The Poverty Simulation experience is designed to help participants begin to understand what it might be like to live in a typical low-income family trying to survive from month to month. It is a simulation, not a game. The object is to sensitize participants to the realities of poverty. In the simulation, up to 88 participants assume the roles of up to 26 different families facing poverty. Family members are given a description of their character and financial situation and are tasked to provide basic necessities and shelter during the course of four 15-minute "weeks." They must pay their rent/mortgage, utility bill, and other monthly bills all while attending work, making sure the children attend school, picking up groceries every week, and so on. Though the goals seem simple, participants will soon discover how difficult it can be to accomplish "simple" tasks with a significant lack of resources and steady finances.
As a volunteer, you will fill the role of one of the community service providers, such as a banker, grocery store clerk, pawnbroker, social services caseworker, mortgage collector, school teacher, child care worker, and so on. Each volunteer must familiarize themselves with their provided instructions and convey a believable portrayal of a person who may be staffed at any one of these resource locations. There are some roles that require/strongly lend themselves to adopting a personality while others are inconsequential for those volunteers who are not as comfortable "acting."
This program will be hosted for the Leadership Lewisville-Clemmons team at the Mary Alice Warren Community Center. Volunteer arrival time and simulation duration time are TBD. Please message Sydney Angel, Poverty Awareness Coordinator, at sangel@crisiscontrol.org
