Mission, vision & values
Why we exist, and how we serve.
Circle has had a vision since 1974, when it first arrived in Austin with the conviction that these families deserved better.
Our mission
To help create safe and productive neighborhoods where people have access to opportunities to thrive.
Our vision
Transform lives and communities.
Core values
Five things we will not trade away.
These shape our culture and define our commitment to the people we serve and the community we love.
Faith based
Our work grows from conviction, and it shows up as action.
Serve first
We lead by serving the community, each other, and the mission.
Optimistic
We expect good outcomes for this neighborhood, and we plan for them.
Family oriented
Strong families are the foundation of a thriving block.
Welcoming
Everyone deserves a place to feel seen. Every door here is open.
Theory of change
Programs alone do not do it.
What this campus has taught us, through both research and daily practice, is that lasting change happens when people are met with dignity, surrounded by relationships, and given consistent access to opportunity.
That is what the campus was designed to do. Not in theory. In practice, every day. It is also why we have taken on one systemic challenge per decade rather than chasing many at once.
Focus areas
- Education & Youth Development
- Health and Wellness
- Spiritual Care
- Cultural and Artistic Expression
- Crisis Intervention & Housing Support
Fifty years in, the vision has not changed.
See how the strategy has played out, decade by decade.