In mid-September, Kids Win Missouri’s newest class of fellows made their first trip to the Capitol together. On September 15 and 16, members of our 2026–2027 ECE Leader Fellowship and Health Leader Fellowship cohorts, along with our Community Engagement Partners, gathered in Jefferson City during the General Assembly’s annual veto session.
This year’s class brings together 43 parents, providers, and community leaders from across Missouri, including 29 members of the fifth ECE Leader Fellowship cohort and 14 members of the inaugural Health Leader Fellowship pilot cohort, launched in partnership with Missouri Budget Project. For many of them, veto session was their first time meeting face to face with state legislators.
Day One: Preparing to Advocate
The first day focused on building skills and relationships. Fellows took part in advocacy training, connected with one another and with Community Engagement Partners, and heard from a panel of legislators, including Representatives Holly Jones, Pattie Mansur, and Melissa Schmidt, and legislative staff for Rep. Wendy Hausman, Mark Cozart. The panel allowed fellows to hear directly from people who work in the legislative process every day.
Day Two: Meeting With Lawmakers
On September 16, fellows and Community Engagement Partners headed to the Capitol, where they held 54 meetings with legislators and their offices. ECE Leader Fellows focused on child care affordability, the state child care subsidy waitlist, and Missouri Child Care Works, while Health Leader Fellows focused on various health priorities, including concerns around Medicaid and SNAP cuts.
In each meeting, fellows shared their own experiences as parents, providers, and Missourians navigating systems like child care, Medicaid, and SNAP. That firsthand perspective helps lawmakers understand how policy decisions play out in the daily lives of Missouri families.
What’s Next
Veto session is the first of several in-person moments for this year’s fellows. This fall and winter, fellows will help their Community Engagement Partners host local community engagement events. Then, in March, both cohorts will return to Jefferson City for Child Advocacy Day during the 2027 legislative session, building on the relationships they started this fall.
Learn more about this year’s ECE Leader and Health Leader Fellows.
