Poverty Simulation
Grace Happenings on January 27, 2010
Saturday, February 13 from 9:30am-12:00pm
Over fifteen percent of Erie County residents live in poverty. This is 28.5% above Pennsylvania and 17.7% above the rest of the nation. The median household income in Erie County is $42,073. This is 13.8% below Pennsylvania and 18.8% below the rest of the nation. The per capita income in Erie County is 27.3% below national average while the cost of living in Erie County is only 2% less than the US average. These are but a few of the startling facts about the pervasiveness of poverty in our community and its negative impact.
Please join us at a Poverty Simulation and Discussion coordinated by Erie Together:
When: Saturday, February 13
Where: Grace Church
Simulation: 9:30am-12:00pm
Register here.
What is a Poverty Simulation?
The poverty simulation is a unique tool that helps people begin to understand what life is like with a shortage of money and an abundance of stress. During a simulation, participants role-play the lives of low-income families, including single parents, people with disabilities, and senior citizens on Social Security. The task of each family is to provide for food, shelter and other basic necessities during four 15-minute weeks. Families interact with community resources.
Although it uses “play” money, fictional scenarios and time limits, this is not a game. It’s a simulation that enables participants to view poverty from different angles and then to discuss the potential for change within local communities. It’s designed to sensitize those who frequently deal with low-income families and to create a broader awareness among policymakers and community leaders. It has been used very effectively in a number of communities around the country including: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Kalamazoo, MI, and Savannah, GA.
What is the Erie Together?
Erie Together is a collaborative partnership between the Mercyhurst Civic Institute, Greater Erie Community Action Committee (GECAC) and United Way with the goal of working with community leaders and residents to implement strategies that address poverty at both the systemic and individual levels.
Erie Together believes the best way to tackle poverty in our region is the development of a comprehensive community-wide response. Erie Together reaches out to business, government, faith-based groups, low income individuals, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations to provide awareness and opportunities to work together to address the issues relating to poverty and help to make Erie a more vibrant community.
Informed by research on “best practices”, Erie Together:
- Strengthens Community by encouraging community members in higher poverty areas to engage in dialogue designed to create a concrete action plan to improve that community’s quality of life.
- Empowers Families by implementing a community partner mentoring program; and
- Builds Economic Success by convening a Community Leader Team that utilizes information from the community action plans to help establish priorities and garner resources to improve the quality of life for all Erie County residents.
Fill out this form to be a part of this very special event.