This week is a big one for Empower Missouri: the start of another legislative session and the start of our 125th Anniversary year. From our origins as a conference of 41 people in January of 1901 (the Missouri Conference on Charities and Corrections), through 125 years of building power to change policy and fight poverty, we’ll be celebrating our storied history all year long.
Empower Missouri has been fighting for ordinary Missourians to have access to nutritious food, safe housing, affordable healthcare, and equal justice under the law for the last 125 years, but the power to make change has always come from the people — passionate volunteer advocates who have generously given their time and energy to ensure that our leaders adhere to the state’s motto: “The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law.”
Today, the organization, our state, and our country are at a critical moment. A small minority holds outsized influence, and the only way to build a Missouri that works for everyone is for the majority to come together. Our anniversary year is a call to everyone that has been a part of our movement over the years to celebrate how far we’ve come, and help us look to the future of Empower Missouri and our state. Join us, and build the collective power that we know is critical to making change.
Over the year we’ll be bringing you many ways to get involved—from special activities and moments to celebrate at several of our long running annual events, to new events we’ll be introducing in the months to come. We’ll be in your communities, attending local events and learning more about the challenges you are facing, as well as supporting the solutions that you have seen work for you and your neighbors. We’ll be bringing advocates to the Capitol, meeting with legislators, and making sure your voices are heard. And we’ll be hosting opportunities to connect with the Empower Missouri community, learn from each other, take action together, and envision a future where every Missourian can thrive.
Some highlights for the year are below, but stay tuned for more details on each.
What to Expect This Year
From our Archives – The History of Empower Missouri
All year long we’ll be sharing special moments from our history, celebrating past wins, and highlighting both our current community and leaders, and the people that brought us to today. Make sure you’re following us on social media and sign up for our newsletters to hear more!
Classic Empower Missouri Events
Empower Missouri’s annual Week of Action (February 2nd-4th, 2026), Day of Action (February 17th, 2026), and Anti-Poverty Advocates Summit (date coming soon!) will feature some special 125th Anniversary swag, celebrations, and meaningful chances to join us in envisioning the future of our organization and our state.
Special Anniversary Events
Watch for info coming soon on a special awards dinner, conversations with the Empower Missouri team, and other celebratory events coming up.
Empower in Your Community
Our staff, Board, and other volunteers will be attending community events around the state, getting to know more Missourians, celebrating our shared history, and having conversations about how to move our state forward. Do you know of a community festival, resource fair, or other event we should be at? Let us know now by contacting Amber Foster-Hobart, Director of Advancement, at [email protected].
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