The Learning Curve Chronicles: The Power of Community
- Kris Alexander
- Nov 20
- 4 min read
In this monthly blog series, Circles USA Chief Learning Officer Kris Alexander shares insights on her learning journey, sources of inspiration, and what excites her about her work. The column offers a behind-the-scenes perspective on the learning curve that drives growth and progress at CUSA as we continually deepen and enhance our mission of building community to end poverty.
A few weeks ago in Ogden, Utah, we held our biannual Leadership Conference for the Circles community of practice and our partners. It was my first time attending, and the experience was truly incredible. I met so many amazing people, finally got to hug those I’d only known through a Zoom screen, and spent time in conversation (sometimes deep, sometimes delightfully silly) with extraordinary humans who work tirelessly to make our world and our country better every single day.
I left inspired, energized, deeply connected, and feeling profoundly loved, valued, and blessed. The experience really got me thinking about the power of community, especially in the work of poverty alleviation.
There’s a sweet comic by Foxes in Love (@green_fox_blue_fox on Insta) that says, “Animals learn their most vital skill first. Hours old foal can run, a newly hatched snake can bite. What do babies do? Babies cry. Your most important survival skill is asking for help.”
This message, wrapped in the simplicity of a comic, is truly profound. Our society has long taught the myth of rugged individualism, and in doing so, we’ve forgotten that humans were never meant to live in isolation. We are communal beings who thrive together. In fact, community isn’t just essential for thriving…it’s essential for survival.
Building community is Circles USA’s superpower. We recognize that community is not only vital for thriving and surviving, but also the antidote to the root causes of poverty: isolation and oppression. In community, we can support one another, ask for help, and use our strengths for the good of all, while allowing others to use their strengths to balance our own limitations. No one person (or even one family) can do it all. We need each other.
In her keynote, Jomaris DeJesús spoke about the myth of self-sufficiency. None of us got to where we are on our own. The people who grow our food, build our roads, care for us when we’re sick, and hand us our morning coffee have all contributed to our success. Self-sufficiency is a lie. Even at the roots of the myth—when colonizers spread west across America, they were supported by Indigenous peoples, by the animals and those who came before who created the paths, and by nature herself, providing food and resources.
The truth is that when people claim self-sufficiency, what they really mean is self-fulfillment. They’ve had the opportunity, ability, and resources to create a life they love—one where they’re thriving and living their personal definition of success. This is what we nurture in our Circles communities. We’re not trying to make people self-sufficient, because no such thing exists. Instead, we’re working to ensure that everyone—no matter their identity, background, or economic status—has the opportunity to become self-fulfilled. And community is an essential part of that fulfillment.
This is my personal story—a journey from poverty to where I am today. I didn’t get here by pulling myself up by my bootstraps, but by being surrounded by incredible people who offered support and resources that made my ability to thrive possible. Yes, I’ve worked hard; but many of the opportunities, access points, and accomplishments I’ve had were made possible through the generosity of others: the couple at my church who let me store my things in their garage when I was between apartments; Medicaid and WIC, which helped care for my son when he was small; friends who let me cry on their shoulders; and the boss who gave me her “hand-me-down” clothes (which I’m still convinced she bought new just for me and pretended otherwise) so that she could justify hiring me as a young single mom who didn’t look the part of a receptionist to the CEO. The list goes on and on.
Community is essential to leaving poverty behind for good—and community is exactly what we do at Circles USA. On the final night of the leadership conference, I had the privilege of attending Circles Salt Lake’s weekly meeting, where I met so many amazing people all working together to support one another and uplift their community. In fact, I had the honor of buying a child’s Halloween costume—something others did for me more than once when my son was little. One of my favorite things about Circles is that there’s no hierarchy. When you walk into a Circles chapter, you can’t tell who’s a Circle Leader, a volunteer, an Ally, or a staff member. Everyone pitches in, connects, and supports one another. It’s a true microcosm of what we’re striving to create across our nation: all individuals living in equitable, thriving communities where poverty no longer exists.
Looking for more inspiration to fuel community and end poverty in our lifetime? Visit circlesusa.org to hear incredible first-voice stories from Circle Leaders, or learn how to start a Circles chapter where you live!
Circles USA’s in-house podcast The Big View: Ending Poverty in Your Community is a fun and functional tool for addressing benefits cliffs (and other obstacles to economic growth)—wherever you are, no matter your resources. Check out S2: The Big View Mindset on Apple, YouTube, or Spotify today.
Read more from Kris on her monthly Circles USA blog, The Learning Curve Chronicles:
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