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Missourians Point to Good Jobs, Belonging as Indicators of Good Health, Missouri Foundation for Health Poll Finds

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For Immediate Release 
March 12, 2026 

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – Missourians overwhelmingly agree that living a healthy life requires more than access to medical care. According to a statewide survey, Speak Up MO, commissioned by Missouri Foundation for Health, residents view good jobs, quality schools and libraries, low levels of crime, and treating people with respect as essential for building healthy communities.

The poll surveyed more than 1,800 Missourians, and conducted focus groups with roughly 70 community members, gauging their views on a range of issues including physical and mental health, civic engagement, the economy, financial well-being, and belonging. The findings offer a look at Missourians’ priorities and concerns about what they need to thrive.

Key findings include:

● Cost of living and the cost of health care continue to be dominant concerns for Missourians.
● 97% of Missourians view high-quality jobs as the primary factor for a healthy community.
● Most Missourians report a feeling of belonging in their community, but some groups, notably Latinos and LGBTQ+ Missourians feel that way at much lower rates.
● More than half of Missourians experienced mental strain last year. Those reporting difficulty accessing mental health care increased from 39% in 2024 to 52% in 2025.
● Just 10% of residents feel they can meaningfully impact or influence community decisions; this cuts across party lines.

“These findings reaffirm what we hear every day. Missourians know what it takes to build thriving communities,” said Sheldon Weisgrau, Vice President of Health Policy and Advocacy, Missouri Foundation for Health. “They want meaningful jobs with fair pay and good benefits, strong community connections, and access to affordable care, among other things. When we align our policy priorities around what Missourians say they value, we move closer to a Missouri where everyone has what they need to live their healthiest lives.”

Belonging
The data also outlined areas for elected officials and community leaders to further explore. For instance, Latino and LGBTQ+ residents reported lower rates of belonging than other groups surveyed. A strong sense of belonging supports overall health by increasing the likelihood that an individual perceives themselves as having places where they can access support and successfully manage the stressors of everyday life.

Health Care
The report also highlighted growing concerns around health care accessibility and affordability. Most Missourians rely on coverage through an employer, Medicare, or a spouse’s plan. Additionally, many respondents reported having a lapse in health care coverage at some point in the year. This means many may have gone without care, racked up medical debt, or redirected household funds to cover medical expenses.

Mental Health Care
At least 52% of residents reported mental strain last year, and more than half had difficulty accessing mental health care. This challenge was especially pronounced among marginalized groups, with 68% of Latinos, 67% of LGBTQ individuals, and 59% of women reporting difficulty. Black Missourians also cited health care discrimination, particularly in mental health.

About the Poll
This study was conducted in collaboration with bipartisan polling partners, FM3 Research and New Bridge Strategy, utilizing a combination of surveys conducted among 1,833 adult Missourians. The data was collected in English and Spanish via phone, online surveys, and in-person focus groups. The margin of sampling error was +/- 2.3@ at the 95% confidence level.

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Missouri Foundation for Health is building a more equitable future through collaboration, convening, knowledge sharing, and strategic investment. Working in partnership with communities and nonprofits, MFH is transforming systems to promote fairness within all aspects of health and addressing the social and economic factors that shape health outcomes.

 

 

On Anniversary of Bloody Sunday, United Women in Faith Remembers Struggle for Civil Rights

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NEW YORK – On March 7, 1965, over 600 men, women, and children began to march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., to protest the suppression of Black voters. Segregationists injured 58 people that day, from tear gas burns to skull fractures. After seeing this cruelty, demonstrators rose across the country and President Lyndon B. Johnson vowed to make the Voting Rights Act law. At the successful march two weeks later, over 25,000 people arrived at the state capitol in Montgomery.

In remembrance of the 61st anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the events surrounding it, United Women in Faith today issued the following statement, which can be attributed to its general secretary and CEO, Sally Vonner:

“United Women in Faith remembers the legacy of those who risked life and limb in pursuit of the right to vote. Although it has been 61 years since Bloody Sunday, we know that the fight for voting rights — and a truthful telling of our history — continues.

