About Us

 

Circles is a nationally-proven and innovative way of connecting people across socioeconomic lines in an effort to move individuals and families out of poverty. Circles is not just another program to manage poverty. Circles is uniquely designed to reduce poverty by helping low-income individuals expand their social capital while bringing the community together in solidarity to reduce the barriers to keeping people in poverty.

CHECK US OUT

Who - Everyone is welcome to attend our open community meetings as
           Circle Leaders, Allies, or Guests

What - A weekly meal followed by learning, goal setting, and problem
            solving.

When - Every Thursday evening (except holidays)
             Dinner at 6 pm Meeting 6:30 – 8 pm

Where - Tabernacle Presbyterian Church
               34 th & Central
               (418 East 34th St)
               Indianapolis, IN

Why - For a better community!

HOW IT WORKS

Every Thursday (except holidays) we meet together for a meal followed by a meeting (along with free youth programming and childcare). Our meeting routine includes the following:

  • Announcements - we share upcoming activities, community events of interest, job opportunities, relevant news, reciprocity opportunities (needs and offerings), etc.

  • New and Goods - at the beginning of each meeting we share one thing that has happened to each of us within the last week that is new and good. This gives us the opportunity to focus on the positive, give encouragement, and celebrate successes.

  • Activity/Presentation - each week we plan an activity and/or facilitated discussion on a relevant topic and may invite a speaker from the community as well (see Monthly Schedule below). It provides a time during which everyone can learn and reflect on others’ different perspectives.

  • Closing appreciations - gives us the opportunity to give and receive kind words for each other.

WE FOCUS ON

A Circle Ally is a person who volunteers to play an active role in supporting a Circle Leader’s commitment to climb out of poverty and achieve his or her goals. Your job as an Ally is to come alongside a Circle Leader and build an intentional friendship and support system. Prior to starting the Circles program, you will receive training to help increase your understanding of poverty in our community and learn how to be an effective ally.

This training will prepare you for the Circles process. After successfully completing training, you and 1-2 other Allies will be paired with a Circle Leader. It is your job to be the Circle Leader’s biggest supporter as they work to achieve the goals they have set for themselves.

You won’t be doing this alone. At Circles, there is a large community of volunteers and resources to help you and the Circle Leaders in your journeys together. You will have the opportunity to gain new perspectives and experiences of your community and work for broader community change in the effort to reduce poverty.

RESOURCE TEAMS

Our Monthly Activity/Presentation Schedule

  • 1st Thursday: Support Night

  • 2nd Thursday: Matched Circle Night

  • 3rd Thursday: Big View Night

  • 4th Thursday: Team Night

Individual Leadership (1st , 2nd and 4th Thursdays)

Circle Leaders, who are at the center of the Circles® movement, are the individuals or families who are motivated to work toward becoming self-sufficient (i.e. people who are currently living in poverty). Circle Leaders are matched with 2-3 middle- to upper-income community volunteers called Allies who support the efforts of the Circle Leader working towards economic stability.

Training is provided to the Circle Leaders and Allies who are matched. In addition, Allies and Circle Leaders meet with their peers (Allies together and Circle Leaders together) for training discussions and support of each other on the 1st Thursday of the month, which we call “Support Night.’

Matched Circles (the Circle Leader with their 2-3 Allies) meet together as small groups for more individual discussions during Circles INDY meetings on the 2nd Thursday of the month. The Circle Leader focuses on their individual goals and plans and the group discusses ideas, learns together, shares experiences, and offers encouragement to each other with the goal of helping the Circle Leader to achieve his/her goals.

We practice leadership skills on the 4th Thursday of the month when we break into Leadership Teams to plan topics and activities that keep the entire community functioning. Each Team is led by one Circle Leader and one Ally. We have the following teams that individuals may choose to join:

  • Resource Team

  • Recruitment Team

  • Big View Team

  • Community Team

Community Engagement (Every Week)

Our weekly meetings of all Circle Leaders, Allies, Friends and Guests provide us the opportunity to socialize, develop networks, share and practice new skills, discuss strategies for attaining prosperity, and provide peer support. With an emphasis on collaboration and leveraging each other to connect with existing social/community services, Circles® works to facilitate the relationships and connections that will achieve stronger, more sustainable outcomes and permanently end poverty for families and overall within the community.

We have seen grand, transformational things happen during our community meetings that we cannot plan!

Systemic Change (3rd Thursday)

Circles® INDY engages the entire community in owning the solution to poverty. We call this effort to look beyond our individual matched Circles to the entire community our “Big View” effort. On the 3rd Thursday> of the month, which we call our “Big View” night, we invite community leaders to share information and feature discussions about systemic barriers to prosperity and strategies to remove them.