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Jeanette
Mott Oxford, former executive director of ROWEL:
“Our organization was formed in 1972 to advocate welfare reform.
We found we had bad policies because of the many myths and misconceptions
people had about poverty. This simulation gives people a safe space
to experience something that’s not part of their usual daily
life--poverty--which can be a frightening topic. You begin to know
what it’s like to survive with various challenges and too
little income to pay your bills.
Helping
in the simulation helps people in poverty realize what they already
know and it raises their self-esteem. They can say, ‘This
group of bankers or teachers went through here today and they couldn’t
figure out how to live on the $300 a month that my family and I
have been doing, so I must know more than I thought.’ It also
gives them a chance to work on a project with other people across
lines of race and class that too often divide us.”
Read
how Steve Rose, Ed.D. incorporated the poverty simulation into curriculum
for future educators in his article, "False
Poverty Breeds Real Sensitivity".
Poverty
Simulation Participants:
- “It (the poverty simulation) was a wonderful idea and should be required training for all political leaders, educators, and those in powerful positions”
- I
felt lost, unsure of where to go for what services.
- I
felt despair and anger that good mortgage payments in the past
counted for nothing when we got behind on payments.
- I
really felt that I was poor.
- I
think the presentation needs to be given over and over until it
reaches the majority of people. Only then will they understand
that folks on assistance aren’t riding the “gravy
train.” Although some could change their circumstances,
most do not choose to live on welfare.
-
This was a tremendous eye opener for me. I would love to see this
incorporated into life skills training in the schools.
- We
all hear and see views on welfare; however, actually experiencing
the situations makes it more real when one can actually “feel”
the frustration and hopelessness.
- This
was the most profound workshop I have ever experienced.
- I
will always remember to treat others with dignity and respect.
- I
feel I learned how stressful life can be for our families by being
in their shoes.
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