Circles of Hope

The Circles Campaign is a national effort through Move The Mountain Leadership Center to end poverty. The Circles of Hope initiative at Partners In Hope is one of sixty-two communities in twenty-three states that are part of the growing Circles Campaign.

The Circles® Campaign is a transformational approach that partners volunteers and community leaders with families wanting to make the journey out of poverty. Operating in communities around the country, each Circles® initiative consists of families 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 direction for activities. With the help and friendship of their allies, each family sets and achieves goals unique to their own needs.

Rather than targeting a surface need of at-risk communities such as housing or food provision, Circles® seeks to expand social capital by fostering relationships across racial and economic lines. It engages the community as a whole and encourages growth from people of all financial classes. Circles® is designed to assist families in creating their own personal paths out of poverty while at the same time expanding opportunities, connections and eliminating barriers in the community that make it difficult for families to thrive.

Benefits of Circles 

  • Creates an interdependent and engaged community focus on eliminating poverty.
  • Empowers people from diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds to assume responsibility for improving and strengthening the community.
  • Promotes responsible economic and community planning that focuses on personal and societal responsibility, efficiency, and opportunity.
  • Motivates the community to focus on solutions that produce measurable, permanent, positive changes.

How can I get involved?

There are many ways for people to become involved with the Circles™ initiative, and we welcome new volunteers. Some volunteer opportunities include:

Become an Ally
Commit four or more hours a month to befriend and support a motivated low-income family as they create their path out of poverty.

Become an Ad-hoc Resource
Donate services or goods to Circle Leaders on an “as needed” basis (i.e. babysitting, legal service, auto repair services, etc.).

Serve on the Guiding Coalition
Lead the planning and implementation of Circles™ of Hope in Miami County.

Sponsor a Meal or Childcare
Ask your church or civic group to prepare a meal or provide childcare for one of the monthly meetings.

To explore a potential volunteer opportunity, call Kelli Early
at Partners in Hope 937-335-0448.

© 2009 – 2011 Partners in Hope