100 CRITICAL QUESTIONS FOR GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH - 2021
https://www.joycefdn.org/research-reports/insights-research-reports-100-critical-questions-for-gun-violence-research
From the Joyce Foundation website: "The 2021 report, “The Next 100 Questions: A Research Agenda for Ending Gun Violence,” outlines key areas of focus for public and private sector efforts to build the science of gun violence prevention with actionable findings for policy makers and practitioners over the next five years. The report was written in collaboration with an advisory panel of scientific experts and includes input from dozens of researchers in the field."
A DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW TO REFORM POLICING - NY TIMES - 2020
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/06/13/magazine/police-reform.html
This link points to an in-depth 6-14-2020 article in the New York Times Magazine about why and how to reform policing in the US.
A DISCUSSION OF CORRUPTION - POVERTY TO POWER BLOG
https://oxfamapps.org/fp2p/how-to-talk-about-corruption-when-its-everywhere-but-invisible/
This blog article and the comments section is a rich resource for research on corruption in many countries.
ADVANCEMENT PROJECT
https://advancementproject.org/
From the web site: "Advancement Project is a next generation, multi-racial civil rights organization. Rooted in the great human rights struggles for equality and justice, we exist to fulfill America's promise of a caring, inclusive and just democracy. We use innovative tools and strategies to strengthen social movements and achieve high impact policy change."
ANTI-RECIDIVISM (ARC) - WORKS TO HELP WITH RE-ENTRY AND REFORM OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
https://antirecidivism.org/about-us/
From the web site: "ARC began as an annual camping trip bringing together a few dozen formerly incarcerated young people with positive mentors to offer encouragement, guidance, and resources. Today, the Coalition has grown into a support and advocacy network of more than 300 members, and hundreds of volunteer mentors and allies, committed to helping one another through reentry, and advocating for a fairer criminal justice system."
AS MANY AMERICANS HAVE CRIMINAL RECORDS AS COLLEGE DIPLOMAS
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/just-facts-many-americans-have-criminal-records-college-diplomas
This is 2015 article that continues to have relevance in 2020s. It states, “With as many criminal convictions as college degrees, it's more evident than ever why “ban the box” laws are important for the economy.
CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND GLOBAL JUSTICE | NYU SCHOOL OF LAW
https://chrgj.org/projects-initiatives/
From the web site: "The Center for Human Rights and Global Justice was established in 2002 to bring together and expand the rich array of teaching, research, clinical, internship, and publishing activities undertaken within New York University School of Law on issues of international human rights law." Browse the site to learn what resources are available.
CENTER ON RACE AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS - U. PITTSBURGH
https://www.crsp.pitt.edu/about
From the web site: "The mission of the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work Center on Race and Social Problems (CRSP) is to conduct applied social science research on race, color, ethnicity and their influence on the quality of life for all Americans."
CHICAGO COUNCIL OF LAWYERS - POLICY STATEMENTS
https://chicagocouncil.org/category/policy-statements/
From the website: "We are not a traditional bar association. The Council is a member-based organization whose focus is the benefit of non-members, particularly poor and disadvantaged populations who often have unequal access to the justice system." This link points to a page with an archive of policy statements. Click here to read an August 2025 "Call to Action" following President Trump's signing of an executive order targeting jurisdictions that have implemented reforms to their money bond systems.
CHILDREN AND FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER AT NORTHWESTERN
https://www.law.northwestern.edu/legalclinic/cfjc/
From the web site: "Providing access to justice for unrepresented youth is a core mission of the CFJC. Each year, CFJC faculty, staff and students represent young people on a wide range of matters, from delinquency to immigration and asylum to cases addressing harsh sentencing practices or the collateral consequences youth face after coming into contact with the law. Oftentimes, the CFJC gives its young clients access to a lawyer when they otherwise would not have one."
CITY OF CHICAGO'S VIOLENCE REDUCTION DASHBOARD - CREATED BY UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO URBAN CRIME LAB
https://crimelab.uchicago.edu/2025/05/overview-of-the-city-of-chicagos-violence-reduction-dashboard/
Visit this page and view the June 2025 webinar that provided an introduction to the City of Chicago's Violence Reduction Dashboard. Browse the site to see related reports.
CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT AT AT UCLA
https://civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/about-us
From the web site: "Its mission is to create a new generation of research in social science and law, on the critical issues of civil rights and equal opportunity for racial and ethnic groups in the United States."
COMMUNITIES FOR JUST SCHOOLS FUND
https://www.cjsfund.org/
From the website: "Communities for Just Schools is a national collaborative that links philanthropy with the power of grassroots organizing to transform schools. It's a movement born to end the school-to-prison pipeline."
COMMUNITY RESTORATIVE JUSTICE (RJ) HUBS IN CHICAGO
https://rjhubs.org/
From the web site: "RJ Hubs are a community led restorative justice approach to youth crime and conflict. Our vision is that RJ Hubs are safe spaces in the community where youth are welcomed and supported in building healthy relationships, expressing themselves, addressing trauma, and developing necessary skills and competencies. Importantly, the RJ Hub model is directly informed by the latest science on childhood trauma. It is designed as a strategy for helping people to move beyond the effects of adverse childhood experiences, guiding them towards sustainable healing and growth."
COUNCIL FOR A STRONG AMERICA - FIGHT CRIME, INVEST IN KIDS
https://www.strongnation.org/fightcrime
From the web site: "Founded in 1996, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids takes a hard-nosed look at the strategies proven to reduce crime. Armed with research, our more than 5,000 members make the case for solutions that cut crime and put kids on the path to productive lives."
