Poverty Awareness & Community Action: Support Circle
The PACA Support Circle provides wrap-around supports for Lived Experience Educators (LEEs), including education and training, individual advocacy support, mutual aid (monthly grocery deliveries), and social programming.
Joining the PACA Support Circle is an opportunity to learn how to work in good ways with low-income communities. Support Circle volunteers receive poverty awareness education and peer advocacy training, so that they can appropriately volunteer, facilitate events, and provide 1-1 advocacy support.
Overview
Who is this for: Students, Staff, Faculty, and Alumni at UM, as well as members of the community are welcome to join. This program is for individuals who have an interest in and/or experience with individual advocacy, community resources, and navigating social and systemic barriers to resource access. Individuals who have lived experience with low-income and other intersectional experiences of poverty are encouraged to apply. UM students who successfully complete the program will receive recognition for Community Engaged Learning on their Experience Record.
How to join: Apply before the end of September. Early applications are encouraged! Selected applicants will be contacted by a staff member for a phone interview after which successful participants will then be notified and invited to the program orientation.
Schedule
October and November, Wednesday evenings weekly, 6-9pm, in-person: Orientation and Training
November 2026 - April 2027, 1-hour weekly, online: Advocacy meetings with Lees
November 2026 - April 2027, Wednesday evenings weekly, 1-hour, online: Support Circle Meetings with PACA Staff
2-3 hours weekly, as needed: Independent research
Is the schedule flexible?
We ask applicants to ensure that they have Wednesday evening availability throughout the Fall and Winter terms, as well as availability for independent research. The LEEs rely on the support circle for consistency, and being present and available is foundational to our practice of ethical advocacy. As such, we need participants who are able to prioritize the work at PACA.
Can I join for a single term?
No, the program is cohort-based and runs continuously from October to April.
What to expect
This program works closely with 4-5 LEEs every year. Participants will form a group with one LEE alongside a small number of other volunteer advocates. This group is called the LEE’s support circle. Likewise, each participant is supported in their work by members within the support circle and PACA staff.
Participants will work together to build relationship with their LEE, learn about their ongoing challenges and advocacy needs, and conduct research to identify appropriate resources. Participants will learn to apply trauma-informed and strengths-based approaches in their work, and learn to work in good ways with community members.
Due to the personal and often time-sensitive nature of community work, PACA holds the expectation that applicants who are selected in the program are able to commit to the duration of the program, consistently attend meetings, and follow through on advocacy tasks. In turn, participants can expect consistent coaching and guidance, advocacy training as needed, and weekly debrief and planning to support their work. Additionally, to build group cohesion, PACA training sessions include team building activities, coffee outings, and social programming.
I have developed a greater awareness of the importance of listening to lived experiences and avoiding assumptions, which will shape how I engage in discussions, group work, and community involvement. On a personal level, this experience has made me more reflective about my own biases and more intentional in how I support others. Overall, the Support Circle has helped me build skills and perspectives that I will continue to apply across different areas of my life.
Support Circle Volunteer
A peek at past programming
Training:
- Ethical advocacy.
- Trauma-informed approaches.
- Self-care for vicarious trauma.
- Confidential note-taking and documentation.
- Research skills.
Team building opportunities:
- Escape room outing.
- Board game café.
- Grocery store tour.
Social programming:
- Supper Club.
- Movie nights.
- Coffee outings.
- Picnics at the Forks.
Partnerships/guest speakers:
- Lori Mac, Student Counselling Centre
- Melanie Hamilton, past PACA advocate
Program staff
Co-coordinators: Anny Chen and Mandalyn Unger
Student Staff: Saira Sheikh
Social Work Placement Student: Deanna Jones
If you have any questions or concerns please contact povertyawareness@umanitoba.ca.
PACA Support Circle Application Form