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. Jennifer Brown Written by Jennifer Brown Circles USA Board Member I was honored to be asked to guest blog for Black History Month. A few days later, I was attending an event in Charleston, SC, during MLK weekend. At this event, a gentleman received the Harvey Gantt award. This was a full-circle moment for me. Growing up in Charlotte, NC, I witnessed Harvey Gantt  being elected the first African American Mayor. He had already made history as the first African American student admitted to Clemson University. Harvey Gantt's Mayoral Inauguration (Charlotte, NC 1983) I sat and listened to the honoree speak of Harvey Gantt attending high school with his sister, and how everyone knew Harvey was bound for greatness. I started reflecting that, as much fear as I am experiencing in the second Trump administration, I am also thankful for all the things I have experienced when America is true to her creed. Growing up in Charlotte, I can’t explain the pride I felt when Mr. Gantt was elected Mayor. I remember attending events where he was the keynote speaker. My belief in what I could accomplish in America was affirmed. I knew I was going to college and that I would be an advocate for my community.  When Barack Obama was elected President, I truly believed that America had turned a page and was leaving our past behind.   In 2026, I accept that America is a Continuous Improvement Project. We will always have to fight for justice, but our fight is not in vain. I believe that our youth are looking at us and seeing us not let all our progress go away. This will encourage more youth to see adults who look like them achieving the American Dream and to truly believe that they, too, can make a difference in their community and achieve their great dream. My reflection during Black History Month is about allowing my fear to shrink and my fight to grow strong. We will always have to fight for justice, but our fight is not in vain.   Further Reading on Harvey B. Gantt: Harvey Gantt: From Desegregating Clemson to Becoming Charlotte’s First Black Mayor  | LDF Recollection About Harvey Gantt  | Gantt Center Building Community to End Poverty for 25+ Years Make an impact across the nation with a gift to Circles USA .

Webinar: Launching 2026 January 21, @ 12 pm PT, 1 pm MT, 2 pm CT, 3 pm ET   Join Executive Director Kamatara Filipiak for an uplifting and forward-looking session as we launch the new year together. We’ll reflect on the accomplishments, insights, and challenges of 2025; preview our new three-year strategic plan; and introduce our 2026 theme: Pathways of Hope. Together, we’ll explore where Circles USA is headed—both in the near future and further down the road—as we continue strengthening hope, deepening transformational relationships, and building community to end poverty. This webinar also includes a dedicated Q&A with your executive director, offering space for connection, curiosity, and conversation across the network. We look forward to beginning this hopeful journey into 2026 with you.   About the presenter : Kamatara   holds a master’s degree in organizational leadership, has nearly 25 years of experience in secondary education, and a ministerial license with Centers for Spiritual Living. She's passionate about creating equitable, thriving communities where poverty no longer exists.

Hope is not a vague wish or a naïve optimism. We know from our partners at Hope Wired  that “Hope is the belief that the future can be better and I have the power to make it happen.” We learned that hope has three components: meaningful goals, multiple pathways, and will power. In the work of Circles, hope is practical. It is relational. It is built step by step, conversation by conversation, choice by choice. As we enter 2026, we are grounding ourselves in a theme that reflects both the reality our community faces and the promise we know is possible: Pathways of Hope . A pathway implies movement. It acknowledges where we are starting from, without judgment, and it points toward where we are going. Unlike a single road or a fixed destination, pathways recognize that there are many ways forward—and that the journey is rarely linear. This matters, because poverty itself is not linear. Neither is healing. Neither is transformation. For years, Circles has understood something essential: people do not move out of poverty alone. Hope does not flourish in isolation. It grows in relationship, in mutuality, in spaces where dignity is protected and voices are honored. Pathways of Hope is a recommitment to that truth. It reminds us that hope is not something we hand to one another; it is something we co-create. In Circles, we see hope emerge when a Circle Leader is no longer defined by a crisis, but by their courage and capacity. We see it when Allies show up consistently—not to fix, but to come alongside. We see it when financial literacy becomes a tool of agency and in community gatherings where real life stories replace stereotypes. Each of these moments is a pathway. Each one widens the possibility of what comes next. This theme also invites honesty. Hope does not ask us to bypass struggle or minimize systems that create inequity. In fact, authentic hope requires us to name those systems clearly. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. so eloquently said, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”  This kind of hope does not deny hardship; it insists that hardship is not the final word. Pathways of Hope recognizes that barriers exist—and that they are not personal failures. At the same time, it affirms that with support, access, and community, people can and do create meaningful change in their lives. As we move through 2026, Pathways of Hope calls us to pay attention. Where are pathways already forming? Where are they blocked? Who is being left out of the conversation, and what wisdom are we missing because of it? These are not abstract questions. They are the daily work of Circles, and they shape how we listen, how we partner, and how we lead. Most of all, this theme reminds us that hope is active. It is built through showing up again and again, even when progress feels slow. It lives in the belief that every person carries potential, and that community is the soil where that potential can take root. Pathways of Hope is not a promise of ease. It is a commitment to possibility. And together—as Leaders, Allies, staff, and community members—we will continue to walk these pathways, trusting that each step forward matters. Because hope, when shared and supported, becomes a way through. — Kamatara Circles USA Executive Director Hear more about Pathways of Hope and our vision for the future of Circles in our January Webinar: Launching 2026 with Circles USA ! More on Hope: Circles members can access our webinar, The Science of Hope & Circles: Strengthening Willpower and Pathways Out of Poverty , with Dr. Evie Trevino here . Building Community to End Poverty for 25+ Years Make an impact across the nation with a gift to Circles USA .

