Addie Hartnett Written by Addie Hartnett Circles USA National Coach Each May, communities across the United States observe Mental Health Awareness Month: a time to reflect, learn, and take action around emotional well-being. First established in 1949 by Mental Health America, this observance has grown from a small educational effort into a nationwide movement. What began as a week has evolved into a full month of advocacy, storytelling, and community-building. At Circles USA, we are focused year-round on supporting our communities in making these life-changing connections to support the mental health of Circle Leaders, their families and the communities they call home. Our hope is that this article supports your efforts to support your own mental health and that of those around you. The theme for Mental Health Awareness Month 2026, “More Good Days Together,” invites a simple but powerful question: what does a good day look like for you, and for the people around you? It’s a reminder that mental health isn’t just an individual concern. It’s something we build, protect, and sustain collectively. Organizations like Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) continue to lead this effort, offering toolkits, resources, and campaigns centered on connection. NAMI’s message this year is especially resonant: “Stigma grows in silence. Healing begins in community.” That shift, from silence to connection, is at the heart of this month and the heart of Circles. Mental health hasn’t always been discussed as openly as it is today. For decades, it lived in the shadows, wrapped in stigma, fear, and misunderstanding. Conversations were avoided, struggles were minimized, and support systems were limited or inaccessible. This reality persists in many communities today. According to the American Psychological Association in 2025, about 84% of adults in the US agree that the term ‘mental illness still carries with it a stigma. This notion is further illustrated in that about 35% of US adults' view of someone would change if they knew they had a mental illness. The silver lining is that now we have more language, more awareness, and more willingness to engage. In Circles, we’re moving toward education, expanded access to care, and created spaces where people can share their hardships and triumphs without immediate judgment. But progress doesn’t mean the work is finished. It just means we now have a few more tools to support our work. My Experience: Why This Matters For me, the message of this month is deeply personal. Growing up, I observed most of the adults around me treat any major emotional need, especially my own and those within our family, with skepticism, and, in many cases, those needs were dismissed altogether. It wasn’t something openly discussed or taken seriously. As a kid my struggles were often brushed aside, even ridiculed. The idea of seeking help carried a stigma that felt impossible to overcome. Struggling in silence seemed to be the norm. Later, when I was studying to become a social worker, I was privileged to understand the importance of mental health in a professional sense. It was something to support in others; clients, communities, systems. But the stigma I inherited in my early years made it feel abstract, almost distant. I had this imperceivable block that prevented me from seeing any of my own needs. It didn’t feel personal. It didn’t feel like something that applied to me. Looking back, I realize that, as a society, we were still defining mental health quite narrowly. It seemed as if the only moments that we should be concerned about our own mental health was in a severe crisis. And that I couldn’t possibly experience a crisis. A mental health crisis was reserved only for “other people”. I had to learn vulnerability to ask for help, to be the “other people” who were allowed to be in crisis. I couldn’t be the one showing up to help others anymore. That perspective shifted dramatically after I experienced a major community tragedy: the Pulse nightclub shooting. Pulse was one of the few spaces in my community that felt supportive of my queer identity. It was a place that celebrated this aspect of myself in a world that historically attempted to erase it. After years of community leaders twisting sacred texts to convince me and my community to change, I had finally found a place where I could simply exist; unaltered, unapologetic. And while I wasn’t physically there in the night club that night, many of my friends and others I knew were not so fortunate. This space that showed me that it was okay to be authentically me was horrifically compromised when a hateful person unloaded rounds and rounds of vitriol into the precious bodies of my community, my loved ones, my safe spaces. This experience pulled my sense of safety out from underneath me. I came face-to-face with a profound and debilitating sense of loss. All the stigma, shame and silence I learned in childhood broke open. I was in need of a level of care that I couldn’t give myself. In this time, I had to learn vulnerability to ask for help, to be the “other people” who were allowed to be in crisis. I couldn’t be the one showing up to help others anymore. That moment made something clear: we can’t support others without also tending to ourselves. Working in helping professions—or even just being an engaged, empathetic community member—requires an outlet. Without appropriate outlets, the weight accumulates. After struggling with my own attempts to numb and escape the pain of this wildly complex and tragic experience, I was able to let my guard down, access free therapy thanks to the millions of dollars donated toward our community's recovery, and start practicing yoga and meditation. It was our local Circles community that surrounded me with the unwavering support needed to make the bold choice to seek help. It was our local Circles community that surrounded me with the unwavering support needed to make the bold choice to seek help. Self-Maintenance vs. Self-Care When we talk about outlets for our mental health, we often jump straight to “self-care.” But there’s an important distinction to make. The foundation of self-care is something I like to call self-maintenance. It’s about stability, meeting the basic needs that allow our minds and bodies to function. These include hydration, nutrition, sleep, shelter, hygiene, safety, and a sense of belonging. These are more like prerequisites for mental and emotional well-being. These aren’t luxuries. But for folks experiencing poverty it can be difficult to piece together the resources to maintain all of these. Circles builds community around Circle Leaders so they don’t have to manage their self-maintenance on their own. When this foundation is set, Circle Leaders have more bandwidth to focus on the next level: self-care. And that's true for all of us. Self-care is more flexible and personal. It involves both activities you add to your life that bring restoration or joy, as well as boundaries you set to protect your time and energy. For me, self-care means nature, therapy, journaling, and yoga. For others, it could be time with friends, creative expression, or simply learning to say “no”. The key is intentionality; choosing what supports you, and removing what consistently drains you. But here’s the challenge: we’re living in a high-cost, fast-paced environment where everything feels urgent. Many people feel like they’re constantly choosing between caring for others and caring for themselves. That’s not sustainable. This is where the community care that Circles provides comes in. Community care seeks to expand the responsibility of support beyond the individual. And for those of us in helping professions like Circles, we have to move past our identity as “helper” and ask: how does my community show up for me in meaningful, consistent ways? Does that question sound selfish to you? Take it as an invitation to be a bit more selfish; to seek out a community who doesn’t only rely on us for support, but also reaches out to care for us too. Mutual aid, a system where people share resources, skills, and support directly within their communities, can teach us a lot about what this kind of community care can do. Our first thoughts on mutual aid may center around material needs like food, money, or housing. Allow that definition to expand to include psychosocial and emotional support: Checking in on a friend Offering a listening ear Sharing experiences to reduce isolation Creating spaces like Circles where people feel seen and understood When we build networks of care, we reduce the pressure on any one individual to “do it all” alone. Turning Awareness into Action Mental Health Awareness Month isn’t just about reflection, it’s about action. The habits we build in May can shape how we show up for ourselves and others throughout the year. So what’s your next step? Start small, but start intentionally. 1. Create a self-care plan. Not something aspirational but something realistic. What do you need daily, weekly, and monthly to feel grounded? What boundaries need to be set? 2. Identify your self-maintenance gaps. Are you getting enough rest? Eating regularly? Feeling safe and connected? Addressing these basics can make a significant difference. 3. Engage in community care. Who are your people? How can you both give and receive support? Is there a mutual aid effort you can join or start? 4. Share your story. Silence reinforces stigma. Connection dismantles it. You don’t have to share everything, but even small moments of honesty can open doors for others. 5. Advocate for change. Whether it’s in your workplace, school, or local community, push for policies and practices that support mental health like accessible care, fair workloads, and inclusive environments. More Good Days, Together A “good day” doesn’t have to mean perfect. It might simply mean manageable. Connected. Safe. Hopeful. And those days are easier to come by when we’re not navigating life in isolation. Finding or starting a Circles community may be just the medicine we need. Mental health awareness has come a long way! From silence and stigma to education and hope. But the next step isn’t just awareness. It’s integration. It’s making mental health part of how we live, work, and relate to one another every day. This month, consider what a good day looks like for you. Then ask: how can we create more of those days, together? More from on mental health from Circles USA: Circles, Mental Health, and Poverty: 7 Facts Building Community to End Poverty for 25+ Years Make an impact across the nation with a gift to Circles USA.

