Wes Pratt, a longtime Springfield civil rights activist and retired chief diversity officer/assistant to the president at Missouri State University, will be the next guest in the “Pokin Around: Live!” interview series led by Steve Pokin, the Springfield Daily Citizen’s columnist.
Community Builder and Activist
Pratt has led a life of community building, from the streets of Springfield to the halls of government in California, and back again to his hometown. He grew up on Springfield’s north side and attended public schools before studying history and political science at Drury University.
Pratt believes in the importance of inclusive excellence and has worked for racial equality for 50 years. He was instrumental in developing and honing Missouri State University’s policies on inclusion and equality. However, he considers one of the university’s finest accomplishments to be the development of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, which were axed in January 2025.
The fifth interview in the “Pokin Around: Live!” series will be held on Thursday, Aug. 20, in the BarrelHouse at Mother’s Brewing Co. The series gives attendees a chance to join Steve Pokin as he interviews some of Springfield’s most interesting people.
Tickets are on sale now and space is limited. For $25, attendees will enjoy an interesting evening, including refreshments and snacks. A cash bar is available to purchase Mother’s beer and other beverages, with discounted prices for attendees.
Original reporting: Springfield Daily Citizen — read the source article.
