An event at Mary Baldwin University in Staunton next week aims to help students and the broader community better understand the struggles to put food on the table with rising costs of housing, healthcare, childcare, groceries and more.
MBU will host its second poverty simulation event Nov. 14 to help people of all income levels better understand the financial challenges of the working class who are more vulnerable to price increases.
While millionaires and billionaires may be profiting from volatility of the the stock market under Donald Trump, mostly due to tariffs and trade tensions, the president doesn’t seem to understand that many Americans don’t have that luxury.
Nearly 40 million people in the US live at or below the poverty level and struggle to keep a roof over their heads; many don’t have extra money to invest for retirement.
In a “60 Minutes” interview this weekend, Trump insisted prices are lower under his leadership.
Seven in 10 Americans do not agree with him and blame his administration for rising costs.
Host Norah O’Donnell reminded the president that the stock market “doesn’t affect everybody; not everybody’s invested in the stock market.”
Instead of using the moment to show empathy for millions of Americans who aren’t getting paid or whose food benefits are on hold due to the government shutdown, Trump retreated to popular MAGA talking points that “all of these problems” were caused by former President Joe Biden.
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MBU is hoping local people will learn to be more compassionate after going through the three-hour exercise.
“Poverty is a pervasive issue in the local area, and those living through it not only struggle with the tangible effects but also the stigma related to it,” Mary Baldwin’s social work club wrote in a news release.
This is the second time MBU will hold the simulation event. Social work department and club members at MBU were inspired to offer it originally after participating in a similar event at Blue Ridge Community College.
Participants will be assigned into model families with unique life stories; they will be faced with time-management challenges as well as financial constraints that demonstrate the difficulty that the poor face every day.
“This will help others in the community understand more about the barriers present, and all, including those with their own experience, learn that they are not alone and should not be ashamed to reach out if ever needed,” MBU wrote.
The event will take place in the Student Activities Center next Friday and will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For more information, email [email protected] or [email protected].
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Crystal Graham
