Leadership Alabama to present ‘Poverty Simulation’ on Friday

Kristina Scott with Alabama Possible speaks to the Rotaract Club in Birmingham during a 2014 luncheon. (CONTRIBUTED)

HUNTSVILLE – A “poverty simulation” in Huntsville on Friday hopes to heighten awareness of needy families across the state.

Alabama Possible, a statewide nonprofit organization, will lead the simulation on Jan. 16 at 9 a.m. at the Church of the Nativity, 208 Eustis Ave. SE in Huntsville. Leadership Alabama alumni from Huntsville and Madison County are hosting the event.

Founded in 1993 and Birmingham-based, Alabama Possible collaborates with colleges and faith-based institutions on reducing poverty.

The simulation will depict the challenges that poverty-stricken families must face daily. Participants will role play the routines of low-income families during four 15-minute segments, each representing one ‘week,’ to show a ‘month’ of poverty existence, spokesperson Adam Muhlendorf said.

Approximately 900,000 Alabamians — including 300,000 children — live below the federal poverty line, according to the 2014 Poverty Data Sheet that Alabama Possible produces. “Many more hover just above the poverty line, which is an annual income of about $23,000 for a family of four,” Muhlendorf said.

In Madison County, 12.6 percent of residents live below the poverty line, including 17.4 percent of children younger than 18.

After experiencing training themselves, Leadership Alabama alumni asked Alabama Possible to lead the simulation.

The simulation is free and open to the public. Advance reservations are required and available at eventbrite.com/e/huntsville-poverty-simulation-tickets-12636342641. For more information, visit alabamapossible.org.