SpringfieldNewsSun.com

Springfield, Ohio — Melissa Perkins is a 29-year-old mother looking after two daughters, 10 and 12. She has two sons who don't live with her, an uneven work record and a history of drug addiction.

Perkins said she is also something else: The head of a circle and "a person working on getting out of poverty."

Ten such circles are now operating in Springfield through the national Circles program managed locally by Think Tank Inc.

Each group consists of a leader and two to four allies.

In Perkins' circle are Heather Seelig, a coordinator of the 10 circles in the city; Ellen Waild, one of Perkins' allies and a part of Think Tank; and Samantha Mohr, a Wittenberg University senior and volunteer ally.

The circle also includes Perkins' daughters, Stacy and Samantha.

After going through 15 weeks of training, "Circle leaders (like Perkins) lead their plan, and they set their priorities" for how to proceed, said Seelig.

If there's a failure to act, "they'll stay on you, Perkins said, "but it's generally your initiative."

Perkins' primary goal is to improve her education. But she often struggles just looking after her two girls, earning a living and staying sober.

"It's really tough for me to balance everything and stick with it," she said. "I have to keep my recovery priority."

Seelig said Perkins' situation is typical.

Of the three Rs the program says are involved in a low-income person moving forward — resources, relationship and reason to thrive — "two of the three typically are a struggle," Seelig said.

Perkins' allies, who also attended brief training workshops, have helped her in typical ways.

"Melissa's two girls and I have been pretty close," said Mohr, a sociology major. In addition to helping the family move, Mohr has picked the girls up from school and talked to one of their vice principals.

She also helped Perkins put together a resume.

Waild has been investigating routes for Perkins to get back to school, including funding options.

"It's kind of in the discussion phase," Waild said.

She, too, has become part of the family, often in the role of mother.

Perkins said when Waild attended one of her daughter's recitals, "she was so excited."

Waild and Mohr said that allies don't have to have special talents to be helpful. Someone who can fix a car, work with a computer or just spend time can be helpful.

One community member pitched in a used car he was going to discard, and now it's Perkins' source of transportation.

The program asks volunteers to contribute any of the three Ts — time, treasure or talent.

It also encourages ongoing contact with regular Circle meetings and a monthly Big View meeting, where all the Circles meet together.

Waild said getting the community involved with low income families not only helps individual families but is designed "to make people aware" of the issues poor people face. This could help the community to "work to eliminate the systemic obstacles" that make it difficult for people to move out of poverty.

"There isn't really a single reason for poverty," Waild said. "So we're trying to expose the community as to why things are the way they are."

The approach also is an attempt to get people to see that while government social service programs are important, they aren't always enough to help people get ahead.

"Circles is kind of a 24/7 support service" that takes support "to a different level," Waild said.

The hope is that the system of support it provides will help Melissa Perkins and her daughters do the same.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0368 or tstafford@coxohio.com.

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