BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS CLASS AND RACE LINES TO END POVERTY

Strive2Thrive Circles is a community initiative led by the Albany Area Chamber Foundation, Inc

229.434.8700

Download the Strive2Thrive brochure (pdf)

What Is A Circle?

A Circle is two or more volunteers (Allies) who meet regularly with the head(s) of a single family (Circle Leaders) to seek solutions for the daily challenges faced by those wishing to get out of poverty and start working toward their goals and dreams.

Low Income Individuals/Families ...Become a LEADER in your life!

Attend once a week (Getting Ahead) classes to help you start making significant changes toward your goals. Receive a stipend each week, free childcare and a meal. At the end of your “all about you” class, you will be matched with volunteers (Allies) from the community who will help you in working toward your goals

A coalition has been launched in Albany-Dougherty County focusing on moving individual families out of poverty, through the formation of S2T Circles. Rather than reducing poverty through programs, assistance, and hand-outs we believe success requires relationships across class boundaries.

We Believe All People Need Sufficient Money, Relationships and Meaning In Their Lives To Thrive

Middle/Upper Income Individuals/Families Become Allies!

As an Ally, you will enter into an intentional befriending relationship with a Leader and their family, and interact with them once or twice a week to offer support, advice, and commitment to their efforts. As an Ally, you will have and give continuous support of the Circles community. Most importantly, you will have the opportunity to share life experiences with a new friend who is working to escape poverty.

Community Members Join the Guiding Coalition!

You will be a part of the essential team designing and ensuring implementation of the Circles campaign. This is an opportunity to empower people in need, with the aim of ending poverty in Albany-Dougherty County, which benefits everyone. Meet monthly to plan and strategize for success. Your unique perspective can have a big impact on our community and beyond.

Be A Part of Albany-Dougherty Circles!

> Leader
> Ally
> Guiding Coalition Member

Ad-Hoc Ally: Share a specific skill or expertise.
Donate: Time, meeting space, food, meal preparation, childcare, crafts for children, and more.
Financial Support: Sponsor local family, meals, childcare, and more.
Speak: Volunteer for a regular teaching or speaking commitment, or simply share an hour or two.

Feel free to contact us with additional ideas regarding how you’d like to contribute.

EVERYONE is valuable!

DID YOU KNOW?

88% of the families who completed “Getting Ahead” and 6 months of Circles had earnings increases, 30% decrease in use of Welfare benefits, 56% increase in assets, and 125% increase in “people in my life I can count on”.
Circle Leaders income increased from $634/month to $1200/month.
100% of Circle Leaders report donating food, clothing, or other goods to other individuals or organizations.
50% of Circle Leaders report obtaining reliable transportation during their involvement with Circles.
Our nation spends 500 billion dollars annually on the fall out of children raised in poverty.
S2T is endeavoring to impact this by empowering families through self-sufficiency.

Data Courtesy of MTM™

Are you living in poverty and want more money, meaning and positive relationships in your life?

Are you living in low-income and would like the support of the Albany community in discovering and achieving your dreams?

Get involved with Strive2Thrive Circles!

Are you living in middle/upper income or have moved out of poverty and would like to have a major impact on the life of an Albany family, and cause deep community change for the better?

Get involved with Strive2Thrive Circles!

WORKING TOGETHER TO END POVERTY IN ALBANY

Albany is the first Circles™ Community in the state of Georgia AND the first initiative nation-wide to be led by a Chamber of Commerce.

We are a Proud Member of Move the Mountain Circles National Campaign
www.movethemountain.org