Illinois State University’s Poverty Awareness Week will take on a Hunger Games theme. The week runs from Feb. 16-21, ending with the annual Poverty Simulation on Friday, Feb. 21.
During the week, students, faculty and staff will be challenged to live on $1.25 a day while learning about poverty in the Bloomington-Normal community. The week will include participating in a service project and engaging in a poverty simulation, all centered around themes of the hit movies and books The Hunger Games.
Students, faculty and staff can sign up for the week’s events online.
Participants can join The Reaping from 6 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, in the Shawnee Room of the Tri-Towers Residence Halls. Those signed up will “volunteer as a tribute” by picking up information packets. Rules and guidelines will be reviewed.
Hunger Games Movie Night will be 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17, in the Caterpillar Room of State Farm Hall of Business.
Tribute Training will be at noon, Tuesday, Feb. 18, in the Student Services Building, room 314. Participants will prepare for a project with Home Sweet Home Ministries. CEO Mary Ann Pullin will share statistics, trends and issues about poverty and homelessness within the Bloomington-Normal community and McLean County.
Service to Panem will be a community service project at Home Sweet Home Ministries, beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19. This event is limited to 15 participants. Transportation will be provided.
Reflections with Caesar will be an opportunity to share successes and challenges of the project at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, in the Student Services Building, room 375.
Poverty Simulation
The annual Poverty Simulation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, in the Activity Room of the Bowling Billiards Center at the Bone Student Center.
Students, faculty and staff must register for this event separately from the events of Poverty Simulation Week. Pre-registration is required to attend. The deadline to signup is Monday, Feb. 17. Sign up online.
In keeping with this year’s Poverty Awareness Week Hunger Games theme, the simulation reflects the struggling situation of District 12. This event will immerse participants in the “day in the life” of a typical low-income family trying to survive from month to month with the aim of understanding the struggles and obstacles of people living in poverty with a simulation. Dinner will be provided.
The week is sponsored by Diversity Advocacy, Campus Dining and Leadership & Service. For additional information, contact Annie Weaver of Leadership & Service at amweave@ilstu.edu.
