Check out our Q&A with Operations Director Tina Mahtani below. Congratulations on 1 year with Empower Missouri, Tina!
What part of Empower Missouri’s work do you feel most passionate about, and why?
What I care about most is that Empower never loses sight of the people behind the issues we work on. The policy work matters, but what makes it meaningful to me is seeing how it connects back to people’s actual lives and experiences. I also really value how relationship-driven the work is. Bringing people together, allowing them to have their voices heard, and providing the support and tools they need to feel better equipped to handle challenges are what I find most effective.
Tell us about one moment in your time with Empower that you felt truly demonstrated the impact we are making.
I’ve really felt it at the Summit and Day of Action — there’s something powerful about being in a room where so many people are energized, committed, and ready to take action together. It makes the work feel real in a different way. And just as meaningful are the times spent meeting with the communities we work alongside and hearing directly from people about what they’re experiencing day to day. It emphasizes the way we prioritize people over policy.
How have you seen the organization grow or change in the time you’ve been involved?
Over the time I’ve been here, I’ve seen a lot of thoughtful growth. We’ve brought on four new people to the team, which has really helped expand what we’re able to take on and deepen our impact.
What’s stood out to me is that even as we’ve grown, we’ve stayed grounded in the mission and the people we serve. There’s been a real focus on making sure how we work internally matches the values we’re pushing for externally, and that’s been important to see.
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