Meet this week's guest editor, Helen Rai! Helen’s story is one of resilience and community. Born in Nepal, she moved to Richmond, Virginia, in 2005, where her family found strength within the local community. Now, as Program Director at Circles RVA and Director of Client Engagement at ReEstablish Richmond, Helen works to foster shared responsibility and well-being throughout the community.
Passionate about her heritage, she serves on the boards of the Asian American Society of Central Virginia, the Nepali Community of Greater Richmond Virginia, and Kasama Collective, amplifying Asian American and Nepali voices.
Outside of work, Helen and her husband stay busy raising two toddlers and preparing for a month-long journey to Nepal next year.
Take it away, Helen ...
Circles RVA Homecoming & Family Reunion
Join us in celebrating a milestone! This month marks 7 years of Circles RVA, and we’re thrilled to invite you to our Homecoming event on November 16th. Together, we’ll reflect on the incredible work we’ve done, honor the inspiring achievements of our Leaders, and dream of a future where everyone in Richmond has enough money, meaning, and friends to thrive. This is a celebration of our past and a vision for the future, and we’d love for you to be part of it.
Uniting to Amplify Love: A Collective Meditation at The Well Collective
What if, for one hour, tens of thousands of people came together to create an unstoppable wave of love and healing? With special guest Marianne Williamson, hosted by Candace Blair and The Love Tower at Ashah, this isn’t just a meditation—it’s a global gathering, amplifying our collective intention. While this will be a live streamed event accessible around the world, Marianne Williamson and Candace Blair will be with us LIVE and in person at The Well Collective with a limited number of seats available to join!
Join wildlife specialists from the Alliance of Wild Animal Rehabilitators and Educators (AWARE) as they discuss their mission of rehabilitating, providing sanctuary and individualized care for Virginia's native wildlife with the intent to release. They will provide tips on what to do if you find wildlife in need of help.
Vitals:
Wildlife Rescue with AWARE / Saturday, November 16, 11:00 - 12:00 pm / FREE / Libbie Mill, 2100 Libbie Lake E St, Richmond
More About Circles RVA
In a time marked by division, Circles RVA brings people from diverse backgrounds and experiences together to tackle the complex issue of poverty. We believe in the transformative power of social capital—recognizing that who you know is as crucial as what you know in achieving economic stability and success.
Our approach centers around building social networks that empower individuals to not just survive but truly thrive. At the core of our organization is the "Circle Leader": a person striving to move from survival to stability. Each Circle Leader determines their own unique path, setting goals in areas like employment, asset building, debt reduction, credit improvement, homeownership, or entrepreneurship.
Through Circles RVA, we offer a structured foundation backed by proven research highlighting social capital as a key factor in reducing poverty. We are committed to creating opportunities and networks that foster growth, resilience, and long-term economic stability.
