The Circle of Courage

The Circle of Courage model is the resilience-focused philosophical foundation for the way Starr Commonwealth works with the youth in our care. It is designed to encourage kids to feel safe and comfortable in an environment of understanding and acceptance. Developed from the cultural wisdom of the Lakota people, the Circle of Courage states that Belonging, Mastery, Independence, and Generosity are the universal needs all people require to be emotionally well.  Only when these four needs are met are our circles complete.

Teaching Students Generosity: Service Learning Projects at Starr

At Starr Commonwealth, generosity is an important part of what we teach the young people in our care. It is part of the Circle of Courage®, a model of positive youth development that we use to help young people become emotionally healthy. To help students understand how to be generous, we use a variety of service learning projects in our local communities.