Circles of East Texas

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Circles® of East Texas is the first Circles® initiative in the state of Texas.  Circles® is designed to build relationships across class and race lines.  Circles® is based on research that creating bonding social capital within the community will increase the liklihood of families moving from poverty to self-suffciency.  Circle Leaders participate in a 15-session curriculum called, “Getting Ahead in a Just Getting by World”, during which time they construct their plan to move out of poverty.  Upon graduating from Getting Ahead, families have the option to enter into a circle of support where they would be linked with 2 – 4 Allies who would support the Circle Leader, and their plan, to make their way into a self-sufficient lifestyle.

Ally:  Community volunteer, from middle class or wealth, who agress to form an intentional friendship with a Getting Ahead Graudate (Circle Leader) working to get out of poverty.

Circles®:  Forms intentional friendships between a family working to get out of poverty and middle class indivduals (Allies) who befriend them as they continue on their path of growth, change and self-sufficiency.

Circle Leader:  A Getting Ahead graduate who is striving to secure a stable future and escape poverty.

Getting Ahead:  A step-by-step life planning workbook designed to allow low-income families to co-investigate the effects of poverty on their lives and create a path for making a stable and secure future.

Guiding Coalition:  Cross secion of community members, including Circle leaders, from various socio-economic, ethnic and educational backgrounds which provides leadership for Circles®

To make a donation to Cirlces of East Texas, please send to: 

Friends of Partners in Prevention, P. O. Box 1952, Longview, Texas 75606

Circles Brochure for Circle Leaders (pdf/1mb)
Circles Brochure for Allies and General Community Information (pdf/1mb)