2 columns blog

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This is the introductory text for the first article. It provides a brief overview of the content, designed to capture the reader's attention. The layout is responsive, ensuring a good experience across all devices.

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Here is the summary for the second article. Each article block is self-contained, allowing for easy management and display within the two-column structure. Images are set to be responsive using Bootstrap's `card-img-top`.

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This section delves into more details about the third topic. The use of Bootstrap's card component helps maintain a clean and consistent appearance for each article entry.

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Content for the fourth article, demonstrating how text flows underneath the image. The `h-100` class on the card ensures that cards in the same row have equal height, even if content length varies.

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This is the fifth article's summary. The responsive nature means these columns will stack on smaller screens, making it mobile-friendly.

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Details for the sixth article. You can easily replace the placeholder images (`placehold.co`) with your actual article images.

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This article covers the seventh topic. Remember to adjust the `href` attributes for the "Read More" buttons to link to your actual full articles.

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Summary for the eighth article. The `mb-4` class adds spacing between rows, while `mb-md-0` removes it for the right column on medium screens and up.

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The ninth article's content. This structure is flexible and can be easily extended or modified to fit more articles or different layouts.

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Finally, the tenth article. This comprehensive example provides a robust foundation for displaying multiple articles in a responsive two-column grid.

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Article Title eleven

This section delves into more details about the third topic. The use of Bootstrap's card component helps maintain a clean and consistent appearance for each article entry.

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Article Title 12

Content for the fourth article, demonstrating how text flows underneath the image. The `h-100` class on the card ensures that cards in the same row have equal height, even if content length varies.

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Article 13 Image
Article Title 13

This is the fifth article's summary. The responsive nature means these columns will stack on smaller screens, making it mobile-friendly.

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Article 14 Image
Article Title 14

Details for the sixth article. You can easily replace the placeholder images (`placehold.co`) with your actual article images.

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Article Title 15

This article covers the seventh topic. Remember to adjust the `href` attributes for the "Read More" buttons to link to your actual full articles.

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Article Title 16

Summary for the eighth article. The `mb-4` class adds spacing between rows, while `mb-md-0` removes it for the right column on medium screens and up.

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Article Title 17

The ninth article's content. This structure is flexible and can be easily extended or modified to fit more articles or different layouts.

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Article Title 18

Finally, the tenth article. This comprehensive example provides a robust foundation for displaying multiple articles in a responsive two-column grid.

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Help Fund the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC - 2025

Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present)

I started the Tutor/Mentor Connection in 1993 and the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC in 2011. Please contribute to help me continue.

(scroll down to bottom of this page to find PayPal button and/or mailing address)

This entire website is full of reasons for helping me help volunteer-based tutor, mentor and learning programs grow in every area of persistent poverty.  It's also a resource for any type of problem-solving!

This is a graphic showing a map of Chicago with a message from Dan Bassill saying "I've been trying to help tutor/mentor programs grow in these areas for 25 years."

The image shown above is from a visual essay titled "Tipping Points".  
It visualizes the strategies that I'm sharing and that I ask you to support with your contributions and by sharing my posts.

Rather than trying to be a single leader in a huge city, the T/MC, and now T/MI, have sought to provide an information  platform that all leaders can use to LEARN, EDUCATE, and INNOVATE ways to support long-term, mentor rich, volunteer-based tutor, mentor and learning program growth in more places and to solve other complex social, political and environmental problems facing this country and the world.

With your help, I can continue.

If someone you know has become ill and needs money to pay bills, they set up a "Go Fund Me" page and ask for contributions.  So, this is my "fund me" page.  I (Daniel Bassill) have been self-funding most of this work since 2011, supported by a small group of continuing donors.

Please send a contribution of $25, $50, $100, $250, $500 or more to help me continue in 2025 and beyond.

Thank you for your help!

Mail contributions to:

Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC
c/o Daniel Bassill
932 N. Salem Avenue
Arlington Heights, IL 60005

Thank you for helping me help others.
Note. The Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC is not a 501-c-3 non profit, so your contributions are not tax deductible. They will be used to support social benefit and the lives of thousands of young people born and living in high poverty areas of Chicago and other places.

June-July 2025 T/MI News

June-July 2025 - Issue 242

Tutor Mentor Institute LLC newsletter heading with blue background

Seek out youth programs in your areas. Give them your support!

There are terrible things happening across the United States and around the world. My daily media is filled with these stories. To me, this drowns out needed calls for support for youth-serving programs in Chicago and other places.

