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Personal Survey (Personal-Ally/Participant Survey)

Circles of Support Snapshot (monthly-Group Meeting Summary)

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Circles of Support
what are circles
who makes a circle
how circles work
what it takes
become an ally
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“Building a new community within an existing community”

- A community engagement model that works towards increasing community education and the building of intentional reciprocal relationships across class and race lines.

The Circles of Support project is an education-based program that is designed to erase the impact of isolation that accompanies poverty. By intentionally building relationships with disregard for class, race, age and gender lines, Circles of Support strives to break down the typical stereotypes that are associated with poverty and redefine what it means to be “poor.”

This program was modeled after the Beyond Welfare Program of Ames, Iowa a spin-off of the Move the Mountain Leadership Center. After seeing the positive effect the Beyond Welfare Program had in Ames, Community Action Duluth launched a similar pilot project in 2004 called Community Voices of Duluth. After a successful first year, program manager Sonia Bonilla launched Circles of Support in 2005, embracing the philosophy of empowering people to end poverty.

Circles of Support are not a way for the community to “take care of” the poor. Instead, they link community members from all classes, races, ages, genders and walks of life together to support individuals or families who want to make a positive change in their life.

Circles of Support strives to bring Duluth citizens together in a safe and supportive way in order to:

The emphasis of each Circle of Support is to build strong relationships, break down the misinformation people have about one another and make it possible for people having a difficult time to gather enough money, meaning and friends around them to thrive.

We all deserve:

Financial solvency - “Money”
Having enough money to live without having to choose one necessity over the other; like health coverage over utilities or utilities over food.

Educational development - “Meaning”
Having a good sense "purpose" in our lives of self and the ability to incorporate that sense of self into the many roles a we play in our lives like husband, wife, mother, father, employer, employee.

Community involvement - “Friends”
Building friendships and relationships that offer both encouragement and support.

A Circle of Support consists of two or three volunteers called Allies that are matched with either an individual or family who is living in poverty, the Participants.

Allies
An ally can be anyone, with any level of resources, who want to share their time, talents and support to program participants. After completing a mandatory Ally Training Track, allies team up with other allies to form a Circle of Support with a participant.

Participants
A Participant can be an individual or a family who has made the decision to take the necessary steps to move out of the isolation that is created by poverty. To be considered a Participant, the person(s) needs to go through official intake process and need to meet the necessary program requirements. Participants must complete a Participant Training Track to complete the enrollment process.

What are the Roles of Circle of Support Participants and Allies?
Allies and Participants learn from each other and enrich each other’s lives as equal members of a team.

Circles of Support teams come together several times a month, creating opportunities for individual Circles, support for Allies and leadership meetings for the entire community.

Community Leadership Meetings

Participant leaders and Allies meet on the third Thursday of each month from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Peace Church, to create networking opportunities, offer support and encouragement, share Circles experiences and learn about each others journey out of poverty. A meal and childcare are provided.  Transportation is available upon request.

Ally Support Group Meetings

Allies meet on the first Monday of every month from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Community Action Duluth, to support, encourage and network with each other's. These meetings allow Allies to talk candidly about their roles and how to be more effective.

Participant Support Group Meeting

Participants meet on the first Thursday of every month from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Community Action Duluth, to support, encourage, and network with each other. These meetings allow participants to share ideas how they can give back to the community, creating social equity where all can benefit. 

Circle Meetings

Once a month, Participants and their Allies come together to discuss goals, brainstorm strategies to overcome existing personal barriers and set realistic goals that can be achieved before the next meeting. The Circle belongs to Allies and Participants, and each take on their own personality. They share their direction and progress through a “snapshot” evaluation. 

Circle Coach

A coach is someone who guides each circle during its infancy and then lets it go to become its own independent circle. Coaches remain a part of the Circle remotely offering resources to provide ongoing support, information and any necessary referrals.

Poverty is often narrowly defined as a lack of money, but, having enough meaning in a persons life and significant relationships offers stability. Circles of Support come together to help people who are living in poverty overcome their daily obstacles and give them the necessary tools to not only overcome poverty, but how to stay out of it as well.

The move starts with each Participant who decides they are ready to change their lives. Together, Participants and allies form a trusting relationship and learn from each other’s life experiences. Allies get a new perspective of the true meaning of poverty while Participants gain the knowledge they need to empower themselves to make the necessary changes in their lives

The process to becoming an Ally is really quite simple. First, you participate in an informal Intake process with someone from the Circles of Support staff to learn more about the program and your role as an Ally. After attending a formal Orientation program and completing the Training Track, you’ll meet with a recruiter who will help you examine your goals and reasons for volunteering for this program. This allows you to learn more about yourself and what you can give to participants and gives the recruiter the framework for a good Circle match.

We ask you to commit to a minimum of six hours a month for a period of 18 months. This 18-month period gives each Circle a chance to meet, to learn about one another and to slowly form honest, trusting relationships. Oftentimes, participants struggle with the decision to join the program, so we ask that once you make the decision you remain committed to your Circle. Every day, every week and every month, you have the opportunity to help make a positive change in someone else’s life.

Allies must be 18 years of age or older.

What Else Can I Do?

There are many other opportunities for volunteers to get involved with Circles of Support—from tutoring children during meetings and assisting with food preparation, to helping with financial planning and offering specialized expertise. We are in need of people who have a genuine desire to impact the lives of low-income citizens in our community. Everyone can help.

If you would like to help Circles of Support, but can’t commit to the time period, you can still make a difference by making a tax-deductible contribution to Circles of Support. You can sponsor individual families through the Good Neighbor Fund, which provides money to families who experience situational financial hardships. Please make your check payable to Community Action Duluth-Circles of Support.

If you would like to contact your state and federal legislators to register your concern about the number of people not meeting their basic household living needs in this country, contact information can be found on this site; click on our Of Interest link.

Who Do I Contact for More Information?

To find out more on the program’s Mission and Vision please contact the Guiding Coalition members by e-mailing GC@communityactionduluth.org. The Guiding Coalition is an advisory committee for the program that consist of Allies, Family Participants and staff.

To find out more about becoming an Ally/Volunteer, arrange a presentation for your group or church, become a strategic business ally, or offer a financial contribution to Circles of Support contact Ally/Volunteer Coordinator Xavier “X” Bell  by calling 218-726-1665, ext. 15 or e-mailing xavier@communityactionduluth.org

To find out information regarding our meetings, meals, childcare and transportation, please contact Kate Wigren, Circles F.E.A. at 218-726-1665 ext. 10 or e-mail her at katewigren@communityactionduluth.org

If you are currently enrolled in the Minnesota Investment Family Program and would like to know how to enroll as a Family Participant, please contact your Employment Counselor for a referral.

If you currently do not wish to be part of a formal Circles of Support but would like to learn more, feel free to attend our Community Leadership Team meetings.

Circles Partners

Click here to check out Zach "Jungle Boy" Walters' Website. Zach is a friend of the agency.

Interested in Finding Out More?
www.beyondwelfare.org
www.movethemountain.org

www.affirmativeoptions.org (information on low-income Minnesota residents)

Our Poverty Quiz

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