Nurturing reciprocal relationships
that transform Ashland, Virginia.
About Circles®
An innovative, community-based approach to dealing with poverty.
Circles® USA is the result of more than 20 years of research and the development of leadership tools for communities by Move the Mountain Leadership Center. We believe that responsibility for both poverty and prosperity rests not only in the hands of individuals but also with societies, institutions, organizations, and communities. We also believe that Ashland and Hanover County have an abundance of people, resources, and hope sufficient to make real change through reciprocal relationships in our community—all that is missing are strong bridges between these parts.
We build those bridges by nurturing intentional friendships, providing education opportunities, and advocating for change.
Our approach is a progressive model grounded in research that shows families must have strong social capital and connections (relationships and resources) with their communities in order to improve their economic situation and overall quality of life in their neighborhoods.
The Circles model has been implemented by many well-known organizations such as United Way, Goodwill, The United Methodist Church, Lutheran Social Services, Community Action Partnerships, Catholic Charities, and Chambers of Commerce. It has also been adapted by community colleges, housing corporations, workforce development centers, human service systems, community neighborhood centers, and hospitals.
Guiding Principles:
We believe that we are in a reciprocal relationship with one another, and our community is strengthened and enriched by our connections.
We believe people have the capacity to change their circumstances through relationships that foster goals and measurable progress.
We believe we intentionally create and nurture a community of care that results in life-long friendships.
We believe that through the power of community, we turn “I can’t” into “I can.”
Intentional Friendships:
The heart of our program is the Matched Circle, an intentional long-term friendship between a Circle Leader (a motivated person experiencing poverty) and two Allies (financially stable persons leveraging their social capital to support the goals of their Circle Leaders).
From this Circle, and as a result of our weekly fellowship dinners, other relationships ripple: among Leaders, Allies, volunteers, and children, and between Matched Circles, organizational partnerships, and throughout the community.
Educational Opportunities:
At our weekly meetings after dinner, Circle Leaders meet with their Allies, learn new skills, or connect with resources that will help them achieve their goals related to getting out of poverty. Circles volunteers learn about the realities of poverty through monthly meetings, workshops, and other educational events, and share that knowledge with the greater Ashland and Hanover County community, including local government, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and faith communities.
Advocacy:
Once we’ve identified systemic barriers to overcoming poverty, we advocate for changes in policies, procedures, and structures at the local, state, and national levels.
