Study Circles

What is a Study Circle?

Study Circles are at the heart of a process for public dialogue and community change. This process begins with community organizing, and is followed by facilitated, small-group dialogue that leads to a range of outcomes. Study circles don't advocate a particular solution. Instead, they welcome many points of view around a shared concern. A study circle program...

is organized by a diverse group of people from the whole community.
includes a large number of people from all walks of life.
has easy-to-use, fair-minded discussion materials.
uses trained facilitators who reflect the community's diversity.
moves a community to action when the study circles conclude.

A study circle:

is a small, diverse group of 8 to 12 people.
meets together for several, two-hour sessions.
sets its own ground rules. This helps the group share responsibility for the quality of the discussion.
is led by an impartial facilitator who helps manage the discussion. He or she is not there to teach the group about the issue.
starts with personal stories, then helps the group look at a problem from many points of view. Next, the group explores possible solutions.

Finally, they make plans for action and change. Study circles are based on the following principles...

involve everyone. Demonstrate that the whole community is welcome and needed.
embrace diversity. Reach out to all kinds of people.
share knowledge, resources, power, and decision making.
combine dialogue and deliberation. Create public talk that builds understanding and explores a range of solutions.
connect deliberative dialogue to social, political, and policy change.

Visit StudyCircles.org for more information about how you can make Study Circles work for your community.

Horizons Communities Study Circles Gains

The following data extracts key information from participant pre and post surveys to show community change, knowledge of poverty and Study Circles outcomes. Community specific data is also compared to all Washington Horizons Communities.

Castle Rock - Youth and Adult Gains

Cathlamet - Youth and Adult Gains

Chewelah - Youth and Adult Gains

Colville - Youth and Adult Gains

Glenwood - Youth and Adult Gains

Goldendale - Youth and Adult Gains

Hunters - Youth and Adult Gains

Kettle Falls/Marcus - Youth and Adult Gains

Klickitat - Youth and Adult Gains

Mattawa - Youth and Adult Gains

Mossyrock - Youth and Adult Gains

N Moses Lake - Youth and Adult Gains

Northport - Youth and Adult Gains

Pe Ell - Youth and Adult Gains

Republic - Youth and Adult Gains

Ritzville - Adult Gains (no youth participants reported)

Royal City - Youth and Adult Gains

Sprague - Youth and Adult Gains

Springdale - Youth and Adult Gains

Stevenson/Skamania County - Adult Gains (no youth participants reported)

Trout Lake - Adult Gains (no youth participants reported)

Warden - Youth and Adult Gains

White Salmon/Bingen - Youth and Adult Gains

Study Circle Resources

The following links may help those interested or already involved, in study circles.

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WSU Extension Community Revitalization, PO Box 1495, Spokane, Washington 99210. Washington State University