Thank you for checking out this opportunity!
Are you part of a business or entity; policy maker or evaluator; medical or educational administrator; or have a sense that you experience more choice in your life than others in your community and:
- Currently evaluating your (fill in your affiliation here) practices for greater equity and community responsibility?
- Considering ways to impact your community outside of high volume efforts such as holidays and back-to-school?
- Would like to explore solidarity-based aid over hierarchical-based models?
- Looking for more insight into the lives of members of our community who experience chronic hardship?
- Wanting to make a significant contribution to promote deeper understanding of the hidden costs of economic exclusion?
- Open to being part of a one-of-a-kind offering that doesn't come around very often?
The Citizen Advisory Council, comprised of representatives of the City of Topeka's 21 established low-income neighborhoods, is seeking volunteers for a community-wide immersive experience.
A poverty simulation provides participants with an unfiltered glimpse into the challenges, barriers, and negotiations required to survive on limited means.
How The "Household Participant" Role Differs From The "Community Volunteer" Role:
The Household Participant role is central to the poverty simulation as we are working to uncover the many ways poverty can be baked into our unevaluated social norms and assumed business practices.
The CAC wants to reserve the household participant roles specifically for individuals who work or operate within structures that are traditionally inaccessible to low-income citizens or exerts influence over the conditions in which low-income citizens are relegated.
If you are not sure if you are best-suited for a household participant role or a community role, here are some questions for you to consider:
-Are you able to save or invest money through a savings account, retirement plan, or money market accounts; or assist others with their investments?
-Do you have significant real estate holdings (valuing $300,000 or more)?
-Have you been able to absorb rising cost-of-living expenses with minimal impact to your personal finances?
-Do you have significant outstanding medical or educational debt?
-Do you currently have close friends, professional acquaintances, or immediate neighbors living on disability payments or earning under $35,000?
-Do you have deep knowledge of financial, legal, or legislative rules and regulations with the ability to navigate around them?
-As a student, are you attending an institution without need of a scholarship, employment, or significant support outside of family?
-As a student, do you receive an allowance or have a personal vehicle?
How you respond to any of these questions may indicate that the household participant role is best suited.
How The Household Participant Opportunity Works
Household Participants will be randomly assigned to a family unit and will play out the role as if, to the greatest extent possible, they are living the life of an under-resourced citizen. This may result in feelings of frustration, helplessness, anger, and dissociation.
Examples of situation roles assigned might experience: challenges securing childcare, a run-in with law enforcement and challenges with bail, or difficulty showing up for appointments.
Schedule of Event
- 1 PM-2 PM: Lunch Provided (optional)
- 2 PM-4:00 PM: Simulation
- 4:00 PM-5:00 PM: Debriefing and Close
What To Expect From The Citizen Advisory Council
- Lunch will be provided (gumbo or chicken parmesan) *limited vegetarian options*
- Proof of service hours for those who need or require it
- We will provide a safe space for to explore intersections of class and economic inclusion for those who generally find it uncomfortable or socially gauche
Household Participant Requirements
Participants must:
- Arrive to the event location by 2 PM to check in for the poverty simulation
- Be willing to invest into their role for about 2 hours
- Stay for a debriefing session (varies from 45 mins-1 hour) - this portion is critical as participation in the poverty simulation can bring up unhealed wounding in individuals who have or are currently experiencing poverty
Final Notes
If the CAC can help facilitate your (or your group's) participation, but your specific question isn't answered here, please e-mail us!
Due to the scope, nature, and sheer size of putting on a poverty simulation, it is very difficult to discern when another chance to be a part of one will come along again. We'd love you to join us in the wave of progress within Topeka/Shawnee County.
