The document presents information about the Circles Campaign, an initiative to end poverty in Clark County through building relationships across class and race lines. The key aspects of the Circles Campaign are that it (1) engages the community to provide informal supports to those in poverty, (2) addresses systemic barriers through community problem-solving, and (3) develops local leadership. Research shows combining formal services with social networks helps people move out of poverty. The campaign aims to change community mindsets from seeing poverty as normal to believing no one should live in poverty, and from focusing solely on individual responsibility to recognizing shared community and government obligations.
Presentation made by Cormac Russell ABCD Institute faculty memeber, and ABCD Global Consulting at University of Limerick. May 2009. visit: www.abcdglobal.ie email cormac@nurturedevelopment.ie
Presentation made by Cormac Russell ABCD Institute faculty memeber, and ABCD Global Consulting at University of Limerick. May 2009. visit: www.abcdglobal.ie email cormac@nurturedevelopment.ie
“Generation Connection” seminar hosted by the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties. National expert and keynote speaker Nancy Henkin and a panel of local nonprofit leaders explored the issue of Intergenerational Civic Engagement in depth.
Connecticut Civic Ambassadors are everyday people who care about and engage others in their communities by creating opportunities for civic participation that strengthens our state’s “Civic Health.” Civic Health is determined by how well diverse groups of residents work together and with government to solve public problems to strengthen their communities. Read more below on how you can be an agent of change in your own community by joining the team.
LCF mission: To improve the well being of Latinos in Washington State, especially those most in need, by supporting local organizations that improve the health, education, community and economic development of the Latino community
We invite you to join FAHC in its mission.
Join the fight against global poverty.
Help feed the hungry children one by one.
Help keep the smiles of the children going. Help raise funds for the children.
FAHC children need our help now more than ever.
Join the campaign!
“Generation Connection” seminar hosted by the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties. National expert and keynote speaker Nancy Henkin and a panel of local nonprofit leaders explored the issue of Intergenerational Civic Engagement in depth.
Connecticut Civic Ambassadors are everyday people who care about and engage others in their communities by creating opportunities for civic participation that strengthens our state’s “Civic Health.” Civic Health is determined by how well diverse groups of residents work together and with government to solve public problems to strengthen their communities. Read more below on how you can be an agent of change in your own community by joining the team.
LCF mission: To improve the well being of Latinos in Washington State, especially those most in need, by supporting local organizations that improve the health, education, community and economic development of the Latino community
We invite you to join FAHC in its mission.
Join the fight against global poverty.
Help feed the hungry children one by one.
Help keep the smiles of the children going. Help raise funds for the children.
FAHC children need our help now more than ever.
Join the campaign!
Unbreakable campaign: women and fragile statesDaniel Hale
Despite huge strides towards ending extreme poverty across the world, no ‘fragile state’ has achieved a single Millennium Development Goal. Fragile states are places of chronic poverty, and the most marginalised in these societies are often women. But these women can and should be the means fragile states have to construct a new future for themselves.
Progressio's new campaign calls for a bigger role for women in political, environmental and social decision-making in fragile states.
The digital campaign was initiated as part of the Nokia Care campaign launched by Syntax Communications (synergy Group's PR division)
The campaign is a creative digital activation initiated to spread awareness about the Nokia Care effort and to bring consumers closer to the spirit of giving back to society on the digital front.
Building Strong Neighborhoods for Families With ChildrenEveryday Democracy
A four-session discussion guide to help people make their neighborhoods better places for families with children by identifying challenges and opportunities, and working toward solutions.
TAKING ON POVERTY: CREATING IMPACT AND OPPORTUNITY WITH A COMMUNITY PARTNER O...Iowa Campus Compact
This session will explore how the Dubuque Circles Initiative has created deep, mutually
beneficial connections with colleges and universities to tackle poverty. Participants will
actively engage in exploring strengths and challenges of the Circles model, and explore
the benefits of incorporating similar approaches in their own communities.
Brad Cavanagh, Assistant Professor of Social Work at Loras College and Chair of
the Guiding Coalition for the Dubuque Circles Initiative, Andrea Helgager, Iowa
Campus Compact VISTA, Ann Mauss, Associate Professor Computing and Information
Technology, Ermina Soler, Circles Coach, Dubuque Circles Initiative, and Nancy Zachar
Fett, Associate Professor of Social Work
Diversity really affects all aspects an organization - not only its internal workings and the quality of its outputs, but also how successful it is at reaching its goals, targets, and serving its stakeholders. Yaziri Orrostieta (YO) explains the benefits of having a diverse group of volunteers, donors, and board members. She will share key tactics that are critical for your nonprofit to factor diversity into the organization.
A List Of The Best Community Outreach Strategies For You.pdfCallHub
Reach your community effectively with these community outreach strategies. Whether you are a nonprofit, advocacy or political campaign - we have the right solutions for you.
Pittsburgh Nonprofit Summit - Poverty in Southwest PA - A Strategy for Stoppi...GPNP
Natalie Branosky, Director of the Center for Economic & Social Inclusion highlighted the poverty situation in Southwest PA utilizing UK indicators and began the dialogue on a strategy to reverse the trend in the Pittsburgh region.
Newcastle on inclusion for children with disabilitiesCormac Russell
How do you build a bridge between children and young people who are labelled by their disabilities into the centre of community life? How do you build hospitable communities where such bridge building is common place? These are the questions we address in this presentation through the lens of Asset Based Community Development.
Social enterprise for afp conference session two finalJeff Stern
Par2 of a 2-part panel on social enterprise for the NC AFP Conference. This session focused on examples of social enterprise, specifically the work of TROSA (a nonprofit social enterprise) and The Redwoods Group (a for-profit social enterprise).
