When we talk about mass incarceration, the first image that comes to mind for many is a prison cell door, slamming shut. But while Missouri state prisons incarcerate over 23,000 people, the primary form of incarceration that people face is the one closest to home: detention in local and county jails. There are approximately 9,800 […] The post Mass Incarceration in Your Backyard appeared first on Empower Missouri.| Empower Missouri
On July 31, 2025, more than 30 cross-sector partners gathered in Columbia, Missouri, meeting inside the incredible new Food Bank Market at The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri. Convened as the Missouri Rural Food Access Partnership, our charge was clear: to understand how the newly-passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is reshaping […] The post Missouri Rural Food Access Partnership Is Charting the New Food Landscape After OBBBA appeared first on Empower Missouri.| Empower Missouri
In Part 1 of our two-part Weekly Perspective series on youth justice, we talked about the different paths a kid may take through the system. We also discussed the science of why kids are different than adults and should be treated as such by our laws. This fact was underscored in 2012, when the Supreme […] The post Youth Justice in Missouri: The How appeared first on Empower Missouri.| Empower Missouri
Adolescence can be a tough time for many children, between the onset of puberty, peer pressure, and grappling with the many factors beyond a young person’s control, such as family dynamics, food and housing insecurity, and more. Some children may act out in ways that bring them into contact with the youth justice system, or […] The post Youth Justice in Missouri: The What and Why appeared first on Empower Missouri.| Empower Missouri
On Friday afternoon, after 4PM, ahead of the long holiday weekend, Governor Mike Kehoe announced that he was calling a special session to “enact legislation establishing updated congressional districts for the State of Missouri and amending the state’s initiative petition process.” This is a political move called “taking out the trash,” which refers to the […] The post Separate and Unequal: Our Statement on the 2025 Special Session appeared first on Empower Missouri.| Empower Missouri
The Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, commonly known as WIC, is under threat of significant cuts by the federal government. Right now, the House Appropriations Committee has advanced a budget proposal that follows the Trump administration’s plan to slash WIC benefits. Specifically, it would cut the fruit and vegetable portion of WIC […] The post Protect WIC to Protect Missouri’s Children appeared first on Empower Missouri.| Empower Missouri