The Circles USA community of practice has identified five core values ( Community , Transformation , Human Dignity & Worth , Accountability , and Thriving ) as essential to realizing our Vision: All individuals live in equitable, thriving communities where poverty no longer exists. These values apply across every level of society—personal, familial, communal, institutional, and systemic—and form the foundation of our organization, our initiatives, and our daily work.  COMMUNITY Community is the cornerstone of poverty alleviation. We progress when we come together with intention, mutual care, and a shared commitment to one another’s well-being. In moments of hardship and seasons of growth, we are stronger, more resilient, and more powerful together. The meaningful connections formed in community build trust, strengthen social capital, and bridge differences. Community offers space to collaborate, communicate, and co-create, recognizing that each person is irreplaceable, each perspective adds value, and each contribution expands our collective capacity. Together, we cultivate belonging—a place to rest, play, work, imagine, and grow. Community is both the container and the action. It reflects our interdependence, our responsibility to one another, and our desire to create spaces where everyone can thrive. It holds the emotional, practical, and relational labor required to uplift one another and invites us to choose empathy, collaboration, and shared growth over isolation or judgment. Community is our refuge and our launching point, an umbrella against the impacts of poverty and a foundation for purpose and possibility. When we choose to be in relationship across lines of difference, we become stronger together, restoring trust and weaving a network of support where every person can flourish. Circles on Community: Listen to Circle Leader Yakilin describe how asking for help  from her Allies and community made all the difference. Read how 2025 Leadership Conference keynote speaker  Jomaris DeJesus and her organization The Prosperity Agenda use a Family-Centered Coaching framework  to connect communities in need, fostering healthy interdependence. CUSA Chief Learning Officer Kris Alexander discusses The Power of Community . TRANSFORMATION We are healing and evolving together. Transformation is the movement of healing and evolving together. It is both deeply personal and profoundly communal, inviting us to unlearn what has harmed us so we can unlock what is possible. Transformation asks us to expand our beliefs about who we are and what we deserve, to embrace new perspectives, and to imagine different ways of being in the world. Through education, connection, and steady support, individuals and communities gain tools, claim their inherent power, and co-create new paths. As each person grows, the whole community grows with them, breaking old cycles and opening space for purpose, stability, and possibility. Transformation is empowerment in motion. It reflects the deep shifts that occur when people experience safety, dignity, and agency, and when communities alongside one another toward healing and freedom. It honors the relational nature of change, recognizing that we rise through shared effort, shared learning, and shared courage. Transformation moves us toward wholeness—strengthening the collective, widening opportunity, and shaping a future where every person has the chance to flourish. Circles on Transformation: CUSA’s landmark Lives Transformed   series highlights Circle Leaders who meet ordinary and extraordinary goals on their journeys out of poverty. In this season 2 episode of our Big View podcast, “Transformational Relationships,” National Coach Addie Hartnett joins hosts Kamatara and Kris to explore how social bonds grounded in trust, reciprocity, and long-term commitment can radically shift the way we approach systems change. HUMAN DIGNITY AND WORTH Everyone is capable, creative, resourceful, and whole. Human Dignity and Worth affirms that every person is inherently capable, creative, and whole. Every individual deserves to be honored, respected, and valued, regardless of race, ethnicity, ability, sexuality, gender, age, socio-economic status, or any other identity or lived experience. Worth is intrinsic; it is not earned through circumstance, productivity, or achievement. This recognition means all people deserve to exercise autonomy, pursue self-fulfillment, and thrive. Poverty is not a personal failing, and no one is broken or in need of fixing; each person brings unique contributions that enrich our communities and our collective work. This value is both foundational and active. It calls us to treat everyone with honor, challenge unjust systems, and ensure equitable access, opportunity, and participation for all. By centering Human Dignity and Worth in our relationships and our work, we foster justice, equity, and respect, supporting individuals and communities in ways that empower, uplift, and strengthen the collective whole. Circles on Human Dignity and Worth: Executive Director Kamatara “Reimagines Labor on Labor Day,”  arguing for a society in which “dignified labor starts with community… continues with policy…[a]nd requires all of us to speak up for an economy that serves people—not the other way around.” Episodes 2.05 and 2.06 of The Big View  podcast feature Meenadchi (a somatic healing practitioner and author of Decolonizing Non-Violent Communication ) breaking down the core components of Empathic Intelligence and discussing its importance in navigating trauma, poverty, systems change, and conflict. ACCOUNTABILITY Taking intentional action with integrity and responsibility . Accountability is the commitment to act with integrity, responsibility, and intentionality—both individually and collectively—to create equitable opportunities for all. It centers justice, fairness, and equity, ensuring that individuals and communities most affected by poverty have the power, voice, and resources to influence and shape the systems that impact their lives. Personal accountability asks each of us to act ethically, honor commitments, and reflect on the impact of our choices, while communal accountability focuses on shared responsibility, collective stewardship, and inclusive decision-making. Together, these forms of accountability strengthen trust, remove barriers, and support meaningful participation so that everyone has a fair chance to thrive. This value is both principle and practice. It calls for courageous advocacy, ethical stewardship of resources, and the intentional redistribution of power to address systemic inequities and root causes of oppression. Accountability encourages reflection, responsibility, and alignment between values and actions, fostering growth on individual and community levels. By embracing accountability in all aspects of life, we build communities and systems where people are empowered, supported, and able to contribute meaningfully, creating long-term, sustainable change that benefits both individuals and society as a whole. Circles on Accountability: 2025 conference keynote speaker Chantel Chapman  (author of The Trauma of Money  and CEO and Founder of The Trauma of Money Institute) takes a nuanced view of accountability, encouraging us to take “financial healing” steps within our power while releasing shame around predatory economic systems. Circles USA reports chapter results at individual and community levels. Our data—available to the public via Impact Reports  and Case Studies —looks in-depth at personal and collective accountability models as participants grow skills and income, decrease dependence on public assistance, and expand resources and support networks. THRIVING We all deserve the opportunity to live a full, abundant, and purposeful life. Thriving is the opportunity to live a full, abundant, and purposeful life. It goes beyond meeting basic needs, encompassing economic stability, upward mobility, and access to the resources, opportunities, and support necessary to achieve personal goals and dreams. To thrive is to experience self-fulfillment, social connection, and a sense of agency, while being equipped to navigate life’s chapters with confidence. Thriving recognizes that success looks different for each individual and family, honoring the choices, aspirations, and values that guide their journey while providing the tools and platforms to create lasting impact. Thriving is both personal and collective. It is about lifting one another up, building generational wealth, creating opportunities for education, exposure, and growth, and contributing to sustainable, long-term change in our communities. It encompasses measurable outcomes as well as the deeper experience of dignity, possibility, and participation in life. By fostering thriving, we cultivate an environment where individuals, families, and communities can flourish together—reaching their potential, achieving their dreams, and leaving poverty behind while building a future of equity, abundance, and shared prosperity. Circles on Thriving: CUSA’s Leadership Development Spotlight series honors graduated Circle Leaders (like Susan D. Richards  of Circles Ashland and Cody Martensen  of Circles Utah Valley) who have stepped into challenging service roles at the chapter, regional, and even national levels—exemplifying what it means to move from surviving to thriving. This Cliff Effect panel from our 2025 conference brought together national economic researchers, state policy advocates, and locally-rooted practitioners to share what’s working, what’s emerging, and where we must focus next to advance thriving communities wherever we live. “Social capital is the safety net,” CLO Kris Alexander writes in her blog post, The Healing Power of Social Capital.  “It’s the community we create around one another and the key to removing the systemic barriers keeping people in poverty. It’s what turns surviving into thriving, isolation into belonging, and hardship into hope.” Building Community to End Poverty in 25 States 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 New Year Circles USA Family!  ​ This holiday season, I thought a lot about how consumerism affects the way we build community. Maybe it's because I recently completed the work to become a Trauma of Money Certified Facilitator  (woo hoo!), which required a lot of learning about how capitalism works. Or maybe it’s because I am in the process of watching The Century of the Self , a documentary by Adam Curtis on how Edward Bernays used his Uncle Freud's theory of the unconscious to develop marketing as a means of economic and political control. Or maybe it is because my spouse is on a major history-reading kick, and I’ve learned a lot from them lately about how our history continues to inform our world today. Over Thanksgiving, I was thinking about how, when I was growing up, everything was closed on Thanksgiving day. If we forgot an ingredient or ran out of something, there was no running to the store to pick it up. Instead, we either went without; or (more often) I would be sent to the neighbors’ to ask for a cup of flour, a stick of butter, or a couple of eggs. And we would, of course, provide whatever it was they needed when they came knocking as well.  Now, stores are open year-round for longer and longer hours. Instead of having to “bother” our neighbors, we drive to the store to pick up what we forgot or mismeasured, on Thanksgiving and every day. It may seem small, but to me it is one indication of how we are more reliant on our wallets than one another.  Because capitalism is the priority for America, even folks who don’t celebrate Thanksgiving often have to work on the holidays they do  celebrate—or at the very least, argue their case to receive the time off. And now, Black Friday, which used to begin very early on Friday morning, now often starts on Thanksgiving evening. There is nothing like waiting in line for hours to shove people out of the way for a doorbuster sale one day (or a few hours) after celebrating gratitude for what we already have.  As consumerism continues to rise, the damage to community is two-fold: we have less reason to get to know our neighbors, and service workers are expected to make money for their company rather than spend time with loved ones.  According to the National Retail Federation , holiday spending in America has gone from about $484 billion in 2005 to $976.1 billion in 2024. Studies show  that over half of Americans planned to take on debt in 2025 for their Christmas spending, and 50% of Christmas sales will be online, with that number rising by the day. This spending is driven by ads and influencers pushing us to consume. Studies show  we are exposed to thousands of ads a day, and despite only being conscious of around 100 of them, that’s still a staggering amount of consumerism impacting our lives at every turn.   I want to be clear, I am not here to judge, shame, or guilt anyone for their personal spending or choices . I am simply noticing trends that I am most certainly not immune to myself. Holiday consumerism takes something that has the potential to be communal—shopping—and turns it into, at best, a solitary activity from our couches, or at worst, a knock-down, drag-out fight over baby dolls found in cabbage patches or adorable bear cups . Consumerism invites us into the worst versions of ourselves, manufacturing scarcity and inciting competition in order to enforce exclusivity. Despite being branded as “the most wonderful time of the year,” holidays are often when service workers are treated the worst , absorbing the anger and frustration of customers over problems entirely beyond their control. The holiday season is meant to be a time of connection, generosity, and shared humanity, yet consumerism consistently undermines the deeper meaning of Christmas and other holidays. As the Grinch so wisely observed, “Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more.” Additionally, there is a deep subconscious message in our culture that is reinforced during the holidays. We show love through our gifts, we are only as valued as what we get, and we need to have a “haul” to show off to be loved. My spouse and I chose to have a very small Christmas this year, only buying presents for our closest family members and friends, not buying much for one another, and shopping locally as much as possible. Despite these intentional decisions, I found myself panicking as we saw folks around the holidays. I felt that if we didn’t give them a gift, they would think that we didn’t care, or love them, or value their presence in our lives. Or, heaven forbid, they would get us something and we would just be standing there feeling guilty. It took a lot of emotional regulation on my part to not run out and buy more for people just to show them I cared (and a couple of times, I did that anyways). Scarcity, debt, and online shopping are doing even more damage to our communities. Local businesses continue to fold, unable to keep up with low-quality, low-price online alternatives and large-scale marketing tactics. When most of our shopping is done online, including grocery shopping, we lose the opportunity to run into people we know. We also lose the opportunity to make new friends as we stand in line together or look at the same section in the bookstore. And now, in January, instead of our resolutions for 2026 being about building community or joining a club , they are about paying down debt…often just in time to do it all again next year. This is part observation, part call to action. This year, show your friends and family members you care year-round through lots of different actions. Partake in activities like eating meals together, calling loved ones, or volunteering with your friends. Choose not to go into debt to buy things for folks who probably won’t still own them in five years. Make gifts, shop local, and prioritize community over consumerism. And finally, join a club (or, my personal favorite, a Circles chapter)!  I personally believe that we should be learning from the queer, immigrant, disabled, and Indigenous communities, who are often deeply communal out of necessity due to the marginalization and oppression they continue to face. Potlucks, Friendsgiving, volunteer days, and virtual gatherings have become the norm in many communities who don’t have access to (or choose not to celebrate) what is often considered the “traditional holidays” for any number of reasons.  Circles Campaign of the Mid-Ohio Valley One thing I love about Circles is our community building. Circles is all about bringing people together across lines of difference, which means that the perceived scarcity and exclusivity of consumerism naturally fall away in a Circles chapter. Many of our chapters celebrate holidays with potlucks, inviting everyone to bring their favorite dishes and spend time together connecting over food made with love. And some even celebrate the holidays by creating additional opportunities to build relationships through volunteering, service, or special events that support their entire community. Circles Cobb If you are not part of a chapter, now is the time to check one out. And if you haven’t already, follow Indigenous, disabled, immigrant, and queer individuals to learn how to be a community from those who do it best. If we start now, the next holiday season will be different for us all. Read more from Kris on her monthly Circles USA blog, The Learning Curve Chronicles : 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

