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Welcome To The Empower Podcast
Empower Mississippi is committed to helping all Mississippians rise by removing barriers to opportunity. In this podcast, we talk with state and national experts about ways the Magnolia State can grow and thrive. These conversations help shape the debate for future legislative sessions and highlight policy changes that are necessary to make Mississippi the best place in America to live, work, and raise a family.
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Interview Library
Written by Empower Mississippi Dr. Matthew Ladner: What Can Arizona Teach Mississippi about empowering parents? In this episode, Dr. Matthew Ladner, Senior Advisor at the Center for Education Policy at the Heritage Foundation, shares about Arizona’s journey with school choice. Arizona passed the first education savings account (ESA) program in the nation in 2011 for students…
Written by Empower Mississippi State Auditor Shad White: Fatherlessness, Labor Woes, School Choice, and Public Safety In this episode, host Grant Callen sits down with Mississippi’s 42nd State Auditor, Shad White. They discuss Mississippi’s incredible cultural and economic advantages and our challenges, like our low Labor Force Participation Rate and our high number of unwed mothers.…
Written by Empower Mississippi Denisha Allen: Firsthand experience with the life-changing power of a great school Host Grant Callen welcomes Denisha Allen in this episode, unraveling her remarkable journey from childhood struggles in Jacksonville, Florida to her current role as a national advocate for school choice. The conversation highlights the transformative impact of school choice on Denisha’s…
Written by Empower Mississippi Elyse Marcellino: Microschools on the Move in the Magnolia State Join us as we explore the transformative world of education with Elyse Marcellino, the director of Embark: New Schools for Mississippi.. Listen in as Elyse shares her work guiding ambitious individuals through the process of opening charter schools and microschools in Mississippi.…
Written by Empower Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson: Removing Barriers to Education and Work This week host Grant Callen sat down with Mississippi’s 36th Secretary of State Michael Watson to talk about removing barriers to opportunity, especially those related to education and work. Sec. Watson has been a longtime advocate for school choice, so they…
Written by Empower Mississippi Arkansas State Sen. Breanne Davis: Empowering Families through Education Reform This week, we’re thrilled to have Arkansas State Senator Breanne Davis, the lead sponsor of the LEARNS Act, a transformative piece of legislation that has had a profound impact on the state’s education system. Listen in as Senator Davis passionately discusses how…
Capitol Chat Library
Written by Empower Mississippi Capitol Chat: Week 8 As another committee deadline approaches, some bills are gaining steam while others quietly stall. In this week’s episode, we unpack a significant school choice–adjacent tax credit bill, a proposed workforce initiative, and a handful of other bills that could either advance or die in the coming days.
Written by Empower Mississippi Capitol Chat: Week 7 It was a budget-heavy week under the Dome, with more than 100 appropriations bills clearing a critical hurdle. We unpack the latest on education funding, the lingering school choice conversation, and what to watch as the session heads toward its next deadline.
Written by Empower Mississippi Capitol Chat: Week 6 From floor votes to a few “spirited” House measures, Week 6 had a little bit of everything. We break down the education bills still moving, the buzz around a recent voice vote, and what’s brewing as lawmakers eye the next big deadline.
Written by Empower Mississippi Capitol Chat: Week 5 Week 5 at the Capitol featured some of the most consequential policy and political moves yet. In this episode, we walk through some of the biggest developments, including shifts in the education debate, major House action, an update on the ballot initiative, and another big deadline on the…
Written by Empower Mississippi Capitol Chat: Week 4 A shortened week at the Capitol didn’t significantly stall progress ahead of a critical deadline next week. In this episode, we dive into the latest on House Bill 2 and highlight some intriguing bills that are already making their way through the legislative process.
Written by Empower Mississippi Capitol Chat: Week 3 With an ice storm looming and the bill introduction deadline behind them, lawmakers shifted gears during week three of the legislative session. We highlight a few bills drawing early attention and break down this week’s action, including a couple of celebrity appearances and the latest on House Bill…