An interactive simulation that highlights the lived realities and human impact of poverty.
More than 40% of U.S. households struggle to afford essential needs, pushing them to make difficult decisions and take significant risks every day.
The Cost of Poverty Experience is a 2.5 hour simulation that explores the lived experience of poverty firsthand through the eyes of real families. The experiential nature of this training helps organizations and communities more deeply understand the human and systemic impacts of poverty.
For years, many top down or well-intentioned approaches to poverty have left out the wisdom and leadership of those closest to the challenges. Created with the input of individuals with personal experience in poverty, COPE sheds light on these challenges and catalyzes meaningful dialogue and action. This experience challenges participants to rethink poverty, respond effectively, and partner with those affected for change.
COPE is a tool that will help your team:
Deepen their understanding of the lived realities and human impact of poverty in America.
Improve practices and approaches to better engage and partner with people navigating poverty.
Work more effectively with others in your community to foster opportunities and environments where all people can thrive.
An Experience For Everyone.
The Cost of Poverty Experience has been adapted to reflect the experience of poverty in various contexts. Please click on one of the sectors below that best describes the organization that you are affiliated with to find out how COPE can help you have greater impact.
“Humility is one of the most important traits of any leader and the COPE experience does a tremendous job of hammering home just why that is. The opportunity to put yourself in someone else’s shoes even if only an exercise is such an eye-opening and quite frankly life changing experience.”
Already Experienced a COPE?
What can you do next? We hope you have been challenged and inspired to think about how you can begin to engage with your community to address poverty.
Below are some of the things you can do right now.