Part One  of our Conference Recap series touched on the many fantastic outcomes of Circles USA’s 2025 National Leadership Conference , which convened last October in beautiful Ogden, Utah at the Ogden Eccles Conference Center.  Conference Attendees (L > R): Sarah Thornburg, Twana Greene, Tracey Hoesch, Carla Wilson Launched with an event in Pensacola, FL in 2013, our bi-annual gatherings strive to connect attendees with real-world strategies, deliver hands-on workshops, introduce inspiring keynotes, improve leadership skills, and foster community-driven solutions to end poverty. This year’s conference, hosted by the city of Ogden and Ogden Weber Community Action Partnership (OWCAP) , was organized around the theme Moving Beyond —and kicked off our 2026 theme, Pathways of Hope . It brought together representatives from 22 US states and 24 chapters; 35+ speakers; 24 breakout sessions; 6 affinity groups; and 110 registered participants (72 of whom were first-time attendees). The conference received high marks in feedback, with participants praising its “welcoming and embracing,” “informative,” and “inspiring” atmosphere and programming. In all, 94% agreed  that the overall experience met or exceeded expectations.  CUSA Executive Director Kamatara welcomes conference attendees Executive Director Kamatara summed up the spirit of a conference that offered a little something for everyone: “ Our breakout sessions and other offerings were designed with different roles, chapter experience and chapter settings in mind,” she explained. “Whether Circle Leader, Ally, staff, or volunteer; beginner, intermediate, or advanced experience; there was something to energize and equip all of our diverse participants to tackle poverty where they live. ” CHAPTER LEADERS, GUEST EXPERTS SHARE CAPTIVATING KEYNOTES Circle Leaders Kick Off Conference With Style At the 2023 conference in Orlando, FL, Circles established a new tradition: opening our time together with keynote talks by Circle Leaders, who have lived experiences of poverty and are closest to the issues we work together to solve.  This year in Utah, four Circle Leaders shared memorable accounts of how their Circles experiences transformed their lives  in visible and invisible ways, opening pathways to prosperity they had believed were out-of-reach. Patty Herndon  of Circles Davis County, UT kicked off our Circle Leader keynotes with powerful testimony about newfound hope and social capital: “I came [into Circles] with an open heart and open mind,” she said. “I wanted to succeed again…I want to help change the landscape of poverty.” Arizona Streeval  of Circles Weber County, UT shared her personal growth and recovery experiences: “I can advocate for myself now; I’m very tenacious. I found a sense of community. There are people who still care.” Finally, married partners Raeanna and Jason Earl  of Circles Campaign of the Mid-Ohio Valley, WV related their story of moving from generational poverty into the promise of higher education and foundations for a new career. “We’re in our second year of a criminal justice degree,” Jason testified. “And every Monday for two-and-a-half years, we’re at Circles. I don’t know where we’d be without it.” Anti-Poverty Experts Illuminate Pathways to Healing Money Trauma, Building Community Jomaris DeJesús , Executive Director of partner organization The Prosperity Agenda , highlighted how coaching and social capital were crucial in her journey toward prosperity.  Calling CUSA “a place where Hope is not hypothetical, but a practice we share,” Jomaris reminded attendees that “empowering conversations are free. Getting together with groups of people is free… [T]here are some things that no budget line can ever take away from us.” “We name the shame to tame the shame,” offered Chantel Chapman , founder and CEO of the Trauma of Money Institute  and author of bestselling book The Trauma of Money . Chantel’s presentation spoke to frameworks for healing both individual and collective trauma—supporting greater financial safety, resilience, and well-being.  BOLD BREAKOUTS SHOWCASE CHAPTERS’ KNOW-HOW The 2025 conference breakout sessions addressed a myriad of pressing issues for chapters throughout our network. Topics ranged from engaging elected officials for the Big View to building lucrative cross-sector community alliances, utilizing Appreciative Inquiry, and exploring Family-Centered Coaching.  Cheryl Williams, Coach for Circles in Columbus, co-presents a breakout session entitled " Feel, Think, Lead: Emotional Intelligence for Circles" with National Coach, Addie Hartnett One breakout, “The Parkersburg Engagement Project,”  led by Jason and Raeanna Earl, offered a cross-section of its year-long experiment (hosted by the Circles Campaign of the Mid-Ohio Valley) to cultivate civic engagement for bridging divides.  Isabel Jones and Patty Hurtado of Circles of the Coastal Bend, TX discussed communication gaps as a barrier to social support in their presentation “Creating Belonging Through Language Access,”  asking: “What if you had only a few minutes to fill out a form that would determine your child’s future care… but you didn’t speak the language?” And Crystal Carlson, ED of Circles San Diego, recounted her experiences of walking alongside Ukrainian refugees and shared best practices for creating responsive, compassionate communities for all in her session “Building Bridges: Supporting Immigrants & Refugees in Circles.” SPECIAL SESSIONS AND EVENTS Between breakout sessions, a series of special workshops and speeches showcased key Circles USA partners, conference VIPs, and practitioners whose expertise touched on skill sets crucial to anti-poverty workers at every level. Ogden’s Mayor Ben Nadolski , who has been a strong advocate for community development and local partnerships, kicked off our conference with a special welcome address. Our specially-tailored Inquiry Track  provided newer attendees with a day of programming designed to convey essential 101-level information about Circles. A Cliff Effect Day , sponsored by OgdenCAN and Weber State University, offered three breakout sessions and a panel discussion: deep dives on issues surrounding the Cliff Effect , one of the major barriers that keeps working Americans in poverty. Several optional “add-on” experiences rounded out the week. These included a local weekly chapter meeting  and a  film screening   of Join or Die —a powerful documentary about the work of social scientist Robert Putnam and why social capital is vital to the wellbeing of ourselves, our communities, and American democracy—followed by a rich group discussion. The Circles USA Board of Directors  gathered to discuss nonprofit governance, the future of Circles, and how our network can come together to end poverty in our lifetime. The 2025 Circles USA Network Awards , established in 2014 and now livestreamed nationwide, celebrated the many milestones and achievements of chapters, Circle Leaders, and other participants who embody the best of what Circles USA creates in communities. For more information on our 2025 Network Award winners, see this post . BUILDING PATHWAYS OF HOPE: AN INVITATION In her stirring address to the Circles network , Executive Director Kamatara extolled the importance of interdependence and mutual support. She evoked the ritual of barn raising as a metaphor for “a whole town coming together to help one family build what they need,” continuing:   There’s no hierarchy — just neighbors shoulder to shoulder, each giving what they can. Some bring tools, some bring food, some bring laughter—all bring love. 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. That’s what Circles does every day—in living rooms, community centers, church basements, schools, and Zoom rooms across the nation. We are barn raisers building structures of support, hope, and opportunity together. The next Circles USA leadership conference is slated for October of 2027.  Think your community might be a great fit to host that conference? Got ideas for fresh topics and speakers to explore the next chapter for Circles USA? Let us know! Contact Administrative Coordinator Gena Atcher: gena@circlesusa.org . Building Community to End Poverty in 25 States 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.   I am currently reading Dedicated: The Case for Commitment in an Age of Infinite Browsing  by Pete Davis. You may recognize his name because he is the co-director of Join or Die: A film about why you should join a club…and why the fate of America depends on it , the documentary on Robert Putnam’s research and work on social capital. We at Circles USA are especially excited about this documentary because we know that social capital is the key to ending poverty , and our work is partially based in Putnam’s research. In fact, we hosted a Join or Die  film screening at our Leadership Conference  back in October, and we had the honor of welcoming Pete to our November CUSA learning webinar. At the webinar, Pete shared information about Join or Die  and offered insight into how chapters can host their own film screenings. I absolutely love the movie, so I was fangirling a little to spend an hour learning from him. When he mentioned his book, I naturally scooped it up immediately. It is so rich, with about 1,000 quotable ideas; and I am really enjoying his call to fully commit to something—anything—rather than staying in the hallway of life. I think the crux of Dedicated  is this passage: For many people I know, leaving home and heading out into the world was a lot like entering a long hallway. We walked out of the room in which we grew up and into this world with hundreds of different doors to infinitely browse. And I’ve seen all the good that can come from having so many new options. I’ve seen the joy a person feels when they find a ‘room’ more fitting for their authentic self. I’ve seen big decisions become less painful, because you can always quit, you can always move, you can always break up, and the hallway will always be there. And mostly, I’ve seen the fun my friends have had browsing all the different rooms, experiencing more novelty than any generation in history has ever experienced.  