DEFINING ECONOMIC JUSTICE - CESJ WEBSITE
https://www.cesj.org/learn/definitions/defining-economic-justice-and-social-justice/
This page on the Center for Economic and Social Justice website provides its definition of economic and social justice.
ENDING THE "CRADLE TO PRISON" PIPELINE CAMPAIGN
https://www.childrensdefense.org/child-watch-columns/health/2012/ending-the-cradle-to-prison-pipeline-and-mass-incarceration-the-new-american-jim-crow/
This is a 2012 article on the Children's Defense Fund's (CDF) web site. Look in the "Policies" section of the site for other emphasis areas.
EQUAL JUSTICE AND THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION (PDF)
https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED471045
This 2002 pdf is titled: "Using Technology to Meet the Legal Needs of Low-Income People" This report is a blueprint for how tutor/mentor programs can learn to share ideas and actions that help low-income youth move to careers. The T/MC seeks partners from the Equal Justice Community who want to explore opportunities for cross-sector collaboration, enabled by the use of technology.
EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE - BRYAN STEPHENSON
https://eji.org/about/
From the web site: "The Equal Justice Initiative is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.
Founded in 1989 by Bryan Stevenson, a widely acclaimed public interest lawyer and bestselling author of Just Mercy, EJI is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides legal representation to people who have been illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced, or abused in state jails and prisons. We challenge the death penalty and excessive punishment and we provide re-entry assistance to formerly incarcerated people." Browse the site. Learn about the issues and resources available. Get involved.
EQUAL JUSTICE USA
https://ejusa.org/about-us/
From the web site: "Equal Justice USA (EJUSA) is a national organization that works to make the criminal justice system more fair, effective, and responsive by ending the death penalty, strengthening programs that help crime survivors address trauma and rebuild their lives, promoting constructive responses to violence, and enacting common sense criminal justice reforms."
EVERYTOWN LAW - DEDICATED TO ADVANCING GUN SAFETY IN THE COURTS AND THROUGH THE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS
https://everytownlaw.org/
https://everytownresearch.org/
From the website: "Everytown Law conducts independent, methodologically rigorous research, supports evidence-based policies and communicates this knowlege to the public", in many ways, including this website. Browse the research page at https://everytownresearch.org/research/ to find an extensive body of information.
FIND LEGAL SERVICES IN EVERY STATE
https://www.lawhelp.org/find-help
From the web site: "LawHelp.org has been created for people living on low-incomes and the legal organizations that serve them. LawHelp.org provides referrals to local legal aid and public interest law offices, basic information about legal rights, court forms, self-help information, court information, links to social service agencies, and more in your state."
GOVERNMENT ALLIANCE ON RACE AND EQUITY (GARE)
https://www.racialequityalliance.org/
From the web site: "The Government Alliance on Race and Equity is a national network of government working to achieve racial equity and advance opportunities for all."
HALL OF JUSTICE - PUBLICLY AVAILABLE CRIMINAL JUSTICE DATASETS AND RESEARCH.
https://sunlightfoundation.com/2016/02/02/sunlight-launches-hall-of-justice-a-massive-data-inventory-on-criminal-justice-across-the-u-s/
From the web site: "Sunlight is launched the Hall of Justice in 2016 with this message: It will be a robust, searchable data inventory of nearly 10,000 datasets and research documents from across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the federal government. Hall of Justice is the culmination of 18 months of work gathering data and refining technology." On Sept. 2020 the site closed. It is an archive only.
HOW MATTERS - LOOKING BEYOND US BORDERS FOR SOLUTIONS TO POVERTY & RACISM
https://medium.com/@1000Currents/numbness-sorrow-rage-then-solutions-948f6af8cc43#.5gvo8htnz
This article, along with others, on the How Matters web site looks at way to overcome complex problems and provides a list of recommended reading for deeper learning and engagement. The collection of articles represents an extensive reading list.
ILLINOIS LEGAL AID ONLINE
https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/
From the web site: "We can guide you to resources to help you with your legal problem, including court forms, legal information, and referrals to free or low-cost legal aid lawyers. Or you can find legal self-help centers at courthouses and libraries across the state, where staff can help you use this site."
INCARCERATION REFORM DIGITAL RESOURCE CENTER
https://incarcerationreform.com/
This web site is an extensive digital library of resources focusing on a wide range of justice related issues. Primarily focuses on Chicago but the resources add value to research being done in any city.
INCREASING PIPELINE OPPORTUNITIES IN LAW COMMUNITY
https://ccbjournal.com/articles/increasing-pipeline-opportunities-legal-profession-minorities
In this article, Titled Increasing Pipeline Opportunities in the Legal Community, the writer says, "The legal profession faces no greater challenge in the 21st century than the critical need to diversify its rank." If you're part of the legal community I hope you read this and see the Tutor/Mentor Connection as a strategy to achieve this goal.
INVISIBLE INSTITUTE - CITIZEN'S POLICE DATA PROJECT (CHICAGO)
https://invisible.institute/police-data/
From the web site: "Invisible Institute is a journalism production company on the South Side of Chicago. We work to enhance the capacity of citizens to hold public institutions accountable." This link points to the Chicago Police Data Project which "is a portrait of impunity backed by the police department's own data. We built CPDP so that data about police activity can be useful to the public." View the video when you go to the site.
JUSTICE RESEARCH AND STATISTICS ASSOCIATION
https://www.jrsa.org/index.html
From the web site: "The Justice Research and Statistics Association is a national nonprofit organization of state Statistical Analysis Center (SAC) directors, researchers, and practitioners throughout government, academia, and criminal justice organizations dedicated to policy-orientated research and analysis. Created in 1974, JRSA serves to promote the exchange of information among the SACs, enabling them to work towards common goals, and as a liaison between the state agencies and the Justice Department. "
JUVENILE JUSTICE INITIATIVE OF ILLINOIS
https://jjustice.org/
MISSION; The Juvenile Justice Initiative is a statewide advocacy coalition to transform the juvenile justice system. The JJI advocates to reduce reliance on detention, to enhance fairness for all youth and to develop adequate community based resources throughout the state; The JJI is a response to the significant changes in the juvenile justice system in Illinois and across the country. Although the number of crimes committed by juveniles is decreasing, the number of youths in custody is increasing. The Juvenile Justice Initiative works to inform and educate policy makers, the media, and the general public about the alarming increase in number of juveniles held in custody, about the disparate number of minority youth in custody, and about the lack of adequate community based alternatives to detention.
KEY CRIME POLICY FINDINGS - UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CRIME LAB INFO
https://urbanlabs.uchicago.edu/labs/crime
As media draw public attention to inner city violence with weekly stories, web sites like this provide information that can help people dig deeper to understand the roots of the problem, and potential solutions.
LAWNDALE CHRISTIAN LEGAL CENTER - JUVENILE JUSTICE AND YOUNG ADULT PROGRAMS
https://lclc.net/criminal-legal-defense/
From the web site: "LCLC serves youth involved with the criminal justice system, age 24 and younger, in North Lawndale. We provide youth with a unique integration of legal and social services to empower them to develop self-reliance. We come alongside youth who have been accused of an act of delinquency in the Cook County Juvenile Justice Division or who have been accused of a crime in the Cook County Criminal Justice Division (adult court)."
LAWYERS LEND-A-HAND PROGRAM AT CHICAGO BAR FOUNDATION
https://www.lawyerslendahand.org/
The SunTimes Judge Marovitz Lawyers Lending a Hand to Youth Program is an example of how business, professional groups, churches and civic organizations can mobilize resources to support tutor/mentor programs in all poverty areas of a big city like Chicago. This web site illustrates how lawyers, judges and law firms in Chicago are raising visibility, recruiting volunteers and raising dollars to support one-on-one tutor/mentor programs in Chicago. They also operate their own tutoring program. This is a model that should be duplicated in every industry and in law firms all over the country.
NOTE: The Tutor/Mentor Connection was part of the executive board for Lawyers Lend A Hand from 1994 through 2008 and received funding from the Lawyers Lending a Hand to Youth Program each year from 1994-2009. Through the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC, formed in 2011, we seek to help businesses grow this type of strategy in every industry in Chicago and other cities.
LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION
https://www.lsc.gov/i-am-grantee
From the web site: "LSC is the single largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income residents in the U.S. and U.S. territories. The organizations that we fund help people who live in households with annual incomes at or below 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines."
LEGAL SERVICES LINKS
http://www.ptla.org/links
An extensive library of links hosted by Pine Tree Legal Assistance, a non-profit corporation providing legal assistance to people in the State of Maine.
LEGAL SERVICES NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE PROJECT
https://www.lsntap.org/
From the web site: "NTAP helps nonprofit legal aid programs improve client services through effective and innovative use of technology. To do this, we provide technology training, maintain information, create online tools, and host community forums such as the LSNTAP email list."
LEX MUNDI PRO BONO FOUNDATION - LAW FOR CHANGE
https://www.lexmundiprobono.org/lexmundiprobono/default.asp
From the web site: "Inspired social entrepreneurs are working around the world to improve education, fight disease, combat global warming, protect civil rights and lift individuals out of poverty. For every grand challenge, there are dedicated social entrepreneurs working on creative solutions. Our mission at the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation is clear: social entrepreneurs will be more successful at tackling the worlds’ biggest challenges if they have access to quality pro bono legal advice from lawyers in the Lex Mundi global network. Social enterprises will scale faster, serve more people, expand more quickly to new territories, raise more money, and have greater success."
MEASURES OF JUSTICE - COUNTY-LEVEL DATA PLATFORM
https://measuresforjustice.org/about/story
From the web site; "Measures for Justice (MFJ) was founded in 2011 to develop a data-driven set of performance measures to assess and compare the criminal justice process from arrest to post-conviction on a county-by-county basis. The data set comprises measures that address three broad categories: Fiscal Responsibility, Fair Process, and Public Safety." The site offers extensive data for data scientists and story tellers. Take time to explore. Share with potential users.
MODELS FOR CHANGE: SYSTEMS REFORM IN JUV. JUSTICE
http://www.modelsforchange.net/about/index.html
From the web site: "Models for Change supports a network of government and court officials, legal advocates, educators, community leaders, and families working together to ensure that kids who make mistakes are held accountable and treated fairly throughout the juvenile justice process. Through modelsforchange.net, the initiative provides research-based tools and techniques to make juvenile justice more fair, effective, rational and developmentally appropriate."
NATIONAL COALITION ON SCHOOL DIVERSITY - RESOURCE PAGE
https://www.school-diversity.org/members/
From the web site: "The National Coalition on School Diversity (NCSD) is a network of national civil rights organizations, university-based research centers, and state and local coalitions working to expand support for government policies that promote school diversity and reduce racial isolation. We also support the work of state and local school diversity practitioners. Our work is informed by an advisory panel of scholars and academic researchers whose work relates to issues of equity, diversity, and desegregation/integration."
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES - RESOURCE LIBRARY
https://www.nlc.org/resources-training/resource-library/
From the web site: "The National League of Cities (NLC) is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities. Working in partnership with the 49 state municipal leagues, NLC serves as a resource to and an advocate for the more than 19,000 cities, villages and towns it represents." This link points to one of many topic areas on the site.
NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE - CHICAGO URBAN LEAGUE
https://chiul.org/
From the web site: "The National Urban League is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities. Founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York City, the National Urban League spearheads the efforts of its local affiliates through the development of programs, public policy research and advocacy. Today, the National Urban League has 95 affiliates serving 300 communities, in 35 states and the District of Columbia, providing direct services that impact and improve the lives of more than 2 million people nationwide."
ORGANIZATIONS IN US ADDRESSING POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND RACIAL JUSTICE
https://fundersforjustice.org/
This map on the FundersforJustice web site shows organizations around the country who focus on this issue. The web site is described this way: "This is a virtual organizing space for funders and affinity groups to connect with each other and with the movement for racial justice and police accountability across the country. This web portal is intended to help enable philanthropy’s role in partnering with our communities to create and live in vibrant, healthy, prosperous, democratic communities."
PRISON POLICY INITIATIVE
https://www.prisonpolicy.org/
From the website: "The non-profit, non-partisan Prison Policy Initiative produces cutting edge research to expose the broader harm of mass criminalization, and then sparks advocacy campaigns to create a more just society." View the maps and report showing where people in prisons come from.
PRO BONO NET
https://www.probono.net/
From the web site: "We work to bring the power of the law to all by building cutting-edge digital tools and fostering collaborations with the nation’s leading civil legal organizations."
QUESTIONS TO ASK POLICE CHIEFS - JULY 2020 ARTICLE
https://equalityalec.substack.com/p/questions-to-ask-police-chiefs
This article by Alec Copaganda includes a list of questions every Police chief in the country should be asking on a regular basis. Take a look.
RACE AND BEYOND: WHY YOUNG, MINORITY, AND LOW-INCOME CITIZENS DON’T VOTE
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/race/news/2014/11/06/100627/why-young-minority-and-low-income-citizens-dont-vote/
“The reason politicians ignore so many of the working poor is that they don’t vote,.... And the reason so many of the working poor don’t vote is that certain politicians have made sure it’s as inconvenient as possible for them.” If we're going to take power in this country away from the wealthy minority, we need to find ways to bring the masses to the voting booth.
RACE, POVERTY, POLICE, FERGUSON, MO. - READING LIST
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Michael_Brown
In the aftermath of the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO there have been countless articles written, some from a conservative perspective and some from a liberal perspective. Instead of trying to build a library of such articles on the Tutor/Mentor Connection, I'm pointing to a Wikipedia page which is building links to numerous articles written in 2014, and others written after similar high profile incidents in the past.
RECLAIMING THE PROMISE OF RACIAL EQUITY IN EDUCATION, ECONOMICS AND OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM - PDF
https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/racial_equity_taskforce_10-8-15.pdf
From the web site: "This report of the Racial Equity Task Force of the American Federation of Teachers expresses our shared vision and charts a path for our union in the fight to reclaim the promise of racial equity." This report shows goals that many could share.
REENTRY COURT SOLUTIONS: A RESOURCE FOR COMMUNITY BASED REENTRY SYSTEMS
http://www.reentrycourtsolutions.com/most-read/
From the web site: "REENTRY COURT SOLUTIONS (RCS) is designed to provide critical information, resources, and assistance to those interested in developing effective Reentry Courts and Evidence-Based Sentencing Systems. We will share our knowledge, experience, and expertise with those who wish to learn, and learn and disseminate information from those who wish to share what they know."
ROBERT REICH.ORG - IDEAS FOR A MORE JUST SOCIETY
https://robertreich.org/post/72770488951
From the web site: "Robert Reich is Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley and Senior Fellow at the Blum Center for Developing Economies, and was Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration. Articles and ideas shared on this site focus on creating "a new political coalition of America’s poor and working middle class, bent not only on repairing the nation’s frayed safety nets but also on getting a fair share of the economies’ gains."
SAFETY AND JUSTICE CHALLENGE - SUPPORTED BY MACARTHUR FOUNDATION
https://safetyandjusticechallenge.org/
From the web site: "The Safety and Justice Challenge is providing support to local leaders from across the country who are determined to tackle one of the greatest drivers of over-incarceration in America—the misuse and overuse of jails."
SARGENT SHRIVER NATIONAL CENTER ON POVERTY LAW - CLEARING HOUSE TOOLBOX
https://www.povertylaw.org/about-us/
From the web site: "The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law provides national leadership in advancing laws and policies that secure justice to improve the lives and opportunities of people living in poverty."
SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY AND PRACTICE GROUP - RESOURCES
http://www.policymagic.org/resources.htm
Social Welfare Policy and Practice Group at South Carolina University encourages the study and teaching of social welfare policy practice within social work education. This link points to a page with links to an extensive list of social policy resources.