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. Imagine With Me: It’s Circles® night. You are headed to a chapter’s weekly meeting for the first time. Pulling into the parking lot in your Mercedes, you notice that the cars around you range from 20+ year Toyotas and Hondas to brand new Hyundais and Lexuses and everything in between. You naturally begin to assume who drives which vehicles, identifying the older cars as Circle Leaders’ and the newer, high-end models as Allies’ and volunteers’. Dinner at Circles Ashland You enter the meeting space and are immediately greeted by a pleasant man who helps you get a nametag and invites you to get some dinner, served by a church group. You look around at all the tables of people chatting with one another, unsure where to sit. Where do volunteers go? Who are the Circle Leaders and who are the Allies? There seems to be no rhyme or reason to who is sitting with whom, and it is confusing. A woman notices you standing there and calls you over, “We have a seat right here!” Relieved, you take a seat and introduce yourself, telling everyone that you are thinking about becoming a volunteer. They respond with their names, but they don’t tell you their roles in Circles. Because no one said that you were in the wrong group, you assume you must be at a table of volunteers and Allies. You relax slightly and begin to eat... Our Neurobiology Our brains love to categorize. We want to know who goes where, who we fit in with, what to expect, and where we belong. These categorizations are designed to simplify a complex world, save mental energy, and predict behavior. But the problem is we really can’t know someone just by knowing one or two aspects of their identity. When we try, what we end up doing is stereotyping other people based on the assumed behaviors and traits of the whole, missing out on incredible opportunities for connection because of our need to simplify. This tendency is incredibly damaging. The Problem With Stereotyping There are many myths about poverty and income class that well-intentioned individuals inadvertently spread and believe. For example, “all people experiencing poverty wear dirty clothes and don’t take care of their personal hygiene.” This stereotype, which equates “poor” with “unclean” is not only wrong, but it does a lot of harm. It means that factors such as mental health, unsafe home situations, or lack of access to utilities or hygiene products are often overlooked, perpetuating systems of neglect and marginalization. Discrimination isn’t always readily apparent, but avoiding someone because we believe they “choose” to live this way is still an action based in prejudice. Plus, I know plenty of middle- and upper-income folks who struggle with the day-to-day chores of tidiness! Another damaging stereotype about those in poverty is that “they” are “lazy” and “choose to stay where they are” economically so they don’t have to work. The reality is that most people in poverty work one—sometimes two or three—jobs trying to make ends meet. Overwhelmingly, the people receiving government assistance who don’t work are children, elderly folks, and those with disabilities. This bias impacts our interactions with others by assuming anyone who doesn’t work during “typical” work hours (Monday-Friday, 8-5) are lazy, or maybe that the drive-thru worker who yawns while telling you your total doesn’t care about customer service, rather than the understandable exhaustion that comes with struggling to make ends meet. Erasing Barriers When we try to categorize individuals in Circles by their economic status or income level, we are reducing them to the stereotypes we have been taught and continue to carry about poverty and wealth. This is exactly what Circles seeks to erase. We bring people together across lines of difference to end poverty. And you know what makes that goal easier? Removing the barriers we have built over the lines and shifting them into an opportunity to meet one another as humans, breaking bread together and connecting. Back to Our Imaginary Scenario: You finish eating with your new Circles chapter. You have spent the entire dinner laughing along with them, buoyed by the antics of one lady who could absolutely have a career as a comedian. You relate to everything she said about parenting, having two children yourself. As you laugh and joke with the group, you notice there was another person sitting at your table who was silent the entire meal, barely eating their dinner, and quietly giggling to themselves at some of the funnier jokes. They seem overwhelmed, like they don’t quite fit in. You wonder if maybe they are a Circle Leader who accidentally sat at the wrong table. After the announcements, the Trainer invites the current cohort of Circle Leader trainees to a separate room to continue training. You are shocked when several of the individuals you were sitting with join them, including the budding comedian. You are also surprised that the quiet individual you noticed didn’t leave. When there are only a couple people left at your table, they lean over to you and whisper, “It’s my first time too. I am really shy and everyone seemed like they knew each other so well.” This admission unlocks something in you, and you look around, realizing that every single individual in Circles has a full and vibrant life that you want to be a part of, if only once a week. Circles Ally Training You are excited to come back and get to spend more time with the community. You had no idea you could relate so well to people unlike you, not only those in poverty but also those who aren’t comfortable in new situations. You have always assumed that you wouldn’t be able to relate to people vastly different from you, and haven’t made pursuing relationships outside of your social and political class a priority. Your stereotypes about who Circle Leaders are versus staff and volunteers simply didn’t hold up when you were in a situation where you got to know individuals on a human level. This realization immediately begins to break down the narrative you think and tell around poverty. You commit to volunteering at Circles, realizing there is much more you have to learn from everyone there. Building Community Where All Can Belong Circles is ending poverty by building community. Not a community solely of like-minded people who have everything in common, but rather a community where anyone can belong. Where everyone comes together with a shared vision: a world where poverty no longer exists. When everyone in the room has the same purpose, many of the barriers and lines that keep people divided fall away. None of those things that seem so important outside of Circles matter nearly as much. Identities like political affiliation, religious beliefs, income levels, careers, neighborhoods, age, race, sexuality, gender, ability/disability don’t disappear; however, they begin to fade into the background as we come together as humanity in community. This doesn’t suggest that Circles chapters are mini-utopias in the midst of society. Differences mean that there will be discomfort, disagreements, and even conflicts. The stereotypes, assumptions, and biases don’t immediately disappear when we are working together toward a common vision. We all have hard work to do individually and collectively to ensure those who are marginalized and oppressed can belong safely. However, the transformational relationships that Circles chapters cultivate create a framework where it is easier to find common ground, learn from one another, and move past disagreements and conflicts. The power of community supports our choice of relationship and vision over argument and discord. At Our Imaginary Circles Meeting At the end of the night, you go out to your car and call your spouse. As you are telling them about your evening, you notice a person who went with the Circle Leader cohort get into a Lexus, and the shy new volunteer walks over to one of the older model Toyotas. Shaking your head, you realize that your stereotyping began even before you entered the meeting. When you receive an email the next morning from a Circles staff member asking what you thought and if you would like to return, you immediately say yes. You aren’t sure what your role will be, but you know there is a place for you in the community and you are excited for your kids to make new friends and dispel these myths and stereotypes before they even form. Belonging at Circles® Our one common identity, human, is your ticket into Circles. Even individuals not in a place to be an Ally or Circle Leader are welcome as volunteers; there are so many opportunities for service that anyone can find their place. In fact, being human may not even need to be an identifying factor. At Circles Jackson County, NC, Calli the dog is an integral member of the chapter, beloved by all. It may feel uncomfortable or just a little weird to come into a space that seems like it should be segregated by group—Circle Leaders, Allies, staff, volunteers—and isn’t. But really, this commitment to cross lines of difference and create transformational relationships is the best part of Circles, the part that keeps folks coming back, and what will truly be the end of poverty for all. Read more from Kris on her monthly Circles USA blog, The Learning Curve Chronicles: Dignity-First Language Responsibility Bootstraps, Benefits, and Wealth Building Choosing Community in a Consumer Culture Dedicated The Power of Community Tiny Privileges Introducing Camp Kaleidoscope The Healing Power of Social Capital Healing the System, Healing Myself The Serviceberry as a Blueprint for Community Embracing the Both/And The Science of Relationships Youth, Varying Exceptionalities, & Poverty Building Community to End Poverty for 25+ Years Make an impact across the nation with a gift to Circles USA.

