It’s one thing to read about and become knowledgeable about the culture of poverty, but for
Joan Kaup, executive director of
Social Venture Partners Cincinnati, it doesn’t compare to actually living the experience.
SVP Cincinnati is composed of engaged philanthropists who assist nonprofits in better achieving their missions; so for Kaup, truly understanding what it’s like to live in poverty will help SVP better serve its investees.
“I want the deeper understanding. I want the empathy,” Kaup says.
To gain that deeper understanding, SVP is producing a poverty simulation for its partner units and anyone else that wants to have a conversation about why 316,000 adults and 167,000 children from the Tri-State are living in poverty, and what can be done about it.
“We’ll come in and get our personalities, so maybe we’re paired with two other people—one of the kids is in sixth grade, one’s dropped out of high school, mom has a medical condition,” Kaup says.
“You’ll have 10-minute ‘days’ only to find that now here you are out of time, out of money—you used all your food stamps, public transportation is running late, you didn’t get to your job on time, didn’t get your children on time—it’s these kinds of things that happen with the lifestyle.”
The event will take place Thursday from 5:30-8 p.m. at
The E.W. Scripps Company.
“In this country we now have a culture of poverty,” Kaup says. “You have families who are third-generation poverty—it’s a different mindset and culture—so how can we learn to respect and support each other from a cultural standpoint?”
Do Good:
•
RSVP to attend the poverty simulation.
• If you're interested in learning more about venture philanthropy,
contact Joan Kaup.
• Consider becoming a
partner.
By Brittany York
Brittany York is a professor of English composition at the University of Cincinnati and a project manager for Charitable Words. She also edits the For Good section of SoapboxMedia.
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