Hello, On behalf of Circles East Liberty, I would like to invite you to a Poverty Simulation on November 17th. Circles is a nationally recognized, proven model to help get folks out of poverty. It is a relationally-driven program that benefits from the long-term relationships between "Circle Leaders" and “Circles Allies.” *Circles Allies* are community members who want to be in a supportive, intentional, befriending relationship with a* Circle Leader*, who is an individual or family working to get out of poverty. In 2014, East Liberty Development, Inc. started the first urban Circles group right in East Liberty. In January, we are launching our third cohort- and we need your help! ​ It is difficult for those of us who have enough to truly understand the situations that families living in poverty experience every day – the decisions they have to make, and the fears and frustrations they feel. That is why we are inviting you to walk a mile in the shoes of those facing poverty by participating in the Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS). The CAPS provides participants with the opportunity to assume the role of a low-income family member living on a limited budget. The experience is divided into four 15-minute sessions, each of which represents one week in which you must provide for your family and maintain your home. As one participant commented, "This poverty simulation dramatically demonstrates how much time and energy many families have to give just to survive from day to day. It quickly dispels the myth "that people would do fine if they would only go out and get a job!" Every one of our Circle Leaders is employed and still struggling to get by. The simulation will be held from 6pm-8:30pm on November 17th, 2015 at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 250 N. Highland Ave in East Liberty. Please RSVP by November 13th by contacting Jodi Salant, jodi.salant@eastliberty.org or 412-361-8061 ext.10. Please feel free to forward this to anyone you believe may be interested. We look forward to your participation. Sincerely, Jodi Salant ​ -- Jodi Salant Administrative Assistant, Circles Greater Pittsburgh c/o East Liberty Development, Inc. 100 N. Sheridan Square, 4th Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15206 P: 412-361-8061 ext.10 F: 412-362-3231 www.eastliberty.org facebook.com/EastLibertyPgh twitter.com/EastLibertyPgh <http://twitter.com/EastLibertyPgh>