At Circles, we know that leadership is more than a natural talent or a paid professional role. It’s the cumulative process of weaving each setback and success we meet into a consistent, goal-focused practice that benefits the whole collective. The more deeply we root our identity in service to our families, chapters, and communities, the more we distinguish ourselves as leaders within these groups striving to move from surviving to thriving. The first volume of Circles USA’s Leadership Development Spotlight series spotlighted graduated Circle Leaders who have stepped into challenging service roles at the chapter, regional, and even national levels. Throughout this year, we’ll introduce you to inspiring Allies and volunteers, past and present, in chapters nationwide who exemplify our shared mission of building community to end poverty. Michelle Crawford, Executive Director of Circles Salt Lake Please share your name, where you’re based, and your past and current roles with Circles. My name is Michelle Crawford and I’m based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Over the years, I’ve served Circles Salt Lake in several roles, including Resource Team volunteer, Ally, and Board Member. Today, I serve as Executive Director of Circles Salt Lake and as a Western Region Coach for Circles USA. How did you become involved with Circles? I first became involved with Circles in 2017. Kelli Parker, Program Manager for Circles Salt Lake and a classmate of mine from junior high and high school, invited me to volunteer on a Resource Team. At the time, I was working in mortgage lending, so I was able to support Circle Leaders with credit repair and homeownership planning. I was also a single mother of three with a growing career at a startup, and I did not feel like I had much extra time to give. Even so, I was quickly drawn to the long-term commitment of Circles, the relationship-based model, and the way it combines personal transformation with systems change. Kristie Thomas (Circle Leader), Trevion Thomas (Kristie's son) and Michelle celebrate Kristie's work promotion in 2022 What have you learned in your time as an Ally or volunteer, and how has your relationship with your Circle Leader(s) changed your perspectives on poverty? One of the most important things I’ve learned through Circles is that every person’s journey is deeply individual. Because I was raised by a single parent in poverty, I thought I understood what families were facing and what they needed. I came into the Ally role believing I could lean on my own lived experience and make a meaningful difference in the life of my Circle Leader and her young son. What I learned, though, is that while there are shared barriers, no two experiences with poverty are exactly the same. That lesson has stayed with me, and it continues to shape how I lead. At the same time, Circles deepened my understanding of the systemic barriers that make progress harder than it should be for families working toward stability. Learning about the benefits cliff had a lasting impact on me. It became a passion of mine to help others understand it, to elevate the conversation around it, and to work toward solutions that better support families as they move forward. What I learned is that while there are shared barriers, no two experiences with poverty are exactly the same. That lesson has stayed with me, and it continues to shape how I lead. Kristie and her Matched Circle at the 2019 Circle Builder Humanitarian Award Dinner (L to R: Tara Rollins, Ally; Kristie Thomas, Circle Leader; Michelle Crawford, Ally; Lisa Dame, Ally) What would you say to a newer Ally/volunteer who is doubting themselves or their ability to help their Circle Leader(s) move out of poverty? To a newer Ally or volunteer who is doubting themselves, I would say this: be a friend. That’s it. I learned that lesson the hard way, and after talking with other Allies, I realized I was not alone. Many of us felt a sense of responsibility for whether our Circle Leader succeeded. But that weight is not ours to carry. As people who are not currently experiencing poverty, we are often looking through a very different lens. That can make us more optimistic about solutions or quicker to see what seems possible, but it does not make us responsible for fixing someone else’s life. The role of an Ally is not to be a case manager or coach. There is staff for that. The role is to show up consistently, build a real relationship, walk alongside someone on a different path, and offer perspective, encouragement, and connection. Sometimes the most meaningful thing we can do is simply be present. Read the other installments in our Leadership Development Spotlight series: Cody Martenesen: Circle Leader to Chapter Coordinator | Circles Utah and Heber Valley Sarah Haworth: Circle Leader to Executive Director | Circles Reno County Susan D Richards: Circle Leader to Board Chair | Circles Ashland Cheyenne Hurt: Circle Leader to Member Care Coach/Interim Director | Circles Indianapolis Rebecca Price: Circle Leader to Coach | Circles Davis County Building Community to End Poverty in 25 States Make an impact across the nation with a gift to Circles USA.

A burning question many business, nonprofit, and agency leaders face is how to balance all the demands of a productive workflow with everyday reality. How do we serve the client well, produce results, and meet deadlines while also knowing that life happens, things take more time than we usually plan, and we want to give our best to the cause and the people whom we serve? A burning question many business, nonprofit, and agency leaders face is how to balance all the demands of a productive workflow with everyday reality. How do we serve the client well, produce results, and meet deadlines while also knowing that life happens, things take more time than we usually plan, and we want to give our best to the cause and the people whom we serve? At a recent Circles USA team meeting, we engaged in an open discussion of this salient issue. How can we continue to offer high quality care (for one another, our families, and our community of practice) in a timely and cost-effective way, while also living by our Circles values?  First and foremost is permission to be human: understanding that “life is lifeing," that sometimes we can only do so much. And yet, we also want to make progress with our upgrades, stay responsive to communications, and accomplish our multi-year strategic goals. I definitely feel torn at times, as an Executive Director, on when to push and when to allow What Is. Where is the sweet spot in balancing the time it takes to make something high quality vs getting the product out the door? How do we support our staff and contractors at national, regional, and chapter levels to give their best and work sustainably? What came forth from our discussion was 8 powerful tips on how to fight perfectionism and false urgency while still, at the end of the day, offering quality service to our community members. Incorporate preventative means in planning a project. Tasks and projects almost always take more time than we, precious humans, think they will take. Double the time you allot; if it ends up happening sooner, then you have the bonus of found time. Create checkpoints inside larger projects. As each checkpoint in the larger project approaches, consider if the time frame is realistic or not. Recalibrate estimated completion dates and/or the amount of assistance you may need.  Support open communication with your team. Speak up! We have to be courageous in sparking uncomfortable conversations as life happens. Perhaps we need more help or more time, or we just don’t know the answers. A safe environment to openly discuss what’s on our plates helps alleviate the pressure of looming deadlines and self-guided tasks. At Circles, we encourage you to ask for what you need, express how you’re feeling, and communicate the details with your team. We can’t fix it if we don’t know it’s broken. Don’t just hide it or stuff it. That’s bound to create extra pressure that will blow up later. It may take some practice to rewire how we were raised not to speak up, but it’s essential to having a healthy team and a sustainable work environment.  Lean into your team. Within that healthy team who can communicate openly, we know it’s all right to ask for help. This is the power of community, and that applies at work as well. We are happy in the national office to step up when one of our teammates needs support. “Wearing many hats” is an opportunity for us to release rigid ideas about roles on our team. Many workers (including those of us at Circles USA!) are "multi-hyphenates," bringing untapped skills and experience to seemingly unrelated roles. Rather than reduce workers to narrow job titles, we invite team members to bring their whole selves to the table—maximizing our collective skill sets and encouraging creative problem-solving, especially when a teammate needs support. Shift your priorities. If there really are more tasks on your plate than are humanly possible, it is important to prioritize and focus. Recognize that goals can change over time, so hold those priorities gently and communicate with your team as things shift.  Take personal responsibility for how you’re using your time. A bit of self-reflection here goes a long way: What helps you to produce high quality work? When are you most productive? How are you showing up as a professional? How are you leveraging your time in relation to who you are? Are you creating unnecessary pressure for yourself, stuffing too much into your work time? Understand your own strengths and weaknesses. Be realistic about your skills and where you need support. Don’t agonize over a PowerPoint that your teammate could overhaul in no time at all. What is your zone of genius? What isn’t your strong suit? Schedule unscheduled time. This is a BIG one. We need open space—not only to respond to emails or items that just come up, but also to have time to THINK, read, learn, contemplate, and percolate. Blocking off time and (for real!) leaving it unscheduled is not as easy as it sounds. But it is a game-changer in alleviating the relentless pressure we can feel at work.   Some exceptions, of course… What happens when you have a hard deadline—especially due to funding? Well, that’s where priorities come into play. A fast-approaching deadline will push other tasks into the back seat for a while. That’s a good time to lean into the team. Ask them to pick up tasks that may have been pushed aside. If that’s not an option because your employees, volunteers, or champions are also at capacity, then asking the funder for a deadline extension may be possible if you have a relationship with them. It pays to be proactive rather than waiting till you’re down to the wire: You can outline a more realistic time frame well in advance of the original deadline, maintaining a positive funding relationship and keeping your word to yourself, your team, and your stakeholders. If you don’t have a team to lean into when the going gets tough, then you may need to scale back your commitments or offerings. What is realistic for one leader to do? What is too much? Is it possible to dump it, delegate it, or do it differently*? What would balance look like for you? What would it feel like? What are the physical, emotional, and financial benefits of finding that balance? What would make you SHINE? As a former school teacher working 60 hours a week, raising two kids, and engaging actively in our church and community, I learned the hard way that I cannot do it all. I’ve been paring down my commitments and my expectations these last eight years of working at Circles. It’s taken me a while to find my balance, but I’m so grateful to have unplugged from the toxic levels of work that society promotes as my self-worth. And, by committing to less, I not only experience more work-life balance; I actually work better and enjoy my life more.  One awareness that defines Circles USA is that the balance I describe above is a privilege many workers don't have. They can't simply unplug or reprioritize “work-life.” Only living-wage jobs, health insurance, and social capital afford that freedom. All the more reason, then, to expand access to dignified, equitable work for all. This means that Circles USA weaves a balanced work-life orientation into our policy and training at every level. As part of our chapter coaching, we sometimes find ourselves shifting from Circles model and implementation strategies into more general coaching about healthy nonprofits and work-life balance for chapter staff. We do this because, from our national office to our local chapters, Circles USA is committed to modeling a philosophy of employment that leads to a more sustainable life—one that balances urgency and our humanity.  *from The Renegade Pastor’s Guide to Time Management by Nelson Searcy Subscribe to Circles USA's Poverty Perspectives on Substack: Leadership perspectives on ending poverty, growing social capital, and building a healthier nonprofit community of practice from Executive Director, Rev. Kamatara. Building Community to End Poverty for 25+ Years Make an impact across the nation with a gift to Circles USA.

