TRAPPED IN THE SYSTEM: Elvester Kennedy's Fight for Dignity and Housing Justice
Elvester Kennedy spent 30 years as a dedicated chef at the Marriott Hotel in Springfield, Missouri. A man of skill and pride, he crafted meals for countless guests, building a life through hard work and personal responsibility. But today, retired and wheelchair-bound, Elvester is engaged in a different kind of battle — a fight for basic human dignity, safety, and housing rights in a system that seems to have forgotten him.
THE PEOPLE HAVE THEIR SAY: City Council Members Take Questions from Springfield Residents at Town Hall Meeting
City Council members Bruce Adib-Yazdi and Heather Hardinger faced questions regarding Springfield’s housing among other inquiries as the city’s Zone 4 residents met in the gymnasium of Cowden Elementary School on February 24th for a town hall meeting. For two hours the Council members traded off presenting the council’s ongoing plans and answering questions from their assembled constituents. The meeting follows similar Town Hall meetings held by other Council members throughout January and February.
DAY OF ACTION: Tenant Leaders Take Fight for Housing Justice to the Capitol
On February 17th, the hallways of the Missouri Capitol weren't just filled with lobbyists; they were filled with the voices of tenant leaders. Arriving together in a powerful show of unity, members of Springfield Tenants Unite (STUN) and the Columbia Tenants Union (CTU) gathered for a Day of Action to demand safe, truly affordable housing for all.
Creating the People’s Narrative: STUN stands in unity with local social advocacy groups
The Peoples Platform is in full swing, and the influence of Springfield Tenants Unite is undeniable. On January 17th, 2025, advocates joined PROMO, Missouri Jobs with Justice (JwJ), and STUN at Springfield’s south side Library Center. From signing petitions on STUN’s Right to Council Initiative to participating in Sarah Barnts’ group yoga, Springfieldians were offered an opportunity to build community towards the shared goal of equitable policy.
STAND UP, FIGHT BACK: Missouri Voters’ Rally at State Capitol
On the cold morning of January 21st, the grand marble halls of the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City pulsed with energy. By noon, more than a thousand Missourians had surged through its doors, filling the rotunda and chanting in unison, “Stand up! Fight back!” — a slogan that echoed off the soaring pillars and balconies.
Teams Training Event Prepares STUN Leaders for a New Phase of Advocacy
The Springfield activist community is preparing to take another bold step forward after a collaboration this month between STUN and other area organizations. Over the weekend of November 15th and 16th, over 50 leaders from groups such as PROMO and Jobs with Justice joined with leaders from STUN at the Drew Lewis Foundation's Fairbanks Community Hub to hold a two-day summit.
Monumental Win for Springfield Tenants
On Monday, November 3rd, Springfield City Council unanimously voted in support of the Healthy Homes Pilot Program, set to begin March of 2026. This rental inspection program aims to be a first step in STUN’s Healthy Homes Guarantee, requiring landlords to keep units free of pests, mold, and other hazards.
STUN engages with students at OTC’s Advocacy Day
On October 23rd, 2025, the Ekklesia student organization at Ozarks Technical College (OTC) hosted their Advocacy Day event, working to engage students in community-based change in Springfield. Among the voices represented at Advocacy Day were Springfield Tenants Unite (STUN), the Party for Socialism & Liberation (PSL), Greater Springfield Indivisible, and Southwest Missouri Solidarity Network.
Springfield Tenants Unite Pushes for Healthy Homes Guarantee Ahead of Key Vote
On the night of October 20th, leaders, members, and allies of Springfield Tenants Unite (STUN) filled City Council chambers to demand safe, dignified housing for all. The public hearing centered on the proposed rental licensing and inspection pilot program — what tenants call the Healthy Homes Guarantee.
Mock Trial Event Demonstrates the Value of a Tenants' Right to Counsel
This past Saturday, STUN partnered with other community organizations to host a powerful educational event at National Avenue Christian Church demonstrating the value of a tenants' Right to Counsel.
Healthy Homes Guarantee Pilot Heads to City Council Vote in October
The Healthy Homes Guarantee (HHG) pilot program has cleared its first major hurdle. After months of community input, the proposal passed out of the City Council’s Community Involvement Committee — though only after a compromise removed the requirement that landlords maintain a local representative. This means property owners can still operate from out of town or out of state without anyone nearby to handle licensing or inspection issues.
STUN’s Brush and Canvass: a Weekend of Victories and Art
Every second Friday of the month, community members gather at the Third Place for Poets’ Corner, an open mic event that offers an environment for both artistic expression and unity. Local writers share their poems and short stories, and on September 12th, creatives focused their passion for the arts into tenant solidarity. Close collaboration between STUN and engaged Springfieldians fostered a one of a kind “Rent Party,” raising $600 to prevent the eviction of one of our neighbors. Filling the audience, there were 42 people in attendance at this event. The generosity of union members, allies, and our community is a reminder that when we fight together, we win together.
Rosewood-Cedarwood Tenant Union Announces Lawsuit to Fight Unlawful Evictions
The Rosewood-Cedarwood Tenant Union is embarking on a bold new step in their ongoing fight for housing justice. At a press conference held at the historic Greene County Courthouse steps on May 28th, Heartland Center executive director Gina Chiala announced two lawsuits against the landlords and property managers of Rosewood Terrace and Cedarwood Estates for wrongful eviction. Rosewood and Cedarwood tenants shared powerful personal stories of the communities they have built, communities that the ongoing eviction efforts have threatened to tear apart.
Springfield Tenants and Advocates Demand Right to Counsel at Town Hall on Evictions
Springfield tenants and advocates are taking action against the city’s eviction crisis, pushing for a Right to Counsel to level the legal playing field for renters. At a town hall on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at the Schweitzer Brentwood Branch Library, tenants shared firsthand accounts, housing experts outlined policy solutions, and organizers issued a call to action. Hosted by Springfield Tenants Unite alongside Councilman Brandon Jenson, Community Partnership of the Ozarks, Ozarks Alliance to End Homelessness, Legal Services of Southern Missouri, and Empower Missouri, the event urged city leaders to join the national movement ensuring tenants have legal representation in eviction court.