As we head through summer toward the new school year, use the resources in my newsletter and website to find and support organized, on-going, volunteer-based tutor, mentor and learning programs. They all need your help.

At the same time, use other resources that I share to find ways to support people in your community who need help and to close the gaps that are dividing us from each other.

These resources can be used by anyone, in Chicago, or around the world.

Please share this so others in your city can find and use these resources!

Visit Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC Website

These are social media posts from Chicago youth serving programs

This was posted on LinkedIn by Chicago Scholars, celebrating alumni who have been part of their program. It is one of many posts I see on my feed every day from Chicago area youth-serving programs.

Use this list to find many other Chicago area youth-serving programs who have accounts on LinkedIn.

This was posted on Facebook by Diamond in the Rough Youth Development Program, Inc.

Use this list to find other Chicago area youth-serving programs who have accounts on Facebook.

Find lists of Chicago area programs using Twitter and Instagram, plus my list of tutor/mentor program websites at www.tutormentorexchange.net

One thing anyone can do to help kids living in high poverty areas is get to know existing youth serving programs and help them attract attention from media, donors, volunteers, parents and students. You can do it by sharing links to their websites or by liking and boosting their posts on social media. If you're able, you can even volunteer and/or donate.

Scroll through this set of Tutor/Mentor blog articles to see how I've highlighted work of other Chicago area volunteer-based tutor, mentor and learning programs. Do you have someone in your community hosting a website and encouraging others to draw users to it the way I do?

Independent Sector's annual report on the "value of volunteer time"

The Independent Sector is one of the leading resources in the philanthropic sector. One of its annual reports provides an estimated national value of each volunteer hour. Read the report at this link.

Visit the blog article section on the Independent Sector website and find leadership articles that focus on the disruption and chaos caused by actions of the current administration. click here

Are you aware of the City of Chicago's violence reduction dashboard, created by the University of Chicago's Urban Crime Lab? The graphic below shows one page from the website.

A few weeks ago I watched an introduction to this dashboard and its many interactive features. It's a publicly available tool launched to support efforts to reduce gun violence through transparent, real-time data. This link points to the Urban Crime Lab page that includes a video of the webinar and many other resources. View the dashboard at this link.

I wrote about the webinar and shared other screenshots on this Mapping for Justice blog article. Use your own blog to share resources like this.

Reimagining leadership in the Nonprofit Sector

I saw this message on BlueSky recently: "Nonprofits are being called on to do more with less in an impossible environment. With deepening polarization, an affordability crisis, and labour force shortages, it's time to reimagine leadership in our sector". It points to a PDF at this link.

In the mid 2000s I added another report form the Ontario nonprofit network, titled: The Constellation Model of Collaborative Social Change. view it here

These are two of many resources that can be found in the collaboration and community building sections of the Tutor/Mentor Library. Make sure your staff and volunteers are making time to learn from these.

Most of the information shared in this newsletter and on the Tutor/Mentor Connection/Institute, LLC website and blogs is focused on sharing information across networks that can be used to solve complex problems. This article, from The Weaving Lab, was found on LinkedIn. It describes the network building process, its challenges and its opportunities.

If you read the post on LinkedIn you'll see a comment that I added, sharing the 4-part strategy concept map, which you can see at this link. Once I've finished upgrading the www.tutormentorexchange.net website I will add a link to this article in a sub-section focused on innovation and knowledge management. It already has many articles that I've collected over the past 20+ years.

Below are resources to use. 
View latest links added to tutor/mentor library, click here

Resources & Announcements
(New additions are at top of this list)

* Knowledge Alliance - research and evidence to support education policy - click here

* TutorCruncher - resources for tutoring companies - click here

* UCLA Center resources - Guide to Learning Supports pdf - click here; and, here

* Every Hour Counts - network of intermediaries building after school systems - click here

* MyChiMyFuture - Chicago youth programs map and directory. click here; visit the website - click here

* Chicago Mentoring Collaborative - click here

* Chicago Learning Exchange supports Out-of-School-Time community in Chicago - click here

* ACT Now - Championing Quality Afterschool Programs in Illinois - click here

* Trust Talks - podcast by The Chicago Community Trust highlights the Trust's strategic priority to close Chicago region's racial and ethnic wealth gap - click here

* Chicago Community Area Hardship Index (2019-2023) - click here

* To & Through Project website - click here

* Center for Effective Philanthropy - click here

* Forefront -Illinois' statewide association of nonprofits, foundations and advisors. click here