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.   Happy spring! I, for one, am so excited to see the flowers popping up and buds beginning to open on trees here in the South. We’ve finally opened our windows to let some fresh air in! I hope y’all are all able to take some time to enjoy this beautiful time of year and feel renewed after winter. Circles USA has a fundamental assumption that we take into everything we do, from the national level to our work with chapters, volunteers, and the public. Everyone  is capable, creative, resourceful, and whole. This assumption means that we approach everyone we come into contact with, regardless of identity or situation, as a human being. By doing this, we ensure we aren’t fixing, rescuing, or even mentoring. We don’t know more than the other person. We aren’t better than the other person. And we most certainly don’t bring one-size-fits-all fixes for the other person. Everyone is an expert in their own life. Lately I have been thinking a lot about dignity-first (or person-first) language. This is something we discuss in our Virtual Immersive Training for Circles staff, and we apply it across the Circles Community of Practice.  Dignity-first language, at its heart, ensures that any individual—regardless of what may be going on in their life—is honored first as a human being. After they are recognized as a person, then their situation is framed as just that: a situation they have agency to change rather than an inherent characteristic. For example, instead of “a poor person” we say “a person experiencing poverty.” This way, the individual is not defined by a single aspect of their life, but rather respected independently of their financial circumstances—which in turn empowers them to transcend those circumstances.  The reality is, a lot of the language we use has its roots in racist, sexist, classist or ableist oppressive myths. And these myths create stereotypes (e.g., "welfare queen", "illegal", “trailer trash”, “drug abuser”) that are weaponized to dehumanize and deny access to whole communities.  Using person-first language calls for care and intention in the way we discuss those around us. It is an ever-evolving process. No matter how much we work to implement this practice, there will always be more to learn because communities are continually negotiating how we self-identify and relate to one another.  Recently, I had an awesome discussion with Ashley Herndon, a Certified Addition/Drug Clinician. She works directly with people who use substances and/or have a substance use disorder. As soon as she shared her title with me, I recalled that in Virtual Immersive Training, we talk about substance use as “problematic substance use.” I asked her if our language was out of date, and  she explained that “problematic substance use” is indeed the correct language; and is different from a "substance use disorder". In short, problematic substance use  is anytime using a substance begins to affect a person’s daily life. However, it doesn't become a substance use disorder  until the person is addicted and unable to stop on their own.  Her example was extremely pertinent to our work in poverty alleviation. She shared that unhoused individuals—person-first language for “homeless”—will sometimes use substances like alcohol and drugs to numb the pain they are experiencing. However, once they are housed, they often stop the use naturally, because the substance use was a coping mechanism, not an addiction. It is only if the traumatic experience has improved and they are healing, but aren’t able to stop using the substance, that it becomes a disorder. She went on to explain that even people who use substances we generally consider incredibly harmful (like fentanyl, meth, or heroin) are not necessarily addicted.  This understanding was a huge shift for me. While I knew that alcohol and drug use by people who are unhoused is often to numb the pain of their situation, I didn’t realize that people can, essentially, use any drug recreationally. There is no drug, dosage, or situation that automatically implies a disorder. Nor does a disorder define a person’s entire character. This flies in the face of many stereotypes and myths about houselessness, drug use, and addiction still prevalent in our society. Some of the most common myths I have experienced include: “Most unhoused people are addicted to drugs”; “Unhoused individuals using drugs choose not to get help”; “Everyone experiencing houselessness and drug use are the same”; and “Assistance just enables them to use”. All of these myths are not only false, but dangerous. Perpetuating them as a community affects public policy, funding, people’s access to support and recovery, and how we treat people we encounter whom we judge as “homeless”, “drug-addicted”, or both. This stigma is harmful and counterproductive to Circles USA’s mission of building community to end poverty—a goal we can only reach in collaboration with capable, creative, resourceful, and whole human beings, not stereotypes Circles USA is dedicated to changing narratives about poverty, and narratives are language-based. Using person-first language ensures that the narratives we tell are rooted in the inherent dignity and worth of all people—one of our top five values . This is also why we invite Circle Leaders to tell their own stories. When Circle Leaders publish, speak, and share their lived experiences of overcoming poverty through Lives Transformed testimonials, interviews, keynote addresses, appeals to elected officials, and more, we are ensuring that our foundational assumption— everyone  is capable, creative, resourceful, and whole—is also the narrative we share. I strove to use dignity-first language in my work with people with autism and other special needs in my first career, and continue to do so today. Yet my conversation with Ashley reminded me that I still have so much to learn and that language, and the ways we use it to humanize or dehumanize people, is ever-evolving. I want to leave you with some examples of shifting our language to person-first. What terms do you use and which are new to you? How do you practice dignity-first language? Outdated Language Person/Dignity-First Language The poor/poor person/white trash/ghetto Person experiencing poverty Welfare queen Person receiving public assistance Low/lower class Low-income Addict/junkie/alcoholic/user/abuser/doper Person with a substance use disorder/Person who uses substances Sex change Gender confirmation/transition Sexual preference/choice Sexual orientation Obese/Overweight/Morbidly obese Higher-weight/larger-bodied/fat (non-judgmental) Illegal alien/illegal immigrant/illegal Undocumented immigrant/person Third-world country Developing country/Global South Non-white Person of the Global Majority Normal brain Neurotypical brain Criminal/convict/ex-con/felon Person with a criminal history/formerly incarcerated person Broken home Single-parent household Illegitimate child Child born outside marriage High-functioning/low-functioning Autistic person with [specific support needs] Read more from Kris on her monthly Circles USA blog, The Learning Curve Chronicles : Responsibility Bootstraps, Benefits, and Wealth Building Choosing Community in a Consumer Culture Dedicated The Power of Community Tiny Privileges Introducing Camp Kaleidoscope The Healing Power of Social Capital Healing the System, Healing Myself The Serviceberry as a Blueprint for Community Embracing the Both/And The Science of Relationships Youth, Varying Exceptionalities, & Poverty Building Community to End Poverty in 25 States Make an impact across the nation with a gift to Circles USA .

Circles USA’s Executive Director, Kamatara, joined national allies and peer orgs in March for the 2026 Disrupting Poverty Conference  at Boston University, hosted by   Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath) . The conference—geared to EMPath’s mission of building a learning network for practitioners and professionals working to promote economic mobility in their own communities—drew hundreds of nonprofit, philanthropy, government, and academic leaders to Boston for four days of impactful learning, networking, and change. Disrupting Poverty  began with two days of public content and concluded with two more featuring exclusive programming for members of EMPath's global learning network, the Economic Mobility Exchange™. The convening, aptly themed Rise Together , offered keynotes and panels with distinguished speakers, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities. Conference speakers  included leaders from Circles USA, MDRC, Jobs for the Future, Harvard University, Methodist Healthcare Ministries, and more. “Organizations in the national anti-poverty arena have really turned a corner,” Kamatara reports. “We’re no longer combative and competitive. Instead, groups like EMPath and Circles are building collective power to help our networks access greater resources and collective action. Our collaboration is an important form of social capital…it gives our people hope to be part of a rising movement to end poverty.” "Our collaboration is an important form of social capital…it gives our people hope to be part of a rising movement to end poverty." EMPath's  2026 Disrupting Poverty Conference at Boston University EMPath and Circles USA are partners in  Beyond the Cliff (BtC) , the recently launched Cliff Effect coalition. Kamatara connected with Dr. Jennifer Lowe, EMPath’s Vice President of Knowledge and Partnerships , at BtC’s Hill Day last October in Washington, DC. When a seat opened up at the Circles Salon , Kamatara knew that Dr. Lowe was a “must-have” for this dynamic first-time event—where Dr. Lowe did , she recalls, contribute crucial expertise in dialogue and community building.  “After that,” Kamatara continues, “Jen and I met quite a few times online to understand more deeply what our organizations do to foster economic mobility and how to collaborate. At first blush, that seems like a pretty normal progress; but what makes this very special to me is that EMPath could be considered our competition. However, that is just a scarcity mindset. So instead, we asked: How can we learn from one another? In what ways can Circles and EMPath offer joint advocacy to remove the barriers that keep people in poverty, to amplify the voices of our participants across the nation, and to consider how our two models might work together in a local community? Circles as an organization firmly believes that anti-poverty organizations can and should  work together.” "Circles as an organization firmly believes that anti-poverty organizations can and should  work together." Much like our local chapters build social capital in their own communities, Circles USA leadership has cultivated relationships with key cross-sector partners over time. One such opportunity arose from Kamatara’s partnership with Lynette Fields, Executive Director of Poverty Solutions Group  (lead organization for Circles Central Florida and longtime local and national Circles advocate). In October of 2024, Kamatara was invited—through Lynette’s longtime relationship with Emerge Solutions , which supports Getting Ahead and Bridges programming—to offer a breakout session at Emerge’s Together We Thrive   conference . This presentation reconnected Circles with Think Tank , Employer Resource Network USA , and (of course) Emerge Solutions… all of whom were instrumental to CUSA’s 2025 National Leadership Conference, where Lynette and Dan Jennings of Emerge presented a breakout session  on how chapters can work productively with other local anti-poverty initiatives. Kamatara's breakout session, Building Social Capital for Economic Mobility, explored explored the three kinds of relationships necessary for people to leave poverty behind permanently. To underscore coalition-building as the heart of Beyond the Cliff and the Circles Salon, Kamatara’s breakout session at the Disrupting Poverty conference addressed building social capital for economic mobility. This session explored the three kinds of relationships necessary for people to leave poverty behind permanently and also the social capital our service organizations need to truly support their clients. The room, she shares, “was overflowing with people…so much so that I’ve been asked to lead an encore virtual workshop for EMPath’s national community of practice. There’s social capital in action!” So what’s next in the national anti-poverty arena for Circles USA?  Kamatara will attend and present at the state convention for Minnesota Community Action  in late April. She will also present to the direct service providers of the American Public Human Services Association   in August, discussing social capital and co-presenting on the Cliff Effect with partner org Leap Fund ’s Executive Director Shoshana Marder. Later in 2026, Circles chapters will continue to partner with ThinkTank for their annual   At the Table  event. In October, Circles USA staff will share more on social capital, the Cliff Effect, and the Trauma of Money  at Emerge Solutions ’ latest   Together We Thrive   conference.  CUSA is preparing a joint webinar with EMPath  and Family Promise  to explore voting and nonpartisan civic engagement in 2026, Kamatara says, “so we can reach as many people as possible with clear information and the power to engage in the democratic process.” She adds: “What year would be complete without a visit to Washington DC…and at least one more well-placed and powerful Circles Salon? Stay tuned!” Circles USA offers heartfelt appreciation to our partner organizations who expand our resources and reach to do our work more effectively. Building Community to End Poverty for 25+ Years Make an impact across the nation with a gift to Circles USA .

