Circles USA hosted the first of a two-part educational series on race, trauma, and healing, titled “Unrighteous Race,” facilitated by Los Angeles-based licensed clinical social worker Kalisha Vault. The first webinar includes a brief summary of the history of African Americans in America. This segment illustrates how the foundation of America created—and continues to sustain—systematic prejudice and barriers for people of color. The recording is now available to Circles USA members in our online learning library, Freedcamp. The purpose of her presentations, says Vault, is “to educate participants about the problems within the system to aid motivation for positive change. It’s very important to understand history in order to work on building our future.” Kalisha Vault, LCSW, serves children and families by providing individual and group therapy to at-risk populations. The goal of her work is to provide psycho-education, psychotherapy, and resources to close the achievement gaps set by cultural and systemic barriers enabling individuals to become successful leaders in their community. Vault’s second learning session was an interactive workshop designed to illustrate the impact of systemic racism on the mental health and success of those who are Black, indigenous, and/or people of color (BIPOC) in the United States. In this second webinar, Vault noted the 13th Amendment‘s relationship to systemic inequality in U.S. labor practice. She also discussed the impact of complex Post-traumatic stress disorder on American descendants of enslaved African peoples, and offered a checklist of today’s best practices for allyship, including: Acknowledge your privilege. Acknowledge yourself as an equal, not superior. Acknowledge racism exists. Recognize biases and address them. Educate yourself regarding their culture, experiences, and history. Don’t assume BIPOC are a homogeneous group. The “Unrighteous Race” webinar training continues Circles USA’s focus on equity, which aims to break down systemic barriers to prosperity through partnerships and ongoing opportunities for learning. Circles USA first met Kalisha through our partnership with the Ideos Institute and the National Day of Dialogue event on January 5, 2022. Here is Kalisha’s story from the Dialogue Lab. To learn how Circles can help advance equity in your community, contact gena@circlesusa.org

Through our latest research and development, Circles USA is refining the factors 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.  Circles USA’s latest partnership has yielded a big win for the Upper Cumberland region in Tennessee.   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. Circles USA 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. In December 2021, UCHRA was awarded a $445,000 planning grant funded by TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families); and the Empower Upper Cumberland coalition to end poverty was launched specifically to align social services with economic development into one streamlined prosperity system that includes work pathways to success.  To learn how to get these results in your community, visit Circles USA’s blog . Or contact us directly at gena@circlesusa.org

Below is a message from our board. Jamie’s letter to the Circles community is posted here .  On March 1st, Jamie Haft informed the board that she was stepping down as executive director of Circles USA. We will miss her. Jamie has offered Circles her expertise, commitment, and leadership over the past four years. Building a strong team, Jamie oversaw the development of a vibrant network of chapters, forged important national collaborations, and stabilized our financial base. The board is committed to a smooth transition and is currently undertaking a search process to identify the next executive director. Jamie’s end date will be April 30th and she has offered to be an ongoing resource going forward. We can’t thank Jamie enough and wish her the best of luck as she pursues the next steps of her career. As you will see below, Jamie’s colleagues offer her deserved high praise and affection. We are appreciative that the Circles management team is equally committed to building on our work today and in the future. Sincerely, Joan A. Kuriansky Board Chair, Circles USA Reflections Jamie joined the Circles USA team to enable our founder of 20+ years to transition from CEO to consultant. She brought an asset-based approach to leadership and an inclusive style of collaboration. Over the course of four years, Circles chapter membership grew from 68 to 80 locations in the United States, and from 5 to 19 locations in Canada. To sustain mutual aid during the pandemic, chapters received support to transfer in-person meetings to virtual connection.  