Poverty Immersion Experience

Spend an afternoon stepping into someone else’s shoes. Join Reclaim and the WSU Metropolitan Center for Applied Research and Extension for a Poverty Immersion Experience—a powerful, hands-on simulation designed to help participants understand the realities of living with limited resources.

You’ll take on the identity of a person living in poverty, make day-to-day decisions about work, food, and family, and navigate the systems that so many of our neighbors must face. The experience concludes with a guided debrief and a discussion about meaningful ways to create change in our community.

During the event, we’ll also host a Children’s Empathy Workshop for younger participants. In a supportive, age-appropriate setting, kids will explore what poverty means through stories, interactive activities, and a creative empathy-building project. This workshop helps children build compassion and awareness, while giving parents peace of mind that their kids are engaged in learning while they take part in the immersion experience.

Kids attend for free! Children must be 5 years or older.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

400 SE Orchard Dr, 400 Southeast Orchard Drive, North Bend, United States