People heard personal accounts of Muncie residents who live in poverty at a reading of "Facing Poverty: Bridging the Poverty Divide One Story at a Time," which was written by Ball State students.
On Friday night, an audience of around 100 people attended "Facing Poverty" at Burris Laboratory School Auditorium. The event centered on readings of stories and poems about impoverished people from the book and were performed by Ball State theater education students.
"We don't have to know about poverty. If we ignore it, maybe it will go away," an excerpt from the book said. "Or maybe it will become so heavy it will rip the fabric of our community until we can never again be what we were."
One reading from the book was about a woman who was diagnosed with cancer and has been living with the disease for the past five years because she can't afford chemotherapy.
Another reading came from a 79-year-old retired nurse who tells a story about helping an impoverished family of a single mom and four children. The mom has cancer, her daughter has leukemia and there was a fire in their home just before Christmas.
The stories and poems from the book presented varying viewpoints from people who deal with poverty on a daily basis, whether it is their financial status or their job to help those who live in poverty. Sophomore reader Lea Dennis said the readers were faced with a task of giving a voice to the stories and not cheapen them.
The event consisted of 11 readers who alternated readings from the book.
After the dramatic readings, there was a reflection session where the audience voiced their opinions about the readings. One member from the audience was shocked to hear that some impoverished students, who attend Muncie community schools, can't afford to pay $3 to go on field trips.
Another member of the audience stated that the world is bigger than ourselves and we must use our own resources to give back.
Dennis and the other 10 readers succeeded in what they set out to do, making the stories heard.
"I think it's interesting that we only think of ourselves and not the stories of people who pass by us everyday," junior Antoinette Harrell said.
Harrell was not the only student who left the event impacted by the readings.
Freshman Marissa Novak said she is looking to volunteer for an organization that helps impoverished individuals.
"Anyone who has an opportunity to go and get a new perspective should take advantage," Novak said. "If someone has an opportunity to volunteer then they should. Pay it forward."
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