The Mentor/Ally has three primary goals:

 

• Build an intentional friendship that is friendly, safe, and supportive with a family in poverty (Circle Leader family) and join them in their quest to increase their resources.

 

• Be willing to look at your own stereotypes and class rules and how they affect your relationships with people from different economic backgrounds.

 

• Use the experience of friendship with a family in poverty to advocate within the community for changes in the systemic barriers that keep poverty in place.

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The Ally commitment:

 

• 6 hours minimum per month

 

• Commit to be a Circle* Ally for 9 months or longer

 

• After you are matched with a Circle Leader, you will have:

 

• one monthly meeting with the Circle at a scheduled time (two hour dinner and meeting)

 

• one monthly Big View meeting with other Circles, staff and community members to discuss systems barriers

 

• a regularly scheduled ally support meeting (quarterly)

 

• phone and in-person contact with your family during the month

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• open communication with the Circles Campaign staff about Circles experience

 

 

The Ally receives the following support:

 

• Training session with Circles® overview and a framework for understanding poverty using Bridges Out of Poverty

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• Ally Orientation training

 

• Quarterly Ally support session

 

• Collaboration with other Allies

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• On-going support from Circles® staff and Guiding Coalition

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Some Activities that Allies have been asked to do by their Circle Leaders:

 

• Exercise together

• Be a Study buddy for CL

• Advocate with CL in agency matters, child’s school or other  i.e. Social Services, Social Security, TANF

• Help with tax issues or credit repair

• Help fill out college applications

• Help fill out job applications

• Track down affordable auto repair/parts

• Accompany  to a  doctor’s appointment

• Help locate resources

• Help improve literacy skills

• Conduct mock job interviews

• Diet together

• Help put together a resume/cover letter

• Listen and provide feedback

• Help problem solve when asked

• Help organize

• Help with budget

• Lend an ear to troubleshoot problems 

• Research information

• Share experiences, dreams & goals

• Help weatherize apartment (sealing windows & filling in gaps)

• Help celebrate CL accomplishments

• Do simple car and/or house repairs

• Bake cookies or prepare a meal together for an event 

• Help move in or out of an apartment