For millions of Americans, living at or near the federal poverty line means barely getting by is a constant struggle. Census Bureau estimates show more than 20 percent of Richmond’s residents are living in poverty — a figure nearly 50 percent higher than the national average. Many of these residents work, and many feel as though they’ll never get ahead.

Such was the case for Sherrell Thompson, 43, a resident of Churc Hill and Richmond native. Two years ago, the single mother and grandmother worked as a certified community health Wworker for Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority. Everyday she helped others in her job, but she also knew she needed help herself.

“I really felt stuck where I was financially and I just didn’t know what steps to take next,” Ms. Thompson said by phone recently.

One day, she took a deeper look at Circles RVA — a local organization she’d referred clients looking to better their financial circumstances to before. Ms. Thompson decided to put in her own application and was accepted to the program in August 2020.

In that same cohort was Barbara Yates, 67, a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, who was born in Baltimore but moved to Richmond as a child.

Both were drawn by Circles RVA’s vision “that everyone has enough money, meaning and friends to thrive.”

In a recent phone interview, Circles RVA co-president Valena Dixon and coach Debbie Williams highlighted how the organization works alongside program participants — known as leaders — to help them realize that vision of financial stability, purpose and support in their lives.

“Allies and volunteers create a circle of support around leaders and intentionally create relationships,” Ms. Dixon explained. “These relationships expand their networks and introduce them to resources that can reduce the barriers that hinder their rising out of poverty.”

“You’re building communities by building intentional relationships,” Ms. Williams added. “These relationships make all the difference and give leaders the support they need to move from surviving to thriving.”

Circles RVA began with volunteers who were looking for ways to address Richmond’s poverty issue at the community level. It became a registered nonprofit in June 2017, modeled after Circles USA which sees circles, or the personal and professional networks each person has, as resources that can be shared.

With Circles RVA, leaders undertake a 12-week educational program during which they are matched with allies and work to create SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound) goals for themselves. Over the next 18 months, leaders and allies meet weekly to ensure that leaders continue to progress toward their goals.

As Ms. Dixon puts is, “Plan the work, work the plan.”

And plans are working. Circles RVA graduated its fourth cohort in June, and its latest newsletter highlights the achievements of its 15 leaders who so far have completed the program. Many show average increases of about $1,200 in monthly income and $2,000 in total assets.

Ms. Thompson and Mrs. Yates graduated in the June 2022 cohort and have seen the benefits.

With her allies’ help, Miss Thompson revamped her résumé and secured a new, higher paying job with her employer as a resident services coordinator. She has used the extra income to reduce her debt and boost her credit score by more than 100 points.

“I never thought I’d be able to do that,” Ms. Thompson said. “Circles RVA helped me so much. I was so happy I just cried through my whole graduation.”

Learning to better manage her budget also helped Mrs. Yates.

“Before I was an Amazon addict, but not anymore,” Mrs. Yates said, noting that she frequently made purchases from the online retailer. “Writing (down) where all of (my) money was going made it easy to see where you could bring your expenses down.”

Mrs. Yates has started saving some of what she used to spend. She has a “rainy day fund” and is continuing to save toward another goal — travel.

“I really enjoyed the program. You are constantly learning something every week,” Mrs. Yates said. “My allies were very supportive and encouraging. Whenever I was struggling, they helped me think like that little train, ‘I think I can. I think I can.’”

Mrs. Yates and Ms. Thompson plan to stay connected with the friends they made through Circles RVA. Ms. Thompson even wants to apply to rejoin the program — this time as an ally.

“I have benefitted so much that I need to pass that on.”

To learn more about Circles RVA and its next cohort of leaders, visit https://circlesrva.org/