One feature of the Circles initiative is the “Getting Ahead” work-group. The course examines how poverty impacts participants individually along with the economic realities as they develop their own plans to get out of poverty. “Getting Ahead” participants investigate how the hidden rules of class can be used to build financial, emotional, social, and other resources. Understanding the hidden rules of the middle class and choosing to use them, can open doors to new relationships, new jobs, and higher resources. Participants who use the Getting Ahead workbook develop a series of mental models to examine their own lives and create new future stories.

Upon completion of this course, participants will have the opportunity to become part of the larger Circles community and be matched with allies that will support them in their journey. The course will prepare participants to be an effective Circle leader.

Each “Getting Ahead” session last approximately 2.5 hours. Child care is provided. Participants are paid for their time and expertise on the subject matter, and are expected to complete an evaluation for use by the Circles Guiding Coalition.

Module #1: Getting Started
This module covers introductions and expectations

Module #2: What It’s Like Now
Investigate poverty and how it works in the lives of people at the bottom of the ladder, and how it works for us individually. We’ll make a mental model (or drawing) of “What It’s Like Now”

Module #3: Theory of Change
When we go to the agencies and government for help, we find that we’re expected to change and to make plans. The question is…whose plan for change is it? Is it ours? Will the plan help us get out of poverty? The theory of change, or the idea behind this workbook, is that we must take charge of our own lives.

Module #4: The Rich/Poor Gap and How It Works
To understand poverty, we have to study the full range of research that’s done on economic issues. This section spells out the whole story. We’ll learn that poverty is not just about choices that poor people make. We want the plans we make to be broad enough to cover all the causes of poverty.

Module #5: Hidden Rules of Economic Class
The wealthy, the middle class, and the poor…..each group has its own hidden rules. If we decide we want to get out of poverty, we’ve got to know and be able to use the hidden rules of middle class.

Module #6: Eleven Resources
If we’re going to build economic security, we’ve got to know exactly which resources we have to improve. This isn’t just about money; it’s about all aspects of our life. This module defines resources.

Module #7: Stages of Change
If we are going to do something to build economic stability, we’re certainly going to have to change some things we’re now doing. Whatever plans we make, they should be ours and not someone else’s. This module shows us how we can take charge of our changes, and it gives us a way to check on how we’re doing.

Module #8: Self-Assessment Regarding Resources
Most of the agencies we go to evaluate or assess us in some way. A self-assessment is even more important because we can include everything, not just one part of our lives, and we do it, not someone else.

Module #9: Building Resources
Building resources is the only way to establish economic stability, but it’s hard to do. If it were easy, we wouldn’t be getting together to do this. The thinking we do here will be used when we make our individual plans.

Module #10: Community Assessment
In this module, we complete the work we began in Module #4 by doing an assessment of community resources. This will lead to our plan for community prosperity.

Module #11: Your Plan for Getting from Poverty to Prosperity
Here is where we work together to build individual plans for gaining economic stability. We’ll be creating our future stories.

Module #12: Creating Mental Models for Your Personal Path Out of Poverty and for Community Prosperity
We also can be problem solvers in our community and contribute to the fight against poverty and for prosperity. Our voices must be heard.

Module #13: Closing and Transition

Module #14: Where to Go to Build Personal and Community Resources

Module #15: Reading List

For more information, including course schedules and dates, contact: