Wichita program aims to make sure circle of poverty is broken

When Sarina LeMay runs into people she used to know, they hardly recognize her now.

“You look so great,” they say.

“You are not the same person.”

If it weren’t for the Wichita Circles Network, LeMay said, she would be in the same place she was 10 years ago.

“I could be homeless, on drugs, on the street, childless, trying to find a job … and back with an abusive partner,” the mother of six said. “I’ve been down those roads, and I know those roads don’t lead to any positive things.”

The Circles Network aims to bring people out of generational poverty by pairing them with a mentoring volunteer. People in generational poverty are those who are surrounded by family and friends who have never attended college, have never owned a home or have never known anyone with a $60,000 income.

“Imagining those things when you don’t know anyone who’s had them is like asking you to imagine moving to Alaska,” said Allison Celik, Wichita Circles Network director. “People live there, why can’t you go? What’s stopping you?”

Hidden rules

In an attempt to overcome generational poverty, Circles pairs impoverished individuals with volunteers in “intentional friendships” for an intensive, 18-month program.

Those trying to get out of poverty are called “leaders” and the volunteers “allies.”

“When they join Circles, they take on the responsibility of leading their journey out of poverty,” Celik said. “It’s a leadership role.”

The reason these pairings are successful, Celik said, is because relationships are “what makes the world go round.”

“As I’ve looked at poverty … I often thought one of the missing ingredients would be a mentoring relationship,” said Bob Mayle, site coordinator of the group’s College Hill location. “We try to point them to resources and be there to encourage them to keep moving forward.”

Support system

To get placement into the Circles program, leaders must first take a 15-week class to examine budget expenses and personal characteristics like integrity and trustworthiness. At the end, they establish a personal goal, an income goal and an educational goal.

Later, they are arranged with at least two allies. Once a week, they meet at one of the two locations – College Hill or Delano. Organizers and guest speakers present educational discussions with topics such as health care, budgeting or how to own a small business.

A third location is in the works near Derby.

Circles also offers a “Bridges Out of Poverty” class to help the allies gain a better understanding of poverty in America.

“When I took ‘Bridges Out of Poverty,’ it was theory,” said Janis Cox, an ally in the program. “Now I feel like it’s getting all colored in and it’s no longer theory. I’m seeing it, day in and day out.”

Sharon Askew is taking online classes to earn her GED. But not because it would help her in a job – she’s older than 50 and has some health problems, she said – but because it would be a confidence booster.

And to set an example for her children and grandchildren. She prefers the term “financially challenged” over “poor.”

“It’s for me to feel like I accomplished something,” Askew said. “You can’t tell Westar I feel good about myself and not pay the bill. … (Leaders) may do better because they feel better.”

Askew doesn’t have a computer at home, she said, so her allies – many are retired teachers and professors – drive her from house to house to complete the online courses. Math is her hardest subject.

But the support from her allies keeps her going, she said.

“My circle leader continues to have hope when so many things beat her down all the time,” said Cox, one of Askew’s allies.

Cox struggled to hold back tears as she spoke.

“She has a very positive attitude that I wouldn’t be able to maintain if it happened to me,” she said.

“She’s a stronger person than I am, I can tell you that.”

Mutual understanding

LeMay’s goals are to own a home and become self-sufficient without food stamps and child care. She cares for children ages 10, 4, 3 and 2 full time. She said she should have a house by this time next year.

“Now I’m making decisions that affect my children in a positive way,” she said, “not a negative way.”

LeMay already has completed the 18-month Circles program but comes back to discuss plans with her allies.

“A lot of people do not know how hard it is to be poor,” LeMay said. “Not everybody wants a handout. They want a hand up or help (and) knowledge to be a better person and a successful person in society.”

This story was originally published July 12, 2015 at 8:29 PM with the headline "Wichita program aims to make sure circle of poverty is broken."