Below is a quick summary of key issues for Empower Missouri in the upcoming legislative session. If you would like to learn more, please register for our Legislative Preview webinar on December 16th from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.  We’re just four weeks away from the start of the 2026 Missouri legislative session. Prefiling began...Read More

Daphne is a 58 year old resident of St. Louis, Missouri. Over the course of fifteen years, she has watched her health, the cost of living, and her neighborhood shift around her. Most notably, the Covid-19 Pandemic of 2020 caused a dramatic shift in her life. She has witnessed how difficult it can be to...Read More

Hear from Rev. Dr. Cassandra Gould (she/her/hers), the Director of Cultural and Political Engagement for Faith in Action, about the need for Clean Slate in our state! Why do you believe Clean Slate to be an important and necessary policy solution for Missouri?  As a Black faith leader, I believe Clean Slate is essential because...Read More

Position Overview  Empower Missouri seeks passionate and engaged community members to serve as Tenant Captains for the next six months.  This role offers a meaningful opportunity to advocate for improved access to housing and tenant protections in rural Missouri, share local perspectives, and help shape policies that protect tenants and improve access to affordable housing. ...Read More

Homeless prevention programs are the latest anti-poverty program under threat from the federal government. On November 13th, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that it would disregard the existing two year planning process (2025-2026) and require homeless prevention programs to reapply for funding for 2026. This change, announced only seven weeks before...Read More

Imagine going to the grocery store hungry, knowing you can buy a frozen burrito but not a warm, ready-to-eat one—even if both cost the same. That’s the reality for millions of Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. Under current federal law, SNAP recipients are prohibited from...Read More

We thank Governor Kehoe for taking swift action to support Missouri families during the ongoing federal shutdown. We appreciate the expedited transfer of $10.6 million to Missouri’s Area Agencies on Aging to ensure continued meal access for seniors, as well as the early release of $5 million in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding...Read More

Three years and a half years ago, in a little town in southwest New Mexico, I worked in a high school. I was working towards my teaching degree because I wanted to be a positive influence and make a difference in kids’ lives. In this position, I saw the true inequity in our community. Watching...Read More