Empower Missouri

08/31/2026

This year, Empower Missouri is hosting it's 125th Anti-Poverty Advocates Summit. On October 1st & 2nd, we are headed to Columbia, MO to meet with fellow advocates & community members, to make space for learning, connections, and advance on the mission to end poverty. Get your tickets now! ⬇️
EmpowerMissouri.org/summit

08/28/2026

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT ✨
At the 2026 Anti-Poverty Advocates Summit, we welcome Riisa Rawlins & Grace Cobble with Community Health Commission of Missouri. They will explore how Medicaid conversations often focus on numbers & budgets rather than the shared reality of Missourians across different communities who face many of the same barriers to healthcare.
Tickets for the 2026 Anti-Poverty Advocates Summit here ⬇
EmpowerMissouri.org/summit/

08/27/2026

For many kids in Missouri, this week marks the start of a new school year.
As classrooms come back to life, let’s remember: fed children are ready to learn, grow, and thrive. School readiness starts with full backpacks, AND full bellies. 🎒🍎

08/27/2026

Lucas has been killing it as Chief of Policy Staff for TWO YEARS ‼️
Lucas, we are so incredibly grateful to have you on our team. Your leadership & sense of humor makes every day better at Empower Missouri ✨
Read our Q & A with Lucas here ⬇️
Empowermissouri.org/staff-spotlight-lets-celebrate-lucas/

08/26/2026

We believe court reminders should be accessible by default, helping reduce unnecessary jail stays while saving taxpayer dollars. The impact that just a single night in jail can have on an individual, and those that depend on them, cannot be overstated.
For additional reading ⬇️
empowermissouri.org/mass-incarceration-in-your-backyard/

08/26/2026

At our August Community Justice Coalition meeting, we heard from the investigative journalists behind Recovered Factory who are committed to making policing data public and accessible. They have done a deep dive into the 2025 Missouri Vehicle Stops Report, an annually published data set that illuminates racial bias in police stops.
You can find their analysis here ⬇️
vsr.recoveredfactory.net/en/analysis/first-impressions-2025

They’re also tracking the growing number of 287(g) agreements, which allow local law enforcement to work with ICE. Missouri currently has the third-highest number of these agreements, behind Texas and Florida.

Use their interactive tool to see if police in your community are working with immigration enforcement. ⬇️
287g.recoveredfactory.net/en

A first look at the 2025 Missouri vehicle stops data: why ~90 agencies dropped out of the 2024 report and returned in 2025, plus Hispanic stop share, racial disparities, declining searches, and the contraband outcome test.

08/25/2026

This year, Empower Missouri is hosting a celebration event in honor of the relationships and milestones that have shaped our work over 125 years. Join us for an evening of connection, dinner, stories from our history, and recognition of this year’s advocacy awardees. Celebrate where we’ve been, and help shape where we’re headed next. ⬇️
Empowermissouri.org/125th-dinner/

08/25/2026

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT ‼
At the 2026 Anti-Poverty Advocates Summit, we welcome Katheryne Staeger-Wilson & Joyce Fenner with Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council. They will explore how one person's leadership led to the creation of Jordan’s Place in Marshfield, Missouri, accessible homes built around a community center to encourage connection and belonging. 🫂
You can buy tickets for the 2026 Anti-Poverty Advocates Summit here ⬇
EmpowerMissouri.org/summit/

08/24/2026

Have you shopped our store yet? We've got some pretty sweet Empower Missouri merch on there 😉 Shop our store here ⬇️
empower-missouri.printify.me/

08/24/2026

Our EmPOWER to the People series is a virtual opportunity to gather with individuals from around Missouri and discuss what your communities are experiencing, and your ideas for how to address those challenges. Join us September 1st for all things housing 🏠

Empowermissouri.org/events/empower-to-the-people-affordable-housing/

Part of our 125th anniversary celebrations, our EmPOWER to the People series is a virtual opportunity to gather with like-minded individuals from around Missouri and discuss some of the most challenging issues our state is facing. We’ll explore the current state of food security, criminal justice,...