Under Jamie’s tenure, we gave attention to our “Big View” work that removes the systemic barriers that trap people in poverty. We organized a non-partisan campaign for civic engagement and published a policy platform. We forged groundbreaking partnerships to mitigate the cliff effect and promote empathy-based dialogue. To date, more than 750 Circles volunteers have completed our various upgraded training programs about structural racism and gender inequity. Our many recent advancements in data collection and analysis are documented in past Impact Reports, including several significant collaborations with academic institutions. All this success is shared by Jamie and the entire Circles community. She leaves Circles USA in a strong financial position, ready to reach its next level of impact.  Appreciations Since it’s a Circles tradition to close experiences with a round of “appreciations,” we express gratitude to Jamie as she concludes her time as our executive director. “Jamie consistently works with integrity and professionalism. She brought a sense of stability and calmness to the organization as the founder transitioned out of day-to-day leadership. Jamie is great at synthesizing complex ideas into an understandable, actionable plan–and then she follows through to make sure the plan is achieved in an organized way. I appreciate Jamie’s whole-hearted commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. I have learned a lot from Jamie and I wish her the best.” —Jennifer Pelling, CUSA Board Member “Any executive director who follows immediately after the founder of the organization has some mighty big shoes to fill; however, Jamie brought such grace and skill to her position that the transition was smooth. Personally, I’ve appreciated Jamie’s thoughtful approach to every opportunity that came across our table. She has been a calming presence of discernment that helped me to give my best as well. She guided our staff to make wise choices, to maintain the integrity of our services, and to continue to improve what we offer in a mindful way.” —Kamatara Johnson, CUSA Chief Learning Officer “Jamie has been a calm and steady leader during her time with Circles. She worked closely with each of us on different aspects of the organization. One thing that stands out to me is our annual impact report—it’s truly a story of the people we serve. It’s been a pleasure to work with her. Jamie, all the best in your next chapter!” —Gena Atcher, CUSA National Membership Coordinator “Working alongside Jamie has been a wonderful experience. She always provided support and guidance to her team, and it has assisted in my personal and professional growth. Jamie took on the role of an executive director with such vision, creativity, and understanding. Jamie, I look forward to hearing about the amazing work that you will continue to do in your life.” —Courtney Cowan, CUSA Information Systems and Design Manager “It has been a pleasure to work with Jamie. Her dedication to the mission and leadership has moved Circles USA to the next level and provided a foundation for us to build on going forward. She will be missed!” —Chris Tinney, CUSA Ambassador “Jamie was a first-rate CEO. She has vision, a broad set of management skills, and the ability develop a strategy and to make it happen. She is an excellent communicator. She writes clearly and succinctly and speaks the same way. She can think of options to deal with any situation. She has a calming presence. I am the last one sending in comments and upon reading what my colleagues have written – I agree with it all.” —Jim Masters, CUSA Board Member On behalf of the entire Circles community, we wish you well in all your future endeavors, Jamie! We look forward to staying connected.  To be in touch with Jamie, reach out via LinkedIn or jamiehaft@gmail.com .

Below is Jamie’s letter to the Circles community. A message from our board about the executive director transition is posted here . In the past four years, I’ve discovered many things to love about Circles USA. But what I appreciate most about Circles is that everyone involved is encouraged to grow. When I launched 2022 with the “waves of change” metaphor , I didn’t know that a surprise job offer would change my direction. It has been such an honor to be your executive director, and I thank you for this experience. Circles has made me a stronger leader , now ready to swim into the open waters of a challenging new role. Even though I’m resigning as executive director, I look forward to continuing my relationships with friends and colleagues in