Check out our Q&A with Development Manager Peyton Davis below. Congratulations on your first year with Empower Missouri, Peyton!
What does “People-Powered Policy Change” mean to you?
People-power is often envisioned as groups of individuals fighting back against injustice in solidarity. We think of pivotal moments like the march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965, led by Dr. King, or the protests in Ferguson in 2014 that helped launch the Black Lives Matter movement nationwide. While these movements demonstrated extraordinary people-power, the reality is that it is often far less flashy.
It’s the single parent struggling to make ends meet who still finds time to call their state representative. It’s the person who was formerly incarcerated and, after gaining their freedom, dedicates themselves to helping those still facing injustice in Missouri’s prison system. It’s the veteran who, despite living with PTSD, chooses to stand in a crowd of protesters because they believe in defending the constitutional rights they once served to protect.
People-power may look grand in action, but at its core is a simple truth: the power of people coming together is only made possible by individuals who choose to show up. To act even when it’s inconvenient. To extend a hand to those who need it. To risk criticism because they believe justice should belong to everyone.
To me, people-powered policy change is our democracy working as it was designed to do, a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. It’s not built by a handful of extraordinary individuals, but by thousands of ordinary people making the choice, day after day, to shape the policies that shape their communities.
Tell us about one moment in your time with Empower that you felt truly demonstrated the impact we are making.
A couple of months ago, I had a phone call with a longtime Empower Missouri supporter that has really stuck with me. We spent hours talking about their history with the organization, the people they knew, the organizing they did, and the successes they were a part of.
What stood out to me most was the story they told about the first time they testified at the State Capitol. They shared how nervous they were, and how Peter DeSimone, who was Empower Missouri’s Executive Director at the time, went with them and supported them every step of the way. That first time testifying eventually turned into a lifetime dedicated to advocacy.
I think about that conversation a lot because, to me, that’s the impact Empower Missouri has. Yes, we’ve helped shape public policy in Missouri for 125 years, and we’re incredibly proud of that. But what makes our work special is that we don’t do it alone. We help people find their voice and give them the tools and confidence to use it.
Throughout our history, we’ve walked alongside advocates as they learn how to tell their stories, speak up for their communities, and push for change. Sometimes all it takes is someone believing in you the first time you walk into a committee hearing or testify before lawmakers. Years later, those same people are still showing up, still organizing, and still making Missouri better. I can’t think of a better example of what it means to empower Missourians.
What do you hope to see in the next 25 years for Missouri?
I hope to see a stronger community of advocates across Missouri. As technology has transformed the way we live, we’ve become more connected than ever, yet many people feel more isolated from one another. Real change happens in community. When people know their neighbors, understand each other’s struggles, and feel like they belong, they’re more likely to speak up, get involved, and fight for one another.
At a time when division often seems to win out, I hope Missourians choose a different path. I hope we’ll look to what we have in common instead of what sets us apart, and continue building a state where people come together to advocate for the common good.
Describe Empower Missouri in three words.
Persistent. Collaborative. Impactful.
What song would you choose as Empower Missouri’s “theme song”?
River of My People by Pete Seeger
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