It began as a housing marvel. Two decades later, it ended in rubble. But what happened to those caught in between?
The Pruitt-Igoe Myth tells the story of the transformation of the American city in the decades after World War II, through the lens of the infamous Pruitt-Igoe housing development and the St. Louis residents who called it home. From the director, Chad Freidrichs, “History is a contested space. Arguments become flattened, rather than expanded, available evidence discarded, rather than sought. This is why Pruitt-Igoe matters – why we made this documentary. So much of our collective understanding of cities and government and inequality are tied up in these 33 high-rise buildings, informed by the demolition image. Too much of the context has been overlooked, or willfully ignored, in discussions of public housing, public welfare, and the state of the American city.”
Join us for a special screening of The Pruitt-Igoe Myth followed by a panel and community discussion moderated by David Stoeffler from the Springfield Daily Citizen on October 16th, 2025 at 6:00pm at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.
David Derossett is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Drury University in Springfield, MO. His research areas include urbanism (how we interact with the built environment) and urbanization (cultural, political, and economic factors in “city building”), and he teaches a variety of courses including urban sociology, social movements, global social problems, and the sociology of health, illness, and healthcare. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Springfield Community Land Trust and as co-chair of the Workers’ Rights Board Steering Committee with the Springfield-Ozarks Chapter of Missouri Jobs With Justice.
Emily Fessler has a Master of Public Health and a Graduate Certificate in Health Programming from Missouri State University. She previously served as the Project Manager for Transforming the Future of Public Health in Missouri and currently is the Continuum of Care Director with Community Partnership of the Ozarks. In this position, she oversees federal funding for homeless services, performance and financial management of our local homeless services system, and works with stakeholders and partners to drive solutions to addressing the complex problem of housing instability and affordable housing for our community. Emily also serves on the Board of Directors for the League of Women Voters of Southwest Missouri, a non-partisan political organization. She has a strong passion for civic engagement & collective action, and believes that every voice deserves to be heard.
Dr. Lyle Q. Foster, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Anthropology at Missouri State University, uses his academic and entrepreneurial expertise to address issues of social justice, inclusive excellence and individual empowerment. His passions as an educator and community advocate are fueled through his belief in the power of education and his capacity to teach critical thinking skills and build collaborative relationships. His research and professional interests include African-American community in Springfield, community development, and center city development. In addition to teaching, Dr. Foster is also CEO of Big Momma’s Coffee and Espresso Bar and Tough Talks facilitator. He has served as Vice President of the Commercial Street Community Improvement District Board of Directors and Greene County CARES Act Grant Administrator. He holds a Master of Arts in Religion from Yale University and a Master of Arts in Sociology from Brown University.
Tim Rosenbury has lived in Springfield since May 1984, when he began working in the firm now known as BRP Architects. He retired in early 2020 to join the City of Springfield as Director of Quality of Place Initiatives. He has held several community leadership positions, including chair of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and president of the Board of Education for Springfield Public Schools. He is a member of the boards of directors of Leadership Springfield, Visit Springfield, and Guaranty Bank, and is a founder of the southwest Missouri chapter of the Urban Land Institute. The Director of Quality of Place Initiatives is tasked with City Council’s Quality of Place priority to make Springfield more livable for its citizens, more welcoming to visitors, and more competitive for attracting companies and talent.
MODERATOR, David Stoeffler, is the Chief Executive Officer of the Springfield Daily Citizen. He has more than 40 years experience in the news business, including four years as executive editor of the Springfield News-Leader (2010 to 2014). In Springfield, he worked collaboratively with the community to address issues, most notably through the Every Child public-service journalism project. Before returning to Springfield and buying a home in the University Heights neighborhood, David served seven years as executive director of the La Crosse (Wis.) Public Education Foundation. He has a daughter and granddaughter who live in Colorado.
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