Will you start out the month with only the enclosed $10 bill to meet your family’s basic needs? … Or, will you be one of the unlucky ones? You’ll find out when you join us for a unique opportunity to experience the virtual realities of poverty.

The Adult Education and Family Literacy Department of Southwestern Illinois College will host a Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS) on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019 from 8:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Southwestern Illinois College Belleville Campus, 2500 Carlyle Ave., Intramural Gym. This learning tool has been created as a way to help people  understand  the realities of poverty.  During  a  simulation,  participants  role-play  the lives of low-income families. Some are TANF recipients, some are disabled,  and some are senior citizens on Social Security. They have the stressful task of providing for basic necessities and shelter on a limited budget during the course of four  15-minute  “weeks.”  They  interact  with human service agencies, grocers, pawnbrokers,  bill collectors,  job interviewers,  police  officers and others.

Although play money is used, CAPS is not a game. It is a simulation that enables participants to look at poverty from a variety of angles and then to recognize and discuss the potential for change within their local communities. The  simulation  was designed  to  sensitize those who frequently deal with low-income families, as well as to create a broader awareness  of  the realities of poverty among policymakers, community leaders and others. It has been made available by the Missouri Association for Community Action.

We invite you or someone from your staff to participate in or to observe the Poverty Simulation. I think you will find it provides an intriguing opportunity to describe a very real challenge to our community. Please contact me at 618-222-5346 if you would like additional information or would like to register for the simulation. We look forward to seeing you there.