The Capital City Circles Initiative is a community-based program that assists families living in poverty (Circle Leaders) to achieve their goal of self-sufficiency through education and supportive friendships with Allies from middle-class members of the community. After completing a 20-week "Getting Ahead..." workshop the families, thereafter referred to as Circle Leaders, are matched with 3-5 Allies to form a Circle. From that point on each "Circle" meets once or twice a month to build friendships and to work on the Circle Leader’s dreams, plans and goals toward achieving economic self-sufficiency.

Families participating in the program typically take 18 to 24 months to achieve self-sufficiency, at which time they become Allies, and help other families achieve self-sufficiency; completing the circle or reciprocity.