Center of Springfield’s Annual Meeting Powwow in March. A large crowd gathered around a circle of Indigenous dancers in traditional regalia. “Last time, we were packed wall to wall, so we needed a bigger space,” says Kay Gibson, chair of the AICS board, over the persistent beat and singing. The new venue (a change from the past location of the Fairbanks) was the Springfield Dream Center. The day began with a gourd dance, a tradition honoring Indigenous veterans and warriors. Native handcrafts were sold and frybread devoured aplenty. This powwow is one of four held each year by AICS, part of its mission to celebrate and share Indigenous culture in Springfield. But the organization does much more — it runs a food bank, supports elders and partners with the Drew Lewis Foundation to connect people with resources like the RISE Program. “We started seven years ago with a vision and not a penny in our pockets,” Gibson recalled. The vision? To fill gaps in support for Indigenous Springfieldians, underserved by both state programs and other nonprofits. Just as important, she says, was to tell the community “we aren’t going anywhere: the Native American community is alive and well in Springfield, Missouri.” Resources came later. Key partnerships — with organizations like the Drew Lewis Foundation, the Springfield-Greene County Library District and Springfield Community Gardens — have fueled AICS’s growth and outreach. A major milestone came in fall 2023, when a $21,000 grant from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks funded the organization’s first paid staff person: cultural liaison Hannah Scarborough. “We do powwows and small cultural classes, which are very different but have the same goal: educating the public,” Scarborough says. “I really want to see the center grow and have more community events like the powwow — it’s important to bring awareness to the unique needs of the Native American population.” Photos courtesy of Frances Gail Attanasio and the American Indian Center of Springfield. Find more stories of community impact at https://www.cfozarks.org/news-resources/cfo-stories. (fb)

‼️Donate today to assist with tornado recovery efforts‼️ In response to the tornado that impacted the Cape Girardeau area yesterday, our affiliate, the Cape Area Community Foundation has activated the Community Impact Fund to assist with disaster relief efforts. Donate at cfozarks.org/capecommunityimpact. CACF and Cape Girardeau County Emergency Management Services will be partnering with the East Missouri Action Agency to distribute funds through EMAA to address the needs of those residents, entities and municipalities affected by the tornado. (fb)