the Circles network. Relationships are at the heart of the Circles model – and relationships have animated my experience in this network. Many don’t know this, but I came to Circles by way of a chance encounter. At a comedy club in Albuquerque, NM, I sat down next to then board chair Vince Gonzales who introduced me to Circles. It felt like serendipity, as I had previously been an assistant director of a national network with 100+ affiliates. With a background in arts and storytelling , I immediately loved Circles USA’s attention to changing the narrative of poverty. This is the power of social capital: at Circles, a chance encounter can positively change your life. My approach to being an executive director was to listen and learn from those doing the work. The strength of relationships among staff and board is foundational to our success. The 2021 Impact Report documents the progress we’ve made together. Executive directors need allies too, and these staff and board members have been some of mine:  Gena Atcher takes such good care of our team and community as national membership coordinator. I relied on her 16-year institutional history and meticulous attention to budget. Courtney Cowan approaches data collection and analysis in brilliant ways as our information systems and design manager. I was often so impressed by the technical solutions she discovered.  Kamatara Johnson convenes our community of practice with such enthusiasm as chief learning officer. I appreciate the graceful way she promotes belonging as a facilitator.  Chris Tinney draws on many eclectic experiences as our sales ambassador. I enjoyed his creative ideas for marketing and social media. Scott Miller promotes an ambitious vision for scaling-up the work of chapters as our founder and now an active consultant. I admire his ability to dream big and turn what was dreamed into reality.  Joan Kuriansky leads with fierce conviction as our board chair. I was emboldened by her commitment to race equity and civic engagement. Jim Masters offers sage advice as our board treasurer. I am grateful for his decades of service to this organization. Jennifer Pelling accelerates change as a board member and programmatic partner. I followed her strategic insights and visionary plans that brought Circles USA to new heights. Christy Vines expands our compassion as a board member and programmatic partner. I am thrilled about our collaboration with Ideos Institute to promote empathy-based dialogues at Circles chapters. When it comes to building social capital, relationships multiply our capacity. During my tenure at Circles, we forged partnerships with peer organizations to address issues that we alone could not tackle. After many years working on the cliff effect, we connected with the groundbreaking work of Leap Fund and Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta . To expand our research capacity, we created a new survey for our volunteers, thanks to SPARQ at Stanford University . To lift up first-voice stories, we are creating documentary shorts about our chapters with the Tsuha Foundation and People People Media Foundation . These partnerships and many others have been a game-changer.  Looking back at the past four years, some of the moments I treasure most were spent in community with Circles chapters. The spaghetti dinner at the weekly meeting of Circles Greenville County, SC as part of our 2019 in-person conference. The pilot of Bread for the World ’s Racial Wealth Gap Simulation with Circles Central Florida in February 2020. The jam-packed virtual “Breakthrough” Conference that replenished our spirits in April 2021. And I will always remember my Zoom conversations in December 2021 with former Circle Leaders Khyle, Deb, and Patricia . Whether in-person or virtual, social capital is created in community – and it is joyful!  As I think about the future for Circles, these questions come to mind. I’m excited that this community will continue to collectively pursue the answers: How can we take the power of social capital to a new scale, increasing the number of Circles participants that achieve stability through this initiative? How can trauma-informed practices continue to inform our approaches to working together?  How will relationships between board members and chapters drive the direction of Circles USA?    How can connections with workforce development professionals help Circles participants find quality jobs in the post-pandemic economy? How can our “Big View” teams cooperatively tackle even more systemic barriers to poverty alleviation?  