"I’m so glad to be a part of the Circles community. I think these types of relationships and bonds are what we all need, especially in crisis moments. I am so amazed at the growth of our Circle Leaders. I know the leadership training they have received from Circles has a lot to do with their success."
Connections Corner is part of the Circles™ national movement to end poverty, in partnership with Move the Mountain.
Understanding that poverty is relative, the Circles™ movement defines poverty as the extent to which people do without resources. All people thrive and prosper when they have the resources necessary to live well – these include financial, emotional, mental, spiritual, physical, motivational, social and relational resources. Circles™ is an initiative that seeks to build intentional, diverse and long-term relationships as people move from barely surviving to thriving.
Connections Corner launched the Circles™ model in 2008. The model works to build relationships across class and race lines working to end poverty in communities. Results from the more than 50 other communities across the country that have implemented Circles™ indicate an increase in wage progression, a decrease in feelings of social isolation, and a change in mindset and engagement at all levels of the community.
Early outcomes of the Connections Corner Circles™ initiative:
81% of initial Getting Ahead participants completed training
77% of Getting Ahead graduates moved on to become Circle Leaders
83% of current Circle Leaders report having a plan for self-sufficiency
85% of the Circles/Ally matches continue six months after initial match
100% of current Circle Leaders report an increase in social capital
Those living in poverty have a voice and a forum to share their past and future story.
Connections Corner facilitates the 15-week course, Getting Ahead in a Just-Getting-By World, to help people develop resources to achieve goals unique to their own needs. One participant states, "Getting Ahead has influenced me in my ability to set goals and make different choices. I’m steering my life in a different direction."
"Circles has broken down the isolation I was in. I’ve met new people and expanded my horizons. You have no idea how good it feels to know there are people who care about me! Circles has also given me the ability to give back – it’s so rewarding."
A Circle is an individual or family working to get out of poverty, and two to four volunteers from the community (Allies) who come alongside the Circle Leader to form supportive, {/pullquote}intentional, reciprocal, befriending relationships. A Circle meets once or twice a month as the Circle Leader works toward individual goals of self-sufficiency.
Circle Leaders complete Getting Ahead, a comprehensive curriculum in which participants explore poverty’s impact on their lives and community, where they are now, and where they would like to be. Circle Leaders also learn to use the hidden rules of economic class to build up financial, emotional and social resources that will help them meet their goals for self-sufficiency. Allies complete four training courses that teach them the hidden rules of economic class and provide them with tools to build healthy relationships that cross economic barriers.
Weekly Community Meetings bring Circle Leaders, Allies, their families, friends and other community members together to provide support and facilitate networking. Meetings include a community meal, child care and supervised activities for the children, programs to support the Circles, leadership development, and community building.
"I’m making goals. I’m living for tomorrow! Before, goals meant failure and tomorrow would never come."
