Rethink Poverty is a new project hosted by the Department of Social Work. It allows individuals to spend a simulated month in the shoes of the underprivileged.
The goal of the community simulation is to promote poverty awareness, increase understanding and to provide local change.
The simulations will be on Oct. 3 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and held at the Family Justice Center. This project is available not only to students, but for community to gain an understanding of how many in society face the challenges of poverty.
Kristie Wilder, the dean of the Department of Social Work, said that this initiative promotes one of the main foundations of Social Work which is to encourage students to dismantle policies that leave minorities at a disadvantage and take action to prevent exploitation, domination and discrimination.
Another purpose is to help students expand their knowledge and awareness of cultural diversity either related to sex, age, race and in this case, class. It is an opportunity to understand the reality of classism, who it effects, and how it affects them.
“It is one simulated month for students to step into the shoes of those in the surrounding community and families who are less fortunate and is the promotion of giving exposure to and redefining poverty,” Wilder said.
Social work students who partake in this simulated month of poverty are challenged to analyze ways to bring poverty to an end.