Raising Awareness
What is your view of those who are impoverished or displaced? We tend to construct a view of those living in poverty from a distance. We naturally group ourselves with those of similar backgrounds and life circumstances, so our perception of people living in or near poverty may not be entirely accurate. We invite you to seek to truly understand the realities of poverty and the inherent value and worth of the people who are impoverished.
We equip advocates in many way; one avenue of learning that we offer is Poverty Simulation. This interactive experience exposes participants to the realities of life in poverty by challenging them to navigate the complex world of essential services. This program cultivates a greater understanding of people living in poverty as participants quickly learn how even the most basic aspects of our day become unachievable tasks.
On the same page as the Poverty Simulation information is an outline of our Living on the Edge program. This multi-media experience illustrates the misconceptions and disadvantages of poverty, facilitating empathetic approaches to how we can address poverty in our communities. This program is ideal for small groups up to about 30 people, while the Poverty Simulation is more appropriate for larger groups.
This Bridges Out of Poverty seminar reviews social and economic cultural norms, analyzing how they operate in a way that perpetuates poverty. The goal of this seminar is to learn how we can support success for all members of our community.
Each of these experiences are eye-opening, profound programs that allow participants to step into the shoes of someone who struggles to make it through each day. It is our hope that through these experiences, you will begin to serve in different socio-economic and cultural situations as well as in your immediate environment with a renewed and sustained commitment.
Championing Initiatives
Part of our goal in raising awareness of the realities of poverty is to identify and champion local, statewide and national initiatives that support the people we serve. We are currently focused on income standards and wages, energy, and housing affordability, and access to necessities such as food and life-sustaining medications.
Gathering Information
Our Statistics and Resources page lists links to statistical data and other resources so you can be a fully informed advocate.
Contact Information
Sydney Angel
Poverty Awareness Programs Coordinator
Crisis Control Ministry
200 E. Tenth Street
Winston Salem, NC 27101
Phone: 336-724-7875, ext. 1060
sangel@crisiscontrol.org
