For the past eight years, Circles Upstate SC, a local chapter of Circles USA, has worked to help people exit poverty by increasing their social capital.
Social capital consists of the relationships, connections and networks in a person’s life that help them to succeed, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
“Circles Upstate South Carolina is all about building community to reduce poverty in the community,” said Bruce Forbes, director of Circles Upstate SC and special projects coordinator for Sunbelt Human Advancement Resources.
The local Circles chapter was formed in 2015 by Buncombe Street United Methodist Church and SHARE. The program has helped 56 low-wealth individuals to achieve their goals and transition out of poverty.
Circle’s 18-month program consists of:
- Leaders – low-wealth individuals who join the program to exit poverty and achieve their personal goals such as finding jobs, starting businesses and managing their finances
- Allies – who partner with leaders to help them reach their goals
- Resource teams – additional volunteers who help support leaders, assist at weekly meetings, recruit volunteers and leaders, and provide resources
Each Circles leader is matched with two allies who meet with them on a weekly basis. Danica Johnson, a Circles coach who helps oversee the relations between Circles leaders and allies, said that by connecting with their allies, Circles leaders can increase their social capital and resources.
“Weekly meetings (are) a gathering of the (Circles) leaders and their allies. (The allies) put steps in place in order for the (Circles) leader to meet each of those specific goals,” Johnson said. “So (the Circles leaders tell) us about where they are in terms of progress, what additional resources may be needed, what additional connections need to be made. So basically, the focus is the goals.”
Forbes said the program’s fourth cohort group is expected to finish in August.
Expanding in the Upstate
With goals to expand its outreach and open more sites across the Upstate, Circles Upstate SC changed its name from Circles Greenville in 2022.
“Our hopes are to have a second site here in Greenville County so that will (allow for) another group to get started,” Forbes said. “We started (looking) before the pandemic, and then obviously we had to put a hold on that, so we need to (start) up again. I would say we’ll get started with that this summer.”
Forbes said they are also in the process of opening a new program site in Anderson County at Richard M. Campbell Veterans Nursing Home. Circles Upstate SC will partner with local health care nonprofit, Honor Health Career Programs, to establish this new location.
“So this is a unique cohort (in Anderson County),” Forbes said. “In this particular site, it’s only going be the certified nursing assistants who’ve been selected by Honor Health Career Program (to) be Circles leaders for this particular group.”
Erin Fredericks, executive director of HHCP, says the CNAs in the Circles program are working toward becoming licensed practical nurses, which will give them an annual income increase of $18,860.
“It will have a significant impact on our students that are CNAs currently, and that will become nurses at the nursing home,” Fredericks said. “Just through the growth of connection, they’re able to access resources that they may not have had in the past. I do believe that the power of connection also can create confidence and empower empowerment as well.”
Circles Upstate SC is currently looking for 14 volunteers to be allies for the seven CNAs going through the program in Anderson County. For more information, visit circlesupstatesc.org.
