Circles Initiative looking for allies in fight against poverty

The Capital City Circles Initiative is eliminating poverty in Carson City one family at a time by giving the heads of working families - Circle leaders - the skills and resources they need to thrive.

Our second group of Circle leaders will complete a 20-week workgroup, "Getting Ahead in a Just Getting By World," on Sept. 29. In this group they have developed the skills they need to execute their plan to permanently lift their families out of poverty. They have formed a powerful group bond that serves as the emotional foundation for their efforts.

The next step on their journey to self-sufficiency is to befriend two to four middle- or wealth-class volunteers, called allies, and work with these allies in a circle of support to accomplish self-sufficiency.

What allies do:

1. Intentionally befriend a working poor family.

2. Assist Circle leaders as they execute their plan to lift their family out of poverty.

3. Do anything a good friend would do to help a friend in need; provide emotional support; help solve day-to-day problems; share your skills and know-how; and introduce your friend to contacts that you know that can help them;

4. Attend a group meeting with other Circle leaders and allies at least once a month.

What allies do not do:

1. Behave like parents or bosses. These roles are the exclusive domain of the Circle leaders.

2. Give or lend money to your Circle leader. The Circles Initiative has a revolving loan fund that Circle leaders can access for critical short-term cash needs.

If you have any questions, contact Dina Phippen, Capital City Circles Initiative coordinator, at 887-2190.

If you or someone you know would like to be an ally, you are invited to join us at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14, at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 305 N. Minnesota St., at the corner of Minnesota and Telegraph Street.