About the Franklin County Circles Initiative

ABOUT CIRCLES

Circles of Support is an initiative to engage the community in helping families move out of poverty, children succeed in school, and address systemic solutions to poverty.

Developed by Move the Mountain Leadership Center, Circles of Support links community members with families who are experiencing poverty. The reciprocal relationships built in these groups help break down the isolation many low-income families experience and add meaning to the lives of middle-income individuals and participating families alike. Circles of Support began in Chambersburg in August 2008.

The Circles Model:

Each Circle consists of a family working to get out of poverty and several middle and upper income Allies who befriend them and lend support.

The family is the Circle Leader, setting goals unique to their own needs.

Weekly Meetings gather Leaders and Allies to provide support and networking opportunities.

At Big View Meetings, held monthly, systemic and community causes of poverty are addressed.

THE CIRCLES EXPERIENCE

Watch a promotional video for Circles to understand the wage gap.

In Circles we learn from families more about the barriers that keep people stuck in poverty - this allows us all (Circles Leaders, Allies and the greater community) to look for effective solutions to help families move out of poverty!

Here is a link to see the Mental Models (pictures and poems) created by families describing what it's like being stuck in poverty.