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Circles Cobb Essentials

🎉 BIG NEWS FOR CIRCLES COBB! We are honored to share that Circles Cobb has once again been selected as a recipient of the @NorthGeorgiaStateFair Giving Campaign and was awarded a $15,000 community grant! This investment helps us continue walking alongside families working to achieve long-term financial stability and economic mobility right here in Cobb County. Every dollar strengthens our ability to provide support, relationships, resources, and opportunities that help our Circle Leaders build brighter futures for themselves and their families. We are deeply grateful to the North Georgia State Fair, the Cobb County Fair Association, and everyone who believes in the power of community-driven change. Thank you for investing in hope, opportunity, and the potential of our neighbors. Together, we're proving that when a community comes together, lives change.

Circles Cobb presents: Eviction Stories & Steps. Real stories. Practical steps. A path forward. What if everything you thought you knew about eviction… wasn't the whole story? Today, Circles Cobb is proud to introduce Eviction Stories & Steps - a new video series created to bring real stories, practical information and greater understanding to one of the most difficult experiences thousands of our neighbors face. You'll hear from people who have experienced eviction themselves - and learn why it can happen in ways you might never expect. You'll hear from experts about rights, resources and what to do before, during and after an eviction. And most importantly, if you're facing eviction yourself, we want you to hear this: You are not alone. This series is for you. It's for someone you love. It's for housing and property management professionals. And it's for anyone willing to look beyond an eviction notice and understand the person and the story behind it. 🎥 Eviction Stories & Steps is now available on the Circles Cobb YouTube channel: bit.ly/evictionsplaylist Watch the series. Share it with someone who needs it. And help us change the story. Join the Circle. Change the Story. | ⭐Sponsored by: @PodiumATL

🏆 An award worth celebrating together! We couldn't let this moment pass without getting the Circles Cobb team together for a photo with our 2026 Doug Hooker Award for Excellence in Workforce Impact from @CareerRiseATL! While the award may have our organization's name on it, the recognition belongs to an entire community of people who believe that meaningful relationships, opportunity and encouragement can change lives. From our dedicated team and volunteers to our incredible Circle Leaders, Allies and community partners, YOU are the reason this work makes a difference. We're proud of what we've accomplished together, grateful to CareerRise for recognizing our impact, and even more excited about the lives we'll continue to touch and the stories we'll help change. Here's to celebrating the people behind the progress!

🖤💚❤️ What an AMAZING way to celebrate Juneteenth! Two of our Circle Leaders just received a check for $1400 ($700 each)! Why, you ask? Because they both saved at least $600 over the past few months AND they raised their credit score by at least 30 points. That's the work we're talking about: saving + better credit = better opportunities. Way to go ladies! And a huge thank you to @UnitedWayAtlanta for matching their savings and credit wins. Your partnership motivates us all! Want to be a Circle Leader with us? Now is the time to apply (before 30 June!): circlescobb.org/apply

🎉 Happy Birthday, Barbara! 🎉 Join us in celebrating a leader who inspires our community with her compassion, vision and unwavering commitment to helping families thrive. Barbara's dedication to creating pathways to economic mobility has touched countless lives and her passion for bringing people together continues to strengthen Circles Cobb and our entire community. Please join us in wishing Barbara a very happy birthday and a year filled with joy, good health and continued impact. Thank you for all you do - we're grateful to celebrate you today! 🎁 PS - wanna really make Barbara's day? Become a sponsor for our upcoming Night of Inspiration! bit.ly/nightofinspirationsponsorship #HappyBirthday #CirclesCobb #Leadership #EconomicMobility #CommunityImpact

This week's conversation at Atlanta Regional Commisssion | @planatlanta centered on one sobering reality: Metro Atlanta ranks 50th out of 50 large U.S. metro areas for upward economic mobility. But it also focused on something even more important - what we can do together to change that. This week, our Executive Director @Barbara.B.Garner joined regional leaders at the Atlanta Regional Commission's Opportunity Rising Economic Mobility Workshop to discuss what it'll take to change this reality for Greater Atlanta citizens. Barbara participated in the "Closer to Home: Metro Atlanta Models in Practice" panel along with community leader Carol Naughton | @crn1984 of @PurposeBuiltCommunities. It was a truly excellent discussion moderated by @Milton.Little, President & CEO of @UnitedWayAtlanta. At Circles Cobb, we believe lasting economic mobility begins with relationships, accountability and community. Every day, we work alongside families to build the connections, resources and support they need to achieve long-term financial stability. Thank you to the Atlanta Regional Commission for convening leaders from across the region to share ideas, strengthen partnerships and move from conversation to action. We're proud to be part of the work to create more pathways to opportunity for families across Metro Atlanta. Learn more at circlescobb.org.

