Jan. 27, 2012

Poverty simulation to take place at Morningside College

Morningside College students, faculty and staff will experience what it is like to live in poverty when they participate in a poverty simulation from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30, in the Yockey Family Community Room of the Olsen Student Center, 3609 Peters Avenue.

Poverty simulations are designed to increase awareness of issues related to poverty. During the simulation, participants will 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 necessities while interacting with various community resources staffed by volunteers. After the simulation, participants and staffers will discuss their experiences.

The ROWEL Poverty Simulation was created in 1980 by the Reform Organization of Welfare (ROWEL) Education Association of Missouri and is now identified as the Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS). The educational program is made available to Iowans through the Iowa State University Extension office.

This event is sponsored by the Morningside Civic Union.