Building Bridges

Circles Track

Building Bridges is a  high impact strategy program for addressing poverty. By combining tw0 designs from across the United States,  Aha! Process, Inc. and Move The Mountain , community volunteers have an opportunity to get involved by participating in one of  three tracks :

2. Circles ™ Track:

 

The Circles ™ Track provides weekly meetings for Circle Leaders and volunteers who become Allies. Each Circle is made up of a Circle Leader and 3 to 5  Circle Allies.  Circles are developed for bridging social capital between people in poverty and those in middle class and wealth.

· Circles - An individual (Circle Leader)  working to get out of poverty by building relationships with 3 to 5 allies who offer encouragement and support in their ongoing efforts to develop emotional, intellectual,  and financial resources necessary for self-sufficiency and stability.

· Circle Leader - Individuals who have completed the Getting Ahead Track and have agreed to be a part of a Circle for a minimum of 18 months. The Circle Leader is responsible for leading, receiving, and giving support within the Circle. The Circle Leader works with Allies on their life plan outlined during the Getting Ahead Track.

· Circle Ally - Volunteers engaged in an intentional, befriending relationship with an individual (Circle Leader)  or family working to become self-sufficient. Allies work with their Circle Leader in accomplishing his or her plan for self-sufficiency. The first Thursday of every month, Circle Leaders and Allies come together for a Circle Meeting. Weekly meetings are held from 6:30—8:30 pm. Circle Allies  are also encourage to attend the Big View Meeting, third Thursday of every month, to address systemic issues Circle Leaders face while moving out of poverty to 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 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.

· Weekly Meetings - Weekly meetings for the Circles™ Track are held every Thursday from 6:30—8:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church and offers a wide range of educational information, group discussions, and group activities. The first Thursday of every month is designated for Circles meeting (Circle Leaders and their Allies) and the third Thursday of every month for a Big View meeting which is open to the general public. Circle Meetings  offer an opportunity for Circle Leaders and Allies to meet on a monthly basis for planning, accountability, encouragement and networking.  The monthly Big View Meeting brings Circles together for sharing, problem-solving and learning about systematic issues facing the Community surrounding poverty.