Role-playing Exercise Helps People Understand Plight Of The Poor

Volunteer Evelyn Williams calculates the groceries she can offer Jinjer Taylor, principal of Woody Gap high school/elementary school, playing an impoverished mother using food stamps in a poverty simulation in Gainesville, Ga. (AP)

Volunteer Evelyn Williams calculates the groceries she can offer school principal Jinjer Taylor, who is cast in the role of an impoverished mother using food stamps in a poverty simulation in Gainesville, Ga. (AP)

Welcome to Realville. It’s a fictional town in a role-playing exercise that allows people who work with the poor to experience what it’s like to live in poverty.

Participants in the so-called “poverty simulator” are cast in different roles, from a grandparent raising grandkids on limited means, to a college student supporting a family while dad is in jail. The participants spend several hours in a room where life unfolds in four 15-minute segments that represent a month in the life of the poor.

We speak with Dustin Speakman, who runs a poverty simulator for groups across the country and is community services director at the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks. We also hear from Ohio Municipal Court Judge Teresa Ballinger, who put her staff through the exercise.

YouTube: Poverty simulator in Pittsburgh
Missouri Association For Community Action: The original poverty simulator

We welcome comments from all of our listeners. Post below. Please stay on topic and be civil. Comments may be moderated by us, but you are solely responsible for the content of your comments.

HeidiPDX

This simulation should be run in every state legislature, and Congress! Thanks for this story.
Sarah

I found this on Facebook — my comment was, “Phenomenal. I’ve been in “Realville” many times in my life — and while I sincerely doubt that a simple “game” will give true compassion; empathy must start somewhere. I am grateful today, AND EVERYDAY for grace.” I have deep gratitude for those like Mr. Speakman who follow through.
sue workman

Thank-you for a MUCH needed program that really showa the truth regarding poverty in this country – I believe everyone should go thru this program to understand and help collectively eliminate poverty worldwide. We have SO many prejudices regarding poverty- it’s phenomenal that a program can do SO much to open eyes.
Again, Thanks!!!
http://gregorycamp.wordpress.com/ Greg Camp

I was forced to play this game when I worked for the Department of Human Services. It did nothing to help me, since it didn’t process the paperwork any faster, it didn’t change the rules for eligibility, and it didn’t get anyone out of poverty.

I don’t need to know what it feels like to be poor. I want to see policy proposals for how to get people out of poverty.
Anonymous

Of course, people need to understand what it is like to be poor. Most people cannot possibly fathom what it is like unless they get a glimpse into that life. Those who have never known the horror of not having enough to get by, not enough food, no home or horrible living conditions, having to choose between meds and food. How every choice on where to spend too few dollars is monumental and you are constantly looked down upon and ridiculed.

Lately folks seem too busy blaming the poor for being so and telling them they are lazy when most times they are anything but lazy. The last few years have shown many how elusive and fleeeting prosperity can be when there are no jobs or ones that pay minumum wage don’t cover your basic living expenses.

The US poverty rate is steadily rising and, if you cannot empathize with those who struggle with this every day, then you cannot help them because you just won’t care.