Missouri Valley
Community Action Agency
CIRCLES™
BUILDING
COMMUNITIES TO END POVERTY
The Circles™ model is
based on the premise that poverty hurts all of us and that it is held in place
by our separation from one another. It
is the intention of Circles™
to break the practice of an isolated service delivery model of helping. Although important, services alone cannot and
do not move families safely and permanently out of
poverty. The Circle that offers support to participant families is comprised of
people who agree to befriend a family who is trying to get out of poverty.
Circles
are comprised of people who agree to befriend a family who is trying to get out
of poverty. The members of the circle
can be anyone, with any level of resources, who genuinely wants to help. Circles can do whatever they wish, as long as
the family being supported wants the help being offered.
Helping
agencies can utilize Circles to provide everything an institution cannot
provide to a family. Most agencies have
a very limited capacity to serve the poor, when compared to just how many
people are poor in our nation’s communities.
It is essential that we not suggest to the community that we are “taking
care of the poor” and then contribute to an already strong level of denial and
indifference.
We are
changing the role of MVCAA’s staff to that of broker and teacher, not direct
service provider. A broker is someone
who understands the system of community services and can guide both families
and their allies (mentors) to them. As a
teacher, staff members do not do what a Circle can do for itself, rather giving
people information to pursue solutions on their own. This shift ultimately increases the
capacities of our agency to help people in need.
Our
approach is one of building effective relationships across race and class
lines. It is not just another program,
but rather the spirit of this approach is being incorporated into everything we
do. All services can include informal
supports from a willing group of community members who are seeking more meaning
in their lives through a direct relationship with someone who can benefit from
their time, talents and energy. When we
have enough effective relationships built across socio-economic class lines, we
will have the public will to end poverty.
We
are building a new community within our existing communities. People join an association focused on ending
poverty, whether they come in as family wanting out of poverty, or a family
wanting to help others out of poverty.
We insist on reciprocity in all relationships. It is not a handout program, nor is it an
atmosphere of “you need me.” Everyone
has gifts and talents and we are mining for each individual’s best
contributions to the overall task of ending poverty in our larger community.
Finally,
the approach is one that employs both the head and heart; is driven by good
intentions; gives permission for people to make mistakes as they learn the
sometimes messy business of building new relationships across class and race
lines; and celebrates what is new and good.
Ten Characteristics of Circles™
There are a number of features that all Circles™ initiatives share regardless of where they are
located.
They are:
Ø
Intentional (We make friends on
purpose).
Ø
An alternative to
the standard social service, direct service delivery model.
Ø Accountable
for process and results. It is important
to be responsible for and track outcomes, both fiscal and the results in
people’s lives.
Ø Locally designed and implemented. It is a community-driven initiative that can
be adapted to flexibly accommodate the unique challenges and strengths of the
community.
Ø
Using the shared decision making
model.
Ø Not
another program, rather we are building a new community within the existing communities.
Ø
Based on reciprocity (Everyone gives something and
everyone gets something).
Ø
Build reciprocal relationships.
Ø
An approach that employs the head, the hands, and the heart.
Ø High
impact in that we - change the mind-set of the community,
change the goals of the system, and empower people to self-organize.
The
members of the Circle (Allies or mentors) can be anyone, with any level of
resources, who genuinely want to help.
Because the Circle belongs to both the family and the allies, the type
of help is determined by what the family wants and what the Circle can
provide. In this manner, everyone
benefits.
Generally
a Circle is comprised of:
Ø Three (3) allies and one
(1) participant family
Ø Every 25 families
generally has one (1) staff person to act as a resource to the family, to the
allies and to the Circles as a group – the Circles™
Coach (family development specialist)
Ø Every 25 Circles has one (1) staff person to do community
organizing, coordinate the logistics of meetings, work with allies, child care,
meals, and other needed supports – the Circles™ Organizer.
Ø A guiding coalition
comprised of community leaders, concerned citizens, faith-based and service
organizations, and low-income representatives that offer their time, resources
and talents in organizing and implementing services and supports to the intitative.
Ø Weekly Community
Leadership meetings
Ø Monthly Big View meetings
Ø Participant and Ally
orientations
Ø Ally support meetings
Ø Leadership development
Ø Asset development
features
Ø Networking and systems
change
Weekly
Community Leadership meetings provide a time for everyone to share their
common interests and concerns. The
monthly Big View meetings allow
Participants and Allies to identify and discuss the systemic barriers families are facing. These barriers are addressed by leaders in
the community who have influence, power, and impact – changing the mind-set of
other community leaders and thus changing the goals of the system. In addition, community members exercise their
civic responsibility and voice their concerns and wishes for the future within
the political process.