* AfterSchool Alliance resources - click here; New report - click here

* Chicago Public Schools locator map - click here

* National Mentoring Resource Center - click here

* Proven Tutoring clearinghouse - click here

* Chicago STEM Pathways Cooperative - click here

* South Side STEM Asset maps - read about using maps - click here

* Incarceration Reform Resource Center - click here

* Prison Policy Initiative - click here

Recent Tutor/Mentor Blog articles that point to Tutor/Mentor Connection archived files:

(Do you have a blog? Share it on social media)

Changes to this website - click here

Still judged by the color of their skin click here

It takes a villageclick here

Mapping Strategy, Ideas and librariesclick here

Poverty and racism in America - understand the issuesclick here

What are your volunteers learning?click here

Reaching youth in high poverty areasclick here

 

Bookmark these Tutor/Mentor Resources

* Lists of Chicago area, volunteer-based tutor, mentor programs - click here

* Homework help and volunteer training resources - click here

* Resource Library - click here

* Strategy essays by Tutor/Mentor - click here

* Work done by interns in past - click here

* Maps and Map-Stories from past 30 years - click here

* Political Action resources - click here

* Featured collections on Wakelet - click here

* Tutor/Mentor Institute Videos - click here

* About T/MI articles on blog - click here

* History of T/MC - T/MI articles - click here

* Create a New Tutor/Mentor Connection - click here

* Reaching out to Universities to adopt the Tutor/Mentor Connection strategy - click here

* Chicago Youth Serving Organizations in Intermediary Roles - click here to view a concept map showing many organizations working to help improve the lives of Chicago area youth. Follow the links.

Thank you for reading.

Please share this newsletter with people you know who work in non-school youth serving programs, or in sectors that should be strategically supporting such programs, such as business, philanthropy, education and public policy. If they are not receiving these newsletters then we have no way of engaging them. Also encourage friends, family, co-workers to sign up to receive this newsletter. 

I encourage others to duplicate what I'm doing. Write a blog and share your own vision, strategy and challenges. Share your link and I'll add it to this list in the Tutor/Mentor library.

View current and past newsletters at this link

To subscribe, just Click here.
(If you subscribe, don't forget to respond to the confirmation email).

Please help fund Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC.
Visit this page and add your support.

Tutor/Mentor Connection, Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC 

 Serving Chicago area since 1993 

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | http://www.tutormentorexchange.net

Connect with Dan (tutormentor) on one of these social media platforms.

Twitter (X)

LinkedIn

BlueSky

Viewing on your phone?


If you are viewing the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC website your phone you do not see the full website, which is pictured here.  Instead you will need to scroll on  your phone from section-to-section, starting with the featured content in the middle of the home page, then moving down the left side of the site, then the right.


For more information about "getting started" visit this page

This change is described in this blog article

July2019-eNews

July 2019 - Issue 180

Ideas and Resources for Youth Serving

Organizations and their Supporters

The ideas shared in this monthly newsletter can be used by youth organization leaders, resource providers, political leaders, universities, volunteers and youth to help mentor-rich programs thrive in all of the neighborhoods where they are most needed.
Volunteer Recruitment for Fall 2019
Many youth programs are already deeply involved in recruiting volunteers for the coming school year. Are you prepared? Do you need more ideas. Visit this page on the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC web site and use the tips for recruiting volunteers.
 
Are your volunteers doing all they canto help kids in y our program move through school and into jobs and careers? Read about expanded role volunteers can take.click here
The Fund Raising Challenge
It takes 12 years for a youth to move from first grade to high school graduation and many more years beyond that before he/she is securely in a job and able to raise a family. Not all youth programs are designed to provide continued support for this many years. Not many donors provide flexible on-going funding to support such programs. Where are you talking about this?
 
Read articles about philanthropy on Tutor/Mentor Blog - click here.
How Are Youth Programs Telling Their Story?
Are you using Twitter? A Blog?
I created this graphic to draw attention to some of the Chicago youth tutor and/or mentor programs who were posting information on Twitter. Then I put it in a blog article to encourage others to do the same. See it in this article.click here
 
Scroll through many similar articles -click here
 
What if hundreds of people were doing what I am doing? Would that help draw volunteers and donors directly to more programs?
Resources and Events
Browse Resources on Tutor/Mentor Connection.org web site
This graphic shows home page of T/MC web site. Use the top menu to access the links library and my list of Chicago Tutor and Mentor programs.
 
