The Racial Wealth Gap LEARNING SIMULATION Todays roadmap

The Racial Wealth Gap LEARNING SIMULATION

Today’s roadmap • Who is Bread for the World? • Opening Activity • Scope of Hunger and Poverty in America • Racial Wealth Gap Learning Simulation • Large Group Discussion

Who is Bread for the World? Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging elected officials on the Hill and in the administration to end hunger and poverty at home and abroad. by changing policies, programs, and conditions that allow hunger and poverty to persist. We believe it is important to address the root causes of hunger and poverty, racial inequality being one of them.

Opening Activity • What brings everyone here today? • How does your church, organization, or community engage in anti-hunger or antipoverty efforts? • Are you familiar with the racial wealth or income gap?

What’s the Scope? Today, more than 41 million Americans face hunger. Over 40. 6 million people live below the poverty line.

What’s the Scope? Today, more than 41 million Americans face hunger. Over 40. 6 million people live below the poverty line. ½ of American households would face poverty if someone lost a job or got sick. 50% of Americans could become poor

What’s the Scope? People of color are more likely to face all three: • They are TWICE as likely to: • Experience hunger • Live below the poverty line • Be one paycheck away from becoming poor

What’s the Scope? BUT WHY? ? d n a h t l a e W l a i c a ! R e e d i h v T i D e m o c In

Why This Simulation? Wealth • Without wealth, you are more likely to become poor Income and Poverty • When you are poor, you are more likely to experience hunger Hunger

Simulation Goals Gain a better understanding of the racial wealth, income, and hunger gap, so that we can…. . § Understand why racial equity is important to address structural inequality § Discuss racial equity within our organizations, congregations, and/or communities § Incorporate a racial equity lens into our daily work, life, worship, policies, practices, advocacy, etc. § Feel more comfortable explaining the importance of applying a racial equity lens when working to end hunger or poverty or achieve goals in other issue areas.

The Racial Wealth Gap Learning Simulation INSTRUCTIONS Each team should have 4 - 8 participants. Each team receives an envelope and each person blindly selects a card from it. Half of the participants will receive “white participant” cards and the other half will receive “black participant” cards. In cases where this is possible, please trade cards so that each player has a participant card different from his or her own racial identity. There are three action cards (“money, ” “land, ” and “opportunity lost”) and 13 policy cards. Starting with a “white participant, ” you will take turns picking up a policy card, reading the card to the group, and then reading the action(s) on the card for players to carry out. The person reading should pause so that everyone can carry out their action(s). Everyone will gain or lose one, two, or all three cards in each round. At the end, count how many money, land, & opportunity lost cards each person has.

The Racial Wealth Gap How many money cards did everyone end up with?

The Racial Wealth Gap Median Net Worth $150, 000 $141, 000 $100, 000 (In 2013 Dollars) 13: 1 Ratio $50, 000 $11, 000 $0 White Household Source: http: //www. pewresearch. org/fact-tank/2014/12/12/racial-wealth-gaps-great-recession/ Black Household

Racial Wealth Gap! Median Net Worth Among Households Living Near the Poverty Line $20, 000 $18, 000 $16, 000 $14, 000 $12, 000 $10, 000 $8, 000 $6, 000 $4, 000 $2, 000 $0 $18, 000: 0 Ratio $0 White Household Black Household Source: https: //socialequity. duke. edu/sites/socialequity. duke. edu/files/site-images/FINAL%20 COMPLETE%20 REPORT_. pdf 4 U. S. Federal Poverty Guidelines Used

Racial Wealth Gap Learning Simulation 1. What did you learn that you didn’t know before? 2. What trends did you see in this simulation? 3. How do you see the racial wealth and income divides play out in your own communities? 4. How does this impact your work to end hunger/poverty or engage in other work in your community? 5. What did you learn about the importance of racial equity? 6. How can you incorporate a racial equity lens into your daily work, life, worship, policies, practices, advocacy, etc. ?

Racial Wealth Gap Learning Simulation Want to access the simulation? Go to bread. org/simulation Let’s stay in contact! Feel free to email at [your email]