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Edition: October 26, 2010
Issue No. 93		  
   
 
   
Instructions for removing yourself from this list are included at the bottom of this email.  
NOTE: throughout this newsletter we use a Tiny URL to shorten long web site addresses so the links do not break. We hope you find this helpful.
 		  
 
   
* Do you have a favorite on-line networking site?
* Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference, Nov. 19.
* Mapping Solutions - November 17
* Resources for volunteers, tutors, leaders
* President's Message - Network-building		  
   
issue 01
Do you have a favorite on-line networking and brainstorming site?

 



Image created by Tutor/Mentor Connection

This graphic shows that as a result of the work we and many others do, more youth stay in school, are safe in non-school hours, graduate from high school, and move to jobs and careers. This newsletter and T/MC web sites are intended to share this idea, and invite people to on-line forums and events in Chicago, where we can work to make this a reality. Do you have a web site where you use graphics like this to share your own ideas?

Have you seen the Waiting for 'Superman' movie? Are you a leader, volunteer, or board member in a non-school youth program that offers tutoring and/or mentoring? Where does your organization fit into the discussion of improving public school outcomes? Here is a forum on the Superman web site where you can share ideas. I've posted a comment intended to encourage people to think of non-school programs as part of the strategy for improving education outcomes. You can do this, too. http://www.waitingforsuperman.com/action/forum/policy/funding

This is just one example of an on-line collaboration portal. It mostly focuses on educators and what happens in schools. Are you part of any on-line forums that focus on what non-school tutoring/mentoring programs do? Are you part of forums where you feel you can contribute ideas, and where the meeting is bringing support to non-school programs in your community? Can you share links to those discussions on the http://tutormentorconnection.ning.com forum? 
 

Did you see the article in the New York Times titled "Culture of Poverty Makes a Comeback"?  Is a volunteer-based tutor/mentor program a strategy to expand the social capital in a high poverty area? See Tutor/Mentor Connection reflection at http://tutormentor.blogspot.com/2010/10/culture-of-poverty-and-social-capital.html.

You can join a discussion of this on Fireside Learning at
http://firesidelearning.ning.com/forum/topics/discussing-understanding-and?xg_source=activity
What forums are you using to discuss ideas like this?

   
Building your network. Learning from others.
Chicago Tutor/Mentor Leadership & Networking Conference, Nov. 19, 2010		  
 


 Image courtesy of Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection.

Every six months we invite people to come together for a Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference in Chicago to share what they know, network with T/MC and each other, and build visibility that draws more volunteers and donors to all of the volunteer tutoring and mentoring programs in the Chicago area.  

The next Conference will be November 19, 2010, at U.S. Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Illinois. 
This will be a one-day event focusing on actions and strategies that need to take place in 2011 and beyond to strengthen support for non-school, volunteer-based tutoring/mentoring programs working with economically disadvantaged youth. 

A Waiting for 'Superman' panel discussion will be held at the end of the day, to share reactions to this movie and talk of ways volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs fit into the education reform strategic plan. 

Space is limited for this conference.  If you would like to register, go to the conference web site to fill out the registration form. http://www.tutormentorconference.org.

While you are on the conference site, please also take a moment to take the Pre-Conference Survey to give us your input as we plan the conference (click "What People Say" then follow the "Take the Pre-Conference Survey" link).

  

 		    
issue 02  
 Mapping Solutions.  Chicago GIS Day Event, November 17, 2010  

 

  


Create your own map using http://www.tutormentorprogramlocator.net/InteractiveMap.aspx 		 


See how Tutor/Mentor Connection maps connect adults and ideas to help inner city youth.

During the November 17, 2010 International GIS Day celebration, the Tutor/Mentor Connection will host a map gallery event at Webster Wine Bar to showcase T/MC maps, draw attention to the ways political and business leaders can use them, and raise money to support the Tutor/Mentor Connection's mapping project.  During the Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference on November 19th, we will host a workshop to demonstrate the ways maps can be used by students, media, businesses and political leaders.

