A Wider Circle Impacts New Communities

By Holly Roberts

The Junior League of Washington (JLW) is expanding its impact by serving a new local community through its partnership with A Wider Circle. The organization, based in Silver Spring MD, strives to end poverty from within low-income neighborhoods by utilizing a collaborative model focused on four areas: economic development, safety and security, quality of life, and community empowerment. In November 2018, A Wider Circle opened a second location in Washington, DC, serving the Shaw neighborhood. Their first Washington, DC, location opened in 2016 in Southeast Washington, DC. JLW has already hosted a training at the new location and is planning to provide others there into 2020.

When convening trainings with A Wider Circle, JLW members first identify the needs of the community, then build curriculum and training to meet those needs. Previous trainings have included topics such as refining Excel skills and understanding imposter syndrome. As an additional benefit to parents, and in an effort to increase attendance rates for these programs, JLW members provide childcare to attendees at these trainings.

“Because A Wider Circle works with clients over a duration of time, we often get to see and hear from clients at several workshops,” stated Kayla Kerrigan, A Wider Circle Committee Chair. “Building relationships with these clients, and in some cases their children through the childcare portion, is rewarding and unifying!”

As Kerrigan said, “The expansion into DC allows us to extend our community impact and meet clients where support is needed!” •