“Is my work making a big enough difference?” I’ve built a life around social justice work for the last 15 years, and this question has consistently challenged me. Burnout is a critical threat to people working exhaustive hours for dignity, security, and stability without seeing commensurate results. In the face of injustice, we must nurture belief in our ability to make positive change. When I was first trained as a community organizer, I learned the importance of building momentum through early wins. At Circles, participants use SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timebound) goals to make progress on their individual plan out of poverty. With a similar idea, Big View teams take actions–large and small–to address the systemic barriers that trap people in poverty.  In Part One , I described the conceptual framework of the Big View: a grassroots “task force” that empowers Circles chapters to pursue systemic change . Testimonials from Circles participants and volunteers revealed how Big View activities develop confidence toward self-advocacy and civic engagement. Plus, we shared a dialogue process that’s ready for use in your communities.  We Build Policy Platforms To inspire Circles chapters to think big, Circles USA published a poverty-reduction platform with policy recommendations at the local, state, and national levels. This platform, authored by Board Chair Joan Kuriansky, addresses six issues our chapters flagged as high priority: quality jobs, the “cliff effect,” broadband access, healthcare, housing, and transportation. Critically, the platform also lays out Circles USA’s commitment to addressing the structural biases that unjustly affect people of color and other historically marginalized communities.  Since publishing the policy platform, chapters have reported Big View milestones on additional topics. At the headquarters, we’re continuing to harvest learning from all of these efforts for the network’s benefit. We Tackle Issues  Here are some examples of issues being explored in the Circles network. Quality jobs — Circles Dorchester County, MD interviewed local manufacturers, trade contractors, and hospitality companies to locate the best job opportunities for residents experiencing poverty. They also interviewed job seekers to understand the obstacles limiting entry-wage workers. Based on this research, Circles Dorchester County recently launched its first cohort of participants, which aims to provide more intentional support for professional success in the region’s top industries. Many chapters–such as Circles Greenville County, SC–promote entrepreneurship as well, empowering Circles participants to start their own businesses.  The “cliff effect” — More than a dozen Circles chapters are piloting the use of tools from our two major partners. The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta created an online dashboard and planner to help individuals compare different job pathways and create a long-term budget for overcoming the cliff effect. The Leap Fund created a coaching program and a calculator for recipients of public benefits to determine if they will hit a cliff, when it will happen, and how long it will take to recover.  Broadband access — Circles Carbon County, UT helped their participants challenge a local utility company that was charging exorbitant late and reconnection fees. Other chapters have organized laptop donations during COVID and provided tech support to help families join weekly Circles virtual meetings.  Healthcare — Circles Campaign of the Mid-Ohio Valley, WV hosted an online candidates’ forum on healthcare. Circles participants were empowered to ask questions and offer feedback on politicians’ policy platforms. Meanwhile, several chapters advanced the regional focus on public health by growing community gardens that expand access to fresh produce.  Housing — Circles Salt Lake, UT helped in the creation and passing of the “truth in renting” bill, which protects renters from being ambushed by hidden fees that weren’t disclosed at the time they signed a lease and requires landlords to disclose up front any restrictions against renting to people with criminal records or poor credit histories before pocketing the application fees. Circles Laurel Highlands Region, PA discovered that banks won’t give loans to potential builders because of the limited infrastructure (water, sewage, etc.) in their rural area; Circles participants are testifying to policy makers and community leaders to communicate the need for affordable housing. Some Circles chapters have also connected participants to COVID-related government funds for eviction protection.  