Hi! My name is Chris Morrison. I have always had a desire to make an impact on the world around me. Throughout my career in the non-profit sector, I have had a goal to leave each person that I’ve worked with in a better state than before. I’m proud to say that in my entire...Read More

It’s the third week of May, which means that you’re hearing crickets from hundreds of lobbyists and advocates across the state who are taking a much deserved break after working many late nights over the last three weeks as the Missouri legislature hurtled towards its inevitable close at 6PM last Friday night. Due to widening...Read More

Missouri has an HIV criminalization problem. Under current Missouri law, if someone knows they are living with HIV but does not disclose their status before engaging in certain activities considered to be “exposure”— some of which don’t carry any risk of transmission — they can be charged with a class B felony, punishable by five...Read More

On April 22nd, 2021, Empower Missouri held a Day of Action to talk about HIV Modernization in Missouri. Our panelists discussed HB 530, which would update Missouri’s outdated, harmful, medically inaccurate HIV criminalization laws. State laws which stigmatize HIV increase community spread and harm our neighbors. In Missouri, if you are living with HIV and know...Read More

On April 20th, 2021, Empower Missouri held a Day of Action to talk about Criminal Justice Reform in Missouri. Our panelists discussed HB 316, which would provide thousands of new job opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals. Missouri should be ‘Smart on Crime’ to best serve all our neighbors. HB 316 would remove restrictions from those with prior felony...Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 19th, 2021 (JEFFERSON CITY, MO)…Empower Missouri and its network of supporters in Missouri will be joining in a coordinated Week of Action from April 19th – 22nd on Zoom this week, demanding that state lawmakers support legislation that helps Missourians have food, shelter and justice.  The actions include fighting back against...Read More

Many states have begun the efforts of legalizing low-level offenses; however, the records of past criminal histories are still a challenge that presents many obstacles for job seekers.  A criminal conviction can carry all sorts of consequences, even some that are beyond the scope of the penalties that are associated with a criminal sentence. It...Read More

WE NEED YOU! WHEN: April 19th – 22nd at noon each day.  The Missouri legislative session is heating up, and it is critical that your voices are heard in Jefferson City. Please join Empower Missouri April 19th – 22nd for a virtual lunch hour Week of Action. Each day, spend one hour with us learning...Read More

The legislature is taking their annual Spring Break this week, which is widely considered to be “halftime” of the legislative session. We’ve spent the last few days reviewing our progress on all of our priority legislation this year and preparing for the sprint to the finish line when session begins next week.  Here’s a quick...Read More

Moderator:    Demario Richardson  (He/Him/His) is a Retention in Care Peer Educator who is primarily in Kansas City’s most vulnerable areas such as, homeless shelters, parks, coordinated entry facilities (hospital, behavioral health institutions) rehabs,  parks, libraries, you name it. As a peer, Demario meets individuals where they are at regardless of race, economic status, class...Read More