Community Education
CMCA offers a variety of classes, both to help those in poverty gain the knowledge they need to move out of poverty and to educate the public on the reality of poverty.
Poverty Simulations
The goal of our poverty simulations is to educate the community about the reality of poverty for individuals and to increase advocacy.
During these simulations, participants are assigned a family member role to play as they attempt to meet their family’s basic needs for one month. Families must meet all of their financial obligations, gain or maintain employment, properly care for children, meet any emergency situations that arise, and navigate the web of social service entities designed to provide assistance to families in need. Although the simulation has the feel of a game, the family scenarios used are based on Missouri families that have been served by Missouri Community Action agencies. Only the names have been changed. The resources, strengths, limitations, and the needs of the families are all based on real life.
REALL Simulation
The Reality Enrichment and Life Lessons (REALL) simulation challenges youth to think critically about how choices and decisions made in adolescence may have long-term consequences. In this simulation, youth experience a life where they make reactive decisions, such as dropping out of high school or having legal records, and a life where they made proactive positive choices, such as graduating high school and gaining employment. They will walk away with an experience of how real decisions now may affect their futures.
Step Up to Leadership
Step Up to Leadership is a leadership development curriculum that teaches low-income adults the skills necessary to be community leaders. Participants learn about best practices for serving on boards, engaging in committee work, and generally stepping up to serve their community.