The 2020 General Election has come and gone, although the vote counting and legal actions over a variety of issues are apt to continue for…
Platinum Level Co-Sponsors: Registration for the Racial Equity Summit is free to all, thanks to a generous Platinum Level Co-Sponsorship from Maxine Clark and Bob…
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…
Among Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs are the lowest and arguably most important necessities humans require to exist; physiological needs. These include basic essentials such as…
In 1996, Congress passed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), sometimes known as the welfare reform bill. Buried deep within that sweeping…
First coined by sociologist Ruth Glass in the 1960s, gentrification has been part of the lexicon for those working in both economics and the affordable…
In many ways, housing advocacy should be easy. Everyone needs housing to thrive, therefore it should be as easily attainable as possible. However in reality,…
It is the last week of Missouri’s legislative session, which brings a flurry of activity to Jefferson City, so our entire team is heading to…
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…
As Joseph Llobera from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities stated in his report Child Support Cooperation Requirements in SNAP Are Unproven, Costly, and…
The Affordable Housing Coalition is a multi-sector team of dedicated advocates who understand the importance of stable housing on health, community, safety, and more. We…
The Community Justice Coalition (CJC), is a multi-sector team of dedicated advocates who envision a future without mass incarceration. Through deep policy research, field work and…
Empower Missouri is an organization with a storied history and deep roots in Missouri. Founded in 1901, we’ve been advocating for the people of this…
Governor Parson’s decision to end the $300 federal unemployment assistance on June 12th, 2021 is an affront to Missouri workers and could prove harmful to…
Last week, I offered testimony against a pair of bills in the Missouri House and Senate aimed at reducing homelessness. I first celebrated with the…
Since the founding of America, our constitution has been an important guiding document for the country and each state. The Bill of Rights demonstrates a…
Homelessness and poverty are not crimes. However, in many communities across Missouri, it is treated like one. Police involvement in the form of ‘camp sweeps’…
The governor has called a special session next week for the legislature to debate the largest income tax cut in Missouri’s history. The governor’s proposal…
On Wednesday, May 11th, Empower Missouri, Criminal Justice Ministry, the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis, Metropolitan Congregations United, the Missouri Catholic Conference, Missouri…
The pandemic and its impact on our economy hit all of us hard, and illuminated the struggles low-wage workers face in ways that we had…
Since 1901, the pinnacle of Empower Missouri’s work each year has been its Annual Conference. In fact, for the first decade, that was the bulk…
On October 16th, the world recognized World Food Day. Starting in 1945, the United Nations outlined and recognized food as not a privilege, but as…
On November 12th and 13th Empower Missouri will host its annual Anti-Poverty Advocates Summit, bringing together advocates from across the state to explore the many ways…
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…
As I look back in my life, one specific policy has impacted nearly every decision I’ve ever made: Healthcare. I was a single mom during…
This past spring, as the school year was winding down, nonprofits across the country began working on plans to implement their summer feeding programs for…
Members of Empower Missouri’s Criminal Justice Coalition have been discussing Missouri’s use of private probation and the impact on our communities. Missouri is one of…
In part one of this series, we provided a brief introduction to the concept of private probation - the practice of outsourcing probation services for…
Over the last six weeks, we have described Missouri’s practice of outsourcing probation and supervision services to private businesses and introduced why it is a…
In less than five days, Missourians will head to the polls for what promises to be the most important election in decades. Five statewide executive…
Last Saturday, June 11th, Empower Missouri supporters, coalition members, staff and other guests gathered at the Piper Palm House in St. Louis to honor our…
In 2018, I read Peter Temin’s book The Vanishing Middle Class. He got a lot of press coverage when the book was released, in large…
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the nation’s largest anti-hunger program and helps millions of people who are at risk for food insecurity every…
For the hundreds of thousands of Missourians struggling to afford the basics — such as food, shelter, and medicine — cash income is vital to…
We knew going into the legislative session that it would be a wild year. Unfortunately, wild years where very little gets done has become the…
Today the Missouri House of Representatives gave final passage to five of six bills heard by House committees on August 17. The bills were crafted…
During the age of COVID-19, many of us are doing our duty to protect ourselves and others. We stay home, wash our hands, and wear…
Date: January 23, 2024 To: Chairwoman McGaugh and Members, Elections and Elected Officials Committee From: Trina Ragain, Lead Policy Strategist, Empower Missouri Re: Opposition for…
Founded in 1901, Empower Missouri is the largest anti-poverty advocacy organization in the state. As part of our work, we convene a statewide Affordable Housing…
Date: February 7th, 2024To: Chairman Bromley and members of the Utilities CommitteeFrom: Trina Ragain, Lead Policy Strategist, Empower MissouriRe: Opposition to HB 1435, HB 1804…
Date: February 6, 2024 To: Chairwoman McGaugh and Members, Elections and Elected Officials Committee From: Trina Ragain, Lead Policy Strategist, Empower Missouri Re: Opposition for…
This past week Empower Missouri held its Annual Week of Action. In addition to 3 virtual days, this year we were able to be back…
For months, Empower Missouri and our allies in Missouri have been urging our federal representatives to pass the Build Back Better Act, an opportunity to…
At Empower Missouri, we subscribe to a daily political newsletter that lists who has recently registered as a lobbyist. A quick search on the Missouri…
Earlier this month, the Food Assistance and Hunger in the Heartland Report was released. This is a first of its kind-a comprehensive research study about…
While the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in financial instability and economic hardship for many households, unprecedented supports – including a national emergency rental assistance program and…
Food Insecurity in the U.S. and Here at Home in Missouri More than 34 million people experience food insecurity in the United States. That includes…
Empower Missouri started over 100 years ago as an annual conference, making the job of planning and executing our annual Anti-Poverty Summit even more significant.…
Just a few weeks into the new school year, many families are learning that after two years of all Missouri public school children receiving free…
It is clear that major changes are coming with the November 3 election, but none of us is able to say with certainty exactly what…
At Empower Missouri, we know that we can change lives through effective and targeted policy change. Too many of our neighbors struggle to get their…
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