Date: February 5, 2025 To: Rep. David Casteel, Chair, and members of the Commerce Committee From: Lucas Caldwell-McMillan, Chief of Policy Staff, Empower Missouri Re: Our opposition to HB 758 and 958 Empower Missouri has spent more than 120 years fighting poverty in Missouri. Today, we come to present testimony on bills which specifically targets...Read More

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...Read More

This December we will be gearing up for the next legislative session that will begin in January. Join us on Zoom to get a preview of legislation that has been pre-filed and what the Empower Missouri team will be focusing on in 2025. Together we will look ahead to systems-level change in our state!Read More

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....Read More

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...Read More

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,...Read More

For over 120 years Empower Missouri has brought together a team of anti-poverty advocates to learn together, make connections, and advance our mission. Our 2024 Anti-Poverty Advocates Summit will be held in at Stoney Creek Hotel in Columbia, Missouri on November 12th and 13th.  Attendees will receive training, support and inspiration to advocate on affordable housing,...Read More

Are you interested in learning more about poverty in Missouri, and how YOU can help change the systems that perpetuate it? Do you want to meet other advocates and expand your network? Then join our Advocates Book Club! July’s Book is How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question, by Michael Schur,...Read More

Are you interested in learning more about poverty in Missouri, and how YOU can help change the systems that perpetuate it? Do you want to meet other advocates and expand your network? Then join our Advocates Book Club! July’s Book is How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question, by Michael Schur,...Read More

Submitted by Maggie O’Donnell, Director of Policy & Advocacy at the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ) One in three Americans is burdened by some form of an old criminal record. Last week marked the start of Second Chance Month, during which we recognize the critical need to address the barriers that continue to face...Read More