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Move the Mountain Leadership Center   aha! Process, Inc.    Hands for Hope



Mission Statement: To provide all people of Anson County with the knowledge, relationships and necessary resources to achieve economic stability.

     Allies are people in the middle or upper classes who are willing to share their knowledge and expertise to help CirclesŪ Leaders attain their goals. Ideally, each Circle Leader will have 3-4 allies he or she can call on for support.

FAQs on becoming an Ally

What is the time commitment of being an Ally?
In general, each month you will need to attend one 2 1/2 hour group Circles meeting and one Circles meeting to meet individually with your Circle Leader, for a total of about 5-5 l/2 hours. Consistent effort to be part of the Big View meetings is expected, as well as "checking in" on the Circle Leader and occasionally being involved with him/ her on a more personal level, steps that could slightly increase time commitment.

Is my commitment to this Circles long-term?
Unless you have a difficult personality clash with the Circle Leader and you both mutually agree through the Circles Evaluation Process that your involvement is not working or if a life-changing emergency precludes you from participating, you will be expected to be a part of your Circle for a minimum of 18 months. It takes time to get to know a person and their issues and to develop the trust to make this model work. To leave any sooner is a disservice to the Circle Leader's effort to be successful. In most situations, Circle members become lifetime friends whose connections last long after the Circles has ended.

Am I expected to make a monetary donation to my Circle Leader?
Allies provide friendship and direction for the Circle Leader. They are encouraged not to give money to their Circle Leader.

How is the Circle Leader's progress evaluated?
Circles Leaders undergo an intake process with the Circles Coach to determine whether the Circle Leader is in crisis or thriving in a variety of life issues ranging from housing to employment and transportation to health.

If this work becomes difficult and I am feeling that I may be "in over my head," how can I find the support I need?
Periodic Ally Support meetings are a part of the Circles meetings so Allies can come together to listen to and encourage each other. This is done with the utmost caution so as not to divulge personal issues the Circle Leaders are facing.

How will our Circles know when the Circle Leader is ready to move forward without the support of the Circle?
In general, you will just know. The Circle Leader will have surmounted the obstacles holding him/her and family members in poverty and will have reached all or most of his/her goals. However, the statistical measure of this achievement will be when the Circle Leader reaches 200% of poverty, based on federal poverty guidelines and has enough earned income to make ends meet.