Circles ™

Campaign

Community Action Agency since 1964

Began as grass roots initiative in Waterbury

Has expanded in the Northwest corner of CT

Maintains mission of ending poverty.

Learned about Circles from Move the Mountain

Saw clear link between MTM and NOI’s mission

Realized potential for Circles

Began planning process in 2006

1000 communities learning together to reduce poverty by 2017

Research on what works and barrier analysis

Media campaign on the 5000 Stories to change public opinion about poverty

Training Centers to teach others how Advocacy to change public policies

Circles Campaign in Waterbury, Meriden and Torrington

500 people out of poverty by 2017 Change the mind set of the community in

Waterbury, Meriden and Torrington regarding poverty

Become a Training Center Participate in Advocacy at the State Level

for Change

Intentionally building relationships across class and race lines and creating a community to

end poverty

Social Capital—building a community of relationships across class and race lines

aha! Process—teaches the hidden rules of class so we can build social capital

A Framework for Understanding Poverty Bridges Out of Poverty Getting Ahead

From: Some poverty is normal and tolerable.

To: No poverty is tolerable or necessary.

From: The full responsibility lies with the

individual.

To: The responsibility is shared with individual,

community and government.

From: Providing piecemeal assistance.

To: Helping people completely out of poverty.

From: We will deliver services to you on behalf of

the community.

To: We will help you build community around

your family and neighborhood so you reach your dreams.

Mental models for understanding poverty, middle class and wealth.

Hidden rules of class to improve relationships, resolve conflicts, and design effective approaches.

Common language for building relationships across class and race lines.

Mental Model for Poverty

Mental Model for Middle Class

Mental Model for Wealth

Survival, relationships, entertainment

Work, achievement

Financial, political, social connections

POVERTY

MIDDLE CLASS

WEALTH

DRIVING FORCES

Present most important

Decisions made for the moment based on feelings or survival

Traditions and history most important

Decisions made partially on basis of tradition/decorum

Future most important

Decisions made against future ramifications

POVERTY

MIDDLE CLASS

WEALTH

TIME

Believes in fate Cannot do much to mitigate chance

Noblesse oblige

Believes in choiceCan change future with good choices now

POVERTY

MIDDLE CLASS

WEALTH

DESTINY

Casual register

Language is about survival

Formal register Language is about networking

Formal register

Language is about negotiation

POVERTY

MIDDLE CLASS

WEALTH

LANGUAGE

1. Guiding Coalition—community-based group of diverse leaders

2. Getting Ahead3. Bridges Out of Poverty4. Circle with 2-5 allies for each family5. Weekly meetings6. Monthly Big View meeting7. Other self-sufficiency supports

20-week self-sufficiency planning process

Preparation for Circles

Community Assessment on Poverty

Problem solving at the community level

Car Donations Revolving Loans Matched Savings Programs (IDAs) Housing Job Coaching Brokering other community and basic

needs resources

Earned income Education Support system (Social Capital) Safe Housing Health insurance Stable environment Higher resources

Financial Emotional Mental Spiritual Social Capital Formal Language Register

Relationships Physical Integrity Motivation Knowledge of

Hidden Rules

5

4

3

2

1

Finan

cial

Emot

ional

Menta

l

Spiritual

Phys

ical

Support S

yste

m

Relat

ions

hips

Hidde

n Rul

es

Inte

grity

Mot

ivat

ion

Increased earned income More education Reduced welfare benefits Better transportation, housing, and

healthcare Stronger support system Better emotional health

Circles is community driven Guiding Coalition leads the initiative Volunteers needed to make meals,

donate space, provide presentations, programs for the children

Allies come from the community Financial resources needed Leaders are referred by social service

agencies

Finding people who are 9s and 10s

Explaining Circles Unknown program Follow-through Keeping people

engaged

Keep up the momentum of volunteers

Allies and Guiding Coalition members get busy

Bringing people together from differing backgrounds

ITS ALL ABOUT

RELATIONSHIPS!

Take what we have learned from Bridges and apply it to our initiative:

IT’S ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS Use what people in poverty know, the

relationship matters over achievement Following this model will lead us to

achieving