Working to End Poverty
Inspiring and Equipping Families and our Community to Resolve Poverty and Thrive.
We believe no one should live in poverty and if given the right tools and support, economic stability can be achieved.
6:8's Circles Sauk Prairie will reduce the Poverty Rate in the Sauk Prairie School District by 10% in 10 years by EMPOWERING Circle Leaders (individuals and families living in poverty) using 20 years of research and proven methods to teach skills and surround Leaders with support and social capital so THEY lead themselves permanently out of poverty. This initiative involves Leaders, Volunteer, and the community working together to END POVERTY through a weekly gathering of accountability and support.
Overview
In October 2018 6:8, Inc decided to begin a Circles chapter as an organizing force, accountability, and resource to help more people lift themselves out of poverty.
Circles equips and inspires families by matching one highly motivated low-income person or family (called a Circle Leader – one who is leading her/his own life out of poverty) with two middle- to upper-middle class community volunteers (called Allies – persons who commit to friendship, companionship, and support on the journey out of poverty). Circle Leaders are trained, supported, and held accountable to build financial, emotional, and social resources, and to expand their social capital. During an initial 12 weeks of foundational training, each Circle Leader creates a personal Economic Stability Plan that defines SMART goals unique to their own needs and dreams. The Plan maps the way forward through the 18-month commitment to weekly Circles meetings for learning, support, and accountability. Circle Allies are trained, supported, and held accountable to learn the hidden rules of class, to assist the Circle Leader in expanding their social capital, and how to help without hurting, rescuing, or enabling.
Circles equips and inspires communities by creating opportunities for regular, facilitated, ongoing engagement between community leaders and influencers, and Circles participants. During one of the four meetings each month, the Circles Class invites a community stakeholder or influencer to join them for discussion of a local or national systemic barrier to upward socioeconomic movement. Plans are created to work together toward resolution. Over time, these gatherings and the mutual work undertaken by persons of diverse socioeconomic status will begin to shift the mindset of the Sauk Prairie community to want to resolve poverty, with the understanding and commitment that persons experiencing poverty must be at the poverty-resolution table.
Get Involved
Circle Leaders: A family or individual with low income.
Circle Volunteers:
Big View --> How Circles is working on the systemic barriers making it difficult for people to work themselves out of poverty
Cliff Effect
Circles USA has chapters in more than 20 states that bring community volunteers into partnership with families who are committed to getting out of poverty. In 2014, the Circles network was asked what is the biggest barrier to getting out of poverty. The answer was unequivocally the Cliff Effect that is built into assistance programs. The Cliff Effect occurs when assistance programs like childcare subsidies and Medicaid remove benefits faster than people can earn enough income to replace them. By not pro-rating the exit ramp to these programs, the government creates a financial crisis for people as they earn more income.
Cliff Effect Resources
• The Cliff Effect: A General Summary of Current Advocacy Efforts April 2018
• Addressing the Cliff Effect
• Cliff Effect Examples
• Cincinnati Summary of States’ Cliff Effect Policy and Legislation
• Mitigating the Cliff Effect
• PULSE REPORT: Outlining the Disincentives and Opportunity Costs for Working Mothers
Cliff Effect Resources
• The Cliff Effect: A General Summary of Current Advocacy Efforts April 2018
• Addressing the Cliff Effect
• Cliff Effect Examples
• Cincinnati Summary of States’ Cliff Effect Policy and Legislation
• Mitigating the Cliff Effect
• PULSE REPORT: Outlining the Disincentives and Opportunity Costs for Working Mothers
Contact Us
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about how you can be part of Circles® Sauk Prairie. Please fill out the contact form below or feel free to give us call. We Love answering questions about Circles!Staff Members
John Ramthun
Circles Coordinator
608-658-4700
john@makingservicepersonal.org
Sarah Ramthun
Circles Coach
608-561-8468
sarah@makingservicepersonal.org
Joyce Schoepp
Circles Coach
608-561-8468
joyce@makingservicepersonal.org
Natia Schoepp
Circles Children's Program Coordinator
608-561-8468
natia@makingservicepersonal.org
Marilyn McFarlane