You can search for a topic, or sort the list of links by most recent, oldest, title, etc. Learn to use it and you have an extensive resource. I show a few recent additions below.
* Resources to find Chicago Tutor and/or Mentor Programs -click here

* Homework help & learning resources in Tutor/Mentor Library -click here

* Resources for fund raising -click here
 
* Chicago Organizations in Intermediary Roles-click here
 
* Civil Liberties - resource map (recommend other links). -click here
 
* Hashtags I follow on Twitter. Use to expand your own network -click here
 
There's a lot in each monthly newsletter. Bookmark it, or use this ARCHIVE page to find this and previous issues.
* Illinois Conference on Volunteer Administration, Aug 9, in Chicago.details
 
* Strengthening Chicago Youth web site,click here;blog -click here
 
* MENTOR Illinois, New Ex Director. Annual Breakfast moved to November. -click here

* To & Through Project web site -click here
 
* Incarceration Reform Digital Resource Center -click here

* City of Chicago, CPS, links -click here
 
 
Help Fund the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC
Keep this resource available to you and others.Click here
Recent articles on Tutor/Mentor blog:
 
Tipping Point: Growing and Supporting Future Leaders -click here
 
Make long-term, mentor-rich programs available in more places -click here
 
I host an in-depth web library. See how I shared sections using Twitter -click here
 
Look deeper to understand complex problems -click here
 
Recent additions to Tutor/Mentor Library
 
"Four Pathways to Greater Giving" - Bridgespan report - annotated -click here
 
"You Cant Be What You Can't See", by Milbrey W. McLaughlin. Story of CYCLE, a Chicago program -click here
 
Chicago Public Schools Data - Annual Regional Analysis Reports - click here
I've not written this newsletter since April due to my being laid up with an injury. I'm almost fully recovered and thank you for those who offered well-wishes.
 
While I try to send this only once a month, I write blog articles weekly. In each newsletter I post links to a few of the articles published in the past month or earlier.I encourage you to spend a little time each week reading these articles and following the links. Use the ideas and presentations in group discussions with other people who are concerned about the same issues.
 
Encourage friends, family, co-workers to sign up to receive this newsletter. Click here.
(If you subscribe, don't forget to respond to the confirmation email)
 

August 2019 Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC eNews

August 2019 - Issue 181

Build Support for Youth Tutor and Mentor Programs as School Starts Again

The ideas shared in this monthly newsletter can be used by youth organization leaders, resource providers, political leaders, universities, volunteers and youth to help mentor-rich programs thrive in all of the neighborhoods where they are most needed.
 
Help Recruit Volunteers
This graphic was created for the Tutor/Mentor Connection by volunteers from the Junior League of Chicago....in the 1990s! It's still a powerful message. You don't need to be Superman to be volunteer, or to help attract volunteers to youth programs in your city. Visit this page on the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC web site and find tips for recruiting volunteers.

Use Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, Instagram, etc to draw attention to your program. If I see your posts I'll try to share them with others.
 
Resources for Volunteers, Youth
Every youth tutor and/or mentor program will be hosting training and orientation sessions during September. The best programs will be providing volunteer coaching, training and support throughout the year.

The Tutor/Mentor Connection started building a library of resources in the 1990s and shares that freely with anyone who visits our web library.

Here are sections to visit

* Homework help - click here
* Training resources - click here
* STEAM learning - click here
* Youth As Leaders - click here

View this video to see how to navigate the library.
How Can We Do This Better?
 
When we start thinking we can't get better we've already started down a path to doing less than we need to be doing.

While there are some really great youth programs in Chicago and other places, there are too few of them and they reach too few kids.

Below are links to articles where I use this graphic. These and other articles on the Tutor/Mentor blog are intended to stimulate conversations in many sectors.

*Building communities - click here
* Increasing talent - click here
Influencing What Leaders Do
 
Every time YOU or someone else says "be a volunteer" or "be a donor" you need to point to on-line directories listing places where people can volunteer. You also need to point to places where people can find information showing where help is most needed and ways to make a difference.

The Connection/Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC web sites provide these resources.

Visit this page to see roles leaders can take to help programs grow in many places.
In the sections below are links that I point to often, and that I've added recently.
 
