Reducing Poverty Story By Natalie Salvatore Photos By Robert Noles
“I,
too, can have self-sufficiency” is the mindset that Circles Opelika works to establish in its program participants, said Regina Meadows, director of this non-profit organization. Part of the larger, nonprofit foundation of Envision, this program works toward improving the quality of life of Opelika’s residents as it fights poverty. The task force at Circles is composed of social service agencies, community members and local educators, all of whom come together to help people improve their life situations. Nationally, Circles reaches over 70 communities across 20 states throughout the U.S. Locally, Circles brought its relationship-based movement to Opelika in 2019. It works with the motto “to inspire and equip families and communities to resolve poverty and thrive.” Circles is a group for residents to gain knowledge of what goes on in their community, including what poverty looks like and what its barriers are, as well as what resources are available. This program works to provide long-term solutions over short-term fixes to create a sustainable and economicallystable community. The organization hopes the relationships it creates between people and families of all income backgrounds can continue the fight against local impoverishment.
Poverty can come in many shapes and sizes. It encompasses more than those without adequate food and nutrition — it can include those citizens whose jobs do not pay them enough to survive or encompass those living in situations that are just enough to survive. The Cliff Effect proves to be a significant barrier in preventing community members from getting out of poverty when they try. This becomes a problem, with the potential for a financial crisis when assistance programs essentially remove their benefits faster than people can earn enough income to replace them. This occurs in programs such as childcare subsidies and Medicaid. Circles works closely with low-income families to increase participants’ social capital and combat the Cliff Effect. “I like to refer to social capital as people power,” Meadows said. To foster its visions, participants, called Circle Leaders, are each paired with an Ally that walks them through goals that they each personally established during the program’s first three months in a mentor-like fashion. Allies keep the participants enthused as they help them through their questions while becoming friends. The group meets weekly to build on the skills they are
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LIVING TO SERVE