Transportation — Circles West Orange, FL was concerned about kids crossing at an unsafe intersection on their way to school, so participants learned how to work with the City Police Department to have a crosswalk installed. Several chapters are also pursuing stop-gap measures, such as bike-sharing and carpooling, to increase Circles participants’ access to reliable transportation. Predatory lending/credit restoration — Circles Troup County, GA developed a program for Circles participants to pay off predatory loans with unreasonable interest rates. The Chapter initiated a partnership with CenterState Bank to enable Circles participants to borrow up to $750 to pay off their high-interest loans. The loans negotiated through CenterState have an interest rate of 4.5% and no “loan origination” fees. We Share Our Stories From early wins to lasting systemic change, Circles chapters are removing the barriers that trap people in poverty. To increase visibility for this work, let’s create a compendium of Big View actions in the Circles network! To be included in Circles USA’s forthcoming publication, click here to access the questionnaire via Google Docs for your written responses. If you’d prefer to be interviewed, please email jamie@circlesusa.org . Thanks in advance for your contributions, Jamie Haft, Circles USA Executive Director

At Circles, we celebrate milestones and give appreciation to our colleagues. Here, we wish to acknowledge the visionary leadership and decades of service by Founder Scott Miller. Plus, we are excited to share how Scott’s work is evolving to advance Poverty Alleviation Systems across the country. “It’s not a retirement, but a graduation.” This was the sentiment among board and staff as Scott recently completed his term on the Circles USA Board of Directors. Going forward, Scott will retain the title of Founder, and Circles USA already has big plans to continue working with Scott as a consultant. Poverty Alleviation Systems In his new role as a consultant for Circles USA, Scott is advising numerous U.S. communities to design and implement Poverty Alleviation Systems. This work is an evolution of the Circles model that expands the Big View into a radical collaboration across sectors. A Poverty Alleviation System is intended to replace the former Poverty Management System. For more about this pioneering work, with examples from three sites, read here . Accomplishments At this moment of transition for Scott, we celebrate his significant accomplishments to date:  – Founding Circles USA , originally named Move the Mountain Leadership Center, in 1998 – Designing and implementing the Circles Model to build social capital for those experiencing poverty – Leading Circles USA for 22 years and bringing the model to over 100 communities – Authoring several books , including Transformational Leadership and Bootstraps and Benefits – Being named an AARP Well-Being Champion in 2018 – Being an inspirational musician and artist   Appreciations Here’s a sample of good wishes to Scott from staff and board members: – “When you hired me 15 years ago, I didn’t know what to expect, but as my role grew, so did my confidence. You reminded me to listen to my gut and use my own good judgment. You have always been my ally when I needed support. Thank you for the grace, love, life lessons, challenges, fun, and support all these years .” -Gena Atcher – “I think that everyone who has worked with you has been impacted for the better. You have been a powerful ally to me, and I would not have been able to make the leap from public education to the nonprofit sector without your patient guidance and belief in my capacity. You helped me to take my life back, which is exactly what Circles is all about .” -Kamatara Johnson – “It’s wonderful that so many external opportunities are coming together at a scale deserving of your time and attention, Scott. I always admire how you’re seemingly unafraid to try new things. In my leadership, I’m hoping to emulate the boldness with which you take action .” -Jamie Haft – “Thank you for your service and your foresight. Not everyone can start, sustain and grow an organization to the size and success of Circles like you have . The fact that you can now transition into this new role is a testament to your great work and the foundation that has been laid by you and many others.” -Christy Vines – “We have learned and grown so much during this journey together. The challenge of turning a vision into reality is what your leadership has meant for so many. I continue to be in awe of your many avenues of creativity, spirituality, risk-taking, and tenacity. May we, inspired by your legacy and new relationship with Circles, do you proud! ” -Joan Kuriansky On behalf of the entire Circles community, congratulations and thanks to Scott! We look forward to collaborating for many years to come. To share your appreciations with Scott, email Scott@CirclesUSA.org .

A Poverty Alleviation System is intended to replace the former Poverty Management System. It’s an evolution of the Circles model that expands the Big View into a radical collaboration across sectors. Examples At present, seven communities are collaborating with Scott Miller and Circles USA. Here are three samples of these pioneers: – Riverton, WY : The school district is committed to partnering with the community to build a system that supports our families working to get out of and stay out of poverty. The Circles model will be modified to create workforce pathways in partnership with businesses, secondary schools, and government agencies. – Cookeville, TN : A community action agency focused on economic development has asked us to help prepare them for a large innovation grant opportunity being offered by the state. The approach will combine work pathways through the Circles model with a collective-impact backbone organization to drive prosperity into all fourteen of their rural and semi-rural counties. – Hastings, NE : The United Way and the Community Impact Network invited us to help them establish a poverty alleviation system to accomplish their bold goal of reducing poverty by 30% by 2030. All sites address the problem of helping people out of poverty by meeting the workforce demand, which is at an all time high.  Process – Assessment : Interview stakeholders (human services, business, education, government, and/or civic sectors, and those experiencing poverty) and report the challenges and opportunities – Employer Engagement & Training : Research available jobs and barriers to employment for workers of low wealth and educate employers to raise their “poverty IQ” – Train Systems Leaders : Provide directors with Transformational Leadership Curriculum – Site Visit : Facilitate meetings to build a shared vision among stakeholders – Dashboard : Define target group and metrics for tracking progress – Final Report : Develop a final assessment with recommendations for Poverty Alleviation System design and implementation Mental Models Stay Tuned We know many chapters are designing job pathways as a response to the emerging economy and community needs. We’ll share what’s learned with the entire network, so stay tuned to our newsletters. For more information, contact Kamatara@CirclesUSA.org .

The Board of Directors for Circles USA is inviting applications for a new Board Advisory Council. The purpose of this Council is to create a space for dialogue between the Board and Circles stakeholders, including former Circle Leaders. The application deadline is Friday, January 14. Who: The Board aims for the Council to reflect the diversity of the Circles network in the U.S. and Canada. For example, the Board hopes to engage those representing different roles: former Circle Leader, Ally, Volunteer, Coach, Coordinator, Executive Director, Community Partner, etc. Several seats on the Council will be held for former Circle Leaders who have taken on leadership roles at their local chapters. The Board also hopes to engage different kinds of chapters: faith-based chapters, nonprofit-based chapters, government-based chapters, new chapters, veteran chapters, rural chapters, urban chapters, etc. The Board values diversity: ethnicity, age, region, sector, gender, sexuality, religion, and political views. What: Here are a sample of discussion topics for joint meetings between the Council and Board: Reviewing our latest data and considering the Circles model’s impact and opportunities for improvement Advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion Pursuing systemic change through the Big View Linking poverty alleviation with economic/workforce development Where/When: For now, Council meetings are planned to be entirely virtual using Zoom. The Council will have one 90-minute meeting per quarter (every three months). Selected Council members will be asked to commit to an 18-month term. Why: The Board wishes to solicit input from Circles stakeholders, including former Circle Leaders, to inform decisions about the future of Circles USA. The Board wishes to create a comfortable way for members of the Circles network to interact with the Board more regularly. This Council offers leadership opportunities at the national level. How: Please complete this short application/online survey by Friday, January 14. Please note: This is a volunteer Council. To appreciate Council members for participating, each person will receive one registration to the next CUSA Conference. A modest thank-you gift will be provided at the end as well. Circles USA cannot provide a stipend/honorarium to avoid any perception that the Board is paying the Council to agree with them. PS: To learn about Circles USA’s Board, here’s a video recording from their session at our April 2021 Conference.

