JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Poverty Summit was held Wednesday at the Capitol Plaza, attracting statewide office holders, educators, and community leaders.
The event strove to gather organizations and individuals to learn and address best practices and strategies to help alleviate poverty.
State Treasurer Clint Zweifel welcomed the attendees, while USDA State Director of Rural Development Janie Dunning and Jennings School District Superintendent Dr. Tiffany Anderson spoke. A panel comprised of Springfield City Manager Greg Burris, Columbia City Manager Mike Matthes, and Chamois residents Steve Duncan and Susan Sudermeyers discussed the impacts of poverty on communities.
The summit also hosted many exhibitors, including the Missouri Public Service Commission.
Summits, planned by the nonpartisan Missourians to End Poverty, have been held in 2009, 2011, and 2013. The planning group is made up of residents, businesses, organizations and government agencies.
“This year’s summit is particularly important,” Charles Smith, president of the Missouri National Education Association, said. “Though Missouri’s poverty rate has decreased slightly, we’ve seen an overall 21.5 percent increase in poverty during the past ten years. Poverty should not fall off Missouri’s radar.”
- More than 908,000 Missourians live in poverty, according to the coalition’s recent State of the State:
- Poverty in Missouri publication. Missouri also ranks the seventh in the nation for food insecurity.
- Additionally, 77 of the 114 counties and the City of St. Louis have free and reduced lunch student
participation rates higher than 50 percent, a circumstance which is shown to have a negative impact on
students’ math and reading scores.
Attendees live tweeted the event with the hashtag #MOPovertySummit, sharing photos and quotes.
@JenningsK12 uses restorative justice Ss to run the food pantry- Dr. Anderson #MOPovertySummit pic.twitter.com/7f4Vkyg5pk
— Jim Walters (@drjimwalters) April 27, 2016
A zip code should not determine your destiny. Dr Tiffany Anderson. #MOPovertySummit
— Patrick Dougherty (@paddy48irish) April 27, 2016
Dr Tiffany Anderson shares ways to transcend race & class for excellent schools. #MOPovertySummit pic.twitter.com/Bp0TeHyAMB — Empower Missouri (@EmpowerMissouri) April 27, 2016
“Poverty is man made.” – Nelson Mandela #MOPovertySummit — MFHpolicy (@MFHpolicy) April 27, 2016
Not when we are all in the same boat #MOPovertySummit https://t.co/rq9RPcQQVY — Dina van der Zalm (@DinavdZ) April 27, 2016
Almost a third of all jobs in Missouri are in occupations paying wages below the federal poverty guidelines. #mopovertysummit — Monica Palmer (@comomonica) April 27, 2016
Missouri has 7th highest rate of food insecurity in our nation. Unacceptable for an agricultural state. #MOPovertySummit — Susan Cook (@CookSusanL) April 27, 2016
Poverty isnt some uncontrollable force..it can be alleviated. MO.Treas. Clint Zweifel #MOPovertySummit pic.twitter.com/NeHvPzpnFA — Patrick Dougherty (@paddy48irish) April 27, 2016
Rachael Herndon was the editor at The Missouri Times and also produced This Week in Missouri Politics, published Missouri Times Magazine, and co-hosted the #MoLeg podcast. She joined The Missouri Times in 2014, returning to political reporting after working as a campaign and legislative staffer.
Rachael studied at the University of Missouri – Columbia. She lives in Jefferson City with her husband, Brandon, and their two children.