Poverty Simulation Event
Join community members in an interactive simulation about the challenges faced by 1 in 3 households.
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
5:30-9 p.m.
University Center Riverview Ballroom
500 Wild Rose Ave.
Registration for this event has closed.
Why a Simulation?
The Poverty Simulation is not a game. It's based on real people and their lives.
Poverty is a reality for many individuals and families, and without having experienced it, it’s difficult to truly understand. The Poverty Simulation bridges that gap from misconception to understanding with an interactive immersion experience that sensitizes community participants to the realities of poverty.
Our goals:
Promote Poverty Awareness – During the simulation, role-play a month in poverty and experience low-income families’ lives.
Increase Understanding – After the simulation, participants will unpack their learning and brainstorm community change.
Inspire Local Change – Together, participants can be a voice to end poverty in their family, friends and community.
Transform Perspectives – The ultimate goal is to shift the paradigm about poverty away from being seen as a personal failure and toward the understanding of poverty as structural, a failure of society.
ALICE, which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, is the population of people who work hard, earn above the federal poverty level, but not enough to afford a basic household budget. Find out more.
The future success of our communities is directly tied to the financial stability of ALICE households. This event will serve as a reminder that these financial hardships do not necessarily occur as a result of bad financial decision making and will better define the types of decisions this population is faced with on a regular basis. After the event, you can expect to have more knowledge around the financial stress of this population, improve the culture within your organization and/or community, and indirectly increase your return on investment in your employee experience.
You will be able to:
- Explore ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) in our area
- Experience the tough choices made in everyday life for those who fall into the ALICE threshold
- Discover resources in our area, why it matters, and how you can help
Everyone, there is not a person that would not be able to find value in this event. You will learn something, you will be inspired to make a difference, and you will be a better resource to those around you.
The United Way will share information on the ALICE report for surrounding counties. ALICE describes the group of individuals that work full time, but do not make enough to survive based on the minimum cost of survival in their counties. This activity will provide insight and perspective to the tough challenges of everyday life that one in three households are facing. With following debrief, we will discuss what we can do to make a difference and what resources are available locally.
The simulation will take place on campus at the University of WI-River Falls University Center Ballroom. Participants will receive information via e-mail about free parking or pay for parking closer to event date.
The event is free to attend, but space is limited. Please use the link above to register.
Please contact Kathleen Hunzer via e-mail, or call 715-425-4725.
Co-sponsored by the UWRF Student Government Association, UWRF Honors Program, the UWRF Office of Sustainability, Our Neighbors' Place, the United Way of St. Croix Valley, the Pierce County Hunger Prevention Council, and other community partners.
Click here to learn more about Our Neighbors' Place.