Welcome to our 2025 Impact Report, Pathways of Hope . This year, we reflect on a tumultuous year of collective breakthroughs, renewed spirit, and deepening of our most important personal and professional relationships. Pathways of Hope  offers vibrant multimedia content including: An embracing video letter from Executive Director Kamatara , who introduces us to the year’s theme with an uplifting message of fostering hope in challenging times; Infographics showing Circles USA’s most recent economic outcomes , which show our Circle Leaders making “leaps and bounds” in critical areas like employment and education, moving in their communities from surviving to thriving; Highlights from the 2025 National Leadership Conference  in Ogden, Utah, featuring our most dynamic VIP speakers ever, a host of expert breakouts, our first-ever Cliff Effect Day, and keynote addresses  from four courageous and audacious Lives Transformed  honorees ; Reports on national staffing, systems, and curriculum updates  to better serve chapters—including big news about our Big View Policy Platform  language and National Big View Team initiatives; Key partnership updates , including Beyond the Cliff : a first-of-its-kind national coalition focused on eliminating benefits cliffs;  Dispatches from important conferences and convenings  like our inaugural Circles Salon  and Beyond the Cliff’s Hill Day  in Washington, DC…and much, much more. As always, we send deepest love and appreciations to the Circles USA national community of practice: the many staff, Allies and volunteers, champions, coaches, partners, and (of course!) Circle Leaders who have helped build community to end poverty for 25+ years. We hope you’ll enjoy the 2025 Impact Report, Pathways of Hope —and visit our  blog , our  Big View podcast , and our members portal at   www.circlesusa.org  for news and inspiration throughout the year. Building Community to End Poverty for 25+ Years Make an impact across the nation with a gift to Circles USA .

💡 Click here for the full job description & how to apply. ABOUT CIRCLES USA Circles USA is a national 501(c)3 committed to ending poverty by harnessing the power of community, connection, and social capital—one local chapter at a time. Founded in 1998, Circles supports a growing community of practice with 60+ local chapters in over 20 states. Our mission: Building community to end poverty through intentional friendships, personal transformation, and systemic change led by the people closest to the challenge.  Through Circles USA’s model, we facilitate deep transformation through a multi-generational, intersectional approach to community organizing and education. Our initiative layers economic mobility coaching, locally-rooted support systems, and grassroots civic engagement to realize our vision of a future where all individuals live in equitable, thriving communities where poverty no longer exists. Read more about us at https://www.circlesusa.org . ROLE OVERVIEW Circles USA is seeking an experienced and visionary Development Strategist to build and lead our fundraising during a pivotal season of growth. This is a part-time contract position with an ultimate goal to convert into permanent, full-time staff contingent on performance and revenue growth. You will design and execute a diversified development strategy that expands our funding portfolio across foundation and government grants, major donors, individual giving, and other aligned revenue opportunities. You will build upon our existing relationships, augment Circles USA’s strong case for support, and expand our national reputation to create the systems, partnerships, and momentum necessary for sustainable and predictable funding growth. The ideal candidate will also identify and cultivate their own connections to funders. Relationships are essential to accomplish our mission, so this position is more than just the numbers—it’s building community, too. While revenue growth matters, calibrating the engine that sustains development based on our core values  matters just as much. The Development Strategist must connect with local chapters and individuals with lived experience of poverty, so that our fundraising strategy and storytelling reflect their dignity, authenticity, and will to create real social impact. RESPONSIBILITIES Development Strategy Translate our existing case for support and strategic plan into a full fundraising strategy. Establish 12- and 24-month revenue targets across funding streams. Build a measurable development roadmap with clear performance indicators. Foundation & Grant Portfolio Expansion Identify, cultivate, and qualify Circles for new foundation prospects. Manage proposal development, submission calendars, and reporting cycles. Strengthen and expand existing family foundation relationships. Major Donor Development Partner closely with the Executive Director in donor cultivation and solicitation. Build and manage a structured major gifts pipeline. Develop multi-year funding opportunities where appropriate. Individual Giving Launch and optimize recurring giving strategies. Execute annual appeals and strengthen donor stewardship. Improve retention and long-term donor engagement. Systems & Infrastructure Implement and optimize CRM and prospect tracking systems. Establish a clear management process. Create dashboards for pipeline visibility and revenue forecasting. SUPPORT You will work in a collaborative leadership environment with: our highly engaged Executive Director; key board members with nonprofit leadership and fundraising experience; our communications team, which includes a copywriter-editor, marketing specialist, and graphic designer; our local chapters and community of practice who are the heart of our model. WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE  By the end of the first 12 months, you will have: Built a functioning development infrastructure. Significantly expanded our foundation and donor base and pipeline. Activated leadership and board engagement in fundraising. Secured new and expanded measurable funding commitments. Produced a forward-looking 24-month development growth plan. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Degree in communications, English, nonprofit management, public health, or related field  5+ years of professional experience in grant writing, proposal development, or related nonprofit development communications roles Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills with the ability to translate complex programs into compelling narratives Demonstrated experience managing multiple deadlines and projects simultaneously Strong understanding of fundraising best practices and the nonprofit funding landscape Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with donor databases  Skilled in foundation trends and research, budget development, and major donor cultivation Strong systems thinker with CRM and pipeline management experience IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE Builder mindset with demonstrated success scaling fundraising for growth-stage nonprofits Proven track record of securing foundation grants and major gifts, in human services, economic mobility, community development, or similar mission-driven sectors Possesses both a portable network of aligned funders and the relational skill to cultivate, solicit, and steward major gifts in a values-centered, relationship-driven environment Comfortable operating both strategically and tactically (i.e., able to design big-picture strategy while executing details of proposals, donor meetings, etc.)  Confident engaging with varying perspectives, from executive leadership and board members to diverse community members—especially those with lived experience of poverty Collaborative, organized, and attentive to detail, with the ability to maintain consistent messaging and brand integrity OTHER DETAILS This is a remote position requiring strong independent drive, project management skills, reliable high-speed internet, and appropriate equipment for video conferencing. Occasional travel may be requested to connect with local chapters. Approved travel expenses and hours will be covered and scheduled collaboratively. Contract position: hourly wages negotiable based on experience and local cost of living. As a contractor, you are responsible for applicable state taxes. Additional benefits and perks are available upon conversion to staff status. COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY Our goal is competitive and equitable compensation. We use a market-based approach, measuring against similar nonprofits. We pay consistently across roles and comply with all statutory requirements. HIRING WITH AN EQUITY LENS At Circles USA, building a supportive, high-performing team that reflects diverse lived experiences is essential to our mission. We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability status, genetics, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or any other protected characteristic. Research shows that women, people of color, and others from underrepresented communities tend not to apply for available positions unless they fully meet every qualification. Circles USA encourages all interested and experienced fundraisers to apply for this opportunity. Learn more about Circles USA on our website , YouTube channel , and podcast . TO APPLY: Send your cover letter and resume to kamatara@circlesusa.org   by April 30, 2026.

