Bridges out of Poverty/Circles^®
Coach/Co-ordination Support
1 Full-time Contract
London, Ontario

 

What is the Circles^® Initiative?
 
Circles^® is a community-based, transformational approach to ending poverty one family at a time. It is based on mentoring, befriending relationships that form between people in middle class and people in poverty.  All involved are empowered through training that awakens an authentic, real life, understanding of what poverty is.  This awareness empowers relationships to form across class lines where together families and mentors share and support each other on the ending poverty journey.
 
Groups of 20 individuals or families living in poverty and their mentor(s), together form a Circle. Community members can volunteer as a mentor, on a task team called the Guiding Coalition, or as a group of influential community leaders, called the Community Champions.  Through this network of volunteers and influential community leaders, Circles is designed to not only support families in moving beyond poverty, but to facilitate systemic change in the community.
 
A pilot of this powerful initiative is being supported by Ontario Works and the Child and Youth Network, with Goodwill Industries serving as the lead host agency.
 


The Opportunity
 
Circles^® is a community-based initiative that creates relationships across class and race lines, matching people of low income with middle or upper income mentors, called “Allies”.  The primary role of the Circles Coach is to support these relationships, “coaching” them to thrive and to fulfill the Circles^® mission. 
 


The Essential Functions
 

• Assist with the development of all aspects of the program including:
  • Assist the Guiding Coalition in planning, scheduling and facilitating Weekly Community Meetings, Youth Program, Circle member training and other Circles^® events
  • Identify referral and advocacy information, share with Circles^® Community
  • Collaborate with case managers to assure families progress
  • Write and speak passionately on ending poverty, providing positive PR for Circles initiative
  • Maintain accurate records and complete required reports
  • Regularly attend and provide leadership in team meetings and community meetings
• Assist with the recruitment and selection of Circle participants from all socio-economic classes (including screening, interviews, assessments, orientation, and so on)
• Maintain Circles by providing ongoing support to all members
• Provide conflict resolution if necessary within the Circle
• Participate in the Circle match process

The Qualifications
 

• Two years’ experience in the Human Services field
• Two or Four year degree in Human Services with training in Family Development or Case Management
• Experience working with low-income individuals and families
• Experience working in community organizing or community development
• Maintain positive work atmosphere by behaving and communicating in a manner that fosters good  relations with clients, customers, co-workers and supervision
• Treat clients, co-workers and the public in a respectful and courteous manner at all times
• Ability to develop a viable, self-sustaining community in which the staff person is a part rather than the leader
• Ensure the confidentiality of all services in regards to both written and verbal communication
• Ability to stay calm in the face of other people’s distress
• Ability to develop a supportive, empowering culture for diverse members of the Circles Community
• Ability to provide one’s own transportation and the appropriate transportation for others when needed
• Maintain current knowledge of social services available throughout community
• Strong organizational skills in managing complex tasks with autonomy
• Ability  to  identify  own  personal  and  professional  challenges  and  implement  learning  feedback into work performance
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work flexible schedule