But over time, I started seeing the downsides of having so many open doors. Nobody wants to be stuck behind a locked door—but nobody wants to live in a hallway, either. It’s great to have options when you lose interest in something, but I’ve learned that the more times I jump from option to option, the less satisfied I am with any given option. And lately, the experiences I crave are less the rushes of novelty and more those perfect Tuesday nights when you eat dinner with the friends who you have known for a long time—the friends you have made a commitment to, the friends who will not quit you because they found someone better.  Sounds a lot like a Circles weekly meeting, right? I really want to hone in on one particular section of the book, “Long-Haul Heroism . ”   In this chapter, he dives into the importance of commitment in driving systems change. Because of social media, we tend to only witness “Hollywood dragon-slaying,” those moments or events in history that are visible, loud, and seemingly huge. However, those moments—things like standing up for someone being bullied, protests, economic blackouts, helping someone in crisis—don’t actually do much on their own to move us towards our goal of creating large-scale systems change needed in the country. Instead, it is the hours, weeks, months, years, and decades of behind-the-scenes, unglamorous work of ordinary-but-committed people that really moves the needle on progress.  As Davis says about MLK, “We remember Martin Luther King Jr. for his cinematic dragon-slaying—his iconic speeches and confrontations, but what’s lost is all the long-haul work that queued up those moments. King makes clear in Stride Toward Freedom , his memoir of the Montgomery bus boycott, just how much time he spent in the mundane work of winning the community’s trust, joining local organizations, weaving together coalitions through multiple meetings, and planning efficient public gatherings. I also recently finished Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (and How to Reverse It) . In it, author Robert Lupton talks a lot about the damage that short-term service work can do. Well-meaning, untrained folks come into a community for a week or two to build, teach, or provide other services. When those efforts aren’t community led and driven by their needs and desires, it does more harm than good. Yet this is often what we do. It is much easier to host a coat drive or bring in a couple of canned goods than to commit to the long-term, collaborative work of changing inequitable systems permanently. 2025 Leadership Conference Personal and systemic transformation is exactly the work of Circles USA. We are not swooping in to “fix” someone’s life. Rather, we come alongside them, listen, learn, and grow together: not only to support individuals and families as they leave poverty, but to discover what the true barriers to thriving are. We work together in community, coming together across lines of difference, to create new systems and practices. When we slow down enough to build deep, lasting, impactful relationships, we discover that permanent systems change is complicated and harder than expected, but also far more meaningful, gratifying, and life-affirming. Being a part of Circles isn’t “Hollywood dragon-slaying”. In fact, it may sometimes feel like our work isn’t accomplishing much at all. But as Davis reminds us: “The folk singer Pete Seeger talked about it as a seesaw. One side is planted firmly on the ground, weighed down by boulders. The side in the air has an empty basket atop it. A small group of people patiently work to fill the basket with sand, one teaspoon at a time. The crowd watching scoffs, because nothing is changing. But one day, the whole seesaw is going to flip—not little by little, but all at once. People will ask, “How did it happen so suddenly?” The answer, of course, is all those teaspoons over the years.” Circles USA Board and Advisory Council The Circles community’s continued commitment to our Circle Leaders, our chapters, and our regions is the “true dragon-slaying.”  We show up again and again, supporting one another, falling in love with our neighbors, and growing together. When the going gets tough—when conflict arises, when the edges of our differences rub against one another uncomfortably—we lean in and root into our commitment. We find ways through and beyond the obstacles. We are doing the work of dragon-slaying, one teaspoon at a time.  Davis and Lupton are really talking about what Circles USA already knows: that relationships, long-term commitment, and dedication are the foundation of community; and community is the heart of systems change, personal change, and…well, everything. Read more from Kris on her monthly Circles USA blog, The Learning Curve Chronicles : 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 20+ States Make an impact across the nation with a gift to Circles USA .

At Circles, we know relationships are the cornerstone of any effective poverty alleviation system. To foster intentional relationships, our model provides three kinds of social capital (or valuable networks of human connection): bonding , in which peers connect with peers; bridging , in which social capital expands each participant’s connections to opportunities and a broader community through volunteers; and linking , in which a participant’s social capital expands even further to the network and resources beyond the volunteers—like connecting with new job pathways, educational opportunities, and advocating for systemic change. Bonding, bridging, and linking social capital are lifelong assets that equip our participants to thrive. Here are positive experiences of social capital from our Circles community:  –Bonding: “Being a part of Circles Lambton literally changed my life. It gave me a sense of belonging, being a part of the community, being able to build relationships , and having support to move forward with my education and finances. I can honestly say I wouldn’t be where I am today without Circles in my life.” —Rene Allison, Circles participant from Lambton, Canada and college graduate –Bridging: “Because of my work with Circles, I was made aware of new programs in the state of Indiana to help those negatively impacted by Covid-19; and I have become a voice in our county to promote them. I love the way Circles builds community for our Circle Leaders and volunteers, and I’ve seen that remain strong even through the challenges of the pandemic.” —Lori Miller, Circles Putnam County Program Administrator –Linking: “Relationships have blossomed into friendships—with boundaries. I’ve been much more personally invested and vocal about supporting local businesses, trying to find ways to make an organic movement happen locally .” —Matthew Hastreiter, Circles Green Bay Coach Resource:  “Social capital and poverty alleviation,” a 2020 report by Social Capital Research and Training founder Tristan Claridge, provides a basic framework for understanding the connection between social capital —including “finance and lending; social networks and membership; various efficiencies and savings; innovation, creativity and problem solving; belonging, solidarity and resilience”—and effective poverty alleviation strategies . Contact gena@circlesusa.org for more information about using social capital for poverty alleviation.

