Carbon County Community Foundation and East Central PA Area Health Education Center (AHEC) have partnered to host a Poverty Simulation event aimed at raising awareness about the realities faced by individuals and families living in poverty. The Simulation will take place on Monday, October 21st at the Lehighton Orioles Community Center, 475 Orioles Drive, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.
The Poverty Simulation is a powerful, interactive experience that allows participants to step into the shoes of those struggling to survive day-to-day and realize how complex and interconnected the issues of poverty really are. Designed to build empathy and understanding, the simulation places participants in real-life scenarios where they must make critical decisions about housing, food, transportation, and employment with limited resources. After the experience, individuals then have the opportunity to discuss what they’ve learned with their peers and explore solutions.
“This experience is eye-opening because there are so many barriers we just don’t think about,” said Elizabeth Schaffer, Executive Director for East Central PA AHEC. “This simulation gives individuals an opportunity to walk in the shoes of someone in poverty and gain some empathy. It can empower individuals to take action and stand up to help.”
The event is open to community members, local leaders, nonprofit professionals, educators, and anyone interested in gaining a firsthand perspective on poverty. After the simulation, there will be a debriefing session to discuss insights, lessons learned, and ways to take action.
Event Details:
Date: Monday, October 21st
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Location: Lehighton Orioles Community Center, 475 Orioles Drive, Lehighton PA
Cost: FREE. Advance registration is required.
“Poverty is often misunderstood or overlooked, but this simulation provides perspective on the everyday challenges many people in our community face,” said Sharon Alexander, President of the Carbon County Community Foundation. “By participating, we hope people will walk away with a deeper understanding and be inspired to take action to address the root causes of poverty.”
The Community Action Poverty Simulation© was developed to help raise awareness about different aspects of poverty that can lead to a discussion about the potential for change in local communities. The Poverty Simulation has a long history, beginning in the 1970s with the Reform Organization of Welfare (or ROWEL). They were made up of members of the religious community in St. Louis to advocate for the poor by working for legislative and administrative changes in the welfare system. The “welfare simulation” was designed to demonstrate the difficulty of living on an extremely narrow welfare-based budget.