BECOME A MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY TODAY!
Join our dynamic and engaged community of women who are taking action to become informed and inspired civic leaders!
Join our dynamic and engaged community of women who are taking action to become informed and inspired civic leaders!
Policy Circles across the nation are started by women who have a mind of their own, who believe in everyone’s capacity for choosing what is best for themselves, their family and their community. The Policy Circle women believe in the Athenian oath:
“We will never bring disgrace on this our City by an act of dishonesty or cowardice. We will fight for the ideals and Sacred Things of the City both alone and with many. We will revere and obey the City’s laws, and will do our best to incite a like reverence and respect in those above us who are prone to annul them or set them at naught. We will strive unceasingly to quicken the public’s sense of civic duty. Thus, in all these ways, we will transmit this City not only, not less, but greater and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us.”
Also check our About page here.
Civic Engagement is a core value of The Policy Circle, we are happy to see educated members engage in the political process. However, The Policy Circle is a 501(c)3 and does not endorse or fund candidates or political campaigns.
As outlined in The Policy Circle’s Core Principles and Membership Agreement, The Policy Circle member-only website should be used for education on candidates and the issues. The membership website cannot be used to publish fundraising events, candidate endorsements or to solicit members to advocate on specific legislation. Click here for more information on candidate interactions.
The founders of the Policy Circle believe in a woman’s capacity for thought leadership. The Policy Circle is platform for women to learn about civics and build confidence in themselves to take action the way they want. The mission and vision is women across the Nation are connected and engaged in their communities, openly share their views and take a leadership role in public policy dialogue on what human creativity can accomplish in a free market economy.
No. Circles are not chapters, they are just a discussion group without a formal structure. The Policy Circle recognizes that women have a mind of their own. They are free to learn about the issues and decide for themselves how to engage.
Other organizations like The League of Women voters in your area is a Chapter that is structured as a 501(c)4 and a 501(c)3. The (c)3 focuses on voter registration and educational initiatives. The (c)4 can spend money on local issue advocacy like a referendum to raise property taxes for schools and they can also invest in Political Action Committees to advocate and lobby for local bills or issues. At the National level, the League of Women Voters D.C. office defines the policy positions for the organizations and distributes them to local League of Women Voters chapters which then communicate those positions to its local members and local community at large.
The Policy Circle however, does not define policy positions or dictate actions of members or Circles. The Policy Circle is truly grassroots – women decide for themselves what they want to learn about, discuss, and what actions to take. #mindofmyown
A Policy Circle in a neighborhood is not a formal organization it is like a book club about public policy.
Women prepare for their Policy Circle discussion by reading a selected policy brief. At the meeting, everyone is invited to share their views and understanding and then determine, if they want, how to be part of the policy making process. Briefs have a point of view, but all members are encouraged to react, question, and discuss to shape their own mind. Women in a Circle will decide to fulfill their civic duties the way they believe.
The Policy Circle proposes a curriculum that makes up a Year of Conversation, but each Circle is different, each Circle will decide what issues to study.
The Policy Circle is about the power of conversation in face to face meetings. If you hear of a circle in your neighborhood, just reach out to your neighbor and learn more.
Circle Leaders are the heart of the organization. As a Circle Leader you