09/23/2025
I had the incredible privilege of designing a poverty simulation for housing professionals, and this morning, I witnessed its profound impact firsthand.
🔥I led a poverty simulation I crafted from scratch for over 50 maintenance professionals and corporate team at Preservation Management.
🔥Every scenario, interruption, and family profile was meticulously designed to reflect the daily struggles of residents in affordable housing.
🔥The simulation immersed participants in the impossible choices poverty forces families to make, including juggling bills, depleted food stamps, car breakdowns, utility cutoffs, and relentless court notices.
🔥As the facilitator, I watched our leaders step into the shoes of those struggling, feeling the frustration of being placed on hold, the shame of asking for help, and the exhaustion of being told to come back tomorrow.
🔥The simulation confronted them with evictions, missed paychecks, and unfair judgments, prompting a raw, honest, and transformative discussion during the debriefing.
🔥My goal was to break bias, build empathy, and hold up a mirror to the systems we represent, as poverty is not a choice for many, but how we respond as housing professionals undoubtedly is.
🔥I am proud of the team’s courage and even more proud that my work is empowering them to lead with empathy, fairness, and humanity.
🔥Every housing professional should experience this transformative simulation. When you bear witness to the reality poverty, you can no longer serve from a distance or with a harsh tone; instead, you serve with understanding and empathy.
🔥 This marks my fourth corporate training, with many more ahead. Through speaking and facilitating, I get to bring real conversations into the rooms that need them most.
