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 17th from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.  I am quickly approaching my first legislative session as Chief of Policy Staff with Empower Missouri,...Read More

Recently, I had the chance to interview the incredible Fall 2024 cohort of interns and learn about the unique perspectives they bring to our team. With diverse academic backgrounds and a shared commitment to social justice, each intern contributes something special. Their passion for advocacy and community engagement is truly inspiring. Read on to meet...Read More

With the November election less than one month away, it seems likely that you’re being inundated with news and opinions related to upcoming federal, state, and local elections. In Missouri, voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on five amendments to Missouri’s constitution. You have likely seen three of these amendments—Amendment 2 (legalizing sports...Read More

You hear from us often about the complexities of poverty and the need for a variety of policy solutions to address the housing crisis, food insecurity, access to justice, and the inaccessibility of adequate healthcare. Poverty and its effects are far-reaching and impact nearly every aspect of a person’s life, at every phase of life....Read More

This November, our Anti-Poverty Advocates Summit will feature Andrea Elliott, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Invisible Child, as one of our keynote speakers. Our staff has been reading (or re-reading) Invisible Child in preparation, and we are excited to delve deeper into the book and the implications of Dasani’s story. Today our Communications Manager,...Read More

As we recently shared, Empower Missouri has just begun a new phase in our growth, the start of our next strategic plan. Our team is especially excited about our plans to recommit and deeply invest in our work of supporting nonprofit organizations throughout the state in building their capacity to advocate for policy change that...Read More

It is undeniable that poverty is a problem in our state. According to the 2022 Poverty Report, 13% of Missourians and over 17% of Missouri children live in poverty. That’s over 770,000 individuals struggling to put food on the table, keep a roof over their heads, or meet their basic needs. Over 770,000 Missourians face...Read More

On Friday, the 2024 Missouri Legislative Session closed with little fanfare, a fitting end to a session where little work was accomplished. The legislation passed a grand total of 28 bills (excluding the 18 appropriation bills), a total significantly lower than last year’s previous record low of 41 bills and even lower than the shutdown-plagued...Read More

“Homelessness is a profound assault on dignity, social inclusion and the right to life. It is a prima facie violation of the right to housing and violates a number of other human rights in addition to the right to life, including non-discrimination, health, water and sanitation, security of the person and freedom from cruel, degrading...Read More

Missouri is one of only a handful of states that still regularly executes its citizens. On April 9th of this year, Missouri carried out its first execution of 2024, killing Brian Dorsey despite a clemency campaign that had unprecedented support from correctional officers and a former prison warden. Although the death penalty is still legal...Read More