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A UMNS Report
By Skyler E. Nimmons and Jessica Connor
7:00 A.M. ET May 22, 2012
Karin VanZant holds two baby dolls used in poverty stimulations
conducted during the 2012 United Methodist General Conference in Tampa,
Fla. VanZant is CEO of the Think Tank Inc. and the National Circles
Campaign. A UMNS photo by Kathleen Barry.
View in Photo Gallery
Delegates and visitors to the 2012 United Methodist General Conference had the opportunity to step away from their regular business and broaden their perspectives on the issue of poverty.
From May 1 to 4, a poverty-immersion experience took place in a
Tampa Convention Center ballroom. For two hours, participants took on
the role of a low-income person through the looking glass of one month
in that person’s life.
The simulation was sponsored by the Board of Global Ministries and the Rural and Urban Network and offered by the nonprofit Think Tank Inc., in partnership with The United Methodist Church.
Think Tank has dreamed up the Circles Initiative,
what they consider to be a “real world” solution to poverty. As the
number of families living in poverty in the United States continues to
grow, the Circles Initiative is an attempt to bridge the gap between
haves and have-nots by building relationships.
The Circles program brings together lower-, middle- and upper-income
people in a six-month alliance. Located at 70 sites in 24 states
across the nation, plus one hub in Canada, Circles sites schedule weekly
meetings where people come together, have dinner and then discuss
personal and community poverty issues. One lower-income person is
matched with several middle- and upper-income allies, all of whom agree
to be in relationship for six months.
The idea is that through conversation and friendship, the group can
work together to solve individual poverty problems, then spread
outward, ultimately tackling community concerns and other bigger-picture
poverty systems.
Dispelling misconceptions
“We don’t want to put a bandage on it,” said the Rev. Don Ford, a
United Methodist pastor who is part of the Circles site in Pagosa
Springs, Colo. “We want to suture the wound.”
Karin VanZant, Circles CEO, said the project is an opportunity to
dispel misconceptions about those who live in poverty, discourage the
notion of a quick fix to systemic poverty and bring an understanding of
the challenges faced by people living below the poverty line.
For example, obtaining a minimum-wage job at McDonald’s or Starbucks
does not mean a financial problem is alleviated. Sometimes, VanZant
said, it is worsened.
“They go to human services to sign up for food stamps and find out,
‘Oh, you have a part-time job; you are not eligible for food stamps.’
And they say, ‘What do you mean? I only make $400 a month,’” she said.
By helping people become more aware of the multitude of obstacles
facing those who live in poverty — from governmental red tape to
low-paying jobs that prohibit aid — people understand why welfare,
drug-dealing or payday lenders are sometimes the difference between a
downward slope and survival.
Circles organizers hope the poverty simulation will spark thinking
in the participants, who might go back to their communities eager to
learn more about what they can do to alleviate poverty, and perhaps,
even start a Circles site themselves.
When people begin to care on a more personal level, they tend to
have greater passion and think in a bigger way about how to solve
problems long-term, VanZant said.
While she knows a two-hour role-playing exercise is quite different
from having a brother living in a homeless shelter or a cousin on food
stamps, having to experience the emotion of a personal journey is a step
in the right direction.
Challenging paradigms
The two-hour exercise was built to challenge the paradigms
participants might have about low-income people, VanZant said. “The
whole intention is to create an anxiety level among participants so they
have an emotional reaction and can carry that with them when they walk
out of the room.”
After the simulation, the group leaders ask intentional questions to
spark thinking: How did you feel? Imagine if this is your real life.
What would you do to break the cycle?
VanZant shared that one participant with a master’s degree lamented
that she could not figure out how to navigate human services after her
child was taken away during the simulation. VanZant said she hopes The
United Methodist Church will use this simulation to help build
awareness on the broad issues encompassed in poverty.
“I would love to see the day when poverty awareness becomes a
part of every outreach committee on the local church level. Where they
have at least one day a year to challenge their congregation and their
community to get involved,” she said. “A lot of the outreach focus
of some of our churches tends to be events…instead of something that
is ongoing.”
The Circles Initiative is eager to build conversation starters to
equip missionaries and outreach workers to be in ministry with the poor
and hopes to see each annual (regional) conference start poverty
elimination initiatives in the next two years.
The Western North Carolina Annual (regional) Conference has nine
sites actively participating in the Circles Initiative and is moving to
start other sites in the near future. Circles is also in talks
with several other conferences throughout the United States to start
programs for their communities.
*Nimmons is a communications specialist for the Western
North Carolina Annual (regional) Conference and Connor is editor of the
South Carolina United Methodist Advocate.
News media contact: Maggie Hillery, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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