Calendar of Events

Circles of Support
what are circles
who makes a circle
how circles work
what it takes
become an ally
circles partners

Personal Survey (Personal-Ally/Participant Survey)

Circles of Support Snapshot (monthly-Group Meeting Summary)

Getting Ahead Duluth
FAIM IDA
HOPE VI IDA
Family Employment Advocacy

Tax Prep Service
Financial Education

“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.

Circles of Support - A Brief History

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.