“In the same way that our foremothers and ancestors stood against segregation and fought for civil rights, we lift our voices today. We may not all feel the brunt of an officer’s baton, but we are still fighting against repressive forces who stand in opposition to voter access for all. Proposed and enacted legislation threatens access to voter registration and paths to the ballot box for many women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people of color. Our country’s history advocating for racial justice and civil rights has been labeled ‘divisive,’ and those in power are trying to hide it. We will raise our voices and take action to ensure we do not lose the lessons of our past.

“We share our appreciation for those who fought so women and people of color could exercise their right to vote, and we follow in their footsteps in pursuit of justice. We will not let their stories be erased or their work be undone.

“On this 61st anniversary of Bloody Sunday and every day, we honor the sacrifices of past generations and look ahead to the work that is left to be done. Each of us has a responsibility to pick up the torch and champion pathways to voting that are free and accessible to all.”

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United Women in Faith is the largest denominational organization for women in the United States.

Leading Reparations Expert Calls for Process Review on Washington Reparations Study

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OLYMPIA, Wash. — As Washington state looks to be the third state in the nation to pursue a statewide reparations study, Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter today released an open letter to Washington State Attorney General Nicholas Brown. Dr. Hunter is a professor of Sociology and African American Studies and the author of “Radical Reparations: Healing the Soul of a Nation.”

This letter followed Dr. Hunter’s struggle to obtain a debrief and submit a protest regarding the process and selection in the State of Washington Department of Commerce’s Charles Mitchell and George Washington Bush Study on Reparative Action. His experiencing studying and contributing to reparations commissions situate him as a clear expert for the study, yet he was repeatedly denied the due process that he was entitled to.

As an esteemed academic with nationwide recognition for his reparations research and advocacy, Dr. Hunter raised concerns about the harms caused by procedural failures and performative equity when considering reparations.

“Reparations demand more than aspiration,” Dr. Hunter said. “They demand institutional courage. They demand procedural truth. This request is not about reversing an award. It is about safeguarding the architecture of justice at the very moment a state attempts to give it form.”

The open letter to State Attorney General Nicholas Brown is available in its entirety here: https://www.marcusanthonyhunter.com/rol

If you are interested in discussing this matter with Dr. Hunter further, please contact press@spotlightpr.org.

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Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter is a sociologist and public scholar whose work focuses on Black communities, urban policy, and reparative justice. He is the author of “Radical Reparations: Healing the Soul of a Nation.”

Child Care Advocates to Elected Officials: Protect Us All

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For Immediate Release

January 27, 2026

WASHINGTON – Following the tragic killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis by a U.S. Border Patrol agent, child care organizers and advocates with 9to5 Georgia, the Alabama Institute for Social Justice, Alliance for Quality Education NY, the Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition, SPACEs in Action/Community Change, and the Raising Child Care Fund today issued the following statement:

“As child care organizers and parents, we grieve the perilous conditions unleashed by federal agents on children and families in Minnesota and beyond,” said Mary Ignatius, executive director of Parent Voices. “From threats to freeze child care funding, to dangerous immigration raids, to the calculated racial profiling of people of color, many communities feel unfairly targeted. This should matter to us all.”

“We know firsthand that children cannot learn when they are in survival mode,” said Lenice Emanuel, executive director of the Alabama Institute for Social Justice. “Child care educators cannot teach when they, and the children and families they serve, are under attack. Moreover, communities cannot know safety when they, and the public officials charged with serving them, are terrorized by federal agents.”

“Indeed, the federal government appears to have turned on her citizens,” said Lorena Garcia, CEO, Colorado Statewide Parents Coalition. “Law enforcement has been deputized to hunt persons suspected of being undocumented, with a new memo suggesting Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) could go door to door in search of undocumented immigrants. The practice of “detain first, ask questions later,” is immoral and dangerous. It isn’t in service of keeping the nation safe; it is designed to instill terror and fear in the American people.

“In the space of a few weeks, we’ve seen a pregnant woman pulled from her car, a disabled woman who was on her way to a medical appointment detained, a toddler and preschooler detained and flown out of the state, police officers of color detained, and multiple people shot, some fatally, by ICE or Border Patrol. The killing of Renee Good and Alex Pretti have been well publicized, but they are not anomalies. In 2025, 32 people died in Immigration Customs and Enforcement custody, including 7 people who died in December 2025 alone,” Ignatius said.