Two personal relationships bookend my time at Circles USA. It was a romantic relationship that swept me from Albuquerque to be near my partner Abby in the San Francisco Bay Area. During the pandemic, this love was a major source of my strength. And it was a friend of 20 years who recently made the surprise job offer for me to join his consulting firm, Grains of Salt, that supports mission-driven organizations in cities across the West Coast. To begin making a difference in my own local community will feel meaningful.  Relationships help us expand what we think is possible for our lives. With gratitude, I conclude my directorship at Circles to embrace the thriving life that Circles made possible for me. Please do keep in touch via LinkedIn or jamiehaft@gmail.com . I will remain a proud member of the Circles network, cheering on your successes for many years to come!   Yours in community, Jamie Haft

Photo supplied by Ogden-Weber Community Action Group, showing a group that took part in an earlier Ogden-Weber Community Action Group Circles program. Photographed, from left, are Cylena Bumpers, Samantha DeVroom, Zachary DeVroom, Marina Simmons, Melannie Chee, Rosaline Hester and Alejandra Bernal. Circles Weber County in Ogden, UT, has become the first chapter to beta-test the new Spanish-translation of the Circles USA Circle Leader curriculum. This cohort of Circle Leaders hails from Venezuela, Colombia, Uruguay, Mexico, Paraguay, Nicaragua and Honduras. “We want to build trust in our Spanish-speaking cohort,” said Jordan Barrett, OWCAP’s program manager. OWCAP aims to help those in need and Latinos — some of them immigrants, some native born — make up more than 30% of the population in Ogden. Read the complete story in the Ogden Standard-Examiner . Circles Utah Valley (Provo, UT) is one of 80+ chapters taking bold direct action to alleviate poverty, using the Circles Big View model to drive breakthrough solutions for civic engagement.  In a powerful and emotional Big View meeting, the public joined Circles Utah Valley participants to come listen to two of their Provo Municipal Council members speak and answer questions about housing struggles. Council member Rachel Whipple spoke of her concern about zoning codes that economically segregate Provo neighborhoods, saying, “That’s not how we make our society better. It’s only as a group, interacting with each other because we need to have affordable housing throughout this city. It shouldn’t only be in my neighborhood just like it shouldn’t only be in yours.” Read the complete story here . Who says job pathways can’t begin with play? Circles USA’s children’s programming advances a unique two-generation approach to poverty reduction.  The Circles Children’s Program at Circles NWA (Northwest Arkansas) recently held another Career and Market Place day. The kids tried out six new careers, including Paleontologist; Marine Biologist; Postal Worker; Artist; Toy Tester; and Entomologist. They then got to use their hard-earned “money” to buy goodies and trinkets at the marketplace! Learn more about Circles Northwest Arkansas and their children’s programming here .

Many cultures. One passion for building community to end poverty. Did you know Circles USA recently introduced a Spanish-language translation initiative? These new resources make Circles materials and support networks more accessible to multilingual communities. WHY SPANISH? Circles USA is committed to increasing equity and access to people most in need. While 6% of our Circles families identify as Hispanic, the rate of Hispanic people experiencing poverty in the United States is 17%, as noted on census.gov .  Translating our trainings and materials is a first step to resource our Circles chapters in communities with large Spanish-speaking populations. Removing the language barrier while supporting a culturally sensitive space for Spanish-speakers creates a new forum for community to come together and prosper.  We’re now offering the following materials in Spanish: Brochures: What is Circles? Become a Circle Leader Become an Ally Join a Resource Team Circle Leader Training: Circle Leader Training Facilitator Guide Circle Leader Workbook Circle Leader Training: 12 Slide Decks Circle Leader Application Question Bank Circle Leader Interview Question Bank Circle Leader Registration, Progress Report, Life Assessment Tool, and Monthly Evaluation  In addition to supporting Spanish-speaking participants, Circles USA has added Spanish subtitles to volunteer training videos and reflection questions. To learn how Circles USA’s Spanish language materials can benefit your local chapter, contact us at gena@circlesusa.org . Or read how one Circles chapter is recruiting Spanish speakers to create mentoring opportunities.

