Circles Leaders and their Allies meet at Grace United Methodist Church during a weekly get-together for the Circles Johnson County program, which helps people lift themselves out of poverty. An open house is planned on Aug. 7 at the church for people interested in learning more about it.
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The program may be known as Circles Johnson County. But everyone committed to it is dedicated to breaking a cycle — the cycle of poverty.
Through mentorship, guidance and support, the aim of Circles is to give local residents the tools to overcome the challenges in their lives and find financial stability.
“It really is a way to build accountability in their own lives,” said Jill Pierce, coach for the Circles Johnson County program. “Instead of just a goal being something they think about once in a while and are instead focused on day-to-day, you can really keep that goal front and center, and continue that hard work it takes to achieve it.”
Bridges Alliance of Johnson County, the anti-poverty organization that sponsors Circles Johnson County, is looking for the next group of area residents interested in taking on those challenges. The group will host an open-house informational night from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Grace United Methodist Church, 1300 E. Adams St., Franklin.
People are invited to learn more about the Circles program, talk to those already in it and find out if it is right for them. Pizza dinner and childcare will be provided.
“It’s an opportunity for people who are motivated to move out of poverty or move up in income to learn about the Circles Johnson County program,” Pierce said. “There’s no commitment, but it’s a chance to see how the group works, meet the people involved and hear about how it might impact their lives.”
Bridges Alliance of Johnson County is a collaboration between businesses, social service agencies, churches and individuals working together to end poverty in the community. The program provides the tools, resources, support and relationships necessary to succeed, helping people establish independence and stability.
The organization uses parts of two different nationally recognized anti-poverty programs. Bridges Out of Poverty focuses on understanding the hidden rules of society that can keep people from succeeding. Bridges Alliance has also worked with a group called Circles USA, which gathers middle-income and high-income volunteers to support families in poverty.
The introductory portion of the Circles program is a course called Surviving to Thriving. For 12 weeks, participants meet each week to learn about how to budget, apply and interview for a job, and set goals. They also forge connections among each other and other agencies in the community.
“It helps people learn how to identify their goals, break down and set realistic goals that make sense for where they’d like to see themselves,” Pierce said. “We have a focus on job readiness, budgeting and interviewing — all those things that help people move forward. But we also look at facets such as healthy relationships and talk about the history of what happened that got people to our program.”
Once participants graduate from the Surviving to Thriving workshop, they’re matched with a community volunteer known as an Ally. Allies help support Circle Leaders as they work to achieve those goals — for example, giving advice on résumés and job interviews, getting assistance finding job training or locating affordable housing.
“We continue to meet weekly and allow our Circle Leaders to develop relationships with the Allies,” Pierce said.
Now in its seventh year, the Circles program and Bridges Alliance have helped local residents escape poverty. At the same time, it provides a foundation of support to ensure that they break the cycles that have held them back in the past.
Wednesday’s informational session will provide greater insight into the whole process, Pierce said.
The organization is hoping to start its next round of Circles at the end of August and is searching for potential Circle Leaders to go through the Surviving to Thriving program.
Participants must complete an application, meet with a coordinator and have secure housing. They are expected to attend every weekly class, be on time, complete homework assignments, follow all the rules the group agrees on, and respect participants and volunteers.
“We work with a partner organization in Indianapolis, Circles Indy, and their leader has a saying: ‘It works if you work it.’ I definitely see that happening for the people who come in and commit to the program in the long term,” Pierce said.
IF YOU GO
Circles Johnson County Info Night
What: An open-house event to learn more about the Circles program, which is designed to give local residents the tools to overcome the challenges in their lives and find financial stability.
When: 6-8 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Grace United Methodist Church, 1300 E. Adams St., Franklin
All are welcome. Pizza dinner and childcare will be provided.
To RSVP or for more information: Contact [email protected].