THE CHICAGO LAWYER'S COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS - EDUCATION INITIATIVE
https://www.clccrul.org/mission-values-history
From the web site: "The mission of the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Inc. (CLC) is to protect and promote civil rights by bringing the strength and prestige of the private bar to bear on the problems of poverty and discrimination. This project hopes to prevent, reduce, and eliminate the known disproportionate complications in the classroom burdening minority and low-income communities in the Chicago area. To do this, The Chicago Lawyer's Committee is partnering with a variety of organizations and law firms to help address community concerns about the educational injustices they face."
THE MARSHALL PROJECT: NON-PROFIT JOURNALISM ABOUT CRIMINAL JUSTICE
https://www.themarshallproject.org/about?via=navright
From the web site: "Since 2014, The Marshall Project has been curating some of the best criminal justice reporting from around the web. In these records you will find the most recent and the most authoritative articles on the topics, people and events that are shaping the criminal justice conversation. The Marshall Project does not endorse the viewpoints or vouch for the accuracy of reports other than its own."
TRANSFORM HARM - RESOURCE HUB FOR ENDING VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO
https://transformharm.org/
From the web site: "TransformHarm.org is a resource hub about ending violence. It offers an introduction to transformative justice. The site includes selected articles, audio-visual resources, curricula, and more."
YOUTH COURT: A PATH TO CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
https://youthcourt.net/
From the web site: "Youth court programs strive to nurture in youth a respect for the rule of law, help develop positive citizenship attitudes, encourage civic engagement, and promote educational success through a diversity of service learning opportunities, strategies and activities. Youth courts are structured to provide positive alternative sanctions for first-time offenders by providing a peer-driven sentencing mechanism that allows young people to take responsibility, to be held accountable, and to make restitution. Positive peer pressure is used in youth courts to exert influence over adolescent behavior."
YOUTH OUTREACH SERVICES (YOU) - JUVENILE JUSTICE SERVICES
https://www.yos.org/services/juvenile-justice
YOU serves youth and families on Chicago's West side. Visit their web site to learn about their juvenile justice and prevention programs and how they partner with schools and educators, coalitions, community-based organizations and social service agencies.
Why are volunteer-based tutor and/or mentor programs needed? Where are they most needed? What more do volunteers need to do to help kids and families in high poverty areas?
This section of the library has six sub-sections where
the T/MC and T/MI have been aggregating links to
articles and research showing the history and impact
of segregation, racism, concentrated poverty, wealth
inequality, and related issues..
This concept map is a visual guide to each section.
Open the links to find a list of websites under each category. If you find broken links, please send a notice to tutormentor2 at earthlink.net.
Equal Justice, Juvenile Justice, Poverty Law - click here
Poverty and Crime Mapping - click here
Poverty, Race, Inequality - click here
Prevention Resources - click here
Housing & Community Development - click here
Violence Against Women & Girls - click here
Street Gangs - click here
Rural Issues - click here
This Resource Library is part of what we call the Tutor/Mentor Learning Network, created in 1993 by the Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present) and Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present)
Since 1993 we have maintained a web library intended to help volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs grow in more places, while helping each program constantly improve what they do to help kids through school and into adult lives.
While our aim is to have all of Chicago's non-school, volunteer-based tutor and/or mentor programs in the library, other sections will never have everything known.
This PDF describes the Tutor/Mentor Learning
Network and shows how we seek to find others
who are experts in specific categories of
information, and who host web libraries of their
own. Instead of duplicating everything
in our library, we can simply point to them.
Since the Tutor/Mentor Connection was created in Chicago in 1993 many of the links in the library focus
only on Chicago. However, many other links can be resources used in any part of the world. It is
our recommendation that this library be duplicated in every urban area, with links specific to that area,
and with links pointing to this library as well.
The library has four main sections with several sub sections in
each. This concept map shows the four sections. Click on links below each concept map to enter sub sections of the library
2025 additions to the Tutor/Mentor Library - - click here
2024 additions to Tutor/Mentor Library - click here
2023 additions to Tutor/Mentor Library - click here; July 2022-Dec 32, 2022 additions to library. click here
Note: If you are requesting a FREE link be added to this library if would be helpful if your request showed how you plan to
draw attention to the library from your own blog, website and/or social media.
Backspace to return to Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC site. | ||
Adult Literacy; Alternative schools Arts, Science, STEM, Climate Change, Public Health - click here Business involvement, school-to-work - click here College and Careers - click here Chicago resources, City of Chicago, CPS, etc. - click here Inequality, poverty, law, justice, housing, etc. - click here
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Philanthropy links - click here Politics - Activism - Progressive issues - click here Process improvement, collaboration, mapping, Research - education, drop out crisis, social Social Entrepreneurship - click here Suggested Books - click here Training Resources for tutors, mentors, Technology - digital divide; cool tools - click here Volunteer Networks, Associations, Mgt tools - click here |
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Starting January 2022 the original Tutor/Mentor Library will only be
available at this archive location.
Youth Serving Programs that include youth leadership,
civic engagement, and/or service learning components
ALBANY PARK THEATER PROJECT - FOCUSES ON YOUTH AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
https://aptpchicago.org/our-mission/
From the web site: "Albany Park Theater Project is a multi-ethnic, youth theater ensemble that inspires people to envision a more just and beautiful world. We are dedicated to art, to youth, and a vision of social justice."
ALLOWGOOD - EMPOWER ALL YOUTH THROUGH THE TOOLS OF PHILANTHROPY
https://www.allowgood.org/mission/
From the web site: "Allow Good equips youth with the knowledge, skills, and capacity to take meaningful action in their communities. We inspire youth to become actively engaged in addressing social challenges throughout their lives. This addresses a pressing need facing our society - engaging youth in their communities to create a society of socially engaged citizens.
