The document describes how the Circles program works to help families out of poverty. It establishes a lead organization to set up the program and build a leadership team. Potential Circle Leaders are interviewed and trained over 15 weeks to develop financial and networking skills. They are then matched with Allies who also receive training. Circles are formed with the Circle Leader, Allies, and support staff to help families achieve economic stability goals. The program aims to empower families in poverty and transform the community through understanding issues and building leadership within the target neighborhoods. Next steps outlined include piloting the program in Dothan and recruiting volunteers.

4. How Circles® Works
Overview

5. Establish Lead Organization
One organization assumes responsibility to set
up Circles:
1. Holds Circles® introductory and Orientation
sessions
2. Assures there is enough community interest
to pursue this new approach
3. Establishes an initial leadership team

6. Build a Guiding Coalition
Teams are set up in this order:
1. Resources—functions as leadership team and
raises initial funds
2. Recruitment—enrolls families and allies
3. Community—builds the programming
4. Economic Stability—supports individual plans
5. Big View—resolves the system-wide barriers

7. Enroll Circle Leaders
• Interview potential Circle Leaders
• Make selection of 15 for the first class
• Hold an Orientation to go over the
requirements and formally enroll people

8. Provide Circle Leader Training
15-week class provides following tools:
How to set and achieve realistic goals
How to make a major life change
How to make a financial plan out of poverty
How to work with Allies to accelerate your plan

10. The Circle Leader Training Outcomes
Graduates have:
• Long-term financial plan with clear and
measurable goals
• Skills to network with middle and upper-
income allies
• A new community of peers and weekly
meetings for support to reach goals

12. Match Allies to Circle Leaders
Allies attend:
• 90-minute Orientation
• 5-6 week Fundamentals Class
• Matched with a Circle Leader

13. Circles Formed
• Graduates of the Circle Leader Training
matched with Allies
• Circle Leader sets monthly meeting with his or
her new Allies
• Weekly support meetings offered to both
Circle Leaders and Allies
• Staff and volunteer organizers monitor Circles
and provide additional support as needed

15. What makes CIRCLES different ???
• Led by the family in poverty
• Transforms us – not just the
disadvantaged
• Processes are designed to
produce transformation in the
community, too
• Addresses systemic issues

19. Pond Mental Model
Teach to
Fish
Betterment
Give a Fish
of Pond
Individual
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Community
Maintenance of Understanding
the Watershed the Pond
Owning
the Pond

20. Pond Mental Model
• Many churches have outreach programming that addresses #1 – Give a Fish
– Food pantries
– Clothing closets
– Emergency Relief Funds
– Others???
• Some churches have outreach programming that addresses #2 – Teach to fish
– Job readiness programs – resume, interviewing
– Mentoring programs
– Computer skills programs
– Others???
• Fewer churches have outreach programming that addresses #3 – Betterment of
the Pond
– Community beautification project with persons from the community
– Working with families to implement programming in their community
– Community Gardens
– Others?

21. Pond Mental Model
Very few churches get to the “community” side of the pond – understanding their
community, helping members of the community to build ownership and maintaining the
broader community.
Understanding the Pond
– Intentionally building relationships with persons in the target neighborhood through joining the
Circles Initiative and studying the Bridges Out of Poverty
– Community listening to better understand the resources that are present, the improvements desired
and the passion of the residents to enact change
– A new paradigm from doing “to and for” to doing “with”
Owning the Pond
– Asset development
• home ownership
• small business development within the community
• Neighborhood associations that govern the community
– Leadership roles – elected officials
• School boards
• Non-profit board
• Church Trustees
Maintaining the Watershed/Sustaining the Ecosystem
• Strategic development and planning at the policy level that allows for neighborhoods to thrive
• Policy level involvement

22. What’s next for Circles of
Transformation?
• Pilot Launch in Dothan
• Develop Community Interest
• Host Community Meetings
• Recruit 100 + Volunteers

23. Fred and Laurel Blackwell
circles@awfumc.org
www.awfumc.org/circles
334.524.3652
www.facebook.com/
CirclesofTransformation