Session 1: Bridges Out of Poverty (9 a.m. - 12 p.m.)

Based on the book by Phil DeVol, “Bridges Out of Poverty: Strategies for Professionals and Communities,” this workshop will provide a look at:

Hidden Rules of Class
Generational vs Situational Poverty
Explore the idea that poverty is more than financial instability
Create mental models of living with chronic economic hardship.
Useful and effective communication tools

Gain a better understanding of commonly asked questions and comments, such as:

“Why don’t they just get a job?”

“They should know better than to. . . “

“I pulled myself up by my boot straps, they can too.”

Lunch on your own (12 - 1:30 p.m.)

Session 2: Poverty Simulation (1:30 - 4 p.m.)

A Poverty Simulation is a powerful, interactive tool that allows you to step into the shoes of a person living in poverty through role-playing. Participants will spend time trying to problem-solve ways to acquire, or maintain, shelter, food, and other basic necessities.

If you have a desire to better understand the day-to-day struggles of living in a low-income family, this activity will provide you with that experience .

Past participant comments:

If one bad thing happens, it can mess up everything.
I will never say, “Why don’t they . . . ?” again.
I found myself doing and saying things to survive that I never thought I would.