CIRCLES RVA INC
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Mission Statement
Circles RVA empowers individuals and families to permanently move out of poverty and thrive. We create intentional relationships that expand support communities and engage the wider community to reduce or eliminate the systemic barriers that hinder people from rising out of poverty.
About This Cause
Circles RVA is filling an unmet need in Richmond, VA by partnering with families on the fence between surviving and thriving economically. By building a network of support and ongoing relationships, Circles RVA empowers families to break the cycle of generational poverty and permanently move towards economic stability. Circles RVA works with participants to directly address immediate basic human needs while also training and supporting the participants to take significant steps forward in their own ability to provide for themselves and their families. The support provided by Circles RVA is holistic and addresses a wide array of needs including those that are related to health, jobs/education, and social services. The overriding vision is that everyone is entitled to enough money, meaning and friendship to thrive. Circles RVA formed in 2018 in response to multiple community-wide forums where people voiced their experiences with poverty in Richmond. It became clear that a consistent obstacle to navigating a path out of poverty is social isolation. When living in an area of concentrated poverty, the “circles” of people surrounding you are often struggling with the same challenges that you face. Who do you go to for help if your “circles” don’t have the resources, knowledge or connections to assist you? How do you navigate the path forward if you don’t know the way? Circles RVA effectively bridges this social gap, connecting people across socio-economic, racial and other lines that all too often divide. Circles brings together two groups of people: “Circle Leaders” are courageous, motivated individuals who are ready, willing and able to move out of poverty with added social support. Volunteer “Allies” make an intentional commitment to build a relationship with a Circle Leader. Allies become both cheerleaders and accountability partners. Their primary aim is to expand the Circle Leader’s network, thereby helping the Leader gain access to resources, navigate bureaucracies, and leverage social relationships he or she might not otherwise access. Through relationship, both groups experience positive, life transforming change. Circle Leaders in Richmond have reported increased income levels, decreased debt, and growth in support systems. Allies report changes, as well. Their understanding of the complexities of poverty expands and they sometimes gain a newfound interest in larger scale advocacy. Our hope, over time, is that Leaders will “graduate” to become Allies and the growing base of Allies will become strong voices for community-wide change.