BRCA Circles focuses on breaking poverty cycle, building community

On the evening of Dec. 19, the hall of Christ United Methodist Church was alive with celebration as families gathered to honor the achievements of Blue Ridge Community Action’s (BRCA) fall cohort graduates.

These individuals, called “circle leaders,” completed the Circles initiative, a program designed to help families in Burke County break the cycle of poverty through relationship-building, goal-setting, and creating lasting change in their lives and communities.

Operated by BRCA, the Circles program is part of the national Circles USA poverty alleviation model, which has been active in Burke County for more than a decade. The initiative addresses not only financial challenges but also the personal and social barriers that often keep families trapped in poverty.

“We don’t come out of poverty alone,” said Aryn Smith, BRCA’s community services director. “The community aspect is the heart of this program. It’s about people walking beside each other, building connections, and helping each other achieve their goals.”

The program runs in 12-week sessions, during which participants meet weekly on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. to work through a curriculum that includes financial literacy, vision-setting, and goal planning.

To remove barriers to attendance, BRCA partners with organizations like Christ United Methodist Church to provide dinner and childcare at every meeting.

But Circles is more than just a skills program — it fosters a sense of belonging. “Many participants come to us in need of community,” Smith said. “Circles creates a space where they find peers with shared goals, and over time, they start cheering for each other.”

Graduation ceremonies highlight participants’ achievements, beginning with the sharing of “dream boards.” These boards outline participants’ SMART goals, ranging from six months to four years. Goals shared at the ceremony included long-term aspirations like building a first home, raising credit scores, and going to college to short-term goals like joining a gym, and even tie-dyeing shirts as a family activity.

For Michelle Jackson, a single mother of three daughters, Circles was life-changing. At the ceremony, Jackson celebrated being on track to pay off her credit card debt and shared her dream of being secure enough to take her daughters on vacation in 2025.

“I was trapped in poverty and felt stuck working in a dead-end fast-food job for three years,” Jackson said. After finding a flyer for Blue Ridge Community Action and learning about the Circles program from a case manager, she joined immediately.

Now a shift manager at KFC, Jackson plans to pursue her passion for social work and education. “Every week, there’s something important to learn — from budgeting to working with community sponsors on renting or buying a house, to finding programs that can sustain your family while you get on your feet,” she said.

Michelle is now a passionate advocate for Circles.

“You can’t do it alone,” she said. “The people in this group have your back. When everyone else gives up on you, the people in this circle never stop supporting you. This is my family — people I can share exciting news with, cry with on bad days, and pour into when they’re in need,” she continued.

Mark Tate was moved to tears as he presented his dream board. “You all are my rock, and I wouldn’t have seen all the growth I’ve had this year without you,” he said.

Lendy Etherage shared that during the program, she was working to finish her high school diploma, with just 10 credits remaining. She explained that being a part of the group pushed her to finish her education. For Etherage this was not only a step toward economic opportunity but also about setting an example to her children of the value of education.

BRCA Executive Director Stephanie Ashley reflected on the program’s impact. Only four years ago, budget concerns made her question whether Circles could continue.

“I was ready to cut the program,” Ashley admitted. “But through your energy and accomplishments, you made me believe again.”

She reflected on her own experiences in hunger and poverty and added that the program creates a space where people from different walks of life, but similar circumstances, come together to support one another without judgment.

Smith echoed Ashley’s sentiments, saying, “What inspires me the most about our Circles groups is their willingness to show up for themselves and each other to strive toward a common goal of self-sufficiency and success.”

The Circles initiative continues to transform lives in Burke County by fostering community, building confidence, and empowering families to achieve their dreams. As participants like Jackson, Tate, and Etheredge demonstrate, the journey to self-sufficiency is not one taken alone — but together, in circles of support.