Circle Leaders
An individual or family of low income who is interested in becoming self-sufficient. The Circle Leader is responsible for leading, receiving, and giving support within the Circle. The Circle Leader works with Allies to build his or her plan discussed in Circle Leader training, which is required of each Circle Leader before being placed in a Circle. Circle Leader training prepares Circle Leaders to take a leadership role in their Circle and to use their knowledge and skills as problem-solvers to work on poverty issues in the community.
Circle Allies
“Being an Ally is very hard work, but some of the most important work I have ever done. Before now, I just paid lip service to issues around poverty. Now I’m in it with both feet.”
Volunteers engage in an intentional, befriending relationship with an individual or family working to become self-sufficient. Allies work their Circle Leader to figure out how to accomplish his or her plan for self-sufficiency. Within the guidelines set by the Community Guiding Coalition, Allies do what makes sense and what brings joy to the relationship. Allies are trained in “Ally Training” that includes “Understanding Poverty” as a way to support Circle Leaders on their journey toward self-sufficiency.
The toughest challenge a Circle Ally faces is the instinct to “rescue” the Circle Leader. The Circle Leader cannot learn to cope with the hurdles that block his/her pathway if a well-meaning Ally tries to fix the problems. Instead, the Ally’s role is to walk beside the Circle Leader, helping link to the resources and support necessary for the Circle Leader to be successful.
Definitions
Ad Hoc Ally: is someone who works with one or more Circles® to employ a specific skill or help such as tutoring, home repair, budgeting, etc
Allies: a group of 2-4 people of upper incomes who make the commitment to be in a supportive, befriending, intentional relationship to help the head(s) of a family in their journey out of poverty
Big View Meetings: is a monthly meeting for members and interested community visitors to discuss the barriers the Circle® Leaders are facing and what the Circles® community can do to bring them to the attention of the community and begin to break them down
Bridges out of Poverty: is an approach that helps employers, community organizations, social-service agencies, and individuals address poverty in a comprehensive way by offering the ideas, structures, and concrete tools a community needs to prevent, alleviate, and reduce poverty
Circle®: is a group of 3-6 people meeting at least once a month to focus on long and short-term goals that will help the Leader(s) get out of poverty
Circles® Coach: Supports the Circle® leader family and Allies in goal setting, system resources and limitations; and encourages and provides information to achieve goals
Circle® Leader: is a person who is living in poverty who is trained and supported to lead a group which asks for specific help with specific needs
Community Champion: is a skilled organizational leader who has the desire to model the core values of the initiative
Features: are specific programs/projects implemented to affect systems change, such as car donation or loan program
Circle Leader Training: is a class required for potential Circle® Leaders which assists in understanding economic class issues and provides a structure to develop a plan to improve resources
Guiding Coalition: is a diverse group that designs the initiative, implements Circles® and assures the model is a high impact strategy that changes the mindset of the community
High Impact Strategy: is a strategy that 1) Changes the mindset of the community to want to and think it can end poverty, 2) Changes policy and law of the system, and 3) Empowers people to self-organize
Lead Organization: puts in place the fiscal systems and staffing needed to operate Circles®
Poverty (in financial terms): is the inability to pay for basic needs of food, shelter, healthcare, transportation, clothing and childcare
Poverty (in other terms): is a lack of all kinds of resources, not only financial, but physical and medical, mental, intellectual, emotional, occupational, environmental, and spiritual resources
Poverty Simulation: is a role-play scenario, helping participants simulate and experience the frustration of living in poverty
Weekly Meetings: are meetings for Circles® members with a meal and childcare to provide support and networking for each other