United Way hosts “Life on the Edge”
Posted August 4th, 2009 by adminLast Friday, United Way hosted some 50 volunteers for an interactive experience “living” in the state of poverty. In a simulated community, participants played the role of a family member. These families faced various situations from a single parent who loses a job to being a homeless senior citizen, and were forced to confront how they would survive. The simulation was followed up by a brief, but eye-opening look at poverty in the Treasure Valley, facilitated by UW Impact Council Member Jim Owens.
It’s difficult to really know what it is like to experience another person’s reality, especially when that reality entails crisis, but the poverty simulation gave everyone pause. Here’s one volunteer’s reaction–from Lauren Moore, branch manager for US Bank, and former United Way Loaned Executive:
This simulation was more “real” than I thought it would be. My “family” behaved just as the simulation instructed them, which made the real life challenges of a struggling teen, a single mom, and an juvenile stuck in the middle a scary reality. I feel extreme sadness about the poverty situation in the Treasure Valley, now more than ever, and my heart truly goes out to those people struggling financially and emotionally. The key is education and support, and there aren’t enough resources available yet. All I have to say is, “Push Onward, Soldiers!!”
Ada County Commissioner Sharon Ullman attended and shared her experience on her blog, saying:
Although I have some background with these issues, I still found the process to be educational, from the perspective of truly understanding what life can be like for people who are living in poverty.
To hear more about Commissioner Ullman’s experience, visit her blog.
The poverty simulation is a powerful tool that provides a glimpse into the complexities of poverty, and can be facilitated by UW staff and volunteers. If you are interested in hosting a poverty simulation please contact Kathy Wold, VP of Resource Development, at kwold@unitedwaytv.org.