BLACK YOUTH PROJECT 100
https://www.byp100.org/about
From the web site: "Black Youth Project 100 (BYP 100) is an activist member-based organization of Black 18-35 year olds, dedicated to creating justice and freedom for all Black people. We do this through building a collective focused on transformative leadership development, direct action organizing, advocacy and education."
CHICAGO DEBATE COMMISSION/CHICAGO DEBATE LEAGUE
https://www.chicagodebates.org/what-we-do/
From the web site: "with over 60 high schools and middle schools and 1300 students, the CDL has grown to become the largest and most successful of the urban debate leagues around the country." Formed in 1995.
CIVIC LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION - TEACHES LEADERSHIP SKILLS
https://civicleadershipfoundation.org/
From the web site: "The Civic Leadership Foundation (CLF) prepares underserved teenagers for college, career and active citizenship. CLF partners with principals, teachers, and youth program directors to deliver empowering, project-based curriculum that teaches young people critical life-long leadership skills such as collaboration, resourcefulness and accountability."
DIGITAL YOUTH NETWORK - NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
MAPSCORPS - YOUTH MAPPING ASSETS IN URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS
https://www.digitalyouthnetwork.org/
https://www.digitalyouthnetwork.org/https://mapscorps.org/
In 2022 Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy launched a new iteration of MAPSCorps, integrating it into their own curriculum, with the name "Digital Youth network". "MAPSCorps is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based on Chicago’s South Side where the idea was born. The organization grew out of the South Side Health and Vitality Studies, led by the research laboratory of Stacy Tessler Lindau, MD, MAPP, at the University of Chicago. In 2016, MAPSCorps became an independent nonprofit, with successful programs covering nearly half of Chicago and several ZIP codes of Harlem and the Bronx in New York City."
DREAMS FOR KIDS YOUTH EXECUTIVE BOARD
https://dreamsforkids.org/our-team/
Scroll to the bottom of this page and meet the Youth Executive Board of Dreams for Kids. Click on each profile and learn about each member. The group is described as "A dynamic group of young middle school leaders who are proving they are the generation we have been waiting for and that no one has to wait to be great and to make an impact. Our youth board has created nonprofits and social enterprises and is enrolling thousands of like-minded youth to raise money and to fund youth-led startups." This is part of a Dream Leaders program, described at "Our Dream Leaders are young social entrepreneurs who turn their ideas into impact and help create the future today. We engage students with volunteer service, leadership conferences, and fundraising opportunities and provide practical education through our digital social entrepreneurship curriculum that drives student learning into the world and is delivered by teachers in class and supported by mentors beyond school."
EARTH FORCE - ENGAGES YOUNG PEOPLE AS ACTIVE CITIZENS
https://earthforce.org/
From the web site: "Through our Centers of Excellence, Earth Force works with communities to support young people in finding their voice while assuming leadership roles in solving local environmental problems. Our six-step instructional model, the Earth Force Process, puts youth in the driver's seat towards creating sustainable solutions."
FEARLESS LEADING BY YOUTH/STOP CHICAGO
https://www.stopchicago.org/programs
Fearless Leading by the Youth (FLY) is a program of STOP, " a community organization that builds the power of residents on the Southside of Chicago to impact the forces and decisions that affect our lives. STOP fights for human rights to racial and economic justice through organizing, popular education, and leadership development amongst people most directly affected by issues like gentrification, displacement, incarceration and criminalization of youth of color and health cuts."
FREE SPIRIT MEDIA - EMPOWERS YOUTH THROUGH VIDEO
https://freespiritmedia.org/programs
Hands-on and project-based media production opportunities with FSM are helping young people develop their authentic voice while actively learning about and addressing community issues.
FUTURE LEADERS IN PLANNING - CMAP CHICAGO PROGRAM
https://www.cmap.illinois.gov/about/involvement/flip
From the web site: "Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) is a leadership development opportunity where students can contribute to a better future for our region. Participants in this new program will learn more about the northeastern region and share their thoughts with other teens from Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties. Participants will also meet and interact with selected regional leaders who make key planning decisions in our communities."
GIRL UP - UNITING GIRLS TO SAVE THE WORLD
https://girlup.org/
This is an international movement to advance girls' skills, rights, and opportunities to be leaders.
GLOBAL KIDS - NEW YORK CITY
https://globalkids.org/#/about-global-kids
Global Kids offers a range of year-round programs in schools, online, and at its New York City headquarters. Global Kids works primarily with middle school and high school youth, and also provide professional development and capacity building services for educators and institutions, and special trainings for youth.
GLOBAL NOMADS GROUP LINKS THE WORLD'S YOUTH
https://gng.org/
Founded in 1998, the Global Nomads Group (GNG) is a non-profit organization dedicated to heightening children's understanding and appreciation for the world and its people. Using interactive technologies such as videoconferencing, GNG brings young people together face-to-face to meet across cultural and national boundaries to discuss their differences & similarities, and the world issues that affect them.
INTEGRATE NEW YORK CITY 4 ME - FOCUS ON RACIAL JUSTICE
https://integratenyc.org/mission
IntegrateNYC4Me is a youth led initiative focusing on the unequal opportunities for youth in New York City schools.
