With the November election less than one month away, it seems likely that you’re being inundated with news and opinions related to upcoming federal, state, and local elections. In Missouri, voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on five amendments to Missouri’s constitution. You have likely seen three of these amendments—Amendment 2 (legalizing sports...Lee mas

As an organization dedicated to securing basic human needs for all Missourians through policy change, Empower Missouri supports living wages for our state’s workers. On November 5th Missourians will have the opportunity to vote on Proposition A, the Minimum Wage and Earned Paid Sick Time Initiative. Proposition A would increase the minimum wage to $15...Lee mas

You hear from us often about the complexities of poverty and the need for a variety of policy solutions to address the housing crisis, food insecurity, access to justice, and the inaccessibility of adequate healthcare. Poverty and its effects are far-reaching and impact nearly every aspect of a person’s life, at every phase of life....Lee mas

This November, our Anti-Poverty Advocates Summit will feature Andrea Elliott, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Invisible Child, as one of our keynote speakers. Our staff has been reading (or re-reading) Invisible Child in preparation, and we are excited to delve deeper into the book and the implications of Dasani’s story. Today our Communications Manager,...Lee mas

As we recently shared, Empower Missouri has just begun a new phase in our growth, the start of our next strategic plan. Our team is especially excited about our plans to recommit and deeply invest in our work of supporting nonprofit organizations throughout the state in building their capacity to advocate for policy change that...Lee mas

As we continue to grow our organization and our impact throughout the state, we are excited to welcome new members to our Board of Directors for this fiscal year. Our Board is a dedicated group of anti-poverty advocates who are deeply committed to our work to change policies that perpetuate cycles of poverty. We are...Lee mas

On November 12th and 13th Empower Missouri will host its annual Anti-Poverty Advocates Summit, bringing together advocates from across the state to explore the many ways poverty impacts our neighbors’ lives, and how effective policy change can serve as a long-term solution. The event will feature opportunities to learn from local and national leaders in the...Lee mas

Food is one of a handful of basic requirements for our survival. Yet too many Missourians are unable to meet this basic need when faced with the barriers of affordability and accessibility. According to 2022 data analyzed by Feeding America, 15 percent of Missourians – more than 920,000 people are food insecure. The numbers are...Lee mas

Juneteenth, or Freedom Day, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans on June 19, 1865. On that day, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and General Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3, enforcing the Emancipation Proclamation (more than two years after it was issued) so that the remaining enslaved people were finally free as...Lee mas

Pride Month 2024 is in full swing, and with it comes an opportunity to both take stock of the vast amount of change needed in our state (and beyond), as well as uplift the incredible work being done to get us there.  Empower Missouri’s advocacy centers around three central policy areas: affordable housing, community justice,...Lee mas