Date: January 22, 2025 To: Chairman Myers and Members of the House Committee on Crime and Public Safety From: Mallory Rusch, Executive Director, Empower Missouri Re: Our opposition to HB 495 On behalf of the staff, board, and statewide Criminal Justice Coalition convened by Empower Missouri, I am here today to oppose HB 495. I...Lee mas

Date: January 21, 2025 To: Chairman Black and Members, Senate Local Government, Elections and Pensions From: Mallory Rusch, Executive Director, Empower Missouri Re: Our support for SB 50 As the largest and oldest anti-poverty non-profit in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving the quality of life for all Missouri residents through advocacy. Since...Lee mas

On the Edge: A Single Mother’s Fight in the Housing Crisis Jessi has experienced both the highs and lows of housing, finding temporary stability only to have it stripped away by forces beyond her control. Born into housing instability, her mother lived in a tent while pregnant. A period of stability came when Jessi and...Lee mas

The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program is an essential resource for millions of low-income families across the United States. It is available for income-eligible pregnant and postpartum women, breastfeeding moms, and children under five (up to their fifth birthday). Additionally, dads, grandparents, foster parents, and anyone raising kids under five can apply for support for...Lee mas

If you’re like me, you weren’t familiar with the term ‘preemption’ before the 2024 legislative session (or maybe you’re still not familiar with this concept). In legislative terms, preemption means that the state government can create laws that override laws and ordinances at the local level—basically, the opposite of local control. Mallory did a great...Lee mas

As our population ages, one issue that increasingly demands attention is food insecurity. Lacking consistent access to enough nutritious food for an active, healthy life, food insecurity can have serious consequences for physical health, mental well-being, and overall quality of life, especially for us as we age.   The Scope of the Problem According to the...Lee mas

Below is a quick summary of key issues for Empower Missouri in the upcoming legislative session. If you would like to learn more, please register for our Legislative Preview Webinar on December 17th from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.  I am quickly approaching my first legislative session as Chief of Policy Staff with Empower Missouri,...Lee mas

With the holidays quickly approaching, many turn their attention to the joys of sharing meals with those closest to them. Often, preparation for holiday meals begins with the creation of a menu, possibly dividing up who is preparing what and where the holiday feast will take place. Some culinary artists may have a signature dish...Lee mas

Empower Missouri started in 1901 as an annual conference focused on helping support Missourians who were living in poverty, and over 120 years later, the tradition continues. Last week, we gathered in Columbia, Missouri to learn from experts and from each other, to strategize for the upcoming session, and to be in community. If you...Lee mas

Today’s Weekly Perspective is a copy of a speech that I delivered earlier today at our Anti-Poverty Advocates Summit, Empower Missouri’s 123rd annual conference in Missouri. It has been lightly edited and is much longer than our typical blog posts.  One week ago, Americans elected former President Donald Trump to a second term in office....Lee mas