Welcome to the State of Poverty - Dawson County, Georgia

(01/21/10) (Dawson County, GA) If you aren’t among the 1 million Georgians living below the poverty line, you don’t know what it’s like to feed and clothe a family under the grinding strain of poverty. Yet those who work with the public need to know.

The University of Georgia’s College of Family and Consumer Sciences will deliver “Welcome to the State of Poverty” at Veteran’s Memorial Park on January 28th from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

How does it work?

Individuals assume a role in one of 26 typical families living in poverty. Participants survive for one “month’ simulated in four 15-minute “weeks”. During the month the families must keep their shelter, feed their family, keep their utilities on, make loan payments, etc.

Who might participate?

Individuals who want to understand the people with whom they work or the people in their communities who need their support.

Participants in the simulation report that they:

• Have a better understanding of some of the obstacles faced by families living in poverty
• Viewed their jobs and the people they worked with differently after the experience
• Felt more able to develop plans for community action addressing the need of low income families.
• Had ideas they wanted to discuss with others about community actions that could be taken to support families

To participate call FAMILY CONNECTION 706-265-1981