I traveled as a first-time attendee to the Clean Slate Initiative annual convening in Chicago earlier this month. The convening celebrated the 5th year anniversary for the Clean Slate Initiative launch. The Clean Slate Initiative, a national advocacy organization, is working across the country to pass and implement laws that automate record sealing for people...Read More

As an organization focused on ending poverty in our state, Empower Missouri is deeply aware of the individual costs of a criminal record. Limited housing, employment, and education options can leave a person with a lifetime struggling to overcome a past mistake, long after they have served their time. But in Missouri alone, there are...Read More

Last week Empower Missouri was joined by almost 200 advocates, community members, and supporters for our Day of Action at the State Capitol. It was a fantastic day of advocacy, camaraderie, and community. Attendees reached every corner of the Capitol, and it seemed like every time I turned a corner or stepped onto the elevator,...Read More

Growing up, it was just expected that kids in Jessica’s neighborhood would eventually end up involved with the legal system. Poverty and limited opportunities led many to drugs and alcohol, and eventually to crime. At age 16, she had her first child and dropped out of school to be able to provide for them. Selling...Read More

A fresh start after being released from prison and becoming a returning citizen should be an amazing feeling; however, that isn’t the case for many of Missouri’s formerly incarcerated individuals. The reality is that most formerly incarcerated individuals face a major barrier in finding housing and stability. This is an even more challenging experience due...Read More

Date: January 27, 2025 To: Chairman Schroer and Members, Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee From: Mallory Rusch, Executive Director, Empower Missouri Re: SB 19 As the largest and oldest anti-poverty advocacy agency in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving the quality of life for all Missouri residents through advocacy. Since our...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

As the largest and oldest anti-poverty advocacy agency in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving the quality of life for all Missouri residents through advocacy. Since our inception, Empower Missouri has focused on the criminal justice system and its impacts. Our Community Justice Coalition consists of community advocates and organizations from across the...Read More

Clean Slate legislation has been filed in Missouri’s  house and senate, the result of a concerted push by advocates around the state, including Empower Missouri, who believe that the time is right for automatic record sealing. Automatic expungement means that anyone who qualifies to have their record sealed* would receive it automatically, without having to...Read More

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. Ask any nonprofit staff and they’ll tell you that conference execution is no joke. I have to uplift our team and give them a round of applause: 2022’s return to...Read More