Poverty solution founder speaks at Penn State Fayette

Scott Miller believes that poverty can be abolished by focusing on one family at a time.
It was that belief that led Miller, from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to launch the national program, Circles USA, that has chapters all over the country.
The Connellsville chapter hosted a conference Wednesday evening with Miller at Penn State Fayette for the public to learn more about the Circles program.
“Fayette County’s poverty is unique because of its significance. It’s a serious issue that requires all hands on deck,” said Miller, adding that the poverty level in the county is almost double what the federal poverty level is. “But it’s a beautiful county with a lot to offer. We need to bring back industry, bring in new people and make a decision to get out of poverty. It would be an inspiration to the rest of the state.”
“For those who think that getting out of poverty can’t be done … game on,” he continued.
The Connellsville Circle has a team of allies and directors that lead the partnership with local agencies and arrange for the program’s success, called the Guiding Coalition. The team’s co-chair, Becky Ambrosini, said, “It’s not a handout; it’s a hand up.”
The basis of Circles is to pair low-income, impoverished families with “allies,” or as Ambrosini calls them, “friends.”
“They’re not mentors — they don’t tell them what to do. But they lead by example. People have told those in poverty all of their lives what to do. Instead, we offer them a friend,” said Ambrosini, of Connellsville. “They might just need someone to talk to, someone to listen to them. They often don’t have that support system because there are so many generations of poverty, and their elders are just trying to survive every day.”
Each approved family is matched with three to four allies. To be approved, the families have to meet certain criteria to confirm their eligibility and initiative. They cannot have any current alcohol or drug dependencies, though they can reapply after they have sought help, which Circles volunteers will help them find if needed.
After approval, the “leaders” of the family, which is the man or woman leading their family out of poverty, enter into a 12-week training course. The Thursday night meetings will equip them with knowledge on budgeting, paying bills, how to break negative influences, etc. They also provide meals for the families and hold activities for the children.
“The children are the ones we have to change the culture of poverty — they’re our hope,” said Ambrosini. “We don’t want them to be the fourth or fifth generation of poverty.” The volunteers work with the kids, often paralleling their lessons with the ones for their parents. Ambrosini added that the children start to learn about good spending habits at an early age, which helps to encourage the parents.
After the leaders complete the training, they’re paired with several allies and embark on an 18-month journey to end their livelihood in poverty. The allies encourage leaders to set goals, and help them to achieve them.
“The government can’t do this. The community — the incredible people here — have to be able to do it,” said Ambrosini.
The Connellsville chapter is a partnership of St. Vincent de Paul of Connellsville, the Salvation Army and Connellsville Area Community Ministry that started about a year and a half ago.
“People deserve the best support we can give them in our community. It is possible to create a situation in which everyone can prosper. We have an amazing country, and amazing opportunities, hearts and good will here; all of that just needs to come together around this intention of letting go of poverty,” said Miller.
Ambrosini said nationally, about 60 percent of the leaders drop out of the training. But she emphasized that that still meant that 40 percent completed it, adding that Circles Connellsville had about 75 percent of their first group graduate from the program. The successful graduates often refer other families as well. Circles will begin recruiting another 20 families in February for the next round of the program.
“These people are making hard decisions and changing their lives. The people who are trying — I have more adoration for them than someone who goes back to get a master’s degree,” said Ambrosini. “Poverty is difficult to understand, unless you’ve lived in it.”
“This is a national coalition, and while this chapter is in Connellsville, our goal is to spread it and get more programs in areas where it’s needed in the county and surrounding areas,” she continued.