The Board of Circles USA is delighted that Kamatara Johnson has accepted our offer to serve as our Executive Director, effective May 13, 2022. As many of you know, Kamatara is a longtime and cherished member of the Circles family. As part of our search process for the next Executive Director, the Board met face-to-face with Kamatara (yes, even in these days of virtual meetings); reviewed her contributions to Circles and the skills she brings to the organization; and interviewed several references, including Chapter leaders. In the last four years, Kamatara has excelled in so many ways and is critical to the success of Circles USA going forward. For instance, she has played a major role in the sustainability and growth of Circles chapters through developing core curricula and offering consistency and creativity in our work. She has played significant roles in coordinating our national conference and strategic planning. Further, Kamatara is well respected within and outside of the Circles community. She has established trust among our national staff and community of practice, as well as positive relationships with our two former Executive Directors; she is sure to draw on those experiences, as well those of the Board and the Board Advisory Council that will be established in 2022. We want to again thank outgoing ED Jamie Haft for the important role she has played in solidifying Circles in the past four years and her expressed support of Kamatara’s candidacy for the Executive Director position. Please join the Circle’s USA Board in welcoming Kamatara Johnson. We look forward to building Circles’ future with Kamatara and you. Joan A. Kuriansky Chair Board of Directors, Circles USA

CUSA Webinar: Advocacy and Lobbying 101: Legal Tips for 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Advocates Wednesday, June 15, 2022 12 pm PT, 1 pm MT, 2 pm CT, 3 pm ET 501(c)(3)s play an important role in educating the public about policy issues and actions taken by elected officials, including the President. Elected officials vote on bills, make public statements and executive decisions, and set the course for public policy on a wide range of issues. These actions may be consistent with or conflict with a nonprofit’s position on an issue. After this webinar, you will have a clear understanding of how to maximize your advocacy, the kinds of advocacy activities 501(c)(3)s can engage in, and when a communication is considered lobbying. Participants will learn: How federal tax law permits lobbying for charities and how lobbying is defined; One easy step most charities can take to maximize the amount they’re allowed to spend on lobbying; Yearly lobbying limits for charities; Tips for taking advantage of the narrow definitions of lobbying – which will help charities make the most of their lobbying limit; and the application of these rules to ballot measure activities. Email Gena@circlesusa.org to register. Presenters from Alliance for Justice: Victor Rivera Labiosa is a Bilingual Counsel for the Bolder Advocacy team and the Alliance for Justice’s Texas office, where he works with Spanish-and English-speaking nonprofit organizations to ensure they are maximizing their lobbying and advocacy efforts. He is passionate about amplifying the voices of the Latino community here in Texas and across the United States. Prior to working for AFJ, Victor served as a Corporate and Real Estate associate for a full-service law firm in Puerto Rico. Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Victor obtained his law degree from Tulane University School of Law. He also earned an undergraduate B.A. from Duke University, where he majored in History and minored in Chemistry. In his free time, Victor likes to promote the wonderful things Puerto Rico has to offer, watch sports, and spend time with his dogs, Duke and Leo. Mallory Morales is the Northern California Counsel for the Bolder Advocacy Program at Alliance for Justice. She supports nonprofit organizations in their advocacy efforts to push progressive policies and bend the arc of justice. Mallory graduated magna cum laude from Boston University in 2013 with a degree in Anthropology and Religion. She earned her law degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 2018, where she was elected Editor-in-Chief of the California Law Review. Mallory was also involved in La Raza Law Student’s Association, La Raza Law Journal, First Generation Professionals, and the Women of Color Collective. She was a housing rights intern for the East Bay Community Law Center and externed for the Honorable William H. Alsup on the United States District Court, Northern District of California. Prior to joining AFJ, Mallory was a litigator at Tycko & Zavareei LLP representing consumers and whistleblowers to fight fraudulent corporate practices and was selected to the Northern California Rising Stars List. Before that she was an associate at Morrison & Foerster LLP, where she maintained a pro bono practice in civil rights litigation and indigent criminal defense. In her free time, Mallory likes to explore Oakland’s restaurant and pop-up scene and is a proud pop culture connoisseur.

In 2021, Circles USA 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. Read more about this region of the Appalachian highlands and our seedling CUSA-UCHRA collaboration here . The Upper Cumberland collaborative–named Empower UC–which includes Circles USA as a partner, has been awarded $25 million in TANF Opportunity Act funds to implement its plan, yielding another huge win for the region’s economy and laying the foundation for a CUSA multi-chapter drop-in for their 14-county region and the opportunity for future coalition building across the nation. Established by the Tennessee General Assembly in 1973, the Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency (UCHRA) uses a combination of funds from federal, state, and local organizations to provide a wide variety of services and supports to the most vulnerable individuals across their rural region. UCHRA aims to cultivate self-sufficiency and build true wealth through innovation, collaboration, and leadership, envisioning a region abundant in resources, fostering a productive and vibrant life for the people of the Upper Cumberland. For more information about the UCHRA and this TANF award, visit here to read more.

