September Highlights

Revised Mission & Vision

Through a collaborative process involving our board, staff, facilitators, and valued partners, One Circle Foundation has reimagined and refreshed our Vision and Mission statements to better align with the needs of this moment. This process allowed us to reflect on our purpose and direction as we continue to empower youth and strengthen communities.  

We’re excited to share this renewed vision as we move forward with clarity and purpose. 

OCF VISION: Youth thrive worldwide through compassionate connections and healthy relationships within their communities.  

OCF MISSION: Prepare caring adults with excellent accredited training, user-friendly activity guides, and innovative approaches to facilitate research-based Circles for transformational youth development. 

On the Blog

RISING TOGETHER: SUPPORTING YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH DURING NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH By Shayla Benson

Youth mental health is important and often underestimated. Adolescence is a pivotal time where biological, psychological, and social changes occur, often simultaneously. It is important for us to recognize that youth need our help and support. We mustbe the approachable and askable adults they can turn to when theyneed a listening ear... read more 

Annual Staff Retreat: Refueling our Mission

Last week,our full-time staff and trainers came together for our annual retreat — a chance to connect, reflect, and recharge. We gathered in Circle, practiced some much-needed self-care, and took time to pause and reflect on our work. We shared ideas and imagined what’s next for this small but mighty team. It was a rare and much-appreciated opportunity to spend real quality time together in person. We’re inspired and ready for all that lies ahead.

Bring OCF Training to Your Community 

We're offering big discounts for early 2025 trainings:

Start off 2025 with a transformative training experience for your team. In-person or live-online training for 20+ attendees during January through March come with some big discounts: 

• $500 Discount 
• 5 Complimentary Attendees 
• 2 Hardcopy Activity Guides 
• 4 Licenses to Access All Digital Curricula 
• Bonus Hour of Post-Training Consultation via Zoom 

Contact training@onecirclefoundation.org to learn more, reserve your training dates, and make a positive impact on your work culture and the lives of youth in your care.

Welcoming Jacquelyn Smith-Edwards to the One Circle Foundation Board of Directors

We are pleased to welcome Jacquelyn as the newest member of the One Circle Foundation’s Board of Directors! 

Jacqeulyn is a highly involved and caring member of her community. She joins us as an advocate of our programs and a trained facilitator of our Girls Circle model. Since 2019, Jacquelyn and her husband have been using our models and curricula, facilitating Circle and Council spaces in their respective programs. Jacquelyn is a certified mental health professional and a clinical social worker licensee with over 25 years of experience working with African American youth and families in prevention and mental health services. She has years of committee leadership experience in governance, fundraising, and grant management. Jacquelyn shares our vision for youth to thrive through compassionate connections and healthy relationships within their communities. 

Jacquelyn serves as the Prevention Program Manager, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, with Virginia’s Henrico Area Mental Health and Developmental Services. She is the co-founder and Program Manager of Building Constructive Communities Foundation, where she provides prevention and mentoring services to youth, including referrals and one-on-one mentoring and support. With a desire and commitment to grow with an organization culturally sensitive to the needs of the youth and communities, Jacquelyn has demonstrated her passion for providing inclusive environments that help young people thrive. 

“I am thrilled to have Jacquelyn join our Board of Directors,” says Nancy Roldán Johnson, Board President. “Her experience and dedication to her community and the young people she serves align perfectly with our mission to prepare caring adults to facilitate research-based Circles for transformational youth development, and we look forward to the positive impact she will have on our work.” 

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Jacquelyn as we continue our journey to inspire transformative change, one Circle at a time.

Training Support  

Apply for a Scholarship.  

Finances should not be a barrier for anyone to attend training. One Circle Foundation offers scholarships to individuals seeking financial assistance. Apply today and gain access to the education and support required to effectively facilitate Circle groups for the youth and teens in your community.

Facilitator Support Meetings

Please join us for one or both.

One Circle Foundation has been providing facilitator support groups since 2020. As a result of continued interest and participation, we are pleased to share that we are of

fering additional monthly facilitator support groups. 

FIRST Facilitator Support Group — Every 2nd Monday of the Month via Zoom at 10:00 PT / 1:00 ET 

Join this dynamic discussion-based support group meeting open to facilitators of any model. Bring your questions, get answers, and extend support to fellow facilitators in the community. Attend and enter a raffle to win one free activity guide.  

SECOND Facilitator Support Group — Every 3rd Wednesday of the Month via Zoom at 1:30 PT / 4:30 ET 

This group will highlight a new theme each month and be facilitated utilizing the 6-Step Circle format.  

Give the Gift of Connection

Your monthly donation of $20 will support One Circle Foundation’s Scholarship Fund!  

At One Circle Foundation, we believe every youth and teen deserves the opportunity to develop resiliency through healthy connections. Unfortunately, many youth-serving organizations in under-resourced and under-served communities lack the financial resources to provide the training and curricula necessary to make this possible.  

That's where One Circle Foundation comes in. With each dollar donated, we can provide training and curricula scholarships to these organizations, giving youth and teens in these communities the chance to thrive.  

We invite you to support this crucial work by becoming a sustaining donor through a recurring monthly or yearly donation. Your contribution will significantly impact the lives of young people in need. Become a Sustaining Donor today.