Hello! I’m Maurice Auberry. I was born in Joplin, Missouri, and moved to Columbia at the start of my undergraduate schooling. I currently attend Mizzou, where I am a senior. I anticipate graduating with a BS in Psychology, with minors in Black Studies and Criminology.  My goal after my time at Mizzou is then law...Lee mas

I am ecstatic to join the Empower Missouri team and make an impact on this organization and on our community. Having the opportunity to be the Communications Intern for the rest of the calendar year, I am looking forward to working under Amber Foster-Hobart, our Communications Director, and assisting with marketing and communications efforts such...Lee mas

Empower Missouri is growing, and we’re excited to have introduced you to several new team members over the last few weeks. Today we’re rounding out our team with Holly Honig-Josephson, our new Policy Director: Hello Empower family, I am thrilled and honored to be here in community with you all, working to realize Empower Missouri’s...Lee mas

Empower Missouri is an organization with a storied history and deep roots in Missouri.  Founded in 1901, we’ve been advocating for the people of this state for over 120 years.  The organization has operated under four different names, under at least a dozen Executive Directors, and through the leadership of hundreds of board members and...Lee mas

Empower Missouri is growing, and we’re excited to introduce you to several new team members over the coming weeks. Today let’s hear from Gwen Smith, our Criminal Justice Policy Manager: Hello everyone! My name is Gwen Smith and I am honored to be joining the Empower Missouri team as the Criminal Justice Policy Manager. In...Lee mas

Our team is growing!  If you are a regular reader of our newsletter, you may have noticed that we’ve hired a number of new staff members over the course of the last few months– and we haven’t even finished announcing all of our new teammates! This hiring spree is part of our strategic growth plan that...Lee mas

Last Saturday, June 11th, Empower Missouri supporters, coalition members, staff and other guests gathered at the Piper Palm House in St. Louis to honor our six Advocates of the Year. It was wonderful to be back together in person, the first time in a long time for many of us, and it would not have...Lee mas

Empower Missouri is growing, and we’re excited to introduce you to several new team members over the coming weeks. Today let’s hear from Vee Sanchez, our newest Affordable Housing Policy Manager: Hello everyone, I am Vee Sanchez! I have been living, working and raising my kids in Springfield, MO and the surrounding areas for the...Lee mas

Empower Missouri is growing, and we’re excited to introduce you to several new team members over the coming weeks. Today let’s hear from Amber Smith, our new Affordable Housing Policy Manager: Hi! My name is Amber Smith. I joined Empower Missouri three months ago as one of two Affordable Housing Policy Managers. I live and...Lee mas

We knew going into the legislative session that it would be a wild year. Unfortunately, wild years where very little gets done has become the normal legislative process in Missouri. It wasn’t designed to be this way. However, partisan infighting, electoral maps designed to favor one party, distrust in government and an overall breakdown in...Lee mas