“In a developed nation, no one should fear extra-judicial killings,” said LaDon Love, executive director, SPACEs in Action. It is imperative that each of us contact our respective federal officials and ask them to immediately pull ICE and DHS from Minnesota, and to prevent their entry in other American cities. As Jamelle Bouie from the New York Times has said, “mass deportation is inherently cruel.””

Child care advocates urge parents and others to:

  • Ask elected leaders to fund child care, not ICE.
  • Contact your elected leaders via email or phone, and share your thoughts about ICE.
  • Ask elected leaders for a thorough investigation into ICE killings.

“As an entity dedicate to children, families and child care providers, the RCCF joins our grantee partners in supporting the health, safety, and well-being of children, families, and early educators facing heightened stress and uncertainty in their communities,” said Rachel Schumacher, Director, the Raising Child Care Fund.

 

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This Black History Month, Anticipate and Then Act for Brighter Future

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For Immediate Release

January 26, 2026

ST. LOUIS, MO – In observance of Black History Month, the Deaconess Foundation today issued the following statement. The statement should be attributed to Deaconess Foundation President & CEO Bethany Johnson-Javois, and Vice President, Strategic Impact & Innovation, Constance Harper.

“On the eve of this Black History Month, many are wondering if progress is a thing of the past. Black History Month in 2026 is occurring at a time national unrest, widespread anxiety, and a breathtaking assault on the rule of law. Organizations that work to strengthen democracy express feeling under siege, and communities bearing disproportionate harm feel similarly targeted. One could be forgiven for questioning whether our best days (as a nation) are behind us,” Johnson-Javois said.

“Regardless of what is happening around you, do not surrender your imagination. Every system of domination begins by narrowing what people can imagine as possible. Indeed, do not let current events dampen your anticipation. Now more than ever, people of faith must tap into anticipation and allow that anticipation to fuel their advocacy. ‘Holy Anticipation’ is a disciplined spiritual posture that prepares us to respond rightly and righteously to God’s movement and human plans before they fully unfold,” Johnson-Javois said.

“Expectation and anticipation are not the same:  Expectation is confidence in God’s character and promises. But anticipation is how that confidence takes shape in a life of faithfulness and preparation. To anticipate a future that subsequent generations can be inspired by is to accept the responsibility to act in ways that make that future real. This is a moment to assert and organize for a future that sees, protects, and welcomes all. This is not a moment to shrink in fear or hopeless resignation. As we embark on Black History Month, our remembrance and celebration should interrupt routine and outlive the limits of a 31-day cycle,” Johnson-Javois said.

“Make a list of courageous actions, both big and small, that you can take to help create the beloved community our ancestors anticipated. This may look like calling elected leaders and urging them to do what is right, not merely what is politically expedient. It may look like showing up for those the powers that be are attempting to erase, with a clear expectation of mutual responsibility, shared risk, and collective liberation. It may look like intentionally standing with those who are in harm’s way. The bottom line is this. During Black History Month, anticipate the future you want to see and prepare to act in ways that help bring it into being, understanding that freedom has always required participation and that each of us must find our way into the fight,” Harper said.

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Radical Reparations Fiercely Reimagines the Legacies of Black Americans; Paves Unifying Path Forward for the Nation

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For Immediate Release

January 20, 2026

LOS ANGELES – At the same time the nation is witnessing the erasure of the contributions of Black Americans, a prominent sociologist, Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter, today announced the paperback release of his seminal work, “Radical Reparations: Healing the Soul of A Nation.” The groundbreaking tome echoes the spirit of Derrick Bell’s Faces at the Bottom of the Well. It offers a radical and refreshing framework on reparations, and invites us to seriously grapple with issues of justice and repair.

In celebration of the launch of the book, Hunter will headline an event at Baldwin & Co. on January 20, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. CST. The event is open press; interested parties may register here.