Kamatara, CUSA Executive Director Women’s History Month Reflection from Kamatara, Executive Director of Circles USA This Women’s History Month, I find myself thinking less about headlines and more about the women I meet every day through Circles, at the national office and across our local communities, from staff to volunteers, from Circle Leaders to board members. Women who carry more than their share. Women who get up before dawn, work full shifts, help with homework, stretch groceries, make impossible math work, and still show up for their children with love. Women who refuse to quit. The largest demographic Circles serves is single mothers. And the data tells a story that is as sobering as it is clarifying. In the United States, women experience poverty at higher rates than men. Worse yet, in 2024, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis reported “clear gender differences among single-parent households living below the poverty threshold.” In their FRED blog, the Fed wrote that single moms are twice as likely to experience poverty compared with single dads, adding that the discrepancy can be explained “by gender gaps in labor force participation rates, occupations and income, and sharing of childcare responsibilities.” [Source]  For BIPOC single mothers, those numbers are even higher: A 2023 Annie E. Casey Foundation study showed that the high­est U.S. rates of pover­ty “gen­er­al­ly occur for the youngest chil­dren — under age 5 — kids in sin­gle-moth­er fam­i­lies, chil­dren of col­or, and kids in immi­grant families.’ [Source ] But these are not abstract statistics. These are women navigating systems that often assume two incomes, two adults, and a margin of financial stability that many families simply do not have. Women carrying the full weight of financial provision and caregiving—without the cushion of a second income, without inherited wealth, and often without the societal advantages others may experience. Too often, they are judged without their full story being understood.  And yet, what strikes me most is not the hardship. It is the perseverance. At Circles, I see women who are building plans. Taking classes. Strengthening credit. Negotiating new jobs. Setting goals to leave poverty behind for good. Creating stability for their children that they themselves may never have experienced. When surrounded by community, by people who believe in them and stand beside them, single moms can take back authorship of their lives. And in doing so, they are building something larger than personal success. They are building sustainable futures for their families and communities. This year’s Women’s History Month theme , Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future , recognizes women who are investing in change—not only environmental, but economical and social as well. Sustainability, in its deepest sense, means building systems that can endure across generations. I see that work happening every day in Circles. It happens when a mother studies after her children are asleep so she can move into a career. It happens when she makes a budget and manages to put money—for the first time, perhaps—into an emergency fund. It happens when she builds social capital by reaching out to her neighbor about carpooling rides to daycare or to a coworker when she needs a reference for a life-changing job application. It happens when communities surround all parents, including single ones,with the relationships and support needed to thrive. These are quiet acts of leadership, but they are powerful ones. Inspired by the women of Circles, the past five years of my own life have also been about taking back ownership of my life. Like many women, I had internalized expectations to over-perform, to hold everything together, to need to justify [or apologize for] rest, and to be everything to everyone. During my recent sabbatical, I confronted how deeply those expectations had shaped me. I realized how often women are expected to sustain families, careers, and communities, while rarely being encouraged to sustain themselves. Coming through that season changed me. I learned that self-erasure is not perseverance. Strength does not require silence. And community is not a luxury—it is oxygen. The women of Circles across the country embody this truth every day. They are not defined by poverty or hardship. They are defined by courage, agency, and a fierce commitment to building better futures for their children. In many ways, they are doing the work of sustainability at its most fundamental level: strengthening families, stabilizing communities, and rewriting generational narratives. Women’s History Month often celebrates pioneers and public figures. This year, I want to honor another kind of history-making woman: The single mother who remembers to ask a neighbor or sibling for help when the weight of it all feels too heavy to carry alone. The mother who shows up to a parent-teacher conference after a long shift because her child’s education matters. The working mom who asks for the promotion, the training, or the opportunity—even when self-doubt whispers that she shouldn’t. The mother who lets her children see both her strength and her vulnerability. History is not only written in legislatures or boardrooms or big marches. It is written at kitchen tables and in community college classrooms, urgent care waiting rooms, and 12-step meetings. If we truly believe in thriving communities and lasting opportunity, then we must invest in the mothers already holding so much together while pouring constant care and service into their homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods. That might look like supporting legislation that gives more parents paid family medical leave, affordable childcare, or SNAP benefits. It might look like employers familiarizing themselves with how the Cliff Effect endangers single parent families; the many obstacles women face when returning to the workforce after raising kids; or just how far a single mom’s median annual income of $40,000 stretches at the grocery store [Source] .  At Circles, we support single mothers because we know that when women rise, families stabilize; and when families stabilize, communities grow stronger for generations. This month, I am grateful—for the women who came before us, for the women beside us, and especially for the women in Circles who remind me every day what dignity under pressure looks like. They are not backing down from the challenges of poverty or parenthood. They are building what comes next. And in their ongoing determination, they are helping shape a more sustainable future for us all. Building Community to End Poverty for 25+ Years Make an impact across the nation with a gift to Circles USA .

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.   In last month’s blogpost , I discussed barn raising—the third way between bootstraps and benefits—as a model that supports both communal and personal responsibility for ending poverty.  This month, I want to dive into the idea of responsibility. It’s one of those words that can get very messy very quickly, because it means something different to almost everyone. According to the Oxford dictionary , “responsibility” has over 10 meanings, some of which are: the state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone. to have a duty to work for or help someone who is in a position of authority over you. the state or fact of being accountable or to blame for something. the opportunity or ability to act independently and make decisions without authorization. a thing that one is required to do as part of a job, role, or legal obligation. a moral obligation to behave correctly toward or in respect of. So when we use the word “responsibility,” we could be talking about leading… or following. About blame for a negative outcome… or accountability for creating a positive one. About acting independently…. or collaborating in a group. It’s no wonder that the word ruffles feathers and carries different meanings for different people. This also means that when Circles USA and our national community of practice talk about bootstraps (personal responsibility), benefits (communal responsibility), and barnraising (both personal and communal responsibility) as the three primary belief systems around ending poverty, we are often using the same word to mean vastly different things.  Benefits, or communal responsibility, is often interpreted as responsibility for , or “the state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone. The argument quickly becomes: 'Individuals need to take personal responsibility for their life; it isn’t everyone else’s responsibility to take care of them.'  However, the meaning shifts when we understand communal responsibility as responsibility to  one another; or “a moral obligation to behave correctly toward or in respect of.” This understanding is closely aligned with Martin Luther King Jr.’s idea of a Beloved Community. In “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,”  he says, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”  Communal responsibility is not about controlling or “dealing” with someone, but rather recognizing our interconnectedness. We are creating communities together where we have a  mutual responsibility to come together in respect. Bootstraps, conversely, reflects “the opportunity or ability to act independently and make decisions without authorization.” This is the American Dream: the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  However, bootstraps also relates to “responsibility” through another definition, “to have a duty to work for or help someone who is in a position of authority over you.” This suggests that if we just work hard enough within the existing systems, even unjust ones, success will eventually follow for all. This meaning of bootstraps is also inherently paternalistic. It assumes that people in positions of power know what is best for everyone, with little regard for the individual needs and desires of others—especially those outside of the status quo. When we discuss barn raising, we are weaving together a more cohesive understanding of responsibility. Three of the many definitions are combined: “a moral obligation to behave correctly toward or in respect of”; “the state or fact of being accountable or to blame for something”; and  “the opportunity or ability to act independently and make decisions without authorization.”  We are not responsible for one another in a hierarchical sense, but we are responsible to one another as an interconnected community. When someone is unable to “act independently and make decisions for themselves” (a necessity to thrive) because of outside circumstances, we are accountable as a community to remove those barriers and uplift that individual. We all have a moral responsibility to “behave correctly toward or in respect of” one another. In doing so, we  all retain agency, dignity, and the ability to make choices that support our individual ability to thrive. All of this returns us to the way that Circles is building community to end poverty. We recognize that individuals and families have the power to take responsibility for their lives and upward mobility. At the same time, we also recognize that leaving poverty behind permanently doesn’t happen in isolation. So we build these incredible chapters and communities across lines of difference. We learn from, and with, one another. We hold one another and ourselves accountable. We recognize the dignity and worth of every person and practice respect. We raise our barns together. In this way, responsibility shifts from a hierarchical duty of control to a shared recognition of our web of mutuality, the single garment of destiny. When we come together in community to raise one family’s barn, the entire community benefits. And when the community benefits, so does each individual within it. Together, we are building community not only to end poverty, but to ensure that every  person has access to opportunities that support their ability to thrive. Read more from Kris on her monthly Circles USA blog, The Learning Curve Chronicles : Bootstraps, Benefits, and Wealth Building Choosing Community in a Consumer Culture Dedicated The Power of Community Tiny Privileges Introducing Camp Kaleidoscope The Healing Power of Social Capital Healing the System, Healing Myself The Serviceberry as a Blueprint for Community Embracing the Both/And The Science of Relationships Youth, Varying Exceptionalities, & Poverty Building Community to End Poverty for 25+ Years Make an impact across the nation with a gift to Circles USA .

