On October 15 and 16, 2026 advocates, ID clinic leaders, and partners from across Missouri gathered at the International Institute of St. Louis for the Third Annual Missouri ID Access Summit. It was hosted by the Missouri State ID Access Coalition, a program of the Ashrei Foundation.
A state-issued photo ID opens the door to a job, housing, public benefits, and the ballot box. Yet for too many Missourians, getting one means solving a circular puzzle: you need an ID to get a birth certificate, and a birth certificate to get an ID. Cost, being homebound, and unclear state policies add more barriers.
For two days, the people working to remove those barriers came together to learn from each other and plan what comes next. Our theme said it best: Access is power.
Honoring a Trailblazer:
The 2026 Jolene Patterson ID Access Trailblazer Award went to Emilia Stauffer of The GLO Center in Springfield, MO. The award was a surprise, presented over lunch by Shannon Frey of the Voluntary Action Center.
Emilia serves on the Coalition’s Steering Committee and leads the Accurate ID Campaign. She regularly joins the Coalition’s meetings with the Missouri Department of Revenue and the Bureau of Vital Records, and has met with elected officials in Jefferson City on behalf of the Coalition. Through that work, she has helped many advocates understand the barriers transgender and gender-diverse Missourians face in getting accurate identification.
The award is named for Jolene Patterson, whose legacy continues through Vital ID of East Central Missouri.
Day One: Building and Sharing the Work
Thursday afternoon opened with Start Your Own ID Clinic, a hands-on workshop on launching and running an ID clinic, from client intake through paying for documents.
Next, the ID Access Subgrantee Panel brought clinic leaders from across Missouri to the stage to share real stories and lessons from the field. This panel has become a Summit favorite. Last year’s attendees told us the grassroots stories were what they valued most.
Day Two: Vision, Power, and Sustainability
Friday opened with a keynote session from Richard von Glahn of People Not Politicians and Coalition founder Christine Dragonette, who set the tone for a full day of strategy and learning, asking: What do you do when the problem you’re encountering on an individual level is actually a systemic problem? They went on to outline how to create partnerships, build a plan, and ultimately find multiple pathways to change.
Four sessions followed:
Session I, Vision and Strategy: Attendees explored what “good” looks like for the people we serve and helped shape the Coalition’s next three years.
Session II, Grassroots Coalition Power: How regional partners can turn local work into statewide legislative impact, beginning with a timely update from Sarah Felts of MOVPC.
Session III, Reimagining Identity: St. Louis Treasurer Adam Layne, Bob Ell Program Manager of the Gateway ID Card, Denis Kweri of the Kansas City Health Department, and Elijah Baum of the MICA Project discussed municipal IDs like the St. Louis Gateway ID, immigration, and the future of identification.
Session IV, Fundraising for Your ID Program: Practical strategies to sustain and grow ID access work in local communities, presented by Michelle Miller of Philanthropy Missouri.
Missed a session? The Summit slides are open to everyone.
The Work Behind the Summit
Since 2022, the Coalition’s network has served more than 26,500 Missourians. That work happens through subgrantees across the state, from Joplin and Springfield to Columbia, Lebanon, Sikeston, and St. Louis. They help guests pay for and navigate vital documents and state IDs.
Alongside direct service, Coalition members organize around three campaigns:
Free ID: When guests are asked what keeps them from getting an ID, the top answer is always cost. This campaign works to reduce or eliminate ID and vital records fees. It also works to make sure the “free ID to vote” promised under Missouri law works in practice.
Homebound Access: Missouri requires an in-person visit to get a photo ID, which shuts out people who cannot leave their homes. This campaign is pressing the Department of Revenue to create a pathway for homebound Missourians.
Accurate ID: Since the Department of Revenue discontinued Form 5532 in August 2024, policies for changing the name and gender marker on an ID have been unclear and unjust. This campaign pushes for clear, consistent policies.
Get Involved
The Summit happens once a year, but the work continues every month. Here’s how to stay connected:
Join a monthly Coalition meeting. Meetings are held on Zoom, typically the second Wednesday of the month at 10:00 am, with breakout rooms for each campaign. Register here.
November’s meeting moves to Tuesday, November 10, because of Veterans Day.
Subscribe to our mailing list at moidaccess.org/join
Thank you to our speakers, panelists, volunteers, and subgrantees. Thank you to the International Institute of St. Louis for hosting us, and to the Missouri Foundation for Health for making this Summit possible.
