Bloomington Wrap-up

We give our concluding thoughts on our trip to Bloomington, Indiana to visit the Monroe County Circles Initiative.  

Site #8: Bloomington, Indiana

We returned to the Midwest for our final stop on the Faces of Circles Tour.  Bloomington turned out to be a very unique stop for us.  On the day we visited, Monroe County Circles was hosting a regional Community of Practice that involved five other sites in Indiana.  As a result we were able to interview Allies and Circle Leaders from all over the state.  Another unique aspect to this trip is the nature of Bloomington itself: the city is home to over 40,000 Indiana University students.  Along with all of the history, culture, and prestige that come from hosting a major state university, the faculty, staff, and alumni that live in the area help produce the most educated and community-engaged population we visited on our tour.  Consequently, Bloomington has a low crime rate and is considered one of the top town's in the country to which someone might retire (Money Magazine).  

But not all is perfect in Monroe County.  The poverty rate in 2008 was almost 21%, about eight points higher than the state average.  While social services are available within Bloomington, the rural area that makes up the majority of the county has limited access to these resources.  A lack of public transportation and minimal-education job opportunities create real barriers for those living outside the city.  And despite the positives that come with the presence of the university, the demand for student lodging drives up the prices in the area, making affordable housing a serious issue for low-income residents.  This, along with other issues, can create resentment for the student population from local residents.  

In spite of all this, Monroe County Circles is helping people overcome barriers in Bloomington and beyond.  Having graduated four Getting Ahead classes, they have successfully matched three of them with Allies. Many graduates have three to four Allies.  Their Circle Leaders are graduating from college, buying their own homes, and finding jobs that provide some stability in their lives.  Moreover, Circle Leaders and Allies alike have found a real sense of community in their local initiative which supports and encourages them in their journey together.  While many Circle Leaders have a lot of work to do to accomplish their goals, they are confident, knowing they don't have to do it alone.  

Footage from Jackson

Here are some of the wonderful people we spoke with in Jackson, Mississippi.  We are still working to get through our footage from Longview and Bloomington...but we're getting there.  Keep checking back for more!

Longview Wrap-up

Our last wrap-up video from the road trip portion of our tour.  Tomorrow we will be in Bloomington, Indiana for our 8th and final stop!  Check back for updates from our unique visit in Bloomington.

Site #7: Longview, Texas



The final tour stop before the team heads back to Springfield took us 280 miles west of Jackson into East Texas.  Longview, another mid-sized American town, grew up around the oil boom.  It is home to 78,000 people, three school districts, and two very different sides of the city.  While the north side of town is mostly prosperous, South Longview is much more impoverished.  Very few businesses operate in an area with a much denser populations.  Fewer grocery stores and an abundance of pay-day lenders mark the area.  70% of the students in the Longview School District receive free or reduced lunch.  Residents struggle to find decent paying jobs with minimal education.  When a local brewery relocated around ten years ago, the city lost a considerable amount of tax revenue. 

In light of these issues, the city of Longview, through a program called Partners in Prevention, took on the Circles initiative in 2008.  They have graduated four Getting Ahead classes to this point and will soon be matching their most recent class with allies.  Their Circle Leaders are working class citizens who have found a community of support and strength in the initiative led by Holly Fuller and Lyndell McAllister.  Partners in Prevention also has a unique Circles community that they forged in partnership with Longview.  15 city employees were referred and have been active participants in their own Getting Ahead class and Circles community.  Fuller and McAllister are pleased with the progress being made by their Circle Leaders and the growth of the Allies who are partnered with them.  Together they are looking for ways to tackle the systemic issues that people in poverty need to overcome in Longview.  These obstacles look overwhelming at times, but with the support of the city government and the camaraderie they have found with one another, this Circles community has found hope. 

More Footage from Pensacola, FL!

Here is a short video from our time in Pensacola, FL.  Thank you to everyone we met and took the time to talk and interview with us. 

Jackson Wrap-up

Here are our concluding thoughts from our visit to Jackson, Mississippi.  Later today we will have a post or two from Longview, Texas.