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.   Let’s discuss bootstraps, benefits, and barn raising. I highly recommend you go watch our Executive Director’s keynote address at the 2025 CUSA Leadership Conference , because her talk on these themes is powerful. I’ve watched it about four times, and get something different each time.  As a quick refresher, “bootstraps” and “benefits” are the two primary camps that people tend to be in when it comes to the solution for poverty. Bootstraps focuses on personal responsibility: the individual or family needs to take control of their lives, as in “pull themselves up by their bootstraps.” Benefits, on the other hand, focuses on communal responsibility: working on policy and systems that provide support and safety nets to help people out of poverty. Scott Miller, founder of Circles USA, even co-wrote a book called   Bootstraps and Benefits  with conservative Denise Rhoades on the merits of both.  Circles recognizes that both personal and communal responsibility are necessary, and we call this third way “barnraising.” In her address, Kamatara describes the non-denominational process as “old-fashioned barn raising. A whole town coming together to help one family build what they need. There’s no hierarchy—just neighbors shoulder to shoulder, each giving what they can… When the barn is complete, everyone stands back with that deep sense of satisfaction that comes from shared effort. The family is stronger, but so is the town. The relationships forged in that work become the fabric of belonging.” I grew up solidly middle class, and I had an incredibly privileged childhood. When I was 15 my parents divorced, and our economic status changed to skirting the line between lower-middle class and poverty. Later, through most of my twenties and as a young single mom, I was in poverty. I skirted that same line long into my 30s. Even then, I was afforded many opportunities as a result of my middle class mindset and upbringing, as well as the friends I had through my faith community. In those years, I had a very harsh outlook on myself and others who were struggling financially. I was bootstraps through-and-through, and firmly believed that my poverty was my own fault. If I could only be better/smarter/stronger/more hardworking, I would get out of poverty. This was my judgment of others experiencing poverty as well. Then, I learned more about the systems in place in the United States and how they make upward mobility incredibly difficult. As my personal financial situation shifted due to my hard work, my privilege, a little bit of luck, and  a lot  of social capital, I also shifted to a benefits mindset. I recognized all the people and systems that were supporting me in my upward mobility.  Fannie Lou Hamer For many years I was almost 100% “benefits,” recognizing the many systemic barriers and the oppression that keep marginalized people in poverty. This mindset caused me to stop hustling to become personally wealthy, focusing instead on my basic needs and perhaps a little comfort. I felt that if we can’t all be wealthy and thriving together, I shouldn’t be on my own. As Civil Rights Activist Fannie Lou Hamer  said, “Nobody is free until everybody is free.” However, the fallacy of this pure-benefits mindset is that we can’t change systems from the outside in; we have to operate from the inside out.  CUSA Team When I joined Circles USA, I realized I needed to have a more open mindset about bootstraps. Circles USA, as a barnraising organization, recognizes the pros and cons of both sides and focuses on bringing people together across lines of difference. I need to be a person who is open to those who believe something different from myself. Yes, I need to practice what I preach and be curious rather than judgmental. As a result, I have shifted much closer to center, recognizing the merits of personal agency and the need for individuals to take control of their lives and mindset—while still understanding the systemic barriers that keep people in poverty. In Trauma of Money , the (amazing) program I went through last year to become a certified Trauma of Money facilitator, the focus was very much on benefits. The program recognizes all of the ways that these systems we are operating in (patriarchy, white supremacy, late stage capitalism, corporate greed) are keeping people in poverty and making upward mobility nearly impossible. They also teach about the trauma that these systems inflict on  everyone , regardless of economic status or personal identity.  The conclusion of Trauma of Money, after exploring systemic barriers and oppression, teaches that we need to become individually wealthy in order to operate within those systems, especially capitalism. This is radically different from the conclusion I came to personally. Trauma of Money suggests we can utilize our privilege and power for our personal upward mobility, uplifting everyone else in turn. This has been a pretty radical shift in mindset for me. I am now (trying to) look at my life through the lens of working to become wealthy, with the goal of making big changes in the systems. This is a new way of thinking, and a new way of showing up… And I have to admit, my success in this area is slow moving. I still feel indignant when people strongly advocate for bootstraps solutions without acknowledging the systemic barriers families experience. Twana Greene Cue Twana Greene entering my life. Twana is the Director of Circles Washtenaw County in Michigan, and she is incredible . She is personally building her wealth, which allows her to utilize more of her time, money, and extensive talents to uplift others through Circles. Basically, she is living what Trauma of Money teaches. We were meeting the other day, and she told me about her new Wealth-Building Book Club that she is hosting with her friends and family. I immediately inserted myself, asking if I could join. It was clear to me that she has a ton of knowledge that I could learn from her. She graciously accepted my intrusion, and I am now reading Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids about Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!  by Robert T Kiyosaki with the group. This book makes me so uncomfortable. He has a strong bootstraps mindset and often ignores the realities that people face. There are even times he seems to insist we should worry about getting ours first, and leave others to fend for themselves. He has some serious misconceptions about our responsibility to one another and our community. Those pitfalls aside, he is also a genius around money and growing wealth within capitalism. This book, combined with Twana’s knowledge and organization, (she created a shared document with takeaways and action steps for us for every chapter of the book.  Y’all, I cannot stress enough how amazing she is, and how lucky we are to have her at Circles) has taught me so much . We are only on chapter 3, and I can already feel my brain rewiring into a wealth mindset, building myself up as I build others up, and recognizing that my personal wealth brings communal wealth.  Twana is a beautiful example of this. Because she has created passive income for herself, she has more time and energy to devote to helping others. She is a philanthropist, supporting her community by funding projects and organizations that positively impact everyone around her. Another way personal wealth builds communal wealth is through buying local. Large corporations can often keep prices lower than small, local businesses, so when money is tight we tend to prioritize cost over community sustainability. When we have more disposable income, we can shop more intentionally. That choice not only puts money directly into our neighbors’ pockets, it also reduces the strain on resources that comes when goods travel long distances. And finally, wealth is closely correlated with health . As we grow wealth individually, our access to healthcare, nutritious food, rest, and preventative support expands. The healthier we are, the more capacity we have to show up for one another and for our community.  Reminding myself that my personal wealth strengthens collective wellbeing helps me feel grounded and aligned as I build financial literacy and expand my portfolio. The time and energy I invest becomes part of a larger cycle of good, increasing my ability to use whatever privilege I hold in service of those around me. No matter the framework, whether bootstraps, benefits, barnraising, or something else, there is one belief they tend to share: money is a tool . We choose how to use it. In our society, money translates into power, and access to money carries privilege. The more individuals with this access in our communities, the better off everyone will be. All of this leads me back to the importance of Circles. We are building communities to end poverty; and communities thrive best when they are well resourced, with plenty of opportunities and relationships to uplift everyone. It is yet another bonus of bringing people together across lines of difference. We not only have our Circle Leaders—those working to leave poverty behind—but we also have volunteers coming alongside them from all income levels. Allies and partners with resources are bringing their social capital  to Circles, and their personal wealth increases prosperity for all. We are changing the country: one person, one relationship, one community, and one system at a time. Read more from Kris on her monthly Circles USA blog, The Learning Curve Chronicles : Choosing Community in a Consumer Culture Dedicated The Power of Community Tiny Privileges Introducing Camp Kaleidoscope The Healing Power of Social Capital Healing the System, Healing Myself The Serviceberry as a Blueprint for Community Embracing the Both/And The Science of Relationships Youth, Varying Exceptionalities, & Poverty Building Community to End Poverty for 25+ Years Make an impact across the nation with a gift to Circles USA .