13. But It Takes More Than Individual Change Community Must Change Agencies Must Change Policy Must Change
14. To Ultimately End Poverty The Community’s Mindset Must Change Which changes the goals… And the rules… And the outcomes…
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18. Providing families with services that are NOT coordinated Family Service Systems Community of Friends, Neighbors, and Contacts
19. Providing families with coordinated services and enduring community relationships Circle Family Guiding Coalition Service Delivery System Case Manager Community Engagement Model Community of Friends, Neighbors, and Contacts
20. Feature 1: Getting Ahead 15-week self-sufficiency planning process Preparation for Circles Community Assessment on Poverty Problem solving at the community level
21. Feature Two: Bridges Out of Poverty Mental models for understanding poverty, middle class and wealth Hidden rules of class to improve relationships, resolve conflicts, and design effective approaches Common language for building relationships across class and race lines
22. Feature Three: Weekly Community Meetings Weekly meals with relevant community topics
23. Feature Four: Circles Monthly small group sessions with Circle leaders and Allies: building relationships & supporting Circle leader goals
24. Feature Five: Big View Meetings Monthly meetings dealing with eliminating barriers in the community
29. For More Information National Campaign www.movethemountain.org Think Tank, Inc. Karin VanZant, Executive Director [email_address] www.thinktank-inc.org (937) 727-9232
Editor's Notes
Welcome, thank you for inviting us to be your speaker this morning. I see many people in the audience who are good friends and many others who I know will be at the end of the coming year. My name is Karin VanZant, and I am the Executive Director for a local non-profit intermediary organization, Think Tank, Inc. Think Tank has been assisting non-profits in Clark County for three years now. We provide training, meeting facilitation, community convening and has the opportunity to stand back and look at a more macro-level at our community to ascertain the needs. It is through this vision or paradigm we have been asked to lead the Bridges Out of Poverty efforts and implement Circles in Clark County. Just a little history on the Bridges and Circles efforts….. OIC of Clark County was the first organization in the community to suggest that Bridges theories be the foundation for community improvements in the social service delivery systems. Through OIC’s leadership including Mike Calabrese, the Department of Job and Family Services was asked to become involved and to provide seed funding for training, certification of local trainers and establishing a leadership committee to assess the systemic impacts of poverty on the community. For two years OIC lead the charge in our community. There were 6 trainers certified, over 1500 people trained, including the police force and Springfield was asked to pilot a new curriculum to teach Bridges key concepts to low-income families. In 2006, OIC and DJFS asked Think Tank to intervene and take Bridges to the next level. At this time, there was a lot of talk and discussion about poverty issues, but there was little engagement of low-income families directly in the conversation. It was at the time that OIC, DJFS and Think Tank were introduced to Move the Mountain Leadership Center. The authors of Bridges has recently formed a national partnership with MTM and saw how the Circles Campaign could be added to Bridges Theory and really begin to address issues of poverty, build intentional relationships across class and race lines and build sustainable communities. This takes us to today…..
Big vision: Not reduce racism, reduce cancer. We seek not to tolerate, but end these things. Need to see poverty as intolerable.
The core belief of a Circles Community is that all people need the same things to thrive. They need the 3 r’s. Whether you are in generational poverty, middle-class or wealth – all people need something and have something to contribute.
1) Helping model usually about professional relationships (9-5), Circles comes alongside families & offers informal, supportive, reciprocal friendships. 2) Brings the whole community together across class & race lines, 3) Works to improve systems & eliminate community barriers & 4) About giving all citizens a voice & opportunity to develop leadership skills in order to contribute to the larger community.
Poverty is sometimes invisible for those who have not been directly impacted by it. Our community is made up of many different people with a wealth of resources who can partner with others to develop creative solutions to community challenges & individual needs. These things happen in the context of meaningful relationships.
National statistics
What is a Circle?
1) Planning Team: coordinates efforts of all work teams to ensure continuity & success; 2) Circles Team: identifies, engages & equips Circle leaders (individuals moving out of poverty) and allies (community members befriending & supporting Circle leaders); 3) Community Team: Provides logistical support & ensures success of weekly community meals, 4) Big View Team: works with larger community leadership to eliminate systems barriers & promote prosperity for all citizens and 3) Resources Team; develops needed funds & in-kind donations for Circles.
It takes social capital & education to build a bridge out of poverty. Social capital includes bonding capital (intimates & close friends that are supportive of ones goals in moving forward) and bridging capital (people in your life that can connect you with resources or their extended networks).
Bridges out of Poverty is a framework for understanding how differences in economic class impact behavior & communication. This 5 hour course creates a deeper understanding of poverty and builds a foundation for working together with people from different economic backgrounds to create opportunities for success. Getting Ahead is a workbook for individuals wanting to get ahead and move out of poverty. This workbook also includes the framework for understanding poverty, however, is designed in a way that allows the group to co-investigate poverty and the hidden rules of economic class and build plans for developing personal and community prosperity.
Community: mindset must change (explain in following slides), Agencies: work in coordinated fashion, be like-minded with the goal of ending poverty, ensure that structures support movement out of poverty, Policy: examples: more than getting people off public assistance, protection from practices that would exploit poor consumers (payday lending)
Big vision: We don’t say that we are going to reduce racism or reduce cancer. We seek not to tolerate, but end these things. Need to see poverty as intolerable.
Social service or government provides services on behalf of the community. Often times these services are uncoordinated. The families are still isolated from the community at large.
The family is central and creates their own plans to move out of poverty. A case manager connects families to the formal social service system, and to the (informal system) community at large for resources. A Circle of 2-5 allies befriend the family and engage in a relationship of mutual support. A guiding coalition serves as the leadership group to provide structure and resources to ensure that the process is working.
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