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Circles of Hope

An Effective Practice

Description

WomanSpirit, Inc. is a non-profit, faith-based community development organization that facilitates women's empowerment through peer-directed support, education and action groups. These groups are called Circles of Hope. The Circles of Hope process was developed by a group of low- to moderate income African-American women to build economic self-sufficiency and promote alternatives to violence.

Goal / Mission

WomanSpirit aims to foster grassroots women's leadership in the St. Louis area by claiming safe community space for women's mutual support and training, gaining access to government funds for women's economic development, and achieving positions in local, regional and national decision-making bodies.

Results / Accomplishments

From 1997 to 1999, Circles of Hope members gained economic and financial education; increased personal income; achieved formal education goals; established over 20 new women-led businesses; expanded existing businesses; developed marketable computer skills; acquired two properties for women-owned businesses; and provided self-employment training, including welfare-to-work.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
WomanSpirit, Inc
Primary Contact
LaDoris Payne
WomanSpirit, Inc.- Imani Family Center
6350 Garesche
St. Louis, MO 63136
(314) 381-1915
http://www.communityconnection.org/resource_pages/...
Topics
Community / Civic Engagement
Economy / Poverty
Community / Social Environment
Organization(s)
WomanSpirit, Inc
Source
UN Habitat
Date of implementation
1997
Geographic Type
Urban
Location
St. Louis, MO
Target Audience
Women, Racial/Ethnic Minorities

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Related Content for: Circles of Hope

An Effective Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success and/or promise in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures of improvement in outcome of interest (i.e. increase in voter registration, not just delivery of voter registration drive) and/ or the outcome measure is increased or improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant.
MiCalhoun