Circles USA is a growing grassroots network that supports families to get out of poverty and removes the barriers that stand in the way. We currently have 78+ communities of practice spanning 23 U.S.states, 50 counties, and 21 cities with populations of 100,000—plus 16 Circles locations in Ontario, Canada.  Five new chapters have joined the Circles USA family in the last five months, since January 2022. We welcome the following teams to our network: Circles Allen County (Inasmuch Ministry), Fort Wayne, IN Washington County Community Action Council , Hagerstown, MD The Way Station , North Conway, NH Circles Essex (Family Promise), Montclair, NJ Upper Cumberland HRA , Cookeville, TN Use of the Circles USA model is growing because the results are so encouraging. The majority of Circle Leaders who stay in the program for at least 18 months achieve meaningful progress such as: 12.8% of Circle Leaders reaching 200% of the Federal Poverty Guideline, 32.6% of Circle Leaders doubling their income, and 70% of Circle Leaders show significant gains in mean income [source: 2021 Impact Report ]. To find out whether the Circles USA’s model is right for your community, contact national membership coordinator Gena Atcher today.

As Circles USA continues to expand, the national office is grateful to add more infrastructure and reach to our system of chapter support. To that end, regional coaches are beginning to support the West, the Midwest, the South, and the Mid-Atlantic Region. Working across geographic, economic, and political boundaries, each regional coach hosts monthly regional community of practice calls for mutual support and collaboration, coaches their regional chapters on a regular basis, and advises new chapters in their early design phase before launch. They also support regional collaborations to expand local Big View efforts so as to have a greater impact on systemic change and inform the national office of regional trends and needs. This four-part blog series introduces you to Circles USA’s Regional Coaches: who they are, where they come from, and how their leadership helps realize CUSA’s vision of communities in which everyone has enough money, meaning, and friends to thrive. MY NAME IS… Addie Hartnett, and I’ve coached Circles USA’s Southern Region (including FL, GA, AL, and SC) since October 2020. I’ve worked in many roles in my Circles chapter, Circles Orange County (now Circles Central Florida , which includes 2 locations: Circles West Orange and Circles Orlando) since we launched in 2014.   MY IMPORTANT LIFE EXPERIENCES, JOURNEYS, CHALLENGES, AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE… I grew up in a middle class family who modeled for me the necessity of welcoming others into our family and supporting them through difficult times. The greatest example of this is that I now have a sister who is not related by lineage, but whom my family took in while she was going through some very difficult family circumstances. She lived with my family all through my time in middle school and high school. This was the norm in my family: always widening our circle when someone needed safety, comfort, and love. This upbringing led me to the field of social work—a career that, to me, was the clear way for me to practice what I had learned from my family and in church growing up. While in college, I came out to my friends, family, and community as gay. In the process, I somehow became a person that others felt safe to share their hidden sexual orientation and gender identity. And so, along with another person (who also found herself surrounded by LGBTQ people with no support or community), I created a secret support group for LGBTQ+ people through the Methodist campus ministry that I attended. I learned through this experience that I had a gift for creating supportive community that not only made people feel safe to be themselves but that could also lead to community change. After meeting for several months, the members of this group gained self-compassion and confidence enough to come out to their friends and family. The campus ministry quickly changed from a scary place, where it was taboo to express LGBTQ + identity, to an affirming and safe place where LGBTQ students could practice their Christian faith. When I finally graduated with a Master’s of Social Work in 2013, I began working with St. Luke’s UMC in Orlando to start up Circles in our community.  SOMETHING SPECIAL YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT OUR REGION IS… We were the second regional community of practice, and we serve 13-going on-14 chapters. A MAJOR CHALLENGE WE FACE IN ALLEVIATING POVERTY IN OUR REGION IS… Our region is known to have some of the highest poverty rates with the least economic opportunities and lowest amounts of philanthropic and government money available to fund efforts to address these. RECENTLY, OUR REGION HAS ACCOMPLISHED… Meeting monthly for over two years! Our most recent gatherings have been centered on topics we identified and prioritized together. We share struggles, ideas and solutions with Ally Recruitment; learn about the effects of trauma on our Circle Leaders; and discuss how we can create Circles Communities that help address, process, and heal those adverse experiences. ONE THING I WANT POTENTIAL NEW CHAPTERS TO KNOW IS… Our community of practice is very generous with sharing what’s worked and what hasn’t. We’re really welcoming to new chapters and staff people, and we always have a good time together! To find a local chapter or learn how Circles USA can make a difference in your community, visit https://www.circlesusa.org .

