Mount Marty University to Host Community Action Poverty Simulation

Mount Marty University and the South Dakota Education Association will host a Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS) on Thursday, March 20, from 7-9 p.m. in the Mother Jerome Schmitt Library on Mount Marty's Yankton campus.

CAPS is a learning tool created to help people understand the realities of poverty. During the simulation, participants role-play the lives of low-income families in various capacities. Participants have the stressful task of providing necessities and shelter on a limited budget. They will interact with human service agencies, grocers, pawnbrokers, bill collectors, job interviewers, police officers and interfaith service providers. 

Lisa Weier, teaching and learning coordinator for the South Dakota Education Association, said, "Participating in a poverty simulation is more than an experience — it's a powerful reminder that understanding the challenges of others is the first step toward creating real change and fostering empathy in our communities."

"Honoring the humanity of all people is an important mission for any major at Mount Marty University," said Jennifer Weber, Ed.D., department chair of teacher education. "It is because of this [that] the Teacher Education and Human Services programs [are] committed to bringing in this opportunity for any and all members of the Mount Marty community. It is our belief this simulation will help us and our students to develop empathy and understanding for all of the individuals we serve."

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Admission to the simulation is a donation of a non-perishable food item or personal care item for the Yankton Contact Center. To register for the event, visit https://forms.gle/7uyzm6cZLgrsb6en6. The deadline to register for the simulation is March 17. 

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About Mount Marty University

Founded in 1936 by the Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery, Mount Marty University is South Dakota's only Catholic, Benedictine institution of higher education. Located along the bluffs of the Missouri River in Yankton, with additional locations in Watertown and Sioux Falls, Mount Marty offers undergraduate and graduate degrees focusing on student and alumni success in high-demand fields such as health sciences, education, criminal justice, business, accounting, recreation management, and more. A community of learners in the Benedictine tradition, Mount Marty emphasizes academic excellence and develops well-rounded students with intellectual competence, professional and personal skills and moral, spiritual and social values. To learn more, visit mountmarty.edu.