Highlights include: Breakthrough stories of the impact achieved by families and communities in our network A summary of multiple years of data that demonstrates the efficacy of the Circles model Key breakthroughs in poverty alleviation, such as our Big View initiatives that dismantle systemic barriers that keep people trapped in poverty We offer sincere thanks to the entire Circles network—including staff, volunteers, and Circle Leaders—whose loyalty, care, and skill made our 2021 Impact Report possible. VIEW OUR 2021 IMPACT REPORT

Our latest installment of Lives Transformed features three different, but equally inspiring, Circle Leaders from across the United States and Canada—all winners of our 2021 Impact Award. The Circles curriculum supports each person’s efforts to “break through” and expand what they think is possible: for themself, their family, and their community. As Circle Leaders reach milestones in their journeys toward financial stability, we document their achievements to highlight joy and hope as valuable tools in combating poverty. “The name of the organization says a lot: If you don’t know somebody in your immediate circle, they know somebody in their circle.” —Khyle Martin from Circles Columbus, GA My mom was a single parent, but she always made the best of it so that it didn’t appear we were struggling. We didn’t have a great financial situation though — she didn’t know a lot about how finances worked when I was growing up. Had there been a Circles program back then, I’m sure my mom would have loved to attend it. I had studied business and finance in school, but for a long time I was doing a lot of warehouse work. I have epilepsy, and I was doing jobs that weren’t safe for my medical condition. I had to find something that was safer, but I didn’t know how to start that journey. I went into the rent office one day, and they had a flyer for Circles. Your goals aligned with my goals. So I gave Circles a call. Circles matched me with volunteer Allies who were able to support me, even if I just needed someone to talk to. Anything that would have set me back, I had help. I love my Allies, Jane Wilson, and a couple named Scott and Mary-Virginia Wehrenberg. I love them being in my corner. The name of the organization says a lot: If you don’t know somebody in your immediate circle, they know somebody in their circle. Circles helped me create SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound) Goals, too. For the first time, I looked at the way I save versus the way I spend. When you go to school for business, they show you how to keep a book balance. But you still may not know you shouldn’t be spending over 30% of your income. It’s a lot of info that should have been brought up in high school or college or earlier on. With the professional communications tools that I developed in Circles, I learned how to talk to different people in the workplace. It gave me the tools I needed to first gain an entry level job in a call center. Within two years, I won the job of business analyst.  And Circles is such a family atmosphere. My kids developed a strong friendship with the children of my Allies—I loved that. They would be excited to show me things they learned in the Circles youth program about saving money. Anytime I knew there was a workshop coming up, I made sure we were there. I wish I’d had someone to teach me those things when I was their age, and now I want to make sure they know.  To those considering joining Circles, or funding Circles, or volunteering with Circles, do it! This is a good thing. The education and the staff and the relationships are all life-changing.” Read more stories here. © 2021

Our latest installment of Lives Transformed features three different, but equally inspiring, Circle Leaders from across the United States and Canada—all winners of our 2021 Impact Award. The Circles curriculum supports each person’s efforts to “break through” and expand what they think is possible: for themself, their family, and their community. As Circle Leaders reach milestones in their journeys toward financial stability, we document their achievements to highlight joy and hope as valuable tools in combating poverty. “Circles is truly circles. It comes back around and it benefits so many people.”   —Deb Brown from Circles Troup County, GA I grew up in New Hampshire with my three brothers and my parents. We lived in a one-bedroom trailer. My mom was a stay-at-home mom and my dad was a mechanic. We often didn’t have enough food. My dad didn’t want anyone to know we were poor, so we never got any help – not even free lunch at school. I got into a lot of financial difficulty with my ex-husband through the years; he broke the law and left me with no car, no money and two weeks to find a place to live. I had been driving a school bus for students with disabilities for a couple of years, but I couldn’t make it on that salary. I didn’t think that I was living in poverty. But I needed help; I felt like I was being swallowed. I heard about Circles when a staff member, Holly Roberts, came to one of our bus driver meetings. I knew I needed to make some changes and so I wanted to try out Circles. When I drove to my first Circles meeting, I sat in my car. It was literally the first time I’d done anything since my divorce. I hadn’t gone to church or any activities—nothing. I did finally get out of the car and go to the meeting, but honestly, I was embarrassed because I knew some of the people. But I was surprised: everyone was so welcoming to me, and eventually it got easier.  