Neighborhood Center Partners with Extension Office and Plymouth Schools to Host ‘Poverty Simulation’

In an effort to bring attention to the challenges that a growing number of community members face, the Marshall County Neighborhood Center will be hosting a ‘Poverty Simulation’ later this month.

The Center is teaming up with Plymouth Community Schools and Marshall County Extension Office for this initiative.

All local leaders, employers and decision makers of Marshall County are invited to come to the Plymouth Community Church/Stockman Youth Building on Wednesday, January 23^rd from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. for this interactive, eye opening exercise.

While nothing can completely replicate what each individual person or family goes through, Neighborhood Center Director Chris Garner said the simulation is meant to provide a glimpse into what a month living poverty looks and feels like.

She explained, “Those in attendance will be placed into household units and assigned certainly family roles so maybe you find yourself suddenly a single parent of two kids or you’re a mom and dad with three kids and now you’re unemployed.”

The simulation will be divided up into four different “weeks” where the groups will face a number of different challenges that are a reality for many.

Garner said that clients of the Neighborhood Center will also be participating, acting as the people that they encounter in their daily lives.

“They will be the banker, they will be the grocery store person, they will be the food stamp person, they will be the school principal,” she continued, “so they get the opportunity to react and treat the participants the way they are treated when they walk into those places.”

Director Garner added that the final half hour of the exercise will be for feedback and reflection.

In an invitation sent to county officials, Garner indicated that this event will allow decision makers to walk away with a deeper insight and noted that having a greater understanding is the key to helping lift people out of poverty.

Those interested in participating need to RSVP no later than Wednesday, January 16^th. You can register for the event by sending an email to directormcnc@gmail.com or by calling the Center at 574-936-3388.