Hello! My name is Mariah Oke-Thomas, and I am Empower Missouri’s newest Communications Manager. You may know me as the person who curates and sends out Empower’s Advocacy in Action email every week (yes, even this one!). I graduated from the University of Missouri in 2023 with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing. Before...Lee mas

Purpose The Training Intern or Practicum Student will work alongside Empower Missouri’s Advocacy Director to support statewide education and outreach efforts. Our work focuses on building awareness, strengthening advocacy skills, and connecting communities to the policy issues that impact them. In this role, you’ll help identify and research speaking opportunities, support training logistics, build outreach...Lee mas

Purpose The Development Intern will work alongside Empower Missouri’s Development team to support fundraising efforts that sustain and grow the organization’s impact across the state. Our work focuses on building strong relationships with donors and partners who make our advocacy possible. In this role, you’ll contribute to donor stewardship, prospect research, data tracking, fundraising campaigns,...Lee mas

Purpose The Community Justice Intern or Practicum Student will work alongside Empower Missouri’s Criminal Justice Policy Managers to support efforts to advance fair and equitable criminal justice policies across the state. Our work focuses on reducing mass incarceration, addressing racial disparities in the criminal legal system, and promoting approaches to public safety that strengthen communities...Lee mas

Purpose The Affordable Housing Intern will work alongside Empower Missouri’s team to support advocacy, education, and organizing efforts aimed at expanding access to safe, affordable housing across the state. Our work focuses on advancing policies that protect tenants, increase housing stability, and address the systemic barriers that make housing unaffordable for many Missourians. In this...Lee mas

Position Title: Food Security Policy Manager Reports to: Chief of Policy Staff Position Summary: The Food Security Policy Manager, under the direction of the Chief of Policy Staff, leads a portfolio of food security-related policy research, community engagement and legislative advocacy for the organization. This portfolio includes leading the development of Missouri’s Rural Food Financing...Lee mas

This week, we’re proud to spotlight the North East Community Action Corporation (NECAC)! For 57 years, NECAC has served communities across Missouri as a nonprofit community action agency dedicated to supporting some of the state’s most underserved communities. Serving nine rural areas and three metropolitan counties, NECAC provides critical social services through partnerships with federal,...Lee mas

Last week, I had the pleasure to attend Empower Missouri’s 2026 Anti-Poverty Advocates Summit and 125th Anniversary Dinner. Being a first-time attendee to a conference as impactful and important as the Anti-Poverty Advocates Summit will always come with its fair share of learning, networking, and preparation, especially as we celebrate the momentous 125th year of...Lee mas

Since 2000, Missouri Foundation for Health  has been an active force in the state of Missouri building a more equitable future through collaboration, convening, knowledge sharing, and strategic investment.  Empower Missouri is a longstanding partner of MFH, actually playing a critical role in the creation of the Foundation during the 1990s.  Empower (then MASW) built...Lee mas