Circles has helped me make connections that have changed my life, and they have made all the difference to my mental health. I had Facebook memories popping up all the time, traumatizing me. I realized I needed to turn off that feed. So that became a first goal. I wrote it down and gave it to Holly, our Circles coach, and she made sure I owned up to it. My Circles people connected me with a great counselor too, and I’ve made progress. These early successes gave me hope and the belief that I could continue going forward. Making goals for financial stability was really hard. The first time we did a goal-building activity in Circles, I didn’t have one. Why would I have a goal? It’s not going to go anywhere, I thought. It’s easy to get frustrated and say, I can’t deal. And then the disappointment keeps building and building. But I knew that I wanted to buy a house. So we did the pie charts to show how much you should spend, and then we did the budget. Circles helped me figure out how to increase my credit score. I started paying off my credit cards. I saved all my extra unemployment money toward the down payment and moving costs. When my lease was up, I stayed with my daughter for a month and saved that month of home bills. Honestly, I couldn’t have done it without Holly saying ‘You can do this! You CAN do this!’ In the summer of 2020, I bought a house!  And my Circles connections have worked to help so many of my students with disabilities on the bus that I drive, it’s just amazing. Some students are close to homeless. I’ve had kids on my bus that lived in tents. We work together at Circles so we can afford Christmas presents for them. I have shopped for every kid on my bus. I always thought that if I changed one student’s life, that’s a lot. But now I’m changing all of these lives. Circles is truly circles. It comes back around and it benefits so many people. Circles has connected me to so many people and so many resources. Sometimes it’s big, sometimes it’s just encouragement, but it saved my life. Read more stories here. © 2021

Our latest installment of Lives Transformed features three different, but equally inspiring, Circle Leaders from across the United States and Canada—all winners of our 2021 Impact Award. The Circles curriculum supports each person’s efforts to “break through” and expand what they think is possible: for themself, their family, and their community. As Circle Leaders reach milestones in their journeys toward financial stability, we document their achievements to highlight joy and hope as valuable tools in combating poverty. “All my well-being now, I got it from people in Circles. It’s perseverance and trust.” —Patricia Zepeda, Circles Canada, Simcoe County, Ontario I grew up with my grandparents in El Salvador. When I was 18, my life took a drastic turn when I stayed with my girlfriend’s family overnight, against my father’s wishes. Then all the changes happened in my life because my children’s father didn’t allow me to do anything. I later had three children by my girlfriend’s brother. He was a very abusive person. I escaped El Salvador with my three young children in 1990. We left our home country and went through Mexico and the United States with only the clothes we were wearing. I left everything I knew for the dream of things to come.  By 2018, I had been living in Canada for 25 years. My life was not good when I came here; I was using Ontario Works (social assistance), facing depression and anxiety, and I couldn’t make financial ends meet. I met a Circles staff member, Vicki Hannan, when I was taking classes at the local library—any course that was free, I’d take it! So when Vicki called and explained the Circles model to me, I said, “okay.”  I was like a zombie when I started Circles classes. I didn’t celebrate birthdays or Christmas. I didn’t have the education I needed. When you’re experiencing poverty, you’re ashamed. You lack a lot of things that can get you ahead in life. Then the universe opened up for me. My angels came. Little by little I started to feel more at ease with everyone there, and I began to understand: I have to get up and do something for my life. Circles helped me see why I was struggling, the trauma that I carry from my past. In Circles, we go and work in the garden, we celebrate things. A lot of us get jobs. I went back to school for additional English classes and then graduated as a Personal Support Worker; now I’m employed through the County of Simcoe and I’m doing something that I love to do—working with the elderly in hospitals and in hospice. And I was able to realize the goal of purchasing my car!  I open up to my Ally, Simone Latham, about everything, and she’ll listen to me. We have fun, we spend time outdoors in the snow. And she’s always there—our partnership is made in heaven. All my well-being now, I got it from people in Circles. It’s perseverance and trust. We come with different problems in life; but in Circles, it doesn’t matter. We’ve got you. We’re gonna be patient with you. There is nothing in this life if we aren’t together, if we’re not giving a little bit of love to each other. Read more stories here. © 2021

Last year, our theme of “Breakthrough” acknowledged the strength of Circles chapters breaking through obstacles to achieve financial security, reliable transportation, affordable housing, and other forms of well-being for their whole communities.  To launch the year, Circles USA’s Executive Director Jamie Haft recently hosted a webinar about our latest breakthroughs in poverty alleviation. In the webinar, Jamie details how—from the people-powered momentum of our network—we are making waves of change. She reflects on the successes and challenges from the past year, shares ideas for the year ahead, and promotes ways to get further involved with Circles USA. “Waves of Change” that Jamie discusses include: Building Community to End Poverty Advancing Systemic Change  Pursuing Equity Using Data Sharing Stories  Watch Jamie’s WAVES OF CHANGE webinar here! About the presenter: As executive director of Circles USA, Jamie identifies opportunities for organizational growth and designs comprehensive plans to achieve goals. She is passionate about scaling up our Big View teamwork that removes the barriers that trap people in poverty. For her role at Circles, Jamie draws on a wide range of professional experiences—from theater and multimedia storytelling to community organizing; public relations; and community development. Here are her reflections as a first-time executive director navigating leadership in a pandemic, with her appreciation to Circles chapters for so much inspiration and support.

