In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Marietta College will host a Cost of Poverty Experience (COPE) Simulation on Monday, Jan. 19, from 9 a.m. to noon in the Great Room of Andrews Hall. The event invites participants to engage in a powerful, interactive examination of poverty, food insecurity, and access to resources in the Mid-Ohio Valley.
The COPE Simulation is a 2.5-hour immersive experience designed to help participants better understand the human and systemic impacts of poverty by stepping into the roles of families navigating real-world challenges. With more than 40% of U.S. households struggling to afford essential needs, this learning opportunity explores difficult decisions and risks families must often take to survive.
Unlike a traditional lecture or presentation, the COPE Simulation is an experiential learning opportunity. Participants are grouped into family units with varying circumstances and must move throughout the room, which features stations representing social services, nonprofits, employers, and community organizations, to meet basic needs. Each 15-minute segment represents one week of life, requiring participants to manage housing, food access, transportation, employment, health care, and unexpected obstacles while navigating limited time and resources.
“This experience is about highlighting and supporting the nonprofits in our area who work every day with clients living in poverty—this is real life for them,” said Shannan Tschopp, MPP, director of the Nonprofits LEAD Program at Marietta College. “COPE provides a demonstrable way to build understanding for those who may not have lived this reality and to see how intersectional and complex poverty truly is.”
The simulation concludes with a guided debrief and reflection session, allowing participants to connect with community partners and other attendees to process the experience and share perspectives over lunch.
Cole Longcor, AmeriCorps member and Student Life pro-staff member at Marietta College, said the experience builds situational awareness and is especially impactful for students preparing to enter their careers and better understand the communities they will serve.
“The COPE Simulation gives participants a hands-on, interdisciplinary learning experience that extends well beyond the classroom,” Longcor said. “It’s humbling, eye-opening, and helps participants understand not only what resources exist, but how to access them and ask for help, as well as how to get involved and support those who need assistance. My hope is that it inspires participants to get involved with their communities and support others wherever they land.”
The event is part of Marietta College’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service and is organized in support of Hunger Solutions, a Mid-Ohio Valley organization dedicated to reducing hunger and food insecurity. Hunger Solutions works to ensure all residents have access to food through direct assistance, education, and long-term solutions made possible by collaboration with local businesses and support agencies. Attendees will receive a COPE certificate for participation upon completion of the simulation.
Representatives from a range of community nonprofits, organizations, and foundations will participate, offering opportunities for networking and engagement. The event is free and open to faculty, staff, students, and the public. Pre-event registration is encouraged due to limited spots, with registration available online through Marietta College’s website. Registration must be completed by Friday, January 16.
Light breakfast refreshments will be provided during morning check-in. Lunch will be available for purchase from Izzy’s during the debrief session, with a special pop-up menu offered for the day. Lunch costs are expected to range from $8 to $10, payable by cash, card, or student meal swipes. Participants may opt to bring their own lunch. Parking will be available in the designated Visitor Parking Lot next to the Hermann Fine Arts Center, as well as street parking.
For more information or to register for the Cost of Poverty Experience, visit marietta.givepulse.com/event/COPE, or contact Cole Longcor at cwl002@marietta.edu.