Social Work seniors to host conference about poverty

Conference attendees will be on their own for lunch. Registration is required for participation in the afternoon poverty simulator.

Dr. Anitra Warrior an American Indian Child Psychologist and owner of Morningstar Counseling in Lincoln will be the first speaker at 8:20 a.m.

According to her website, Warrior has provided clinical services to children and families throughout Nebraska for the past 15 years. Morningstar Counseling has seven locations and partners with multiple school districts, colleges, tribes, and organizations to support the healthy development and mental well-being of Nebraska children and families.

A panel discussion will follow at 9:30 a.m. The three panelists will discuss local agencies and services that support individuals in poverty. Panel members are Jennifer Schaer, Director of Projective Strive/TRIO at CSC, Rachel Johnson, Director of Volunteer Services and RSVP at Northwest Community Action Partnership, and Derek Bauer, Chadron Public School District School Resource Officer.

Social Work alumnus Jeff Mugongo will speak at 11 a.m. Mugongo, who lives in Arizona, is the founder of JTS Fitness, a program designed to assist children and youth in developing athletic techniques and training necessary to excel in sports.

Mugongo, who came to the U.S. in 2010, shared his story of growing up in Rwanda, Africa, in poetry published in The New Social Worker in March 2018.

He is excited to speak at the conference.

“I am truly honored to have the chance to pursue my passion and become a motivational speaker and share my story at the conference,” he said.

The interactive simulator will begin at 1:30 p.m. According to the poverty simulation website, the event will take place in a large room with groups of participants called families seated in the middle. Tables with volunteer staff representing community resources and services will be arranged around the perimeter of the room.

During the two-hour simulator participants will assume the identity of families facing poverty and role-play a month timeframe trying to maintain their basic needs.

The final, debriefing portion of the experience will involve participants discussing what they learned. Conference organizers will also challenge participants to share the experience with family, friends, and contacts in the community.