The language we use to describe systems of oppression greatly shapes our understanding of these systems and the people and communities impacted by them. This is especially true when it comes to the criminal legal system and our understanding of justice, or the lack thereof. Advocates around the country are engaging in conversation around the...Lee mas

Join us for a Clean Slate Town Hall on Zoom. Local and national business leaders will be sharing their support for Clean Slate legislation as a smart business choice for Missouri’s economy. Register below to join us!Lee mas

Join Empower Missouri staff for an overview presentation of the proposed Clean Slate legislation. We encourage discussion, feedback, and questions.Lee mas

Join Empower Missouri and other Clean Slate campaign leaders at All Souls Unitarian Universal Church for a presentation and panel discussion. Kansas City advocates will share their expertise and experience regarding the many barriers imposed by a criminal record and the need for automatic record sealing. Register below to join us.Lee mas

Join us for a Clean Slate Town Hall at Trinity Episcopal Church in St. Louis. You’ll hear from local leaders and advocates about why the time is right for automatic expungement in Missouri. Panelists will include: Gwen Smith, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower MissouriReverend Darryl Gray, Social Justice Chairperson, Missionary Baptist State ConventionMichelle Smith, Director...Lee mas

Use this link to Sign up for the Community Justice Coalition. Access the meeting on your computer https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87627203171?pwd=aSs0TysvVnE5ajNEemVRaXI2RW9FZz09 Meeting ID: 87627203171 Access the meeting on your phone Phone: 669-444-9171 Meeting ID: 876-2720-3171 Passcode: 541643Lee mas

Over the last six weeks, we have described Missouri’s practice of outsourcing probation and supervision services to private businesses and introduced why it is a problem and why we seek to make this a priority. For another brief summary of the issue, Human Rights Watch produced a short video describing how for-profit companies impact us....Lee mas

Learn from professionals working in recovery, reentry, and legal services as they explore the collateral consequences of criminal records, the current state of expungement policy in Missouri, and the path forward with Clean Slate legislation. Register below to join us.Lee mas

In part one of this series, we provided a brief introduction to the concept of private probation – the practice of outsourcing probation services for minor and low-level offenses to private businesses. In the second part of this series, we will explore  the issue in more depth, and answer two questions: how serious is the...Lee mas

The 2023 legislative session is just around the corner. In this session, we’ll give you a preview of anti-poverty bills that have been pre-filed and discuss how they may impact you and your community. Empower Missouri’s Friday Forums are our monthly online educational offerings for Missourians to build knowledge on poverty-related policy issues and skill...Lee mas