Learn more about Mapping Solutions and GIS Day at http://www.tutormentorexchange.net/mapathon

If you would like to make a donation or learn more about how your company can support Mapping Solutions and the Tutor/Mentor Connection, call Mike or Dan at 312-492-9614 or email tutormentor2@earthlink.net.

  
   
issue 03  
Resources for volunteers and leaders in tutor/mentor programs  

The volunteers in most tutor/mentor programs that work on a school-year cycle are just beginning to get to know the students they are working with and the rules of the program where they are tutors and mentors. Below are resources you can point them to, so they can grow their own ability to succeed as a tutor/mentor.
 

  

Map of Homework Help Resources on Tutor/Mentor Connection web site. http://tinyurl.com/TMC-HomeworkHelp-map

Tutor Training links http://tinyurl.com/T-MCLibrary-tutor-training

Mentor Training links http://tinyurl.com/T-MCLibrary-mentor-training

Browse the web sites of more than 200 Chicago area programs to learn how they support volunteers and students.
http://tinyurl.com/ChiTM-Program-Links

Web sites of tutor/mentor programs in other cities:
 http://tinyurl.com/T-MCLibrary-programs-network

The Tutor/Mentor Connection web site links to many other articles and resources. Browse the research section at http://tinyurl.com/TMLibrary-research.

 

  

 

  
president's message
 		  
 
Network-Building - When You Pass this on, you Create a Chain Reaction.

by Daniel F. Bassill


Tutor/Mentor Connection sends this newsletter to about 3400 people. We record about 9,000 visitors to our web sites every month. That means some people are finding the site and using the information even though we know there are many things we could do to improve it... if we had the manpower and resources to do it.

Don't you feel that way all the time? Too many good ideas but not enough time, talent or dollars to implement them. Or are you like me and just trying to find the dollars to keep the organization operating?

That's why we created the Tutor/Mentor Connection in 1993. We're collecting and sharing information anyone can use, with a goal that more people who don't live in poverty but do want to help young people reach their full potential will begin to use this site to find tutor/mentor programs in Chicago where they can volunteer time, talent and dollars, based on what these programs show on their web sites.

That means we need to increase the number of people who use this portal. The only way that can happen is if other people are writing about what we do, and passing this on to their own networks.

I wrote an article on Network Building last week. I hope you'll read it and see how we're creating a chain reaction. Every time I or another tutor/mentor leader writes an article, other people are encouraged to read it, then forward it to a few people they know. If enough people do this each week, we create a chain reaction that can reach people in all parts of the world. http://tutormentor.blogspot.com/2010/10/chain-reaction-goal-of-this-blog.html   

New study by Rand Corporation shows how leaders in five cities are trying to build system of after school programs. http://tinyurl.com/WallaceFnd-Hours-of-Opportunit

---------------------------------

The November 19th Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference will be held at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. While we hope to gather 100 or more people, we also hope to connect with thousands more in on-line forums. Below are places where you can connect with myself and members of the T/MC on the Internet. 

* Tutor/Mentor Connection on Ning - http://tutormentorconnection.ning.com

* T/MC on Facebook -  http://tinyurl.com/TMC-CC-Facebook

* T/MC on Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/tutormentorteam

* Linked-In group discussion of volunteering - http://tinyurl.com/TMC-LinkedIn-Volunteering
 
 
   

The Tutor/Mentor Connection is part of a two part non-profit. We also operate a site-based tutor/mentor program called Cabrini Connections, http://www.cabriniconnections.net. 

If you can provide time, talent, and even dollars, to help Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection do this work, we would appreciate your support. Read more about our fund raising efforts at http://cabrinitmcfundraising.blogspot.com.

Thank you for reading this and forwarding it to others.
 

  
   
Daniel F. Bassill
President
Tutor/Mentor Connection
Cabrini Connections
800 W. Huron, Chicago, Il. 60642 
312-492-9614
 		  
   
Read the blogs at :
http://tutormentor.blogspot.com
http://mappingforjustice.blogspot.com
http://tmcpip.blogspot.com/
http://cabriniblog.blogspot.com