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.  Circles USA’s new Leadership Development Spotlight series spotlights graduated Circle Leaders who have stepped into challenging service roles at the chapter, regional, and even national levels. Among the most skilled, dedicated participants in the Circles network, these big-L Leaders’ stories offer insights and hard-won lessons guaranteed to inspire us all in our shared mission of building community to end poverty. Rebecca Price Good morning! Will you share your name, where you’re based, and the work you do with Circles? I’m Rebecca Price, Coach for Circles Davis County in Utah. Rebecca, how did you become involved with Circles? I was eight months pregnant and I was homeless. I went through Open Doors Rapid Rehousing Program, and they talked to me about Circles. I decided that I wanted to try it out just because I knew that where my life was, and how it was going, wasn't something that I wanted. Or something I wanted for my kids. So I went to Circles, and that was, I think, in March…10 years ago. March of 2015 is when I started Circles. My son was one month old [by then].  I'm an introvert and I don't trust people. So when I first started, me and my kids were, like, huddled into one little table. We were meeting at a school at that time, and we'd huddle and eat our dinner at the table, and they're like, “All right, kids are gonna go.” And I was like, “What?!” But that's how I started getting involved! So you actually just had an anniversary with the organization… Happy 10 years. That's a big milestone. Yes. We did a 10 year celebration—like, a ceremony. It was pretty cool. When you think back and look at yourself and your family at that time, what were your goals?  This is somewhat emotional…I wasn't happy with a lot of things because of trauma and stuff like that. I wasn't happy. I grew up upper middle class; we didn't get new neighbors every six months, every year; because when you live in a neighborhood, people don't just up and leave all the time. [Now] I was having to make sure that neighbors were safe people for my kids to be around.  So my main goal was to buy a house. I didn't care what kind of house. I didn't care where it was. I just wanted something stable for my kids. When I was pregnant and homeless, it wasn't my first time being homeless. I have two older kids, my two daughters. I think they were two and four. We lived out of my car for six months during the wintertime. So I never wanted my kids to feel like they had nowhere to go, no one to turn to, if they ever had those situations come up. My goal was to make sure that we had a home, and then that we had a healthy relationship—that I was able to provide for them and help them if they needed help.  10 years later, how have those goals evolved and changed with your changing roles in Circles? My goals have changed. All of my [old] goals have been met, so I guess we're searching for new goals. We do live in a home, and I want to say it's in reach of me owning it. We’d moved in with my mom when my grandma passed away, and she paid off her house. Now, having our own home in a stable environment came with a lot of work. Leaving my abusive ex-husband was one of the biggest things, because you can't grow if there's somebody literally, like, holding you down. For financial goals and stuff like that, it would be nice to rebuild my credit. I was getting [wages] garnished for a while. So I have to rebuild my credit so I can get the home loan to pay for the house. My oldest daughter is 18. We've gone through struggles, we've gone through growth. She graduated high school early, which is amazing. And she's done all this awesome stuff; but also, she went through a phase where she was like: “As soon as I hit 18, I'm leaving the house! You're the problem!” I think any mom that has teenagers probably has some kind of similar story, right? Then she's like, “Uh, is it okay if I don't leave?” And I was like, “Well, of course, baby.” For me, it was just showing up and being there… just being a constant when, realistically, mental health was down the drain. We're still finding the fine line of making sure everything's taken care of and our mental health is good. Trying to figure out things so I can be better for them. My goal now is to make sure my kids are set up. And it would be amazing if I can get to the point where I can set grandkids up; I would like to put aside three other mutual funds for grandkids. With some help from my family, we've opened up a mutual fund for my daughters. And this is going to set them up for when they hit 30 and want to buy a house, or if they just want to save it, and then they want to retire at the age of 50. Or just retire whenever they're wanting to be done with work, to live life comfortably so they're not ever struggling. It's just putting money every month into that mutual fund, and I have to start one for my son, too. It would be awesome if I can take $25 a month. Yeah, my goal now is just setting my kids and hopefully my future kids, or grandkids, up for success. Getting your life together does take time. My kids have not had the easiest life. But they are doing good. And they're finding joy in stuff, they're learning to set their own goals. And they're going to chill at the house until they are ready. And I told them, “When you guys are ready to move out, I want this for you guys: You have to have a stable job, something that pays a living wage. While you're living here, I want you to buy a car. Don’t finance a car; buy a car outright. This way you don't have to worry about car payments. And this way, you're living within your means.” I'm like, “If we can get at least $5,000 to $10,000 set aside for an emergency fund, if you guys lose your job—or if something happens—you still have money to keep going.”  They both agreed to it. And I was like, “Cool!” So we're already getting off on a better foot than I was when I hit 18. I n Circles... you have somebody that will sit there and be in your darkness with you. And then you have people that'll give you advice and try and help you. They'll open up those windows so the light shines through, so you're not always by yourself. So, if a newer Circle Leader were doubting themselves, or their ability to hang in for the long haul the way that you have…what would you say to them? There's a reason why you're here, there's a reason why you were drawn to this program. Follow your heart, never give up, always have hope. The things that you learn in Circles is stuff that a lot of people don't learn, and you take them everywhere you go. Like New and Goods: always looking at the positive, changing that mindset. The things that I’ve learned in Circles, when I was literally broken, have changed my life.  There's so much to Circles besides just finances. At least for Circles Davis County there is. And I believe that, for the most part, everybody I've talked to agrees. There's so much more to Circles than just learning to survive. Right? We want you to thrive. You're going to find yourself in low places where you don't know where to turn and you feel like you have no one. A lot of people feel like that. But in Circles, you have those people to turn to. You have a listening ear, you have a shoulder to cry on. You have somebody that will sit there and, you know, be in your darkness with you. And then you have people that'll give you advice and try and help you. They'll open up those windows so the light shines through, so you're not always by yourself. One of the biggest things that I loved about Circles is because, in what I felt was my darkest moments, the people in Circles helped me through it. There was a time that—well, I didn’t take a break, but my work wouldn't allow me to come to Circles. And it was hard, not being able to talk to the people that I looked forward to seeing every Thursday. When you don't get to have that personal, one-on-one or face-to-face contact, it is hard. Because [they’re] just like the family that you should have had growing up.  I think that you named a number of really important things there. This idea of recovery mindset, a found family, the New and Goods… we don't do that once a year. We do it once a week. Right. That's how we open the meetings. Well, and it’s training yourself to do it on more of a daily basis. I didn't have a good marriage. My marriage was a solid negative experience. But New and Goods in my day-to-day, just to survive, just to get through that day… Let's look at something positive! Kids are waking up, they're healthy. High five, we're winning! New and Goods help you if you put it to use on a daily basis. Like, your car breaks down, man, that stinks. But it didn't break down on the freeway in the hot sun. It broke down at work, so I have, you know, an A/C place that I can go into; I can figure this out. There's always light somewhere, and those New and Goods have helped me to find everything that is good in my day. 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 Building Community to End Poverty in 25 States Make an impact across the nation with a gift to Circles USA .

