Circles of Support
“Inspiring and encouraging prosperity for all people
by neighbor helping neighbor.”
WHY CIRCLES OF SUPPORT?
Money, Meaning and Friends
Circles of Support is based on the idea that people need to have enough money, meaning, and friends to feel secure and fulfilled in life. Having enough money means that someone can sufficiently live on that money, without having to put one necessity over another. Meaning is when someone knows that his/her gifts and talents are valued in the community. Friends are the people that rally around and support someone in good times and difficult times. Everyone needs friendship relationships in their life.
Reciprocity
This program is also based on the idea of reciprocity. Any involvement in Circles of Support by a low-income family participant includes a reciprocity agreement, in which the participant gives back to the community based on his/her gifts and talents. Therefore, Circles of Support is not a hand-out program for the needy. Instead, the belief is that everyone has gifts and talents that can contribute to the overall task of ending poverty in the community and add to the leadership skills and resources of the community they live in.
The Circles of Support approach is one of building effective relationships across race and class lines. People who would normally not associate with each other are coming together to support and encourage one another. When there are enough effective relationships built across socio-economic class lines, there will be an end to poverty.