As Circles USA continues to expand, the national office is grateful to add more infrastructure and reach to our system of chapter support. To that end, regional coaches are beginning to support the West, the Midwest, the South, and the Mid-Atlantic Region. Working across geographic, economic, and political boundaries, each regional coach hosts monthly regional community of practice calls for mutual support and collaboration, coaches their regional chapters on a regular basis, and advises new chapters in their early design phase before launch. They also support regional collaborations to expand local Big View efforts so as to have a greater impact on systemic change and inform the national office of regional trends and needs. This four-part blog series introduces you to Circles USA’s Regional Coaches: who they are, where they come from, and how their leadership helps realize CUSA’s vision of communities in which everyone has enough money, meaning, and friends to thrive.   MY NAME IS… Helen Rai. I’ve coached Circles USA’s Mid-Atlantic Region (including VA, NC, KY, WV, PA, and MD) since early 2022. In 2018, I was hired as a Circles Coach at Circles RVA in Richmond, VA and just transitioned out of my role with Circles RVA this past March. MY IMPORTANT LIFE EXPERIENCES, JOURNEYS, CHALLENGES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE… Living a somewhat comfortable life in my home country of Nepal and then having to move to the U.S., where my mom became a single mother without employment, it was a huge transition that was very difficult for my entire family. Coupled with my parents’ divorce and starting middle school in a new country, we experienced a lot of trauma, stress, and anxiety. It also made me very angry about the lack of means-testing to receive any support in the community. We would not have survived without the support of our local church and others in the local Nepali community. My anger and passion to make sure low-income people (especially within the immigrant community) had direct access to information and resources they needed to improve their lives pushed me to pursue my education in social work. I was really proud to be accepted to an Advanced Standing Masters of Social Work program, which allowed me to get a Masters in one year and quickly move into doing community work. For my graduate-level field work, I was placed in a Circles chapter in Ashland, Virginia. Through this experience, I was asked to help start a new chapter in Richmond, and—through trial and error—I helped develop the program and processes. During this time with Circles RVA, I also worked with refugee and immigrant populations at a small local organization, where I am now the director of the program! I am really proud to have been part of growing two small start-up nonprofits that serve our community. SOMETHING SPECIAL YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT OUR REGION IS… Our chapters are diverse in many aspects. Some have been in existence for over 10 years and some have just begun. Providing this regional opportunity to connect allows for collaboration. It creates opportunities to help one another, so each chapter can thrive by receiving the best information and support. A MAJOR CHALLENGE WE FACE IN ALLEVIATING POVERTY IN OUR REGION IS… The pandemic has been difficult, and our chapters have shared about the difficulty of recruiting Allies. RECENTLY, OUR REGION HAS ACCOMPLISHED… Coming together as a region for the first time and supporting a new chapter in our region. ONE THING I WANT POTENTIAL CIRCLES PARTICIPANTS TO KNOW IS… It feels really good to know that people all around the country are passionate, that they’re working on alleviating poverty, AND that you can create and develop relationships with them! It’s a happy and healthy intentional community with Circles. To find a local chapter or learn how Circles USA can make a difference in your community, visit https://www.circlesusa.org .  Read Part One of our Meet Circles USA’s Regional Coaches series here .