What is Circles Upstate SC?

Mission

Circles provides opportunities that inspire and equip families and communities to resolve poverty and thrive!

Circles Upstate SC believes the ultimate responsibility for poverty or prosperity in our community rests not only in the hands of individuals, but within all sectors of our community. By engaging all segments of Upstate South Carolina, people learn to see each other differently and to think in new ways about poverty and how to eradicate it.

The Circles Model is built around that concept.  We build a Circle of support composed of different people in the community to support each participant in our program.

The center of the Circle is the Leader - an individual who is motivated to achieve stability and economic improvement.  They are empowered to take the lead in their journey.  The Circles Initiative assists them on their journey by wrapping a circle of support around them.  This circle provides them with the education, support and resources to help Leaders achieve their goals.

A key ingredient for the Leader is being matched with an “intentional friend” called an Ally.  This is a volunteer from the community who encourages, supports, guides, and advocates for the Leader to reach their goals.  Allies lend their knowledge, life experiences, and access to their social network to help the Leader expand their social capital.  

Resource Teams add another layer of support for the Leader.  They are a diverse group of volunteers who contribute vital assistance, fresh ideas, and vision to the Circles initiative.  They also serve as a key link to the community as they provide a connection to specialty services needed by the Leaders.  As they learn more about the barriers and challenges faced by people trying to get out of poverty, they begin to advocate for a larger community effort to reduce poverty.

Our vision of everyone having enough money, meaning and friends to thrive can only become reality if the community comes together to reduce poverty.  We encourage you to become part of the solution by volunteering with Circles.