Three years and a half years ago, in a little town in southwest New Mexico, I worked in a high school. I was working towards my teaching degree because I wanted to be a positive influence and make a difference in kids’ lives. In this position, I saw the true inequity in our community. Watching...Lee mas

When we talk about mass incarceration, the first image that comes to mind for many is a prison cell door, slamming shut. But while Missouri state prisons incarcerate over 23,000 people, the primary form of incarceration that people face is the one closest to home: detention in local and county jails. There are approximately 9,800...Lee mas

On July 31, 2025, more than 30 cross-sector partners gathered in Columbia, Missouri, meeting inside the incredible new Food Bank Market at The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri. Convened as the Missouri Rural Food Access Partnership, our charge was clear: to understand how the newly-passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is reshaping...Lee mas

In Part 1 of our two-part Weekly Perspective series on youth justice, we talked about the different paths a kid may take through the system. We also discussed the science of why kids are different than adults and should be treated as such by our laws. This fact was underscored in 2012, when the Supreme...Lee mas

Adolescence can be a tough time for many children, between the onset of puberty, peer pressure, and grappling with the many factors beyond a young person’s control, such as family dynamics, food and housing insecurity, and more. Some children may act out in ways that bring them into contact with the youth justice system, or...Lee mas

On Friday afternoon, after 4PM, ahead of the long holiday weekend, Governor Mike Kehoe announced that he was calling a special session to “enact legislation establishing updated congressional districts for the State of Missouri and amending the state’s initiative petition process.” This is a political move called “taking out the trash,” which refers to the...Lee mas

The Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, commonly known as WIC, is under threat of significant cuts by the federal government. Right now, the House Appropriations Committee has advanced a budget proposal that follows the Trump administration’s plan to slash WIC benefits. Specifically, it would cut the fruit and vegetable portion of WIC...Lee mas