MANATEE – “There’s a lot of opportunities to do simulated societies but this one is a little unique in the fact that we deal with issues of poverty,” says Jill Gass, Director of Development at Step Up Suncoast.
Step Up Suncoast and the Manatee County School District partnered up for the Life on the Edge Poverty simulation. Gass explains what the event is about.
“They’re being assigned a profile and a personality, and a job, and whatever their family situation looks like,” says.
Volunteers live out a simulated month living paycheck to paycheck. It’s up to them to figure out a way to live what they consider a normal life. According to the Census Bureau 12.6% of the population in Manatee County live below the poverty line. That’s an estimated 47,000 people.
“I think it is vitally important that we have a complete awareness of what our students are experiencing and the life’s that they are living,” says Cynthia Saunders, Manatee County Superintendent.
Saunders is one of the new participants for the simulation. She hopes it’s a learning experience for residents. “I’m really interested in seeing what the responses are and to see really if everyone has a full understanding of poverty,” she says.
Saunders says growing up in a low-income family helped her relate to students going through the same situation – and that education is key.
“Education definitely is the deal breaker; it certainly can change and impact the life of all of our students no matter what their financial outcomes are,” says Saunders.
This simulation is not an annual event – but Gass says the demand for the event has increased because of the latest government shutdown.