This Father's Day, we're celebrating Kenneth. A great dad isn't measured by perfection - he's measured by his willingness to show up, grow and keep moving forward for the people who depend on him. Kenneth embodies that spirit. From building his business to increase his family's income, to completing his journey as a Circle Leader, to leading by example in his home and community, he's 100% shown what it looks like to invest in a better future! His story reminds us that when one person chooses growth, the impact reaches far beyond themselves. Families grow stronger. Opportunities expand. Children see what's possible. Today, we honor Kenneth and all the fathers and father figures who continue to lead with courage, commitment and love. Happy Father's Day from Circles Cobb. 💙 #FathersDay #CirclesCobb #JoinTheCircleChangeTheStory #FamilyLeadership #BreakingTheCycle

Kenneth’s got a car! 🎉🎉🎉 With only one vehicle for a busy family, getting everyone to work, school, appointments and everything in between wasn’t always easy. Purchasing a car was one of Kenneth’s big goals - and now he's reached it. When a friend of Circles shared that they were selling an affordable used car, Kenneth was able to arrange a payment plan that worked for him. This was not a donation - it was an opportunity made possible through connection, trust and Kenneth’s commitment to moving forward. This milestone means greater flexibility, independence and opportunity for Kenneth and his family. Because of this car, he's now been able to secure an amazing new job at the City of Austell! 🎉🎉🎉 Please join us in celebrating Kenneth and this exciting step toward his goals!

We're so elated to share this win for our community and everyone who is part of it! Circles Cobb just received @CareerRiseATL’s 2026 Doug Hooker Award for Excellence in Workforce Impact! Every day, we see what’s possible when people have a community in their corner as they pursue their goals. This award celebrates that shared work. To our Circle Leaders, Allies, volunteers and partners: thank you for showing up, building meaningful relationships, and helping create new possibilities. Thank you, CareerRise, for this amazing surprise recognition! We’re grateful to keep building community to end poverty in Cobb County together. 📷 Pictured L - R: Lynette Jackson, JPMorgan @Chase; Cynthia Crawford, Circles Cobb; Barbara Garner, Circles Cobb; Jacque Joyce, CareerRise; Jamie Jordan, @Accenture #CirclesCobb #CareerRise #WorkforceImpact #CobbCounty

We've been keeping a REALLY good secret. At last week's Night of Inspiration, we finally got to share Dominique's story - one we've been so excited to tell and somehow managed to keep off social media until the big reveal! Dominique Allen, a Circle Leader from Cohort 2, came to Circles Cobb while caring for her niece and nephew, working two jobs and looking for support. Along the way, she set financial goals, learned to save, built her confidence, discovered the power of asking for help - and kept moving toward a dream that once felt out of reach: #homeownership. Dominique will be the first to tell you that the journey wasn't perfect. Saving wasn't always consistent. Trusting new people wasn't always easy. But she kept hearing the same words from the people in her Circle: Trust the process. And TODAY, that process brought us here. 🥹🔑🏡 Today was Dominique's Habitat home dedication! @habitatnwma From working toward financial readiness to standing in front of a home of her own, this is what progress can look like - one goal, one relationship, one encouraging phone call and one step at a time. Dominique, we are SO incredibly proud of you and your family. Congratulations, HOMEOWNER! 🎥 Don't miss our Facebook + Instagram Stories right now — we've got bonus photos and video from today's dedication! 👀🏡

What does it actually take to be an Ally? You don’t need to have all the answers. You don’t need to be a financial expert, life coach or professional problem-solver. You just need to be willing to show up. Circles Cobb Allies walk alongside our Circle Leaders as they work toward the goals they’ve set for themselves — listening, encouraging, sharing connections, celebrating progress and sometimes simply reminding someone that they have people in their corner. As two of our current Allies put it: 💬 “Being an Ally has reminded me how powerful it is simply to show up, listen, encourage, and believe in someone.” — Daliah 💬 “Showing up matters.” — Jen Curious whether becoming an Ally might be for you? Come find out! Join us for our upcoming Ally Info Session to meet the Circles Cobb family, learn how it works and ask all your questions. Dinner is on us! 😊 📅 Thursday, October 8 | 6–7:30 PM @ Milford Baptist Church 🔗 Register: bit.ly/circlesally Join the Circle. Change the Story.

