Laurie Williamson. Ashley Taylor. Lindsey Dolan. Cassie Proper

www.unitedwaytriangle.org

United Way of the Greater Triangle

Laurie Williamson. Ashley Taylor. Lindsey Dolan. Cassie Proper

Poverty Simulation Nuts and Bolts

www.unitedwaytriangle.org

WHY?• Community Engagement

• Thought and Community Leadership

• Experiential

• Meaningful

• Helps to develop empathy among participants

• Simulates deeper understanding and discussion of daily struggles for those living in poverty

• Encourages conversation about changes in systems, our behavior and action that can be taken to influence change through advocacy, giving, volunteering, building relationships

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WHO do we engage with Poverty Simulations?

• Local companies

Nationwide, RTI, Redwoods Group, LORD corporation Capitol Broadcasting

• Chamber/Leadership Groups

– Raleigh, Durham, Johnston

• University classes • UNC School of Nursing

School of Business

• Faith Communities

• Local Public Schools

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Media Coverage

WRAL

Triangle United Way Uses Simulation to Educate on Poverty http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/10379072\

Johnston County Chamber of Commerce Young Leaders

United Way Hosts Poverty Simulator http://www.claytonnewsstar.com/2013/03/12/2744361/united-way-hosts-poverty-simulator.html

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HOW do we engage companies with Poverty Simulations?

• Hands on experience

• Greater understanding of obstacles low income families face

• Increase attention and discussion around issues of poverty

• Encouragement to take action

• Testimonial to other employees

• Become providers at future poverty simulations

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Poverty Simulators Online

SPENThttp://www.umdurham.org/spent.html

http://playspent.org/

American Public Media Marketplace PiecePretending to be poor can change your perspective

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/wealth-poverty/pretending-be-poor-can-change-your-perspective#.UG9ksOC-Qpg.email

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To order a Poverty Simulation Kit…

The Missouri Association for Community Action

http://www.communityaction.org/Poverty%20Simulation.aspx

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Simulation Kit Includes:

• DIRECTOR'S MANUAL: Instructions on how to run a simulation, sample invitation letter and news release, facts about poverty, suggestion about what people can do to impact policy. 

• RESOURCE PACKETS: Instructions and accessories for each community resource, including welfare office, pawn shop, school, bank, police station, grocery store.  Accessories include calculators, clip boards, money boxes, play money, homework, Social Security cards, name badges, forms. 

• FAMILY PACKETS: There are 26 family packets, each with a family scenario and accessories, including play money, appliance cards and transportation passes. 

• COMPACT DISC: Contains PDF files of all materials so lost items can be reprinted.

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Do you believe poverty is the result of individuals making poor decisions or a system that does not understand the needs of the low income people?

Responses of program participants…

“I do think - as an educator - that we need to give children of these families the tools they need to be able to make good decisions and the ability to collaborate with others who are in the same situation.”

“I think the system is broken because it is reactive instead of proactive. I think interventions/help has to start before a child is born in order to provide them with the highest chance of rising above poverty. I also believe that a fair amount of people make poor decisions, hence another reason for early intervention.”

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Do you believe poverty is the result of individuals making poor decisions or a system that does not understand the needs of the low income people?

“There needs to be education on life skills in the communities.”

“I think poverty is a result of many things. I think sometimes it is a cycle that some families get stuck in. I also feel our system sometimes makes it hard for families to move out of poverty. I think lack of education plays a big role also.”

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Engaging UWGT Staff, Volunteers and Agency Partners

• Executive directors and program directors from our partner agencies

• Cross functional representation from UWGT

• Social Work interns from UWGT and program agencies

• Community Impact Cabinet and YLS Volunteers

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Do you believe poverty is the result of individuals making poor decisions or a system that does not understand the needs of the low income people?

Responses from UWGT and Agency Partner Volunteers…“The ‘system’ seems to create extra burdens for low-income persons to even survive on a day-to-day basis. The ‘transaction costs’ for most of the expenses (and income) that low income persons face are considerably more than for those with greater control of their financial options. That said, there does seem to be cases where individuals choose shorter term ‘benefits’ rather than longer term opportunities”

“I think poverty is a complex individual, systems and overall social problem…It’s hard to emerge from poverty without basic needs being met (i.e. hierarchy of needs) but most folks need more help getting those needs met so they can focus on the bigger picture. Breaking the cycle of poverty is another way systems can help. I know NCSU has a program that supports students who are first generation college attendees. That’s great!”

“Individuals with limited resources need financial counseling. They need to learn how to use their limited resources wisely, making good choices. They need role models, people just like themselves who are successful, who can inspire and motivate them to do better.”

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Logistics• Recruiting volunteers to be service providers

• Organizing volunteers

• Training volunteers

• Coordinating with participating company or group

• Scouting out and arranging for onsite logistics

• Leading Poverty Simulation kit assembly

• Leading Simulation set up – 1-1/2 hours prior

• Facilitation of simulation - 1) Introduction 2) Script for Simulation 3) Floating and Monitoring during simulation 4) Debrief

• Clean Up

• Follow up survey

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CHAOSORDERCHAOS

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Facilitating the Debrief• Family composition

• What kind of feelings came up during your month in poverty?

• What happened to your family?

• How many families:

– Paid the rent or mortgage bill?

– Kept the utilities on?

– Bought groceries?

– Were evicted?

• What had value?

• Did any of you help each other out? Why or why not?

• Service providers talk about their experience and what they observed

• Take aways – How will you use what they learned from this experience in their every day lives. What can they do?

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QUESTIONS?

Laurie [email protected]

Stan [email protected]