Launched in 2024,  The Big View: Ending Poverty in Your Community podcast features   Chief Learning Officer Kris Alexander and Executive Director Kamatara as they discuss the transformative mindset and culture that drive Circles USA’s Big View approach . Our team dives deep in each episode with a cohort of poverty alleviation guest experts, exploring how intentional mindsets and values can inspire both lasting personal growth and systemic change. Because at Circles, we believe that everyone  can make a meaningful impact—and everyone has a role to play in the journey to reduce poverty. Season 2: The Big View Mindset  explores how intentional mindsets and values can fuel our movement. The sophomore season (which wrapped this fall) touches on topics at the heart of Circles USA’s relationship-based model for building community to end poverty, including values-based organizing; reframing narratives around poverty; empathic intelligence; Appreciative Inquiry; generative dialogue; and more. “The first thing that we talked about this season was centering the people closest to the challenge,” shared Kris. “When we're talking about ending poverty, it's centering the people who who have the lived experience of it, who are experiencing poverty currently—not just 10 or 15 years ago. It’s asking: Who's missing from this table? How do we get them here? How do we ensure that we're hearing those voices and perspectives and ideas?” "There's so much change that can happen when we just listen and then find those community driven solutions… Right now, that's our deep desire for change." — Kamatara, CUSA Executive Director “And that there's more than two sides,” Kamatara added. “There's an infinite number of perspectives...We want to be closer, listening to each other and trusting each other more. There's so much change that can happen when we just listen and then find those community driven solutions… Right now, that's our deep desire for change. That's what we're aiming for.” S2E1: Centering Those Closest to the Challenge ft. Patty Herndon Click to listen! Join Kamatara, Kris, and special guest Patty Herndon, Big View Chair and Circle Leader from Circles Davis County, as they explore the critical importance of centering those most impacted by the challenges of poverty. Together, they discuss how elevating lived experiences and amplifying the perspectives of strategically undervalued individuals can drive meaningful systems change, creating a more equitable and effective path of upward mobility for your community. At Circles, we understand that those closest to the challenge are closest to the solution—and everyone has a role to play in building an equitable and prosperous society. S2E2: Values-Based Organizing Click to listen! In this episode, Kamatara and Kris kick off a three-part series on Centering People & Purpose, starting with the second mindset of Big View: Values-Based Organizing. What happens when we lead with what we stand for, not just what we stand against? Join us as we explore how shared values can be a powerful foundation for organizing work that inspires hope, unity, and real community systems change. We’ll break down the difference between traditional organizing and values-based organizing, share real-life examples from our own experiences and Circles communities, and dig into why centering values helps us keep people and purpose at the heart of what we do. This isn’t just theory—it’s a practical shift that can reshape how we design campaigns, engage communities, and imagine solutions that include everyone, not just a few. Whether you’re new to organizing or a longtime changemaker, this episode will ground you in the “why” of values-based strategy. Traditional Organizing: Problem → Solution → Strategy Values-Based Organizing: Value → Violation → Aspiration → Strategy S2E3: Transformational Relationships ft. Addie Hartnett Click to listen! In this episode, Kamatara and Kris continue a three-part series on Centering People & Purpose  by diving into the third mindset of Big View: Transformational Relationships. Joining us is special guest Addie Hartnett, National Coach for Circles USA, who brings powerful insights from over a decade of experience in multiple roles across the poverty alleviation arena. What happens when we choose connection over personal gains? In a world that often prioritizes quick wins and surface-level networking, we’re flipping the script. We’ll explore how transformational relationships—grounded in trust, reciprocity, and long-term commitment—can radically shift the way we approach systems change. Together, we’ll unpack the difference between transactional and transformational relationships, highlighting how meaningful, emotionally invested relationships lead to deeper impact, especially when working with policymakers, community leaders, and people experiencing poverty. This episode is a practical call to slow down, build trust, and center the human experience in all we do. Transformational relationships can offer a sustainable, equitable, and powerful path towards cultivating partnerships in your community, working with those most in need of support, and meeting with local decision-makers.   S2E4: Narrative Change ft. Circles Grant County Click to listen! This episode is the final installment in our 3-part series on Centering People and Purpose . Special guests Andrew Sprock and Kayla Johnson (of Circles Grant County in Marion, Indiana) join Kamatara and Kris for a conversation about the vital role of Narrative Change in Big View work. Faced with critical issues after only a few years, Circles Grant County recognized that doing “business as usual” wasn’t going to move them forward. They found themselves in a moment of crisis: funding had dropped significantly, some Circle Leaders were experiencing  discouraging challenges, and the Matched Circles weren’t gaining the traction they had hoped for. In response, they launched a storytelling team and began hosting monthly story nights. This intentional shift has propelled their chapter's success—strengthening relationships, boosting fundraising efforts, and reshaping the larger community narrative about poverty. Tune in for this powerful discussion on the transformative impact of creating space and support for people to share their stories. S2E5: Empathic Intelligence (Pt.1) ft. Meenadchi Click to listen! In this two-part series, Kris & Kamatara dive deep into the transformative power of empathic intelligence with special guest Meenadchi (she/her), somatic healing practitioner and author of Decolonizing Non-Violent Communication . In Part 1, we explore what empathy and empathic intelligence truly are, including a breakdown of their two core components and the three types of empathy. We also discuss the importance of body sovereignty and boundaries in empathic practice—especially within the power dynamics that often arise in poverty alleviation work. Empathy isn’t just about being nice; it’s about cultivating emotional fluency and embodied awareness to navigate difference, power, and complexity with care. Stay tuned for Part 2 in Episode 6, where we continue the conversation with Meenadchi and explore how empathic intelligence is essential for navigating trauma, poverty, systems change, and conflict. S2E6: Empathic Intelligence (Pt. 2) ft. Meenadchi Click to listen! In Part 2 of our conversation with Meenadchi  (she/her), somatic healing practitioner and author of Decolonizing Non-Violent Communication , we continue exploring the role of empathic intelligence—this time focusing on its importance in navigating trauma, poverty, systems change, and conflict. Together, we dive into some passages from Decolonizing Non-Violent Communication  to reflect on how empathy lives in our bodies, relationships, and communities. We explore how empathic intelligence helps us stay grounded in our own experience while remaining open to others, especially in high-stakes or emotionally charged situations. We talk about what it means to listen beyond words , how to honor boundaries while staying connected, and the role of nervous system regulation in truly showing up for one another. Meenadchi shares practical tools and deep wisdom for anyone looking to lead with compassion without bypassing conflict or complexity. This episode invites us to rethink how we relate: not just to each other, but to ourselves, to systems, and to the possibility of collective healing. S2E7: Appreciative Inquiry Click to listen! In this episode, Kamatara and Kris explore how the process of Appreciative Inquiry opens up fresh possibilities in Big View and large-scale systems change work. Sometimes called “the Other AI,” Appreciative Inquiry asks powerful questions and identifies the present strengths of a person, group, community, or society. This asset-based approach invites change from a grounded place of vision and creativity—focusing on what we want to build and expand, rather than fighting against what we don’t. Tune in to discover how this transformative framework can shift conversations, inspire collaboration, and help us move collectively toward a more just and thriving world. S2E8: Generative Dialogue Click to listen! Join us for the final episode of   Season 2 of The Big View  Podcast, where we’ve been exploring the power of mindset: how it shapes our lives, our relationships with our families and communities, and the way we engage with the world. In this closing conversation, hosts Kamatara and Kris dive into the practice of generative dialogue, discussing what it means, how to cultivate it, and why it’s essential for creating meaningful change. We unpack how the collective wisdom accessed through authentic, curiosity-driven conversations can lead to something brand new. The episode also offers a rich reflection on the key mindsets we’ve explored this season, weaving them into a vision of how we can each contribute to thriving, connected communities grounded in awareness and possibility as we work together to end poverty. It’s an invitation to keep the dialogue going…within ourselves and with one another. Find all episodes of The Big View podcast on   Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Youtube — or right here on our website  with episode transcripts, show notes, and more! Building Community to End Poverty in 25 States Make an impact across the nation with a gift to Circles USA.