Today, we remember and honor the life of Daryl Price. Daryl faithfully served as a member of the Circles Cobb Board of Directors, bringing a servant's heart, steadfast faith and deep love for our community to everything he did. Throughout his life, Daryl dedicated himself to building people, strengthening communities and walking alongside others with compassion and encouragement. Whether serving the Church, mentoring leaders or supporting the mission of Circles Cobb, he lived a life marked by generosity, humility and purpose. While we mourn his passing, we are grateful for the lasting impact he made on our organization and the many lives he touched. His legacy of service will continue to inspire us for years to come. Please join us in lifting Daryl's wife, Kim, their children, grandchildren and the entire Price family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. "Well done, good and faithful servant." - Matthew 25:23 | Obituary: bit.ly/darylgprice

Circles Cobb had a wonderful time at the 5th Annual Taste of Mableton - a celebration designed to bring together the residents, businesses, nonprofits, civic organizations and leaders who make this community what it is. And our Executive Director, Barbara Garner, got an added bonus: catching up with some of her new #LeadershipCobb Class of 2027 classmates! Barbara enjoyed connecting with Cassandra Brown, Mableton City Councilmember, and Naceo Denney, Area Manager with Georgia Power. Our Program Manager Cynthia Crawford was there enjoying the day, too! For us, that's one of the best parts of getting out into the Cobb community. Relationships matter. The more we know one another, understand the work happening around us and build connections across our community, the more we can accomplish together. Here’s to new friends, stronger connections and a great LC27 year ahead! 🎉 @mabletonimprovementcoalition @cobbchamber @cityofmabletonga @georgiapower

Circle Leaders ➡️ ACE Graduates! 🎓 We could not be prouder to celebrate FOUR Circles Cobb Circle Leaders who recently graduated from the ACE Program at Kennesaw State University! Please help us congratulate: 🎓 Nikky Cotton | I-MOM 4Life — providing faith-centered coaching and practical support to help overwhelmed moms create healthier, more organized homes and stronger families. 🎓 MyEicha (Edna) Jackson | Bird’s Eye Eco-Cleaning Services — providing residential and commercial cleaning services with a focus on eco-friendly products, with plans to develop her own product line. 🎓 Essence Johnson | Sensory Ink — creating calming spaces where comfort, focus, peace of mind and well-being can thrive. | sensoryink.com 🎓 Katrina Styles | The QuickBooks Conversationista — helping founder-led service organizations optimize and manage QuickBooks Online to strengthen their systems, operations and financial insight. | qbconversionista.com And there’s even MORE to celebrate: Essence Johnson was selected to receive the prestigious Mike Boyce Award! 🏆 We’ll be sharing much more about that special honor in November. This is what economic mobility can look like: new skills, stronger businesses, expanded opportunities and people building the futures they envision for themselves and their families. Congratulations, Nikky, MyEicha, Essence and Katrina! Your entire Circles Cobb family is cheering you on. 💙👏🏽 Join the Circle. Change the Story.

Two years. So many goals reached. So much growth. And still, so much possibility ahead. Last week, we gathered for one of our favorite Circles Cobb traditions: New Chapter Celebration Night - an intimate evening dedicated to celebrating our Circle Leaders before we bring that celebration to the big stage at Night of Inspiration. Our Cohort 2 Circle Leaders have spent two full years showing up, setting goals, navigating challenges, building relationships and continuing to create the lives they envision for themselves. And this night was simply our opportunity to say: We see you. We celebrate you. We believe in you. And we will always be cheering you on. Each of our Circle Leaders received a gold circle necklace commemorating her journey, along with a beautiful personalized journal created especially for her. A HUGE thank you to Cohort 2 Ally Zonya Brewton, who poured so much love into making the evening special - from the gorgeous personalized journals to the beautiful cupcake display and all the thoughtful details that made our Circle Leaders feel celebrated. Because while this chapter may be ending, their stories certainly aren't. There are more goals to reach, more dreams to pursue and many more chapters still to be written. And now we can't wait to celebrate these incredible women with all of you at Night of Inspiration on Thursday, August 20! To our Cohort 2 Circle Leaders: this moment is yours. And we couldn't be prouder. ✨ Join the Circle. Change the Story.

