Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the connection between unemployment, poverty and food insecurity has been clear. One of the best indicators of food insecurity is poverty. At the end of 2019, Missouri’s food insecurity rate was 12% while its poverty level was 13.2%, both above the national average. At that point, according to...Read More

Even though the final two weeks of the 2020 Legislative Session tempts us to focus all attention on Jefferson City just now, social justice advocates in Missouri cannot afford to do so. We must keep one eye focused on DC, because the first half of May is a crucial window of time in which we...Read More

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, lots of rule changes and new waivers have taken place within the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, commonly known as food stamps). Empower Missouri is grateful for the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), as well as our federal delegation...Read More

On April 23rd, Empower Missouri held a webinar to discuss where Federal Nutrition Programs stand in the light of COVID-19. Sarah Ritter from Operation Food Search and Elizabeth Larsen from Legal Services of Eastern Missouri joined in on the call to talk about changes to the nutrition programs focused on children and changes to the...Read More

In her role as Manager of Public Policy, Sarah Ritter acts as the liaison between Operation Food Search and the Missouri state legislature. Sarah engages elected officials around issues relating to hunger and food insecurity. As a registered lobbyist, she works with legislators, legislative staff, and other governmental officials to promote public policy initiatives that...Read More

(Jefferson City, MO)……..Empower Missouri today applauded Congress for their passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) in a bipartisan and speedy fashion and President Trump for signing it. While the $2 Trillion package includes many provisions that will help Missourians affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, we believe more is still needed...Read More

As a statewide advocacy organization, Empower Missouri is keeping an eye on what the state is doing or not doing regarding the issues we work on as they relate to the COVID-19 pandemic. As Empower Missouri has always done, we continue to work in coalition around these issues and advocate for evidence-based public policy wherever...Read More

On March 17th, 2020, Empower Missouri held a special conference call, which shared some important and timely updates regarding food security issues on the state and the national level. In addition to food security issues during the call, Empower Missouri spoke with health experts about COVID-19 and how to protect yourself and others in the...Read More

Ife Floyd joined the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in June 2011 as a Research Associate with the Family Income Support Division, and is now Senior Policy Analyst. Prior to joining the Center, Floyd served as an AmeriCorp VISTA with Culture Connect, Inc. In addition, she also worked with the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s...Read More

In 2017, Empower Missouri’s annual conference theme was Persisting and Organizing to Win. During the week of February 10, 2020, coalitions staffed by Empower Missouri demonstrated determination to make that theme reality by taking meaningful action for social justice on each day, Monday-Friday. On Monday, February 10, the Affordable Housing Coalition met to review the...Read More