One Circle

Walking into Jacquelyn Smith-Edwards’ Sister Circle felt less like attending an event and more like being welcomed into a space that you already knew. Jacquelyn, a board member of One Circle Foundation, is someone who truly lives the work. She is deeply involved in her community and has been a trained facilitator of our Girls Circle model since 2019. She has been using our models and curricula for years, creating safe Circle spaces. This Women’s Circle was no exception. It was thoughtful, intentional, and full of care. 

At the Fairfield PAL Teen Center, youth mentor Fatima Adeboye is using creativity, compassion, and the Girls Circle model to inspire transformation. By blending fun, themed activities, like her “Defying the Drama: A Wicked-Themed Girls Circle” with meaningful dialogue, Fatima creates a safe and engaging space where girls feel seen, supported, and empowered to grow. Her work at the PAL Teen Center highlights how creativity in Circle can spark connection, confidence, and lasting change for youth in the Fairfield, Suisun, and Travis communities.

Facilitating a Circle in just 45 minutes can feel like a challenge—but it’s absolutely possible with a few thoughtful adjustments. In this blog, we share strategies to help you stay true to One Circle Foundation’s model while keeping every essential step intact. From concise check-ins to choosing just one activity per session, these tips will help you create a meaningful, connected experience without feeling rushed.

One Circle Foundation’s community partner, Oliver Spring (he/him), is a Prevention Specialist with the Delaware County Prevention Education Program (PEP) at Child and Family Focus, Inc. (CFF). Growing up in Delaware County, PA, Oliver is passionate about giving back to his community by educating youth and families about substance use prevention. 

This journey I speak of has been decades in the making, with so many twists and turns. It’s funny because before my father passed, he would say: Tysha is going to be my personal psychologist. She’s going to fix me.

As the Executive Director of One Circle Foundation and a former teen participant in Girls Circle, watching the FX docuseries Social Studies by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Lauren Greenfield felt like a powerful confirmation that teens still need safe, meaningful spaces to express themselves, and they’re not finding them in their digital worlds.