Circles Allies

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What is Circles?

Circles is an effective poverty reduction initiative that revolves around building intentional relationships across income lines. Almost 80 communities in the United States and Canada use Circles because the results are so encouraging. After 18 months, participants achieve an average 71% increase in their income. Circles participants are called Circle Leaders because they lead themselves out of poverty. Each Circle Leader is matched with two Allies, middle- and upper-income volunteers who help Circle Leaders use their unique gifts and skills to reach their personal and financial goals. Social capital is often the missing link between short-term relief and long-term stability. Many who live in poverty are hardworking and motivated, so when two Allies join them, advice is offered, social networks are shared, and the obstacles that keep people in poverty start to disappear.

What is a Circles Ally?

A Circles Ally is a person who volunteers to assist a Circle Leader in achieving his or her goals to leave poverty behind. Allies and Circle Leaders have an intentional friendship within the matched Circle.

The Circle Ally commitment:

• 6-10 hours per month spent with Circles (Wednesday evenings from 6pm to 8pm) and your Circle Leader
• A minimum 18-month commitment to the Circle
• Attend the Matched Circles Meeting(s) and another meeting that works with your schedule
• A phone call, e-mail, or text to your Circle Leader weekly

Support the Circle Ally receives:

• Introduction/Orientation to Circles and Ally Training Sessions online and in person
• Ally peer-to-peer support sessions
• Collaboration with others in your Circle - you are not alone
• Circles Staff, to answer questions and provide guidance

Be sensitive of differences across class and cultural lines:

• Find ways to introduce yourself that emphasizes who you are, not what you do
• Be yourself and come as you are to the weekly meeting, just as the Circle Leaders do
• Don’t expect Circle Leaders to approach the Weekly Meetings the way you might at work
• Look for low-cost or no-cost options for outings with your Circle, with consideration to
  transportation and location
• When you have strong feelings about the Circle Leader family, be willing to look at how your own feelings or rules are being activated and talk to someone about it - another Ally, the Circle Leader, or the Circles staff