Dare to Care: A Poverty Simulation

It's a simulation, not a game. House of Hope, Martin County Community Foundation, and the United Way of Martin County are collaborating to host “Dare to Care: A Poverty Simulation” workshop Saturday, March 9, 2019, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the IRSC Chastain Campus in the Clare & Gladys Wolf Technology Center located at 2400 SE Salerno Road in Stuart. Poverty is a reality for many individuals and families in Martin County, but the daily struggles can be an abstract idea for those who have never experienced it firsthand. This simulation bridges that gap from misconception to understanding. An interactive immersion experience, this event aims to sensitize community participants to the realities of poverty. The goal is to enlighten Martin County’s influential members, leadership, and residents in order to better advocate for problems suffered by underresourced locals. Participants will be assigned an identity and typical circumstances of someone who is facing poverty in order to experience how dynamic and interwoven the common challenges are for local residents. The task is to obtain food, shelter, and other basic necessities by accessing various community resources during the course of four 15-minute "weeks." They will interact with volunteers posing as service providers such as agency workers, law enforcement, teachers, government entities, employers and more. This inclusive simulation will challenge perceptions and perspectives, inspiring new understanding and empathy for what so many fellow Martin County residents face. The event is limited to 80 participants and space is filling up fast. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. and light refreshments will be served throughout the day.