Check out our Q&A with Food Security Policy Manager Amanda Berry below. Congratulations on two years with Empower Missouri, Amanda!
What does “People-Powered Policy Change” mean to you?
To me, people-powered policy change means recognizing that the people closest to a problem are often the ones closest to the solution. Good policy shouldn’t happen in isolation or only inside government buildings. It should be informed by the lived experiences of communities, strengthened through collaboration, and designed to create opportunities that last. Our role is to help bring those voices together and turn them into meaningful change.
What drives your motivation for advocacy, even on the hard days?
I remind myself that every policy we work on represents real people. Whether it’s a child who has enough to eat at school, a farmer finding new market opportunities, or a family gaining access to healthy food closer to home, policy has tangible impacts on people’s lives. The work can be challenging, but knowing we’re building something that can benefit communities for generations makes it worth it.
What do you hope to see in the next 25 years for Missouri?
I hope Missouri becomes known as a state where every community has the opportunity to thrive. I’d love to see stronger local economies, healthier communities, a more resilient food system, and policies that recognize the value of investing in prevention rather than simply responding to crises. Missouri has incredible people and resources; we just need to continue creating systems that allow them to succeed.
Describe Empower Missouri in three words.
Collaborative, courageous, persistent.
What are your hopes for the next 25 years (or more) of Empower Missouri?
I hope Empower Missouri continues bringing people together across sectors to solve complex problems. The challenges our state faces don’t fit neatly into one policy area, and neither do the solutions. I hope Empower continues to be an organization that isn’t afraid to think differently, build partnerships, and help shape policies that improve the lives of Missourians for generations to come.
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