At CUSA, we're grateful for the leadership of MLK Jr., and his fervent call for building the Beloved Community through nonviolent social change. May we honor his legacy by considering how we can each move towards this vision of collective reconciliation and thriving… with love, justice & creativity.

If the consumerism of the holiday season has left you feeling hollow, exhausted, or guilty… you’re not alone. This month, CLO Kris Alexander explores how consumerism affects the way we build community and how we can reclaim more meaningful ways of expressing our love. Read at circlesusa.org/blog

Healing, for Arizona, has involved years of recovery from severe injury, addiction and relationship abuse. In stirring keynote, she describes how the social capital she found on her Circles journey helped transform her pain into new resolve, economic stability, and purpose: youtu.be/8WIDxsakrPk?...

Raeanna and Jason have faced some of life’s hardest challenges on their Circles journey: from addiction and recovery to homelessness and navigating the job market post-incarceration, their chapter has been there to help them transform their financial and educational reality for good.

Part Two of our 2025 Conference Recap is here, with an overview of session highlights, keynotes and more! Check out the post at www.circlesusa.org/post/2025-co... #CUSACONF25

With a model that has been creating real, measurable change for families across the nation for 25+ years, we know we have the tools to end poverty in our lifetime. Will you help Circles USA expand our capacity to serve more communities in 2026? Visit circlesusa.org/donate to learn more #endpoverty

“I do not want poverty to be a place anyone is stuck in, stricken with, or have to settle for.” Hear how Circles supported Patty to put her life back together after divorce and mental health challenges in her inspiring keynote: youtu.be/lsYd2ZH7mBo?...

"Long-Haul Heroism" celebrates the day in, day out work of ordinary, dedicated people—like all of you! Read CLO Rev. Kris Alexander reflections on Pete Davis's book, Dedicated: The Case for Commitment in an Age of Infinite Browsing here: www.circlesusa.org/post/the-lea...

Wondering how you can best support your immigrant community members? We've compliled a list of helpful resources including legal services, hotline numbers, and know your rights handouts. Find all of this and more by scanning the QR code or going to: tinyurl.com/CUSAimmigration

Meet Rebecca Price, a graduated Circle Leader from Circles Davis County who is now serving as her chapter's Coach! Our new Leadership Development Spotlight series spotlights graduated Circle Leaders who have stepped into challenging service roles at the chapter, regional, and even national levels.

That's a wrap on Season 2 of The Big View: Ending Poverty in Your Community podcast! A huge thank you to all of our incredible guests this season for sharing your wisdom, stories, and unique expertise on #TheBigViewPod. S2 Recap: www.circlesusa.org/post/season-...

Poverty feels big. But Circles has the small solutions that make a big difference. Your donation this #GivingTuesday will help power a community-driven, nation-wide movement to end poverty in our lifetime. Make a monthly, annual, or one-time gift at circlesusa.org/donate

Millions of hardworking Americans are trapped in a system that works against them. This #GivingTuesday, you can make a tangible difference for families across the nation by supporting the community-driven, country-wide Circles movement. Visit circlesusa.org/donate to give today.

The results are in! We're pleased and proud to share the feedback we’ve compiled from attendee questionnaires for #CUSACONF25. Thank you to everyone who joined us this year!

In this month's installment of The Learning Curve Chronicles, CLO Kris Alexander reflects on the power of community—not only as an ideal of a thriving life, but as a core need essential for our very survival. Read it here: www.circlesusa.org/post/the-lea...

"We don’t need to go back to the old American Dream—we need to co-create a new one. One rooted in equity, care, and the reality that all people deserve to thrive, not just survive." —Kamatara, Circles USA Executive Director

The Circles USA Network Awards celebrate the many individuals, families, and chapters doing outstanding work building community to end poverty nationwide. We are so pleased and proud to spotlight our 2025 Network Award Winners. Congratulations, CUSA Network rock stars! 🏆✨

Appreciative Inquiry allows us to learn from the wisdom of those closest to the challenges we address—which is what Circles is all about. Dive into the process with us in S2E7 of The Big View: Ending Poverty in Your Community! circlesusa.org/s2e7

Meet Cheyenne Hurt, a graduated Circle Leader from Circles Indianapolis who is now serving as her chapter's Coach, Interim Director, Board Member and more! Read Cheyenne’s story: www.circlesusa.org/post/leaders...

We’re launching a new Salon Series to bring leaders together across sectors for bold dialogue and solutions to poverty. Our first stop was in DC, tackling the Cliff Effect with 22 leaders from 14 orgs. Quarterly Salons continue online + in person in 2026. More: www.circlesusa.org/post/circles...

On Nov 1 – without immediate action by Congress – federal funding for SNAP will run out. In a matter of days, tens of millions of Americans will go hungry. Urge your members of Congress to pass legislation to fund SNAP for the duration of the government shutdown: go.bread.org/page/89991/a...

That’s a wrap on #CUSAConf25! Thank you to all of our staff, volunteers, partners, sponsors, and attendees who made this a week to remember—full of inspiration, innovation, laughter and love! 💙

#CUSAConf25 NETWORK AWARDS now live streaming on FB, Insta and YouTube! See links in our feed below! 🏆💐🥇💫

Would you believe us if we told you this is financial #trauma #healing? 😉 #CUSAConf25 folx activating our empathetic brains with TRAUMA OF MONEY’S Chantel Chapman!

