Bridges to Circles Program Updates
Pensacola
BRIDGES TO CIRCLES UPDATE
OUR GOAL
50% reduction of people living in poverty by 2020 means 21,467 people including 8459 children moving above the federal poverty line in Escambia County.
ACTION TEAMS
The Poverty Solution Team’s action teams include:
Political and economic development
Exploitation
Human and social capital
Poverty information
Training
Resources
Education
Circles planning
If you are interested in participating on one of these action teams, contact Jean Norman at jean@unitedwayescambia.org or 434-3157.
COMMUNITY ORIENTATION – An Overview of Poverty
Thursday, January 15 from 5:30-7:00 pm
New Dimensions Christian Center, 3201 Navy Blvd (SW corner of Navy and W Street)
BRIDGES OUT OF POVERTY SEMINAR
Saturday, January 24 from 9:00-4:00 pm
Cokesbury United Methodist Church, 5725 N. Ninth Avenue, Cost is $25
GETTING AHEAD FACILITATOR TRAINING
Getting Ahead in a Just Gettin’ By World classes involve teams of volunteer facilitators who meet with 12-15 people for 15 weeks.
· Refresher course for those who attended Phil DeVol’s facilitator seminar in 2007 is December 4
(5:30-7:30 pm at the McMillan Center, 1400 Scott Street).
· A twelve hour training course for new facilitators will be offered in January 2009.
CIRCLES INITIATIVE
In March 2009 our Bridges to Circles initiative fully launches with our weekly community meeting. Each Getting Ahead graduate who desires to continue moving toward self-sufficiency will be paired with 2-4 allies from the community. Allies are asked to attend a community orientation, a Bridges out of Poverty seminar, and the hands-on ally training.
· Hands-on ally training – +Thursday, January 29 +from 5:30-7:30 pm at Gadsden Street United Methodist Church, 901 E. Gadsden Street.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact Janet Westlake, Bridges to Circles community organizer,
at 429-7296, ext. 18; cell 602-8601; or westlakej@cc.ptdiocese.org.