Social Superstar Spotlight
United Way of Larimer County Poverty Simulation
According to data from the US Census Bureau, one in
seven Larimer County residents lives in poverty, and the
poverty rate in Larimer County is growing faster than the
state and national average. United Way of Larimer
County is working diligently to reduce the growing
poverty trend and build community-wide prosperity. One
way they help community members understand the
complexity of poverty is by organizing educational poverty
simulations. These events illustrate the hardships people
in poverty are faced with every day.
Marcy Yoder, Vice President of Community Impact at United Way of Larimer County, described her
experience with poverty simulations, “You can see people having that ‘Aha’ moment, understanding what
it is like to walk in someone else’s shoes. Simulations are eye- opening because people learn about
barriers they haven’t lived or experienced.”
Poverty simulations not only build an understanding of what it’s like to live in poverty but also how
difficult poverty is to overcome without community support. Simulations empower people to be the
change they would like to see in the world.
“Reducing poverty will help the entire community prosper,” exclaims Yoder. Lessening poverty leads to a
more qualified workforce, a stronger local economy, and other log-term results that positively impact the
quality of life in a community.
Learn more about United Way of Larimer County’s Poverty Simulations or volunteer to host a poverty
simulation here.