“We name the shame to tame the #shame…” TRAUMA OF MONEY author and financial trauma educator Chantel Chapman at #CUSAConf25 #livestransformed #CirclesUSA

Where does gratitude live in the body? How does it feel when we recall expressions of thankfulness and connection? TRAUMA OF MONEY author Chantel Chapman leads participants in a #financialtrauma healing exercise at #CUSAConf25

In just a few hours, we're hosting CUSA's 2025 Network Awards at our #CUSAConf25 in Ogden, UT. We can't wait to celebrate some truly outstanding work from across our community of practice this year. You can tune in live from wherever you are at 11am MT (10am PT / 12pm CT / 1pm ET)!

Guess who we’ll be talking to on our LAST MORNING here in beautiful Ogden, UT? So excited to welcome Chantel Chapman, author of Trauma of Money to #CUSAConf25 !! cc: @chantelchapman @traumaofmoney

Stories move hearts in ways facts alone cannot. In the #CUSAConf25 session The Art of Storytelling, attendees step into their stories, claim their pasts, and uncover the power their voices hold to change minds.

We love a #MakerSpace! At the session for Creating the Future Through Collaborative Art, #CUSAConf25 attendees are letting creative play to embody the hope, resilience, and community at the heart of the #CirclesUSA movement.

“What I found is important…is to learn to sit with my pain. To honor my pain. And then to put it down.” Roxy Hastings teaches #CUSAConf25 attendees how to use movement to reduce care fatigue

“Everybody is creative: we’re born creative and that creativity is trained out of us.” Ogden’s Poet Laureate Angelika Brewer teaches in her session, Creativity as The Human Superpower, this afternoon at #CUSAConf25

Ogden, UT’s Poet Laureate Angelika Brewer takes the stage now at #CusaConf25

“When you have hope, you’ve halfway won.” ❤️‍🔥Jennifer Brown #CUSAConf25

“Hate rhetoric has turned into real action that is oppressing many of us…and we are also confronting who we are in terms of our ability to vote. In our strategic plan, CUSA must make a decision to what extent our work can build coalitions to address these crises.” Joan Kuriansky #CUSAConf25

What’s on your wishlist for the next #CirclesUSA strategic plan? “My hope is that this plan will give us a stronger infrastructure…if we had more people who exemplified radical hospitality, we would not be in this position socially.” Peyton McCoy #CUSAConf25

And Board member Jennifer Brown joining us from SC via zoom!

STARTING NOW! #CirclesUSA has a stellar working Board, and they’re here with us at #CUSAConf25 to speak on nonprofit governance, the future of Circles, and how our network can come together to end #poverty in our lifetime.

We are so inspired by the Parkersburg Engagement Project, a year-long WVian experiment to cultivate civic engagement that bridges divides! This work asks: “Who do you need to reach out to?” #CUSAConf25 #communitywins

“Our kids’ behaviors are not just rebellions against us; they’re children’s way of communicating their needs to us.” Circles Chief Learning Officer Kris Alexander #CUSAConf25

In her Bringing Your Why to Your Youth session, #CirclesUSA CLO Kris Alexander is teaching members how to make sure all our kids are are safe, cared for, and supported in our chapters.

What would you do if your new CEO—highly successful in their previous role—falls prey to mission drift at your org? Board members are learning best practices for this and other scenarios from Circles RVA’s Lisa Specter-Dunaway’s in her Nonprofit Board Essentials session at #CUSAConf25

Jomaris DeJesús of The Prosperity Agenda is helping #CUSAConf25 members sort out our life priorities as part of today’s Family-Centered Coaching session! #communitywins

We wrapped up Day 1 of #CUSAConf25 watching and discussing @joinordiefilm.bsky.social—a powerful documentary about the work of social scientist Robert Putnam and why social capital is vital to the wellbeing of ourselves, our communities, and American democracy.

How can we support immigrants and refugees in #CirclesUSA? Crystal Carlson, ED of Circles San Diego, has had the privilege of walking alongside Ukrainian refugees and is sharing best practices for creating responsive, compassionate communities for all. #CUSAConf25

“You can tell a Circle Leader ‘this is what you COULD do,’ but if it doesn’t align with their values or life…you need to let it be a good idea for someone else.” CUSA Natl Coach Addie Hartnett and Cheryl Williams talking EQ (Emotional Intelligence) for #CirclesUSA #CUSAConf25

“We wanted to be Circle Leader led…we wanted to learn from them.” Barbara Garner, Circles Cobb ED on Appreciative Inquiry #CUSAConf25 #bigview

In this morning’s session Utilizing Appreciative Inquiry to Shape #BigView Priorities, Keylan Mitchell (Circles Cobb coach) & Barbara Garner (Circles Cobb ED) are teaching us practical steps for centering Circle Leaders in every part of the Big View (systemic change) process! #CUSAConf25

“Why work together? We can serve more people, especially because so many of our Circles chapters are small...and relationships are our superpower!” Tracy Hoesch (Circles Ottawa County Dir) & Lisa Specter-Dunaway (Circles RVA Board Member & Trainer) #CUSAConf25

Thrilled to welcome Prosperity Agenda ED Jomaris DeJesús, this morning’s #CUSAConf25 featured speaker! Jomaris calls CUSA “a place where Hope is not hypothetical, but a practice we share.” #CirclesUSA