Meet Kimberly and Zuri Muhammad of Zuri’s Circle (My Beautiful Circle) in Peoria

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly and Zuri Muhammad.

Kimberly and Zuri, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Zuri’s circle (my beautiful circle) began as a simple dream that grew into a reality as co-founder Zuri Muhammad had ideas of how she could help a classmate in her school that was struggling with basic needs. Zuri and her family focused their efforts on serving the homeless population as well as assisting families and the elderly. As the organization blossomed, Zuri’s circle became an official non-profit in 2012. We began connecting with other nonprofits in the community to provide empowerment for youth, teens, and adults through activities, programs, and interactive camps.

Has it been a smooth road?
No. This has been an amazing struggle for many years. We aren’t big enough to compete for big grants. The struggles we face are funding, donated building, cargo van or passenger van, donated homes or property. All items we need for growth. Because we are small, we can’t pay staff or hire people to help us expand. We need volunteers to fill these jobs.

Please tell us about the organization.
Adopt A Classroom Program- Providing yearlong services to a teacher and her students. (backpacks, school supplies, art projects, holiday help, clothing, food etc.) Be Powerful Mentorship Program- Teaching you the importance of their power and how to continuously inspire the greatness and worth in themselves.

Giving Tree Program- A service project curriculum taught to students to plan out an empowerment tree on their campus. Students must locate a tree in the center of campus, plan out what message the tree will represent, interview youth about doing good deeds and purchase items needed for the tree.

School Community Gardens- showing children how to nurture and care for the foods they will harvest and take home. Building responsibility also teaching students the importance of healthy eating. This program also has a curriculum and activities.

Junior Public Speaking- teaching youth the importance of eye contact, firm handshake, and not being afraid to speak.

Ant bullying Program- Collaboration with five amazing nonprofits all focused on putting an end to bullying. This program has an opening assembly, Round table talk, curriculum, Follow ups and a bully boot camp. (Community Mission AZ, The Detour Program, Bombay’s Creations, Keep Pushing Forward and You Matter Too We are extremely proud of our Free Annual Feed the Community Event, Water Drive, Back to school Drive and our Holiday Help.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
What we like least about the city is the lack of resource, information for smaller non-profits looking to help.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.zuriscircle.org
• Phone: 4807799874
• Email: Zuriscircle.mbc@gmail.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/ZurisCircle
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/ZurisCircle
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/ZurisCircle

Image Credit:
Nicole Mayfield

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