MAPPING JUSTICE - EMPOWERING YOUTH THROUGH GEOSPATIAL INNOVATION
https://www.trubel.co/
This is the flagship program of an organization called trubel&co, who's mission is to "champion diverse youth by integrating STEM education with civic innovation to tackle societal challenges. Through our flagship program, Mapping Justice, we empower students to use geospatial technology for social change, fostering data literacy, critical thinking, and community advocacy."
MEMA-MUSIC - SCHOOL BASED ARTS CURRICULUM
https://www.mema-music.org/
From the website: "MeMa-Music is a Chicago based non-profit that empowers youth, age 13-19, in underserved communities, from all backgrounds and abilities, to use their unique voices to advocate for social justice and change, through the power of music, and arts-integrated academic learning, that expresses their individual creativity. By raising young people’s voices, we aim to inspire youth with the message that they can become successful adults with a positive vision of the future." This is a school-based program.
MIKVA CHALLENGE - ENGAGING CHICAGO YOUTH IN CIVIC AND POLITICAL LIFE
https://mikvachallenge.org/
From the web site: "Mikva Challenge develops youth to be informed, empowered, and active citizens and community leaders. We do this by engaging youth in action civics, an authentic and transformative learning process built on youth voice and youth expertise."
MY BLOCK NYC - INCLUDES MAP SHOWING STUDENT VIDEOS
http://www.myblockedu.org/
From the web site: "The MyBlock Education Program which continues today, is making the increasingly important opportunity of an introductory video literacy program available to students by providing a powerful video communications curriculum to schools all over New York City." This link points to a map of NYC with icons that you can open to see videos created by NYC teens.
ONECITY STORIES - YOUTH WRITING PROJECT IN ST. LOUIS AREA
https://www.onecitystories.org/program/
From the web site: "Onecity Stories is a 3-week writing program for high school students from the Greater St. Louis area. During these three weeks (June 10-28 excluding weekends), participants will cultivate their stories and create multimedia products with the help of experienced writing teachers and experts in the newspaper, film and radio broadcasting industries. The summer program will conclude with a publication event for participants and their guests, and additional writing and publishing opportunities will be available for participants throughout the following school year."
POSITIVE COACHING ALLIANCE - CHICAGO
https://positivecoach.org/mission-history/
From the web site: "Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) is a national non-profit with the mission to provide all youth and high school athletes a positive, character-building youth sports experience. PCA reaches youth and high school sport leaders, coaches, athletes, parents, and officials through live workshops, online courses, published books and articles, and a series of alliances with nationally-recognized coaches, athletes, academicians, businesses and national youth sports organizations."
PROJECT M LAB - YOUTH LEADERSHIP PLATFORM
http://projectmlab.com/
From the web site: "Project M is a program for creative people who are already inspired to contribute to the greater good, and are looking for a platform to collaborate and generate ideas and projects bigger than themselves."
RECLAIM. A UK YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND SOCIAL CHANGE ORGANISATION
https://www.reclaim.org.uk/
From the web site: "RECLAIM exists to end the leadership inequality that prevents working class young people with talent, imagination, ambition and drive, from fulfilling their leadership potential. We support young people who refuse to be silent: they fight for their voices to be heard. We run intensive, high impact leadership programmes for 12-15 year olds from working class communities and support them through an Alumni Network until they are 22. We also develop and deliver - alongside our young people - a range of pilot projects and campaigns on issues that affect working class communities."
TEEN INITIATE PROGRAM - AT THE ALIVE CENTER OF NAPERBRIDGE (IN NAPERVILLE, IL)
https://www.alivecenter.org/teen-initiate/
From the web site: "Teen Initiate is an innovative Teen-Led Teen-Driven (TLTD) program that provides teens with support and a space to innovate and lead while empowering younger teens and tweens in the process." Browse this page to see work being done.
THE CEBRIN GOODMAN TEEN INSTITUTE (CGTI) - LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
http://cg-ti.org/
From the web site: "CGTI empowers youth with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead an alcohol, tobacco, and other drug-free life. We make this a reality by helping teens develop and strengthen leaderships skills, educate them to lead peers to reduce the frequency of substance use and other addictive behaviors, teach to advocate for positive change within their schools, communities, and local government, and encourage healthy decision making skills."
TRUE STAR FOUNDATION - JOURNALISM PROGRAM FOR YOUTH
https://truestarmedia.org/our-programs/
From the web site: "We serve youth who come from single and double income homes that often have unsupervised after-school hours. The students we work with are predominantly minorities: 70% African-American, 25% Hispanic and 5% other. Teen participants get to work alongside students from various cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds, to express themselves in innovative ways and understand their role and responsibility as contributing adults to society."
UNIVERSIDAD POPULAR - UP TO YOUTH INITIATIVE
http://www.universidadpopular.us/up-to-youth/
The program serves Little Village youth. Web site description: "The focus of the program includes increasing Little Village youths’ civic engagement, cultivating a positive self-image and healthy living, improving academic performance and achievement, fostering creative problem-solving skills, and expanding parent involvement."
Tutor and Mentor Organizations and Human Service Associations
Outside of the United States
ACTIONS FOR PEACE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (APDC) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
https://www.apdc.info/articles.php
From the website: "APDC's mission is to contribute to improving the socio-economic and cultural living conditions of the population living in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. I added this link in December 2024 after being given this message in a chat on BlueSky. "For us here, things are not well because of War. I am the founder of APDC, a local humanitarian organisation. We are doing volunteer work here in eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo in order to assist vulnerable people affected by War, natural disasters and bring positive change. As you know, there are many armed groups that are fighting here in eastern DR Congo. Many people die, other are displaced, cattle stolen, houses are burnt, some children are used in different armed groups, other are lost during displacements, etc. Internally displaced people are living in poor conditions. They have no food, no medical care, no house objects, etc. They need help in terms of food and nonfood items, house objects, medical care, etc."
