More than 70 area professionals to experience “A Month in Poverty”

More than 70 area professionals will take time out of their schedules this week to walk in the shoes of someone living in poverty during the “Rethinking Poverty” Simulation hosted by One Joplin.

Participants represent a diverse range of organizations, including Joplin City Council members, educators, healthcare workers, nonprofit leaders, and representatives from the faith community.

A One Joplin Poverty Simulation will be held 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 at the Joplin Public Library

Upon arrival, each participant will receive a new identity and spend a simulated month navigating the complex challenges faced daily by low-income families.  While the exercise is a simulation, the experience reflects the very real struggles many Joplin area residents face.

Census data indicate that more than 17 percent of Joplin residents live in poverty. The 2025 federal poverty level is $32,150 for a family of four.

“The goal of the Poverty Simulation is to serve as an empathy builder,” said Nicole Brown, executive director of One Joplin. “It helps participants better understand the barriers families face and inspires practical changes within their organizations.”

One Joplin, a nonprofit collaborative, brings together community leaders to address issues of poverty, health, education, and literacy by pooling local knowledge and resources.

Participants are encouraged to explore opportunities to remove barriers for low-income families.  Brown shared,

“One of the best outcomes from the 2024 Poverty Simulation was a local business that sent their entire leadership team to participate, ” Brown said.  “Afterward, they reviewed their policies and procedures to see if they were inadvertently making life harder for lower-wage workers.  They made several changes that have positively impacted employee morale and retention.”