Becoming Visible is a key expression of the IPS Model’s commitment to narrative change—designed to foster learning, empathy, and action through the voices of those with lived experience. These events are grounded in the belief that poverty is often misunderstood because so much of it remains unseen. Becoming Visible makes visible the barriers to financial security by putting individuals with firsthand experience in the position of expert, elevating their leadership and stories.

Held in both large gatherings (200–300 attendees) and more intimate settings (30–50 attendees), these events create space for meaningful dialogue across lines of difference—bridging perspectives among community members from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Through empathy mapping, panel discussions, and storytelling, participants come to better understand the complexity of poverty—and the accessibility of solutions when we are willing to listen, learn, and act together.

PAST EVENTS

Home Is Where the Hardship Is – The Stress of Housing in Arkansas

On April 10, 2024, nearly 500 people joined us—either in person or via livestream—for Home Is Where the Hardship Is, a powerful event in Circles’ “Becoming Visible” series focused on the urgent housing challenges facing Arkansas families.

As headlines continue to highlight a housing market that is unaffordable, unattainable, and increasingly unstable, this event brought much-needed visibility to the lived realities behind those headlines. Circle Leaders—renters and parents working toward economic stability—led the evening, sharing powerful personal stories of navigating rising rents, housing insecurity, and the emotional weight of not knowing whether “home” will still be there tomorrow.

Their voices underscored a hard truth: in Arkansas today, home is often where the hardship is. Through their leadership and testimony, they called on the community to move beyond awareness and toward action—grounded in empathy, compassion, and commitment to change.

Event Booklet

Event Recording

The Cliff Effect — When Earning More Means Having Less

On October 18, 2022, Circles held its Fall Big View event, Cliff Effect: When Earning More Means Having Less. This powerful community conversation brought much-needed attention to the benefits cliff—a frustrating and often invisible barrier that forces many working families to choose between earning more and keeping the supports they rely on.

Led by Circle Leaders, the event spotlighted real-life stories of Arkansans who faced painful trade-offs: turning down raises, reducing hours, or staying in jobs that no longer served them—all to avoid losing access to essential benefits like food assistance, childcare, or housing support.

By centering lived experience, this first Big View event disrupted the harmful narrative that people experiencing poverty just need to “work harder” or “get a better job.” Instead, it revealed how current systems often punish progress and make the path to economic mobility even steeper. Making this issue visible to employers, policymakers, and community stakeholders is key to building a more just and supportive system.

Event Booklet

Event Documentary

Becoming Visible: The Cycle of Fines and Fees

On November 17, 2021, Circles held its inaugural Big View event, launching the Becoming Visible series with a focus on a deeply entrenched but often overlooked barrier to economic stability: the cycle of fines and fees. These hidden costs—ranging from court fees to late penalties and license suspensions—can trap individuals in a form of modern-day debtor’s prison, making it nearly impossible to move forward.

At Big View meetings, Circles invites the broader community to listen and learn from those with lived experience navigating unjust systems. In this first gathering, we heard from Circle Leader Shaletha Parks, who courageously shared her personal journey through the compounding burden of fines and fees. Her story offered a firsthand look at how minor infractions can spiral into long-term financial consequences, and how systemic barriers disproportionately impact low-income individuals and families.

The event marked the beginning of an ongoing commitment to lift up under-heard voices, confront structural inequities, and change the way our community understands poverty—not as a personal failure, but as a reflection of policies and systems that must be transformed.