Making Ends Meet Poverty Simulation (MEM)
Date: February 11, 2025
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Location: 312 Main St (Reach & Sound Room)
In partnership with:
*Light refreshments will be provided
Note: In order to run the MEM Poverty Simulation, we require a minimum 50 participants so please only register if you are sure you can attend and let us know 2 days in advance if you can no longer attend.
Event Details:
The Making Ends Meet Poverty Simulation (MEM) is an experiential learning and community-engaged research exercise designed to offer a glimpse into the daily experiences and challenges faced by those who live in poverty in the Vancouver Lower Mainland. It is led by Maitland Waddell, a PhD student in Psychology and former SFU CERi graduate fellow.
The central piece of the learning experience is an hour-long perspective-taking simulation, in which 50-80 participants take on the role of someone living in poverty and try to “make ends meet” for a simulated month. After being sorted into one of twenty-six diverse families with their own unique economic challenges, participants will have to pay their bills, feed their families, go to work, attend school, and navigate various other systems and procedures designed to represent the daily experiences of those who live in poverty.
After completing the simulation, participants take part in focus group discussions that are facilitated by trained volunteers. These discussions enable participants to reflect on their experiences during MEM and discuss any lessons they learned about potential causes, consequences, and solutions for poverty. These focus group discussions can also be altered to include a range of other topics relevant to your organizations’ specific requirements.
In published research (see Resources below), our team has demonstrated MEM to be an effective intervention for reducing poverty stigma and increasing support for poverty-alleviating policies as well as intentions to engage in allyship. You can learn more about the Making Ends Meet Poverty Simulation at: www.mempovertysimulation.com
About the Making Ends Meet (MEM)
The Making Ends Meet Poverty Simulation (MEM) is run by members of Dr. Stephen Wright’s Intergroup Relations and Social Justice (IRSJ) lab at Simon Fraser University. Our talented team of undergraduate volunteers are trained to act as “service providers” during MEM and to facilitate group discussions at the end of the simulation. These volunteers are managed by Maitland Waddell, a PhD student in the IRSJ lab and the Project Coordinator of MEM. You can learn more about our team at: www.sfu-irsj.ca
Accessibility Needs
We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible event for everyone. If you have any specific accessibility needs or requirements, please let us know when you register or reach out to us directly. We will do our best to accommodate and ensure a welcoming environment for all attendees.
Parking Information
Please note that parking directly at the venue (312 Main) may be limited. However, there are accessible and often free parking spots available in the Railtown area, which is a short walk from the venue. We encourage attendees to plan accordingly and consider using nearby public transportation options as well.
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