This recent #MentalHealth Awareness Block Party in South Cobb was a full-circle moment for Circles. As part of our Big View initiative, Circle Leaders (program participants) and Allies (their support system) work together to identify barriers that make it harder for individuals and families to thrive. Cohort 1 chose an issue that continues to impact communities across Cobb County: mental health. That decision led us to the Community Resiliency Model (CRM), a practical approach that helps people better understand and manage stress, adversity, and trauma. Thanks to a grant opportunity through @CobbCollaborative, Circles Cobb's Nikky was able to complete CRM's Train-the-Trainer program and become a certified trainer. This event was one of the first opportunities to put that training into action alongside fellow Circle Leaders, Allies, volunteers and community partners. What started as a conversation around a table became REAL action right here in Cobb. We're grateful to everyone who helped make this event possible and proud to continue supporting the mental health and well-being of our neighbors throughout Cobb County. Because stronger communities start with healthier, more resilient people. @traumaresourceinstitute @cobbpolicedept @cobbcommunityfoundation #CirclesCobb #MentalHealthAwareness #CommunityResilience #BigView #SouthCobb #CobbCounty #CommunityImpact

We're so grateful to the @capitalcitybank Group Foundation for its generous $5,000 grant in support of Circles Cobb! Community partnerships like this help strengthen our work alongside families as they build relationships, overcome barriers, and pursue lasting economic stability. A special thank-you to Venus Justice, a member of the Capital City Bank team and a dedicated Circles Ally, and Ron King, Market President, for their support and commitment to our community. When local businesses invest in people and possibilities, we move closer to a Cobb County where every family has the opportunity to thrive. Thank you, Capital City Bank Group Foundation, for helping us change the story! #JointheCircleChangetheStory

Our Circle is growing! Please help us welcome three wonderful new members of the Circles Cobb team! Each brings a unique combination of experience, heart and commitment to helping individuals and families thrive - and we’re so excited to have them in the Circle. 🩵 Elaine Kelly | Childcare Coordinator Elaine brings experience spanning early childhood education, corporate administration and ministry leadership, along with a lifelong heart for children and families. From childcare and youth ministry to leading sewing and art programs in Cobb County schools, she is passionate about creating spaces where children feel supported, valued and encouraged to thrive. 💚 Nichelle Walker | Circles Coach Nichelle is a community-minded leader with more than a decade of experience serving individuals, families and communities. With strengths in administration, teaching and faith-based leadership, she is passionate about connecting people with practical support, hope and opportunities to move forward. 🧡 Nikky Cotton | Training Facilitator Nikky brings something especially meaningful to this role: she knows Circles from the inside. A former Circle Leader and Circles Cobb graduate, she now brings her lived experience alongside her professional expertise as a Certified Mental Health First Aid instructor and Community Resiliency Model Trainer to help equip our newest Circle Leaders for their own journeys. We couldn't be happier to have Elaine, Nichelle and Nikky helping us do this work. Welcome to the team, ladies! 💙 Join the Circle. Change the Story. #CirclesCobb #JoinTheCircleChangeTheStory #CobbCounty #EconomicMobility #CommunityImpact #NonprofitLeadership #StrongerTogether

Our Circle Leaders work. They raise families. They juggle bills, transportation, housing, childcare and all the unexpected things life can throw their way. And week after week, they keep showing up - for their families, for their goals and for themselves. Because one of the things we know at Circles Cobb is that working hard and earning an income doesn’t always mean making ends meet is easy. That’s why our work goes beyond simply telling people to “work harder.” We build community around people who are already doing the work - helping them grow income, strengthen finances, expand their networks and create pathways toward lasting economic stability. So this Labor Day, we celebrate our Circle Leaders - and all of our Cobb neighbors working hard to build a better future for themselves and the people they love. We see you. We celebrate you. Keep going. Happy Labor Day. 💙

🥹THIS is what we mean when we say, “Join the Circle. Change the Story.” When Dominique first applied for a Habitat home, the answer was no. But that wasn’t the end of her story. After being referred to Circles Cobb, she got to work - increasing her income, building her savings and strengthening her finances, all while working two jobs and raising her newly adopted niece and nephew. And then she tried again. This time, the answer was a YES!! Last week, we had the absolute joy of joining Dominique, her Circles family, Habitat for Humanity of NW Metro Atlanta and so many of the people who helped make this moment possible to dedicate her beautiful new home. As Dominique says, “Just because God says no right now doesn’t mean no forever!” Dominique, YOU did this. We are incredibly proud of you - and so grateful for every nonprofit, community partner, Ally, volunteer and friend who helped surround her along the way. A dream deferred is not a dream denied. Welcome home, Dominique! 💙 🎥 Want to hear Dominique tell her story? Watch her 2.5-minute story at bit.ly/dominiquecircle.

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🥹THIS is what we mean when we say, “Join the Circle.