At Circles, our mission is to empower individuals and families to break the cycle of poverty through meaningful relationships, community support, and education. We believe in the power of collaboration and connection to uplift lives, fostering economic stability and personal growth. By working together with dedicated volunteers, community leaders, and participants, we strive to create lasting change and build a stronger, more resilient future for everyone in our community.
Circle Leaders are low-income individuals who are trying to leave poverty and are committed to working towards financial stability. They attend weekly meetings, beginning with a 12-week course in which they learn SMART goal setting, budgeting, and life skills, then create a plan to achieve financial stability. (Dinner and children’s programming are provided weekly.) They continue coming each week for a minimum of 18 months to receive support from Coaches, Allies, and Peers to accomplish their goals. Through this accountability process, Circle Leaders are able to increase income, decrease debt, and get off public assistance. They graduate from Circles when they have reached their financial goals and are able to maintain stability.
Interested in becoming a Circle Leader?
Circle Allies are middle-class volunteers from the community who become intentional friends to struggling individuals and families by providing encouragement, acceptance, support, life experience, and social networks. Once matched, Allies and Circle Leaders meet regularly to work on goals, address problems, and celebrate accomplishments. The influence of a friend can mean a lifetime of success for individuals stuck in the cycle of poverty. These relationships provide an important sense of belonging and a foundation for success that lasts a lifetime.
What do I gain as an Ally?
Interested in becoming a Circle Ally?
Since launching in March 2024, Heber Valley Circles has been dedicated to helping individuals and families in the Heber Valley overcome barriers and achieve their dreams through community support and mentorship.
Join Us – Make a Difference!
Learn how you can support your community, hear about our successes since March, and discover the transformative impact of our program. Whether you’re interested in volunteering, donating, or simply learning about our work, your support can make a significant impact.
Cody Martensen
Circles Program Coordinator
Cody is a devoted husband and father that strives to help his family live balanced, meaningful lives. A lover of the outdoors, he finds peace in nature and on the softball field. After years of active addiction, narrowly avoiding prison, and bouts with suicide, Cody reached a turning point—realizing he had to change his life or lose his future. By choosing to face the man in the mirror and build a life he could be proud of. Today, his lived experience guides his work with Circles. Cody discovered a deep passion for helping others do the same. Today, his lived experience fuels his work with Circles, where he supports individuals on their own paths toward stability, hope, and long-term success.
Kira Ward
Circles Utah Valley Coach
Kira is a mother of 5. After a long career in dental assisting, she found her calling with Circles at Community Action. She realized she could use her own life experiences to make a deeper impact. Now, she brings empathy, resilience, and a strong passion for service to her work–helping individuals find hope, build confidence, and break through barriers to lasting stability.
Patricia Huratado
Circles Spanish Coach
Patricia is a bilingual professional fluent in Spanish and English, with experience in accounting, business management, and team leadership across North and Latin America. She has served as a church missionary in Peru, an Ally with Circles Utah Valley, and now as the Hispanic Facilitator, where she supports families and builds stronger community connections. Patricia brings a global perspective, strong problem-solving skills, and a passion for empowering others through both her professional and volunteer work.
Aubrie Bohman Pettit
Circles Youth Coach
Aubrie graduated from Brigham Young University’s Marriott School of Business in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science and married her sweetheart in 2025. She values connection, growth, and community, and has a deep passion for helping others realize and achieve their potential. As the Circles Youth Coach, Aubrie developed the Youth Development Program to empower young people with mentorship, resources, and confidence to reach their goals and create brighter futures.
Chloe Kelson
Circles Program Assistant
Chloe is currently a marketing student at Utah Valley University. She and her husband love the outdoors, love to travel, and spend time with family. She is passionate about volunteer work and community connection. As the Program Assistant for Circles, Chloe raises awareness about poverty alleviation, strengthens community engagement, and attracts everyone to be involved.
Tate Hoffman
Circles Youth Assistant
Tate Hofmann was born in Oklahoma and moved to Utah in the fall of 2021. He is the second oldest of five children and is currently studying Art History at BYU. Tate has worked with Circles Utah Valley since February 2025, where he plays a meaningful role in supporting teens as they build confidence, set goals, and develop the essential life skills needed to achieve them. He is passionate about creating a positive, empowering environment where young people can envision a brighter future and take actionable steps toward it. Tate loves being part of a program that strengthens families, builds community, and helps break the cycle of poverty. ¡Se habla español!
“The Department of Workforce Services offers educational and training services, for example that they would pay for you to get your CNA. I had to wait until my son was in full-time preschool, so I’d have time for school. Then I went through DWS to find one of their contracted programs. I started looking into which ones interested me and seemed doable. I also interviewed Kira (Provo Circle’s Coach) and others who worked in the fields I was interested in. I finally narrowed it down to Phlebotomy, which is offered through several schools. I found the program from the school whose class times worked with my schedule, and it was only 3 weeks long. I’m already done with my second week and the DWS paid for everything including the certification exam.”
“With the help of allies and classes I learned ow to write my resume and cover letter, and I also learned how to apply through Indeed. With this tool, I have been continuously applying to better jobs. . .Circles makes me feel a part a community that helps each other to improve in all aspects. Nora, our Spanish coach, is a great leader and based on her own experiences she works hard so that we have all the resources and knowledge necessary to have better conditions and fulfill our dreams.”