I was invited and on Tuesday I attended a Community Action Partnership (CAP) Poverty Simulation Seminar (now that’s a title!). What an amazing experience.
CAP brought together individuals and organizations from our community who in some way work with or come in contact with those living in poverty. As a pastor I received an invitation (our church does financial counseling, food vouchers, and in some cases meets benevolence needs). There were about 100 people there, plus volunteers who helped run the poverty simulation.
Upon arriving, each individual was given a lanyard with a plastic card that had your “name” on it. For the next hour you were to become that individual. I was a young man of 25 (not bad!), who was employed at minimum wage, but was homeless (not good!) with a girlfriend (played by another individual at the seminar) and baby (age 1). We were to work together to lift ourselves out of our situation.
The hour (actual time) was to represent one month in the life of the individual. Every fifteen minutes would be a new week. After 15 minutes the whistle would blow and you had to get back home (or in our case to the shelter) and then begin your new week.
The event was held in a large gym, and ringing the outside of the gym were various businesses, government services, nonprofit organizations, etc. There was a pawn shop, cash checking service, grocery store, even a jail which had numerous occupants through the event. The volunteers were very good at their roles – some would be helpful, others would give you the wrong forms, close early or be on break, etc. Also throughout the seminar you could randomly receive a “luck of the draw” card which could give you extra cash (like win the lottery) or give you a set back (flat tire, dentist bill, etc.).
The hour was very intense. Between “working” and standing in government lines we couldn’t get anything done. In fact the simulation was so intense that the individual who was “my girlfriend” had to stop and leave the room – her blood pressure was so high that it set off her diabetes!
After the hour was up we had a chance to debrief our experience. The theme around the room was one of feeling desperation and hopelessness. It was a very good simulation of what millions of Americans go through everyday just to survive. It gave me a better understanding of what can work or will not work when you are trying to help others.
If you ever get a chance to do this type of simulation in your area definietly take advantage of the opportunity. It will definitely make you think and possibly change your attitutde or misconceptions about being poor.
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Poverty Simulation Seminar
by JD on March 11, 2010
I was invited and on Tuesday I attended a Community Action Partnership (CAP) Poverty Simulation Seminar (now that’s a title!). What an amazing experience.
CAP brought together individuals and organizations from our community who in some way work with or come in contact with those living in poverty. As a pastor I received an invitation (our church does financial counseling, food vouchers, and in some cases meets benevolence needs). There were about 100 people there, plus volunteers who helped run the poverty simulation.
Upon arriving, each individual was given a lanyard with a plastic card that had your “name” on it. For the next hour you were to become that individual. I was a young man of 25 (not bad!), who was employed at minimum wage, but was homeless (not good!) with a girlfriend (played by another individual at the seminar) and baby (age 1). We were to work together to lift ourselves out of our situation.
The hour (actual time) was to represent one month in the life of the individual. Every fifteen minutes would be a new week. After 15 minutes the whistle would blow and you had to get back home (or in our case to the shelter) and then begin your new week.
The event was held in a large gym, and ringing the outside of the gym were various businesses, government services, nonprofit organizations, etc. There was a pawn shop, cash checking service, grocery store, even a jail which had numerous occupants through the event. The volunteers were very good at their roles – some would be helpful, others would give you the wrong forms, close early or be on break, etc. Also throughout the seminar you could randomly receive a “luck of the draw” card which could give you extra cash (like win the lottery) or give you a set back (flat tire, dentist bill, etc.).
The hour was very intense. Between “working” and standing in government lines we couldn’t get anything done. In fact the simulation was so intense that the individual who was “my girlfriend” had to stop and leave the room – her blood pressure was so high that it set off her diabetes!
After the hour was up we had a chance to debrief our experience. The theme around the room was one of feeling desperation and hopelessness. It was a very good simulation of what millions of Americans go through everyday just to survive. It gave me a better understanding of what can work or will not work when you are trying to help others.
If you ever get a chance to do this type of simulation in your area definietly take advantage of the opportunity. It will definitely make you think and possibly change your attitutde or misconceptions about being poor.