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Girls Take Action to Improve Community in Northeast, Ohio Through Girltopia Project Part One – 2013-01-11

Circles

By Katie Sobiech

This month, 3 mini-grants will be awarded by Girltopia: Akron. The grants will allow girls, grades 6-12, from the Girl Scouts of North East Ohio (GSNEO) program to make their dreams to improve the city come true.

Girltopia, launched in September 2012, offers recipients the opportunity to shine in their communities through their very own, “Take Action”, projects.

Seventy-five girls have accepted this call-to-action, brainstorming and putting in the work to create ideas that would make Akron a better place.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation provided the GSNEO with a $50,000 grant to support the program.

“It’s really an exciting project. Girl Scouts is known for community action and engagement, so we’re excited that the Knight Foundation has partnered with us to give us the dollars to move it forward,” Emily fletcher, Director of Programs at GSNEO, said.

(more…)

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October 24, 2013
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Coming Full Circle out of
Poverty through the Circles Campaign: 
It Takes a Community to 
Break through Poverty Part Two – 2013-01-05

By Katie Sobiech

The Circles Campaign is set to start up on January 9th, 2013 in Akron – bringing this endeavor to Summit County for the first time.

Those of middle class or wealth that would like to be of support, not financially, but through relationship and positive reinforcement, are encouraged to become a part of this initiative. Those in poverty who have graduated “Getting Ahead” are also encouraged to join, as it is the next step in their journey towards financial freedom.

The Circles Campaign is all about putting action behind the plan that those in poverty created during their Getting Ahead classes. Allies of wealth or middle class will be there to help guide them along the way.

This campaign is currently in about 7 other communities in Ohio and 77 communities throughout the U.S.

Others in the community have been involved in the overall “Bridges out of Poverty” efforts, including OPEN M and the Harvest Home.

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October 24, 2013
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Coming Full Circle out of Poverty through the Circles Campaign: 
It Takes a Community to Break through Poverty – 2012-12-30

Circles Campaign

By Katie Sobiech

Recently noticed by CNN and CBS, the Circles Campaign (CC) formed to break the cycle of poverty currently exists in 70 communities and 24 states throughout the U.S.

It all began at “Move the Mountain Leadership Center” in New Mexico as a conversation between welfare recipients and social workers. There they discussed ways to address poverty, build relationships and connect people to services and resources.

Initial results from this campaign showed that for every $1 spent on the program, $2 in welfare and food stamp subsidies were returned to the state, and $4 to the community as new earned income (www.circlescampaign.org).

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October 24, 2013