The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (or ASALH , the founders of Black History Month), have announced their 2026 theme: “A Century of Black History Commemorations.” Noting Black luminaries including Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson, George Cleveland Hall, William B. Hartgrove, Jesse E. Moorland, Alexander L. Jackson, and James E. Stamps, ASLAH writes: “This year, when we are also commemorating the 250th anniversary of United States independence, it is important to tell not only an inclusive history, but an accurate one.” They continue: We have never had more need to examine the role of Black History Month than we do when forces weary of democracy seek to use legislative means and book bans to excise Black history from America’s schools and public culture. Black history’s value is not its contribution to mainstream historical narratives, but its resonance in the lives of Black people. (Source: ASALH About the 2026 Black History Month ) Circles USA proudly joins ASALH’s celebration of Black history and culture in the US. We recognize that, due to centuries of systemic racial injustice, African Americans disproportionately experience debt; housing and food insecurity; and chronic, debilitating medical issues. Circles remains committed to centering the people and communities most impacted by poverty. To further that goal this February, several members of Circles USA leadership kindly shared their perspectives on Black economic advancement, the “American Dream,” and what Black history can teach us about building community to end poverty. Peyton McCoy Written by Peyton McCoy CUSA Board Member What a catastrophe! An overturned dumpster and a chicken truck lay limp across the I-95 expressway. So many chickens! Now a big, bad, bodacious back-up was building on the beltway. I couldn’t move forward and I couldn’t turn back. There was no exit, no offramp; the only way to progress was to inch forward in painfully lethargic increments, intermingled with occasional yard-long leaps and punctuated with chicken prayers. I had not anticipated the derailment, the dumpster, the delay or my feathered friends. Moreover, I had a deadline. How would I get back to my office, retrieve the grant proposal from my computer, write the presentation preamble, and make the pitch to the funder? There I sat, in a panic-driven, agitated state, registering somewhere between frazzled fuming and flummoxed resignation. Then: a revelation. I glanced at my phone and felt my spirit shift and my brain began to percolate. That’s it—the phone! I had everything I needed to complete the assignment right at my fingertips. All I had to do was get to work. After the ordeal was over, the proposal and preamble completed, the presentation presented, and the grant secured, I pondered the phone that enabled my rescue. I was curious. How many experts surrendered assumptions (and the status quo) to nudge this technological gadget into being? How many workers surrendered preconceived notions, that I might have a multiplicity of resources at my fingertips? How many egos had to be valet checked at the door to attain a common goal? How many unfounded and ungrounded opinions were graciously sidelined to pursue a vision initially beyond human conceptualization? And how many naysayers had attempted to prematurely pulverize the dream and disavow the dreamers?  The whole thing could have become just another link in the chain bearing a fancy name—“subjugated knowledges”—a term coined by French philosopher Michel Foucault. Subjugate means to suppress, submerge, sideline, step on, push down, press under, force back, dominate over, marginalize and malign. In other words, there are a whole set of knowledges and truths that have been dissed, dismissed, disqualified and falsely labeled deficient, devoid of substance, inadequate, insufficient, naïve, and located low down on the hierarchy of significance and importance because of where or who they come from .  Truths like Black History. Often, truth gets tripped and trapped, bruised and battered, butchered and bewildered. But practices that incite hate rather than help, harm rather than humility, humiliation rather than healing, potentially jeopardize and paralyze. Thankfully for both the iPhone and Black History Month, that’s not where the story ends. The journey is not a 50-yard dash; it’s a relay. And in this relay, individually and collectively, people have perpetually found it necessary to reimagine, reinvent, reposition, reframe, reconsider, and revamp in order to thrive and survive. Hence, we wear a collective necklace of interwoven experiences, adorned with unexpected joy and perfected by unfathomable pain, while on an incredible journey. Even if we magnify the technological miracle of an iPhone a thousand-fold, we could neither capture nor adequately convey the robust journey intrinsic to Black History Month. So, the journey continues. Time keeps on easing, twisting, gliding, shifting into the future through a succession of seasons. And sometimes, seasonal susceptibility to the seduction of faulty thinking threatens to eviscerate, estrange, and excommunicate destiny’s promise. Hence, seasons ripe with possibility can be temporarily sequestered in the cubicle of Stay in your place!  or crushed in the crucible of power. Nonetheless, time keeps on slipping, dipping, ripping into the future. It travels on the wake of change, cruises atop the Machiavellian mist of power, navigates pain’s corridors, meanders through devious nooks and crannies, ducks into ostensible dead ends, eventually evaporates into the ether, and recalibrates possibilities on its way to eternity. Fortuitously, again, and again, and again, time rides on the wings of faith. Yesterday’s journey evolves into this morning’s testimony; this morning’s testimony strengthens our resolve to soldier through tomorrow’s test; and tomorrow’s test is girdled in new mercies. Yesterday’s journey evolves into this morning’s testimony; this morning’s testimony strengthens our resolve to soldier through tomorrow’s test; and tomorrow’s test is girdled in new mercies. Time keeps on skipping, slipping, slithering through seasonal adjustments that produce experiences for which we need imagination; bold, bodacious pioneers; resilient institutions; change agents; reverent and revered leaders; courageous communities of faith; and political participants strong (and stable) enough to stand up and tell the truth, even in times when the truth seems inconvenient. Transforming wisdom stretches wide and drills deep into the essence of fortitude, rendering time ripe to benefit from the risk of telling the truth, the pure unadulterated truth, regardless of consequences or the season. Yes, time keeps on slipping, ticking, ripping. And it is relevant to remember that we are a bold collective with tremendous capacity and capability. We are a work-in-progress evolving through a journey down time’s corridors. Vulnerable to dominance, yet Teflon-protected by honeydipped immersion in syncopated, sanctified, ancient soul. As human beings, we are the gift of time’s creator and the paradox of grace: a creative product, yet a process in perpetual motion. We reverently remember that we are survivors who even survived periodic, vicious encounters with the marginalizing exploits of the domineering Tate family.  Long story short: the Tate family patriarch, Agitate , had an illicit affair with his outcast common law lover, Irritate , to which four unruly offspring were born: Cogitate  kept stirring up the wrong issues. Gravitate  continued to move closer to dangerous liaisons disguised as patriotic sympathizers. Potentate  made it his mission to run everybody else’s business since he couldn’t handle his own. And Hesitate  lacked the courage to stand up for anything; so he sat down in the stands as the villainous - isms  (racism, ageism, sexism, and all the rest) played their seasonal games. But a funny thing happened. Justice stood up and decided to keep on keeping on, aided by the bodacious bold and the beautiful. And a rainbow was awakened after a long-term sabbatical. Sensing this rainbow in the distance, people traveled towards it. They went through Back Door Drive by way of Backway Alley to reach Bypass Boulevard and avoid Weapons of Mass Distraction Drive and Dead-End Cul-de-Sac Circle. They curved around Nowhere Lane to emerge onto Made-a-Way Freeway, by way of Faith Street to bypass Doubt It Drive. Taking a right onto I Know That’s Right Highway, a detour to avoid Pit Fall and Pity Party Parkway, they entered Grand Thoroughfare Turnpike and cheered as they celebrated the grand journey of grand people. Grand people who, amid their reality, repeatedly sang their old songs with a new flava—their dirges, and their ditties, classicals, spirituals and jazz jubilees. They prayed prayers nightly to an ever-present Force; bended worn knees humbly to an unseen power that sang We shall not be, we shall not be moved . Like a tree that’s planted by the water, we shall not be moved. What, then, should we do when it feels like the journey takes us through the wilderness? Purpose is both the power and the glory intrinsic to an overcomer’s story. And in the midst of it all, the emergent immeasurable value and inherent genius of one's purpose is its ability to flip the script, re-appropriate the theme, and translate oppression that was meant to suppress, into a liberating story ordained to progress.  Purpose is both the power and the glory intrinsic to an overcomer’s story. “I have on my table a violin string,” said Rabindranath Tagore. “It is free to move in any direction I like. If I twist one end it responds, it is free. But it is not free to sing. So I take it and fix it into my violin. I bind it and when it is bound with purpose, it is free for the first time to sing.”   And just as the violin string comes alive when connected to the violin, we too come alive when we connect with purpose and community. Purpose is the great liberator that sets us free and opens our eyes to the inherent value that we hold in our hands and possess within. After all, that is the power and the glory of the Circles story! More from our Black History Month 2026 series: Reflecting on Harvey Gantt's Legacy | Guest Blog by CUSA Board Member Jennifer Brown Lessons in Black History: An Open Letter | Guest Blog by CUSA Board Member Van Green Building Community to End Poverty for 25+ Years Make an impact across the nation with a gift to Circles USA .