WE are A THRIVE Community and 2018 is going to be full of new possibilities, new opportunities and new faces.  We are excited about all the energy that we have seen in this new year.  We have a new Program Director, Alison, a new Getting Ahead Facilitator, Susan, and some new partnerships.  While we still have the same mission and commitment to our Team Leaders and our Getting Ahead participants, we are looking forward to some new strategies and structure that will help enrich our Team experiences and increase opportunity for success for our families.  
We encourage all of our Team Leaders and Getting Ahead Participants to share things we might consider as we restructure and improve our curriculum and program directives.  THRIVE exists exclusively for the benefit of our Team Leaders and their families.  Be an active part of the process.
Our THRIVE Allies are also critical in helping our Team Leaders solidify their goals, and have the encouragement to see them become realities.  We are excited about our Partnership with Family Promise of Greater Wichita, who will be helping to identify new allies who will be walking alongside our Getting Ahead graduates as they choose to become a THRIVE Team Leader to continue their journey our of poverty and into a stable secure future for their families.
It's TIME to SHINE in 2018!  

The holiday season is upon us and we are feverishly preparing for the new year.  We first want to welcome our new THRIVE Program Director, Alison Jenkins.  She is new to Wichita but has been involved in helping children and families in her home State of Alabama.  She graduated from the University of Alabama, is married with 2 children and has served in a variety of positions including Director of Children's Ministries, Director of Parent's Day Out and started the Birmingham S.T.A.I.R [Start the Adventure in Reading] Program for Avondale.  She has a heart for family development, growth and stability and we are excited to have her join our Leadership Team.  We'll learn more about Alison when we see her January 2nd at our first THRIVE Community Gathering.  Join us.
We are also excited to welcome an old friend to a new adventure here at THRIVE.  Susan Meyer has been an ally with us and will now begin facilitating our Getting Ahead Program which prepares families to help their families find ways to build relationship, learn life-long skills and strategies for success.  The class prepares them to become a TEAM LEADER in the THRIVE Community where they will find caring support from a team of Allies [people committed to walk alongside our families} over an 18th month program out of poverty.  Susan is a wonderful Ally and will help our families find success in their Getting Ahead Track.

Beginning January 1, 2018 we will officially begin a NEW journey.  The Leaders remain the same, friends and families continue forward but we are stepping out on our own with a new name and a bright new future for our Team Leaders and families.  We hope you will all be re-energized and full of anticipation as we complete our collaboration with Family Promise of Greater Wichita and continue the wonderful partnership with the East Heights community.  

We want to thank all of you who have so graciously given your time and talents to Wichita Circles Network these past 5 years, and we look forward to continuing our work with a new name; "A THRIVE Community".  Our purpose remains to journey alongside our determined and courageous Families as they move forward on a path from poverty to a sustainable self determined future on solid financial footing.