The Nacogdoches and campus communities are invited to experience firsthand what it’s like to live in poverty during the Stephen F. Austin State University Office of Multicultural Affairs’ third annual Poverty Simulation.
“The Poverty Simulation is designed to help participants begin to comprehend what it might be like to live in poverty and survive from week to week,” said Veronica Beavers, OMA director. “Participants will be divided into ‘families’ who will then experience together some of the daily challenges a family in poverty may endure over a simulated one-month experience. This event will take two to three hours.”
Past participants have called the event an “awesome, eye-opening experience,” one that allowed individuals to understand “real-world situations and the things people go through” living in poverty, Beavers said.
“The main impact of this event is awareness,” she added. “Poverty is a global issue and, in particular, is a major issue in the Nacogdoches community. This event will educate participants on poverty and challenge them to gain new perspectives.”
New to this year’s event is the addition of a second session for SFA nursing students only. The first session will be open the public. Campus and Nacogdoches community members are invited to serve as volunteers at both sessions.
Hosted in partnership with the East Texas Human Needs Network, the third annual Poverty Simulation will take place Feb. 14 in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Grand Ballroom on the SFA campus. It is free to attend.
The public session will run from 9 a.m. to noon. The nursing-only session will take place from 1 to 4 p.m.
Participation for both sessions is limited, so individuals interested in attending are asked to pre-register by Feb. 7.
To sign up as a participant or volunteer, or for more information, visit sfasu.edu/oma.
By Christine Broussard, marketing communications coordinator at Stephen F. Austin State University.
