Community Corner

Circles of Support Fights Poverty Through Friendship

The new organization encourages self-reliance by building a network of emotional support.

A newly-formed community organization called Circles of Support is working to build a network of assistance for Inver Grove Heights residents battling poverty.

“Circles of Support is a way for members of the Inver Grove Heights community to reach out to those who are living in poverty,” said Bonnie Smith, ministry coordinator for , the Twin Cities nonprofit responsible for establishing a Circles of Support group in Inver Grove Heights.

An established ministry model used nationally, Circles of Support is built on a foundation of emotional outreach.

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The Inver Grove Heights group began last fall with the formation of the Guiding Coalition. The Guiding Coalition includes the community leaders who work together to organize Circles of Support. The coalition includes representatives from , , , and Starfish Ministries.

At the center of Circles of Support is the group’s monthly “Big Circle” meeting, the first of which was held in February. Each month, families struggling with poverty, or “participants,” gather with economically stable families, or “allies,” who have offered their assistance.

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The meeting includes a free meal and children’s programming. Families in attendance share information, such as nonprofit resources and job opportunities, and discuss a designated topic related to building self-reliance skills.

After a few months of attending the Big Circle, participants can request a “Small Circle,” which consists of one participant and two or three allies. These allies commit to providing social and emotional support and assistance as the participant works toward their goals.

Circles of Support also includes a participant support group and an ally support group.

The goal of the program is for participants to move forward in their journey toward self-reliance and to help allies understand the challenges of poverty. Circles of Support emphasizes the significance of relationship building and acknowledges the isolating effects poverty can have.

“It has an incredible amount of potential,” said Dan Schauer, who is a pastor for New Heights Community Church, a member of the Guiding Coalition and chair of the Inver Grove Heights Ministerial Association. “This could be an awesome resource for the community.”

Circles of Support is looking to expand its Big Circle, which currently includes approximately 40 community members. The Guiding Coalition has reached out to Neighbors, Inc., TriDistrict Community Education, Mayor George Tourville and representatives from Independent School District 199 in an effort to increase awareness about the program.

Starfish Ministries also hopes to increase the number of Circles of Support groups across the Twin Cities metro area. Currently, the only other group in the metro area is in Milaca, although there has been discussion of establishing Circles of Support groups in the St. Louis Park-Edina area and in New Brighton.

Circles of Support’s monthly Big Circle meeting takes place from 6-8 p.m. on the last Thursday of every month. This month, the group will host a at Grace Church of the Nazarene for their Big Circle meeting. The event is open to all community members.

For more information about joining Circles of Support, contact Bonnie Smith at 651-457-2477 or Bonnie@StarfishMN.org.


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