What innovative approaches to poverty reduction are available to Family Promise affiliates? In this brief presentation, Adam Hartnett and Lynette Fields from Circles Central Florida introduce the collaboration between Family Promise and Circles USA. The Circles model has two main goals: helping families get out of poverty permanently and removing the barriers that get in the way. This presentation was given during the Family Promise Virtual Innovation Summit on December 7, 2021. The session was titled, “Family Promise Partners: Shark Tank Style.” Learn more about Family Promise on their website and from their 2020 Impact Report.

Circles USA’s latest partnership has yielded a big win for the Upper Cumberland region in Tennessee. CUSA consulted with the Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency (UCHRA) to apply for Tennessee Opportunity Act planning grant, using the Circles model and poverty alleviation innovations at the heart of their proposal. Based near Cookeville, Tennessee, the Upper Cumberland region is a rural area where generational poverty remains at crisis levels with approximately 16,0000 children being raised in poverty.  In December 2021, UCHRA with the help of CUSA was awarded a $445,000 this planning grant funded by TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) and the Empower Upper Cumberland coalition to end poverty began.  This planning grant team brings together diverse local groups including: Cookeville Regional Foundation, Highlands Economic Partnership, Tennessee Tech University, Upper Cumberland Development District, Upper Cumberland Local Workforce Development Board, and area Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology, along with local employers and people with the lived experience of poverty.  Empower Upper Cumberland is envisioning a region where everyone has a job they love, a safe and affordable home, healthy food, proper transportation and childcare, strong relationships, and the resources and opportunities to thrive. Now, they have funding to lay the groundwork that will bring these dreams to fruition. These TANF planning funds, the highest amount awarded to 17 projects across Tennessee, will fuel collaborations with state leadership, the Families First Community Advisory Board, the Tennessee Department of Human Services, research partners and professionals, and community organizations. The funding will further allow the Upper Cumberland coalition to go after a three-year, $25 million implementation grant to address the challenges that vulnerable Tennesseans face. In a recent press release, a UCHRA spokesperson described how they “will serve as the backbone entity” for grant administration, working with workforce development, employers, nonprofit organizations including CUSA, the interfaith community, and community members to establish best practices and analyze system gaps and barriers: The TANF Opportunity Act grant allocates approximately $180 million in TANF funds for innovative pilot programs aimed at transforming the lives of Tennesseans living in poverty.  Upper Cumberland’s collaborative team will have approximately three months to plan a poverty alleviation system that will move away from the traditional poverty management model toward a poverty alleviation approach; seeking to lift 500 children out of poverty rather than treating the symptoms of poverty in the current poverty management system. At the end of the three-month planning period, the team will have the opportunity to pitch the proposal to the selection committee that the Upper Cumberland’s collaborative effort is ready for the challenge to bring approximately 500 children out of poverty during the three-year pilot grant period. The collaboration is designing a new poverty alleviation ecosystem that is accountable to reducing childhood poverty and increasing work participation rates by coordinating the services and support people need to move through all 5 stages to self-sufficiency (crisis intervention, stabilization, readiness, placement, advancement). This pilot is also cataloging the system gaps and service barriers that keep people trapped in the system so as to streamline the process with a proper and graduated exit ramp from public assistance.  “ In order to move the needle and move clients out of poverty, it will take all of us working together,” said Mark Farley, UCHRA Executive Director, at a TANF Opportunity Act collaboration kickoff meeting in January. “I’m excited for us to forge new partnerships and have the opportunity to work with folks and organizations to bring children and families out of poverty.” The strategy is a bold response to UCHRA and CUSA’s recent joint interviews with employers, which showed that certain factors are critical to building successful work pathways. These factors include: A clear line of sight to a sustainable, family-supporting job and/or career. Raising employer “Poverty IQ” to shift their approach to recruiting, retaining, and advancing employees who are working to move themselves out of poverty. Human service, workforce development, and education programs that coordinate person-centered supports to provide job candidates with the soft and hard skills to qualify them for their chosen work pathway. Removing major impediments to transitioning from public assistance to work—impediments like lack of affordable childcare, housing, and transportation; and the cliff effect (i.e., the gap created when sharp decreases in public assistance occur before new earned income can replace those subsidies). Social capital (bonding with peers, bridging with mentors, and linking to services) that empower families to secure, retain, and advance in job pathways and feel a deep sense of belonging in the community.  “This win in Tennessee is a win for our entire Circles USA community of practice,” said Kamatara Johnson, CUSA Chief Learning Officer. “This collaboration is already producing innovative tools and processes that will benefit those in Tennessee and our 80 chapters across the country as we create new ways of moving families and communities from surviving to thriving.” Circles USA has two decades of experience providing communities with a model that fosters the relationships we need to achieve economic stability. Empower Upper Cumberland  is one of seven community groups across the U.S. who are currently collaborating with Scott Miller and CUSA to pilot this new Poverty Alleviation Systems approach. Read more about those collaborations here .

Ending poverty is the clear-cut mission of Circles USA, but many people feel it’s impossible. However, Circles has two decades of evidence that with support, people can leave poverty behind. So, how do we get to numbers that show a distinct reduction in poverty across a community, a state, or the nation? How do we reach a “tipping point”? That’s part of the Circles strategy to bring together community resources and help to formulate a plan to reduce a community’s poverty rate by at least 10%. By demonstrating that a 10% reduction of poverty can be achieved, we believe that tipping point will occur, creating the momentum needed to not only reduce poverty, but to someday end it altogether. What’s a Tipping Point?   Malcolm Gladwell popularized the idea of a tipping point in his 2000 book, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference . Gladwell described it as a pivotal shift in popular opinion: “a magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.”  Scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute found that when just 10% of the population holds an unshakable belief, their belief will always be adopted by the majority of the society. “When the number of committed opinion holders is below 10 percent, there is no visible progress in the spread of ideas. It would literally take the amount of time comparable to the age of the universe for this size group to reach the majority. Once that number grows above 10 percent, the idea spreads like flame,” said Boleslaw Szymanski, the Claire and Roland Schmitt Distinguished Professor at Rensselaer. Inspired by this evidence that, as anthropologist Margaret Mead suggested, “a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world,” Circles USA engages with communities committed to reducing poverty in their geographic footprint by at least 10%.  How does Circles USA support communities to reduce poverty by 10%?  Together, Circles USA and participating communities navigate four major stages of development: ASSESSMENT —Asking questions: “Are we committed to the work of ending poverty in our community? Do we have the leadership and resources to start a Circles chapter? Are we open to supporting all community members to thrive?” CIRCLES IN THE MAKING —Getting started: If your community is ready and willing to start Circles, you will enter into a planning agreement with Circles USA to lay the foundation for how a Circles chapter will outpicture in your area. With training and personalized design support, the community collaboration is crafted to support a Circles chapter. CIRCLES DEMONSTRATION —Taking action: You are now implementing Circles to support families out of poverty, building intentional relationships, and impacting your community as people are not only moving from surviving to thriving but also finding their voice to become advocates for important changes.   SCALE TO A TIPPING POINT —Moving forward: Your Circles chapter is getting results and you can see the potential of growing Circles into more locations in your community to have a greater impact. The Circles model combines direct services for families experiencing poverty with bold systemic change. For more about our results, please see our latest Impact Report . The time has come to intentionally pursue the end of poverty in our nation, in our lifetime! Contact me to learn more: kamatara@circlesusa.org .  © 2022