Start your Circles journey

Become a Circles Leader

Are you living paycheck to paycheck?

Are you ready to pursue your financial goals and personal growth?

Circles is a program that helps low-income individuals and families increase their income, achieve their goals, and become financially stable. As a Leader, you will receive training on finances, employment, health, and communication skills. But what really makes Circles different is the relationships you will form. Achieving your goals and moving from surviving to thriving is easier when you have a circle of support.

Benefits of being a Circles Leader

Circles offers an extended community that will support you on your journey towards your goals.

You will develop connections to resources and opportunities shared
by fellow Leaders, Allies and Staff members

Opportunities to participate in workshops that will help advance your career, financial, and educational goals.

Weekly gathering that includes dinner, childcare/young leader group, and friendship

It’s difficult to explain in words, just how much joining the Circles community can impact your life. We understand the emotional part of reaching out for help. We encourage you to watch the Circles Leader – Annette Brown video, and we hope you will be interested in knowing more. Annette wants to inspire you to start your life-changing Circles journey. If her story inspires you, we hope you will venture out of your comfort zone and take a minute to submit the Get In Touch with Circles contact form. Indulge your curiosity and stop by on a Tuesday evening as a guest. Just fill out the contact form so we know you’re stopping by and we’ll save a seat for you at the dinner table.

Circles is a community-based program that is committed to increasing the upward mobility for individuals and families in poverty in St. Mary’s County. Based on the national Circles® USA model, the Circles program uses financial and career training combined with intentional relationships across socioeconomic lines to take these families from surviving to thriving. The Circles journey creates long-term success by providing access to resources and social capital, which keeps the Circles Leaders on a path for continual economic growth and stability.

Discover Circles

CirclesSMC is a powerful program fostering connections between individuals and volunteers to break the cycle of poverty. Explore these videos from Circles USA to gain insights into this transformative experience.

It’s difficult to explain in words, just how much joining Circles can impact your life. Please watch the videos, and then fill out the Get In Touch with Circles contact form to start your Circles journey.

What is Circles?
What is Poverty?
Circle Leader Annette’s Full Story
Circle Leader April’s Story

Circles Mission

Building community to end poverty through intentional friendships, personal transformation, and systemic change
led by the people closest to the challenge.

Circles Vision

All individuals live in equitable, thriving communities
where poverty no longer exists.

Join the CirclesSMC Community

Discover how to become a Circles Leader
If you’re struggling financially and ready to make positive changes in your life, know that there are people in our community that would like to help.

Participants are called Circle Leaders and receive training on finances, employment, health, goal setting, and communication skills. As a Circle Leader, you will be matched with a Circles Ally who are there to support you in your journey out of poverty. Getting out of poverty is easier when you have a circle of support!

We encourage you to fill out the Get In Touch with Circles contact form below if you are interested in letting us help you create a roadmap for change in your life, by becoming a Circles Leader. We want to walk by your side during your journey from surviving to thriving. Please take a few minutes now, venture out of your comfort zone, and fill out the contact form below. We’re waiting to hear from you!

Circle Leader Application
Discover how to become a Circles Ally
We are recruiting volunteers to mentor Circle Leaders while they are on their path to financial stability through the CirclesSMC program. These families lack resources and social capital. Giving these families the right support and hope, knowing there are people in our community that care, can make all the difference.

We encourage you to fill out the Get In Touch with Circles contact form below if you are interested in volunteering as a Circles Ally. We need you to share your experience navigating the challenges of life with Circle Leaders. CirclesSMC will provide you with training and resources to help you be the kind of Ally our Circle Leaders need to thrive.

Circle Ally Application

Change your life for the better

If you would like to have consistent support and encouragement to help you achieve the financial security you’ve always wanted just Fill out the Get In Touch with Circles form and let us know!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Leader vs Ally?

Leaders: Individuals experiencing poverty who actively set goals and drive their journey toward change.

Allies: Volunteers who support leaders with guidance, connections, and encouragement.

The Leader and Ally relationship is not one of a helper and someone being helped. It’s a partnership built on mutual respect, understanding, and a shared commitment to breaking the cycle of poverty.

How do I qualify?

The next step toward changing your future as a Circles Leader is to make sure you qualify. To join the program, you must:

Be willing to commit to regular meetings to plan and work toward your goals

Be at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines

Be in stable housing, free from drug or alcohol addiction for 12 months

Is there a cost to participate?

There’s no cost to participate, and you’ll have access to a proven program of support to reach financial security.

Get in touch with CirclesSMC

Office

21641 Great Mills Road
Lexington Park, MD 20653

Contact

kimberly@hopesmc.org
301-737-2870

Walk-In Hours

Monday & Thursday, 9 am – 11:15 am