Poverty Simulation

The Director of Civic Engagement at SUNY Cortland, John Suarez, (the presenter for the Civic Engagement event on January 22) is inviting SUNY Broome faculty and students to a Poverty Simulation at SUNY Cortland.

In this event, participants assume the roles of people living with low-incomes. As they work across four 15-minute “weeks,” they begin to understand people’s creativity and frustrations as they face invisible challenges. This Simulation is especially relevant for students in fields such as Education, Economics, Health, Political Science, and Sociology (obviously), but it is also important for each of us as citizens.

The event is on Thursday, March 21, from 1:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Corey Union’s Function Room.

The Cortland County Community Action Program (CAPCO) conducts this three-part event, which has

1. A 30-minute overview of the nature and extent of poverty.
2. A one-hour session in which participants live vicariously as people earning just above minimum wage. During four 15-minute “weeks,” participants
   • Get children to school, go to work, pay bills, and buy groceries;
   • they might also: Benefit from unexpected good news or solve unexpected challenges.
3. A 30-minute full-group reflection.

If you are interested in attending, please email Carla Michalak (michalakcm@sunybroome.edu) by Thursday, February 29. You can request from your chair and dean, in advance, approval for travel reimbursement for this event. We can also carpool as well!

Submitted by: Carla Michalak