Students in the education program at Concordia took part in a hunger simulation during a retreat focused on helping meet their future students’ basic needs.
During the simulation, students worked through real-life scenarios tied to food insecurity in the Fargo-Moorhead area. They had to make decisions about meals, housing, and health with limited resources. The goal was to build understanding of the challenges some students face outside the classroom and how those affect learning.
The event was led by Concordia’s Center for Holistic Health in partnership with the Fargo-Moorhead Hunger Coalition. Volunteers and facilitators guided participants through scenarios that included accessing food banks and applying for assistance programs.
“This offers a hands-on look at how social services operate and where gaps can exist,” said Michelle Draxten, Concordia’s health promotion coordinator.
Students also met with social workers from Moorhead Public Schools to help connect the simulation to real school settings.
The event was featured on Valley News Live.