Residents in Highland Park, a suburb to the north of Chicago, to attend a "poverty simulation" put on by Alliance for Human Services to increase "understanding and awareness of what it feels like to live in poverty in Lake County."
While such a "simulation" raised enough eyebrows it was the location that really grabbed people's attention. For two and half hours, people will be able to pretend to be in the lower class at the Highland Park Country Club:
Participants will begin to experience what a "month” in poverty feels like. Together, we will increase resources for those living in poverty to create a more resilient health, human, and education sector. We hope you will join us!
The event has drawn mockery from users on social media for falling into the categories of tone deaf or "good initiative, bad judgement."
Highland Park certainly is one of the wealthy neighborhoods outside of Chicago. According to 16th & 17th District Chicago Police Scanner, the town is nearly 85 percent of the population is white, the median household income is over $147,000 and the median property value is well over $500,000.
Have you ever wondered what it's like to be poor?
— 16th & 17th District Chicago Police Scanner (@CPD1617Scanner) September 6, 2023
Do you want to pretend to be poor?
Well, wonder no more because we have just the event for you.
The City of Highland Park, a Chicago suburb, along the posh North Shore, is hosting an event where you can "simulate" poverty.… pic.twitter.com/a9bGKwIinL
The City of Highland Park in Illinois is holding a “poverty simulation event” where woke rich people will pretend to be poor for 2.5 hours while sitting in a comfortable country club.
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) September 7, 2023
You can’t make this up pic.twitter.com/pNwu0W2NPt
