United Way Poverty Simulation

Johnston County Poverty Simulation
Wednesday, March 6
1:00 to 4:00 PM
Johnston Memorial Medical Mall, Smithfield


The United Way of the Greater Triangle in association with Leadership Johnston invite you to participate in a Poverty Simulation on Wednesday, March 6, 2013. The simulation will be at The Johnston Health Medical Mall, suite 1404, beginning at 1:00pm until 4:00pm.

The Poverty Simulation is a unique tool that educates everyone about the day to day realities of life with a shortage of money and an abundance of stress. It is a powerful way to help citizens understand what it is like for people in Johnston County who live in poverty. It opens people’s eyes and provides insight into the state of chronic crisis that consumes so many working poor families.

During the simulation, participants are seated in family clusters with community resources located at tables around the perimeter of the room. To start the exercise, each family is given a card explaining its unique circumstances and a small amount of money. The participants role-play the lives of low-income families, from single parents trying to care for their children to senior citizens trying to maintain their self sufficiency on Social Security. The task of each family is to provide food, shelter and other basic necessities during the simulation while interacting with various community resources staffed by volunteers. These resources include social workers, loan officers, employers, grocers, utility collectors, police officers, teachers and more. Although it uses play money and other props, fictional scenarios, and time limits, the Poverty Simulation is not a game. It is a simulation tool that enables participants to view poverty from different angles in an experiential setting.

Please join us on Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 12:30 pm and be a part of the poverty solution in Johnston County.