For over a century, the idea of reparations for the descendants of formerly enslaved Black Americans has divided the nation. While the iconic phrase “40 acres and a mule” encapsulates the general notion of reparations, history has proven that the damages of enslavement on the African American community remarkably transcends what plots of land or checks could repair.

In a compelling reframing of justice, Hunter reimagines reparations and defines seven types of compensation: political, intellectual, legal, economic, spatial, social, and spiritual. He developed this framework using analysis of historical documents, comparative international cases, and speculative parables.

While highlighting the insufficiency of monetary settlement alone, Hunter presents a revolutionary manifesto to achieve holistic and prolific healing for Black communities.

As a social justice pioneer, conversation shifter, and inventor of the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag, Hunter invites, indeed demands, us to grapple with transformative and comprehensive solutions to repair and heal the nation’s original sin. For instance, he has spoken passionately about labor acknowledgements honoring the contributions of formerly enslaved Black Americans.

Trenchant and timely, RADICAL REPARATIONS fiercely reimagines the forthcoming legacies of Black Americans and paves a unifying path forward for us all.

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Recent Victories Show Momentum for Free Child Care Growing

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For Immediate Release

PHILADELPHIA – Support for fully funded, universal child care continues to grow. Through years of grassroots organizing, parents, child care providers and advocates, are finally being heard. In November, New Mexico became the first state to offer universal child care thanks to the work of OLE NM. In New York, citizens elected a child care champion in Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani. In Ohio, advocates with The CEO Project are working with legislators to ensure child care providers have what they need to serve children and families. The advocates issued the following statement:

“Every child deserves access to high-quality child care and pre-K—and this must be a top priority for Pennsylvania,” said Tyrone Scott, Director of Government and External Affairs, First Up. “Recent victories across the country show what’s possible when communities organize. At First Up, we are committed to ensuring that every child in Pennsylvania gets the strong start they need to thrive, child care is affordable to families, and early educators are paid a living wage.”

“From Ohio to New York to New Mexico, voters are demanding child care that works for every family,” said Tamara Lunan, Organizing Director of the CEO Project. “Ohio families deserve the same—affordable, high-quality care and fair pay for the people who provide it. We’re ready for leaders who treat child care as the essential infrastructure it is.”

“Child care shows us what solidarity looks like in practice – people showing up for one another and building the conditions for liberation from the ground up. To make it truly universal is to claim it as a public good that belongs to all of us. This victory has sparked hope far beyond New York, and we intend to see that momentum grow until equity and justice are the standard everywhere,” said Marina Marcou-O’Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari, our Co-Executive Directors of Alliance for Quality Education New York (AQE New York). 

These wins provide much-needed fuel for parents and child care educators in other states.  For more information or to book an interview, email press@spotlightpr.org.

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Revolve Fund to Provide $20,000 to Support Food Access Efforts in Alabama Black Belt

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For Immediate Release

SELMA – As over 40 million Americans grappled with the reality of not being able to feed themselves or their families due to SNAP delays, Revolve Fund is seeking to help. Revolve Fund today announced a $20,000 community grant to the Black Belt Community Foundation as part of the duo’s continued partnership. The grant will increase the foundation’s capacity to execute programs and fundraise to support food access efforts in the Alabama Black Belt region.

“Revolve Fund complements its core mission of improving capital access for entrepreneurs by partnering with leading organizations that are addressing critical community needs,” said James Wahls, Founder and Managing Director, Revolve Fund. “Like BBCF, Revolve understands at the most fundamental level, everyone should have access to healthy food.”

“BBCF is deeply grateful for the Revolve Fund’s grant to underwrite direct food support in the Black Belt during the current disruption of SNAP benefits, continuing high food costs and unprecedented strain on our local food banks,” said Christopher Spencer, President & CEO, Black Belt Community Foundation. “As BBCF mobilizes resources and community partners during this time, Revolve is one of the first philanthropic organizations to step forward to support our Food for Families in the Black Belt Campaign. We look ahead to our productive, continued partnership with them to positively impact and transform the Black Belt region of Alabama.”

“While our communities need and deserve so much more, we hope our contribution will support the foundation’s ability to work with other philanthropic partners, individual donors, charities, and public partners.” Wahls added.