The results are in! Circles USA is pleased and proud to share the feedback we’ve compiled from attendee questionnaires following our 2025 National Leadership Conference in Ogden, UT. The overall theme…? As Circles network participants, you found meaning, motivation, and valuable tools for ending poverty in your communities at the conference . More importantly, you found these resources in one another : whether breaking bread at shared tables or chatting in breakout sessions, one common response was that the quality time spent among peer chapters—from staff to volunteers, Leaders and Allies—was a huge benefit. Whether beginner, intermediate, or advanced experience level, you let us know that the conference offerings will help you succeed as a valued member of your chapter and community. “What a gift it was to be together,” said Executive Director Kamatara Johnson, “a constellation of changemakers, bridge-builders, and believers in what’s possible as we gather to celebrate, to learn, to connect, and to move beyond. Our theme this year, Moving Beyond , isn’t just a tagline — it’s a way of being. It’s an invitation to evolve as individuals, as communities, and as a national movement. It’s about moving beyond limits, beyond binaries, beyond what we once thought was the edge, into the deeper truth of our shared humanity, how we all can flourish if we work together.” BY THE NUMBERS… Our final tally showed that our 2025 Leadership Conference included:  representatives from 22 US states and 24 chapters; 72 first-time CUSA conference attendees; 35+ speakers; 24 breakout sessions; 6 affinity groups; and 110 registered participants. When it came to rating the overall quality of your experiences in Ogden, you were loud and clear: Our Conference programming overwhelmingly met or surpassed your expectations.  Specifically:  94% agreed that “The overall conference experience met my expectations;” 93% agreed that they “could use the various concepts, tools and resources presented in this session with my local chapter;” 94% said they were “able to connect meaningfully with peers from across the Circles network;” and 96% reported that “The conference helped to create a sense of connection and belonging to Circles.” …AND IN YOUR OWN WORDS “There were so many great comments, I was not sure what to include!” writes Courtney Cowan, Circles USA’s Systems and Design Manager, who compiled Conference feedback for analysis and shared them for this summary. Among the ocean of numbers, Courtney notes, participants’ written comments expressed a warm appreciation for our  Leadership Conference keynote speakers Jomaris DeJesus  and Chantel Chapman , breakout session programming, and opportunities for networking between events .  Attendees enthused: “It OVER SHOT my expectations.  It was so amazing.” “The session offerings were incredible this year, toughest choice was picking which one to miss.” “...[V]ery well planned and organized. The breakout sessions were especially valuable, helping me as a Circles Ally better understand how to engage meaningfully with our Circle Leaders.” Other words we noted in your descriptions of the Leadership Conference experience: “welcoming and embracing,” “informative,” and “inspiring.” Asked to name concepts, tools or resources  that you’ll bring back to your chapters, one attendee shared: “The overall sense of care. The balance of reality and inspiration. Feeling like these are my people.” Another found sessions on “Emotional IQ, story telling, and cliff effect” extra helpful; and multiple respondents told us that you loved our programming related to Appreciative Inquiry  and engaging employers and elected officials. And—because we still have plenty of room to grow—Circles staff received a wealth of valuable feedback on how we can make future Leadership Conferences even more effective . Among the suggestions you offered: “More movement during breakout sessions” to care for our bodies as well as our minds and finances; “Finding time for more breakout space,” so that helpful offerings are accessible to more members; and “MUCH more time in affinity groups!!!”...because our chapters and community members enjoy tight-knit bonds indeed. One savvy attendee encouraged us to continue pursuing a growth mindset for Circles USA. Observing differences in chapter size and capacity during breakout sessions, they noted that it can be “difficult to share best practices when chapters are so nuanced and diverse… but I believe in Circles programming so completely that I believe in a path forward toward growth.” As a national network whose strength lies in local leadership, we take your feedback seriously—and we seriously love  the idea of focusing on a growth mindset for our Leadership Conferences and entire community of practice in 2026-27 and beyond.  So we leave the question with you, Circle Leaders and participants at every level: How can Circles USA embody our growth mindset at the 2027 Leadership Conference? And in what ways can we each contribute to make that goal a reality? Let us know your thoughts! Share your continuing ideas, Conference feedback, and hopes for ending poverty in America with kris@circlesusa.org . Stay tuned for Pt. 2 of our 2025 Conference Leadership Recap, where we’ll look back at some specific highlights and standout events from our week in Ogden. Building Community to End Poverty in 25 States 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.   Circles USA Staff A few weeks ago in Ogden, Utah, we held our biannual Leadership Conference  for the Circles community of practice and our partners. It was my first time attending, and the experience was truly incredible. I met so many amazing people, finally got to hug those I’d only known through a Zoom screen, and spent time in conversation (sometimes deep, sometimes delightfully silly) with extraordinary humans who work tirelessly to make our world and our country better every single day. CUSA 2025 Leadership Conference I left inspired, energized, deeply connected, and feeling profoundly loved, valued, and blessed. The experience really got me thinking about the power of community, especially in the work of poverty alleviation. There’s a sweet comic by Foxes in Love  (@green_fox_blue_fox on Insta ) that says, “Animals learn their most vital skill first. Hours old foal can run, a newly hatched snake can bite. What do babies do? Babies cry. Your most important survival skill is asking for help.” This message, wrapped in the simplicity of a comic, is truly profound. Our society has long taught the myth of rugged individualism, and in doing so, we’ve forgotten that humans were never meant to live in isolation. We are communal beings who thrive together. In fact, community isn’t just essential for thriving…it’s essential for survival. Building community is Circles USA’s superpower. We recognize that community is not only vital for thriving and surviving, but also the antidote to the root causes of poverty: isolation and oppression. In community, we can support one another, ask for help, and use our strengths for the good of all, while allowing others to use their strengths to balance our own limitations. No one person (or even one family) can do it all. We need each other.  CUSA 2025 Leadership Conference In her keynote , Jomaris DeJesús spoke about the myth of self-sufficiency. None of us got to where we are on our own. The people who grow our food, build our roads, care for us when we’re sick, and hand us our morning coffee have all contributed to our success. Self-sufficiency is a lie. Even at the roots of the myth—when colonizers spread west across America, they were supported by Indigenous peoples, by the animals and those who came before who created the paths, and by nature herself, providing food and resources. The truth is that when people claim self-sufficiency, what they really mean is self-fulfillment. They’ve had the opportunity, ability, and resources to create a life they love—one where they’re thriving and living their personal definition of success. This is what we nurture in our Circles communities. We’re not trying to make people self-sufficient, because no such thing exists. Instead, we’re working to ensure that everyone —no matter their identity, background, or economic status—has the opportunity to become self-fulfilled. And community is an essential part of that fulfillment. My son and I in 2011 This is my personal story—a journey from poverty to where I am today. I didn’t get here by pulling myself up by my bootstraps, but by being surrounded by incredible people who offered support and resources that made my ability to thrive possible. Yes, I’ve worked hard; but many of the opportunities, access points, and accomplishments I’ve had were made possible through the generosity of others: the couple at my church who let me store my things in their garage when I was between apartments; Medicaid and WIC, which helped care for my son when he was small; friends who let me cry on their shoulders; and the boss who gave me her “hand-me-down” clothes (which I’m still convinced she bought new just for me and pretended otherwise) so that she could justify hiring me as a young single mom who didn’t look the part of a receptionist to the CEO. The list goes on and on. CUSA 2025 Leadership Conference Community is essential to leaving poverty behind for good—and community is exactly what we do at Circles USA. On the final night of the leadership conference, I had the privilege of attending Circles Salt Lake ’s weekly meeting , where I met so many amazing people all working together to support one another and uplift their community. In fact, I had the honor of buying a child’s Halloween costume—something others did for me more than once when my son was little. One of my favorite things about Circles is that there’s no hierarchy. When you walk into a Circles chapter, you can’t tell who’s a Circle Leader, a volunteer, an Ally, or a staff member. Everyone pitches in, connects, and supports one another. It’s a true microcosm of what we’re striving to create across our nation: all individuals living in equitable, thriving communities where poverty no longer exists. Looking for more inspiration to fuel community and end poverty in our lifetime? Visit circlesusa.org  to hear incredible first-voice stories  from Circle Leaders, or learn how to start a Circles chapter  where you live! Circles USA’s in-house podcast The Big View: Ending Poverty in Your Community   is a fun and functional tool for addressing benefits cliffs (and other obstacles to economic growth)—wherever you are, no matter your resources. Check out S2: The Big View Mindset  on Apple, YouTube, or Spotify today. Read more from Kris on her monthly Circles USA blog, The Learning Curve Chronicles : 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