Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union (MMFCU) partnered with Lakes Area United Way and Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity to present a poverty simulation for non-profit directors and board members at The Woods in Brainerd on September 7. The main goal of the event was to bring awareness to the complex struggles of poverty and to show directors and board members what it is like to walk a mile in the shoes of someone living in poverty. The Poverty Simulation consists of a ‘lived experience' where groups of people were made to act as a family and have each person play a certain role. Throughout the simulation, they pay for things like rent or a car payment, and if they didn't have a car, they would need to buy bus passes. They also had to figure out how to get to work on time while getting the kids to school, among many other life obstacles. The Poverty Simulation program is designed to help individuals better understand poverty by stepping into the real-life situations of others struggling with, and living in, poverty. MMFCU facilitates the Poverty Simulations to help raise awareness, increase our capacity for empathy and inspire local change. MMFCU offers this simulation as well as many other financial education classes/simulations to community members for free. The event and poverty simulation were made possible with a grant given by the Minnesota Credit Union Network Foundation. To learn more about how MMFCU can help you facilitate a poverty simulation, please go to https://www.mmfcu.org/community/financial-education