Naming Your Circle

When founders Giovanna Taormina and Beth Hossfeld started running small gatherings with their daughters and a handful of peers in the mid 90’s (before meeting each other), they realized they were on to something big... But what to call these little groups? Giovanna and her daughters came up with “Young Women in Spirit” and in Beth’s home they created “Girls Nighttime Circle”. 

Eventually they joined up, forming The Girls Circle Association, which housed the Girls Circle^® model, followed by what was then referred to as “Boys Council”, and as we continued to expand our focus up and outward, we became One Circle Foundation.  

Names have power. And while you may be utilizing any one or more of our four models, Girls Circle^®, The Council for Boys and Young Men^®, Unity Circle^®, and Women’s Circle^® we encourage you to germinate ownership and enthusiasm among the youth or adults you serve by giving them the autonomy to name their Circles.   

This has always been the intention because – remember – these Circles belong to them. Participants should feel invested in every aspect of group culture, which is also a reason why we emphasize the importance of group agreements so much in our activity guides and training. 

When should this happen? On the first day! Unlike proceeding sessions, your first facilitation with a new group may entail a lot of talking. You’ll be spending time developing group agreements, laying a foundation of basic understanding of what this Circle experience may entail, emphasizing safety and the importance in building trust, introducing the concept of a talking piece or focus tool, developing opening and closing rituals and describing the other steps... Because of this, it’s a perfect time to turn the focus once again to their voices and brainstorm a name. Emphasize there are no bad ideas! Honor them with this responsibility and respect their ideas and opinions. In this way you hand the Circle back to them during that first session and engender pride and ownership.  

Here are some examples of awesome Circle names that One Circle Foundation team members have been a part of: 

Just for Us / Rock Stars / Rainbows & Unicorns / Sisters Forever 

• Victoria Mahand, Director of Training, Master Trainer, One Circle Foundation 

Pride Circle / The Circle / Empowerment Circle / Our Circle / Rainbow Circle 

• Doreen Thompson, Business Support Coordinator, Trainer, One Circle Foundation 

Royal Circle / Kings Circle / The New Wave / The Meet-Up 

• Christopher Emanuel, Trainer, One Circle Foundation  

Our own Danielle Sutherland, Manager of Outreach and Engagement and a One Circle Foundation trainer, shared, “During my time with JJAB in Los Alamos, NM we started calling ALL of our Circles, One Circle. We are One Circle, building a culture of support.” 

What names have YOUR Circle participants come up with? Please share them by writing us at info@onecirclefoundation.org. We’d love to hear the creative names that came from your groups!