AFRICAN YOUTH FOUNDATION
https://ayf.de/
From the web site: "The African Youth Foundation (AYF) is a non-profit development organization based in Bonn, Germany. AYF was established in 2000 to aid young African people in the Diaspora and in Africa, as well as Europeans with African descent, to undertake projects which will enable them obtain skills necessary for their future livelihoods."
ASHA FOR EDUCATION FOCUS ON INDIA
https://ashanet.org/?page=about-asha-mission
Asha for Education is a secular organization dedicated to change in India by focusing on basic education in the belief that education is a critical requisite for socio-economic change.
BIG BUDDY - NEW ZEALAND
https://www.bigbuddy.org.nz/
From the web site: "Big Buddy is a New Zealand based mentoring service focused on fatherless boys, age 7 - 12 . All our mentors are male and we have developed successful strategies and skills for recruiting and screening male mentors."
CRY, INC. SUPPORTS PROJECTS IN INDIA AND USA
https://cryamerica.org/site/index.html
From the web site: "CRY America is a 501c3 non-profit organization driven by its vision of a just world in which all children have equal opportunities to develop to their full potential and realize their dreams. We ensure that basic rights of education, healthcare and protection from exploitation and abuse are restored to underprivileged children, including street children, girl children; children bonded in labor, children of commercial sex workers, physically and mentally challenged children and children in institutions."
ED CONNECT PROGRAM - WESTERN AUSTRALIA
https://www.edconnectaustralia.org.au/our-work/
From the web site: "At EdConnect, we’re training and mobilising a nationwide army of volunteers to provide life-changing mentoring and learning support in schools for young people who are at risk of not fulfilling their educational potential."
EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GROUP (EDC)
https://www.edc.org/body-work/youth-and-workforce-development
From the web site: "EDC is dedicated to improving education, health, and economic opportunities for people of all ages. We create and implement innovative programs that take the results of rigorous research and put it into real-world practice at scale."
ERASMUS+: EUROPEAN VOLUNTARY SERVICE (EVS)
https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/about-erasmus/what-is-erasmus
Visit this web site to learn about the The EU programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport in Europe.
IMPACT BORDERLESS DIGITAL (IBD) - AFRICAN MENTORING SUPPORT
https://impactborderlessdigital.com/
From the website: "Through mentorship and career development flora, IBD empowers youth with the knowledge, international exposure, and digital fluency they need to be emancipated global citizens with borderless influence for sustainable development." Based in Nairobi, Kenya.
INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FOUNDATION
https://iyfglobal.org/
IYF works with hundreds of companies, foundations, and civil society organizations to strengthen and "scale up" existing programs that are making a positive and lasting difference in young lives. Over the last decade, IYF and its in-country partners have helped more than 23 million young people gain access to the life skills, education, job training and opportunities critical to their success. Go to the Publications section for What Works in Engaging Business in Youth Employment and Livelihood Strategies, by Steve Waddell, Ph.D.
MENTOR CANADA - COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS
https://www.mentoringcanada.ca/en/about
From the website: "MENTOR Canada was launched in 2019 by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada, the Alberta Mentoring Partnership and the Ontario Mentoring Coalition. We are actively seeking to engage organizations from across Canada to work with us and promote the mentoring movement. Working together, we will build sector capacity to empower every young person to fulfil their potential."
MENTORING AND BEFRIENDING AT NCVO - UK
https://www.ncvo.org.uk/
From the web site: "The Mentoring and Befriending Foundation(MBF) helped organisations throughout the United Kingdom increase the effectiveness and quality of their mentoring and befriending programmes. From April 2015, MBF transferred the delivery of its core services and these are now provided by NCVO." Browse the web site to see the resources that are available.
PRATHAM - EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE IN INDIA AND THE WORLD
https://prathamusa.org/
From the web site: "Of the 250 million children worldwide who cannot read or write, two-fifths reside in India, where for 21 years Pratham has been working to alleviate this crisis. We develop low-cost solutions to improve the quality of learning and work with governments to take them to scale. Our community-driven approach has engaged hundreds of thousands of volunteers and has affected the lives of 45 million Indian children."
THE YOUTH FOUNDATION - HONG KONG
http://www.yf.org.hk/en/home.html
From the web site: "Founded in 1999, The Youth Foundation (“The Foundation”) believes that "there is a leader in every young person”. With the main pillars of media and interpersonal ministries, The Foundation aims to promote the “life education” primarily of young people and youth workers in China through training and exchange programs, research, and other programs. The Foundation is a Hong Kong registered non-profit-making charitable organization that builds upon Breakthrough’s* 40 years of youth service. The Foundation brings different resources and efforts together to create more opportunities for empowering youth and developing their potential."
UBERLANDIA DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES - BRAZIL
https://www.uberlandiadevelopmentinitiatives.org/p/about.html
This organization focuses on an under resourced neighborhood of around 40,000 people in Uberlandia, a city of over 680,000 in southeastern Brazil.
WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT AND VOICE (WEAV) - VIET NAM
https://www.weav.vn/
From the web site: "Women’s Empowerment and Voice (WEAV) is a non-profit organization that promotes education, mentoring, and leadership development programs for girls and women in economically challenged communities of the Mekong Delta in Viet Nam."