More than 8% of Utah's population lives in poverty, according to the Census and an event this month wants to give participants a better idea of the challenges and barriers those in poverty face on a daily basis.

Stefanie Jones, program specialist for the Community Action Partnership of Utah, said the poverty simulation happening at the University of Utah on April 9 is all about catalyzing local change as well as empathy for those experiencing difficult times.

"Really, I think what these simulations do is show you that there are factors outside of one's will and determination to get out of poverty that might keep them there," Jones explained.

Jones pointed out the event is open to the public but does have a focus on legal experts and decision makers. The simulation is divided up into four 15-minute sessions, which is representative of one week in which participants must find a way to make ends meet. Jones added the exercise aims to encompass the poverty spectrum in Utah, from the challenges a single mother may face to homeless families as well.

Jones noted participants who have taken part in previously held poverty simulations have shared how stressful and frustrating it was for them to get through each day. She contended when one has extra money, you can save money, like buying in bulk for instance. Jones emphasized it should be easier for folks experiencing poverty to get help, and not have to jump through so many hoops.

"One participant told us a story about a bus route she had to take that took two hours of navigating for her to get her kid to school and then to her work, and then back to shelter. Then she did the same two hours in reverse to get home," Jones recounted. "This is a drive across town that would take you and I 15 minutes, or 30 minutes for the day."

She said to put it into perspective, what might take someone experiencing poverty four hours to complete would take a middle-class individual 30 minutes. Yet, many times those experiencing hardship are also expected to make it to appointments for services. Jones wants to encourage Utahns in poverty to advocate for themselves and to not be ashamed to ask for help.

AARP Idaho is seeking nominations in the state for its prestigious award for outstanding volunteers. The Andrus Award for Community Service is named after the founder of AARP, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus.

For the award, AARP Idaho will select a person or couple age 50 or older, who performs services without pay in their communities.

Pamela Root, senior business operations analyst with AARP Idaho, said this award is special in the community.

"This award honors those age 50-plus who are sharing their experience, talent and skills to enrich the lives of their community," she explained.

Root added the recipient or recipients also get to choose a nonprofit within the state to receive a $2,000 donation from AARP. The nomination process is open through July 15. More than 28% of Idahoans volunteered in 2021, according to America's Health Rankings.

Root highlights last year's winner, Mary Zarybnisky of Burley who, along with her husband, has been an avid volunteer for years, including hosting free Thanksgiving dinners for the community and adopting families at Christmas time.

"They just are always looking at every opportunity to help people and those are the kind of volunteers that we are looking for - just people that go out of their way to make others' lives a little easier and a little better," Root explained.

Root said volunteering can give people a sense of purpose.

"When people retire, sometimes they feel lost. They don't know what to do with their time. They might feel isolated. They might even get a little depressed, and we all know that helping others helps ourselves," she continued.

Some Virginia groups are choosing to offer support to pro-Palestine student protestors.

Recent weeks have seen more than 100 arrests of protestors on Virginia college campuses. Many are demanding their schools stop investing in companies supporting Israel in its war in Gaza, although critics point out it would be more difficult than many people assume.

LaTwyla Matthias, executive director of Progress Virginia, said along with knowing their rights, protestors can stay safe in many ways.

"Don't talk to the police without an attorney present," Matthias outlined. "Make sure that they have food, water, medication, in case they do get detained or arrested; make sure that they're wearing a mask because we've been getting reports of gassing."

The Southwest Virginia Young Democrats have asked people to contribute to a fund for bail for protestors who are arrested. Gov. Glenn Youngkin has said he supports peaceful protests, but stressed that encampments and intimidation of Jewish students on college campuses won't be tolerated.

A report from a nonprofit group tracking armed conflicts and events shows most student protests since the Israel-Hamas war began last October have been peaceful. Only since April have protests involving students outnumbered those of other groups.

Matthias voiced concerns school administrators are not doing enough to ensure students' First Amendment rights, especially when they call in law enforcement. She thinks they should take a different approach.

"They should be cultivating an environment where the students can protest and speak their minds," Matthias asserted. "The students are in the care of the university that they attend so they really should be protecting the students from harassment and intimidation."

In Congress, U.S. House members are asking college and university presidents to testify before the chamber's Education and Workforce Committee on their handling of protests. So far, the presidents of Yale, the University of California-Los Angeles and the University of Michigan have been called before Congress.


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Connecticut groups are still addressing the pandemic's aftermath. Along with connecting residents to vital services, United Way of Connecticut is also helping them deal with mental health challenges.

Once the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline adopted the shortened number 988, calls increased. The challenge of answering thousands of calls is being met through the United Way of Connecticut.

Lisa Tepper Bates, president and CEO of the nonprofit, said the pandemic presented pros and cons for what she could accomplish.

"It forced us to think in new ways, to learn new ways to work, and at the same time maybe set back some efforts," Tepper Bates recounted. "Because we just couldn't work on them while we had to address the needs that people had during the height of the pandemic."

Building health care connections for residents is what lies ahead. Tepper Bates noted rising costs for basic needs are leading to physical health declines. She explained the United Way of Connecticut's future work will center around working with health care providers to better connect people with support to meet their needs, which can reduce certain health care costs.

Tepper Bates pointed out much of United Way of Connecticut's work is ongoing. A particular focal point is helping ALICE residents -- Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed -- who are struggling to make ends meet. In her time with the organization, she said she has learned about resilience from people United Way serves.

"There are a lot of folks in our state who I think are, every day, managing very challenging situations, and yet are so resilient," Tepper Bates observed. "I think that's what, to me, is always inspiring: people who are making it work."

Other work to help ALICE families is advocating for a state child tax credit. DeDeclines in child poverty and other benefits came from expanding the federal credit, which has since shrunk to pre-pandemic levels.

The United Way of Connecticut has been vocal about the work, leading Tepper Bates to receive several honors, including an award from Connecticut Voices for Children later this month.