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470,000 Faces of Hunger: The Urgent Call to Save SNAP

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For Immediate Release
 
 
PHILADELPHIA, PA – Charles Coe, executive director and chief brand compliance officer of the Incredible Kids Learning Organization, today lamented the devastating impacts of the loss of SNAP benefits on children, child care providers and parents. Warning that parents are on a hamster wheel and lacking critical resources, he released the following statement:
 
“If child care providers, many of whom are already struggling, must now work in an environment where SNAP is not available to families they serve, the pain will be compounded. It’s terrifying for them, but also for parents.
 
“It is horrifying for parents to reckon with not being able to feed their children. It’s equally frightening for child care providers to question how they’ll care for kids in their program, at a time when so many lifeline services are being decimated.
 
 
“The loss of SNAP benefits will put more stress on parents and child care providers. Parents often pride themselves on being able to put food on the table. When they cannot do that, it strikes at the core of what it means to be a provider and protector.”
 
 
“We are already living in a period where parents are running on hamster wheels due to a lack of resources. Many parents feel that they may not have the biggest, most fabulous homes; but if they have food to feed their children, they’re content. The loss of SNAP benefits strips away everything that parents cherish.
 
 
“Meals are more than sustenance. Families bond over meals, share admiration for each other over meals, hear updates on the day, and plan the future. Simply put, the family unit is disrupted when there is no food. The love of parents is reflected in the meals they’re able to provide, in the notes they put in their children’s snack pack, and so much more. It is essential that our leaders do everything they can to ensure parents can feed their children.”
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The Scariest Halloween Ever: Child Care Educators Lament the Dire Predicament of Millions of Families

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For Immediate Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Early child care educators and advocates today tried to image the scariest part of Halloween 2025, alternating between the government shutdown, the potential loss of SNAP benefits as well as possible Head Start cuts. Even before the shutdown, many families were tinkering on the brink of disaster. Many have yet to fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Early childhood education advocates issued the following statement:

 

“Ninety percent of the families in our community are in distress,” said Ifrah Nur of Kids Count on Us in Minnesota. “They struggle every day just to meet their basic needs and are on the verge of losing their homes. The income they earn barely covers rent — just enough to keep a roof over their heads. If food assistance (SNAP) is taken away, I don’t know what will happen. Not being able to feed their children would create unimaginable hardship.”

“One parent told me her entire paycheck goes toward rent. After that, she has only $100 left, which must cover utilities,” Nur continued. “She’s a mother of four, without a car, and she can’t afford clothes or shoes for her children. She said, “If I don’t get food benefits this month, I’ll have to use my rent money to buy food. And if I do that, I’ll lose my home.” This is not okay. Families who already have nothing are being punished while those with wealth lose nothing during a government shutdown. The system must protect the most vulnerable — not take away the little support they have left.”
“The people we work with in Georgia will feel real, tangible, deep cuts of not only the government shutdown but proposed budget cuts,” said Erin Clark, an organizer with 9to5 Georgia. “We are seeing that many Head Start programs will face dire circumstances come November 1 when over 140 programs will not receive funding if the government shutdown continues. Not being able to access child care or Head Start programs will impact parents’ ability to go to work and to continue contributing to their workplaces.”
According to the First Five Years Fund, one in three child care providers is facing food insecurity. Losing access to SNAP will have massive ripple effects on the child care industry, both for families and for providers. Reports indicate that than 40 million Americans may go hungry due to a loss of SNAP benefits.
“We know that early childhood educators in Georgia largely rely on programs like SNAP, so we are going to see big impacts not just on families but also for our early childhood educators,” said Clark. “There are a number of providers who will pay from their own pockets to help subsidize child care for parents who may not be able to pay that child care bill week-to-week because they feel very deeply for these experiences that parents are going through. This government shutdown is just highlighting the continued need for long-term investment in child care so that our providers are able to respond to these moments and are better funded.”
“Hearing that families might not have access to food subsidies, means that we must figure out how we can support them,” said Tarrezz Thompson, an Ohio child care provider and advocate with The CEO Project. “We don’t want parents in a position where they’re having to make difficult choices [about how to eat].”
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