* Resources to find Chicago Tutor and/or Mentor Programs -click here

* Resources for fund raising -click here

* Blog article showing links to sections of Tutor/Mentor web library -click here

* Chicago Organizations in Intermediary Roles-click here

* Civic Engagement - resource map (recommend other links). -click here

* Hashtags I follow on Twitter. Use to expand your own network -click here
* Strengthening Chicago Youth web site,click here; blog -click here

* MENTOR Illinois, Annual Breakfast will be held in November. -click here

* To & Through Project web site -click here

* Incarceration Reform Digital Resource Center -click here

* City of Chicago, CPS, links -click here


Help Fund the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC
Keep this resource available to you and others. Click here
 
Recent articles on Tutor/Mentor blog:

Youth Development - Role of Leaders - click here

Using Maps in Planning, Media, Blogs - click here

Can Cities Reduce Violence Without Addressing Other Issues?  -click here

Understanding Impact of Social Capital - click here

Library of Visual Essays on Tutor/Mentor site -click here
Recent additions to Tutor/Mentor Library

A story about network building (see graphic above). video - click here

"History of the Afterschool Movement in America" - video - click here

"How are Programs Building Students' Social Capital - key trends - click here

"Four Pathways to Greater Giving" - Bridgespan report - annotated - click here

"How to Challenge the White Walkers of NonProfit Life - article - click here

Browse the library to find many more links of value to you.
About this newsletter.
While I try to send this only once a month, I write blog articles weekly. Throughout the newsletter I post links to a few of the articles published in the past month or earlier.I encourage you to spend a little time each week reading these articles and following the links. Use the ideas and presentations in group discussions with other people who are concerned about the same issues.

If the newsletter does not format correctly in your email, or if you want to return to it for future reading or to share with others, use this link.

Encourage friends, family, co-workers to sign up to receive this newsletter.Click here.
(If you subscribe, don't forget to respond to the confirmation email)

September 2019 Tutor/Mentor eNews

September 2019 - Issue 182
Learning Resources for Youth, Volunteers, Educators, Donors, Policy-Makers
The ideas shared in this monthly newsletter can be used by youth organization leaders, resource providers, political leaders, universities, volunteers and youth to help mentor-rich programs thrive in all of the neighborhoods where they are most needed.
 
If you are a consistent reader, consider a contribution to help fund the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC
Across the country schools have started and volunteers are connecting with youth in organized non-school tutor, mentor and learning programs. The big question each week is:

What do I do?

In this blog article I talk about creating a "learning" organization. That means your volunteers, youth, donors, etc. are regularly digging into online libraries of information for ideas that they apply to weekly tutor/mentor sessions, and that also apply to helping youth programs have all the talent and resources each needs to support on-going youth and volunteer involvement. The links in this monthly newsletter point to some of those resources and to web sites and blog articles which are entry points to a vast on-line library of information and ideas.
These links are a starting point
The Tutor/Mentor Connection started building a library of resources in the 1990s and shares that freely with anyone who visits our web library.
Here are sections to visit

* Homework help -click here
* Training resources -click here
* STEAM learning -click here
* Youth As Leaders -click here
* Blogs to learn from -click here
* Philanthropy issues -click here

View this video to see how to navigate the library.

Understand the Issues. Read the Research.

The 2019 Illinois KIDS COUNT Report was released recently by Voices 4 Illinois Kids. The report shows significant racial and ethnic disparities in economic status, education, health and housing for Illinois Kids. You can download the report at this link.

This is not new information. I've been collecting research articles and commentary for nearly 20 years, and hosting them in the Tutor/Mentor Connection/Institute, LLC web library.

I have more than 300 links in this section and just started updating it this week. That means I open each link to make sure it works, and see what it's pointing to.

I encourage others to do the same.In a section below I list some of the web sites I found on the first page of this part of the library.
Influencing What Leaders Do
As volunteers become part of organized tutor, mentor and learning programs our first job is to coach and mentor them, to help them become consistent, and effective volunteers.

However, at the same time we need to coach them to go back to their workplace, homes, colleges and faith groups to educate others on the value of organized tutor/mentor programs, the need for k-12 programs to operate in every high poverty neighborhood, and the need for consistent, on-going, unrestricted operating funds.

That's what this graphic visualizes. While part of the information we share is intended to be used by those directly involved, part of it is also intended to influence what resource provider, media and policy-makers do.

Open this link to find a series of articles using this graphic.
In the sections below are links that I point to often, and that I've added recently.
* Resources to find Chicago Tutor and/or Mentor Programs; use to find programs in other places, too. - click here

* Resources for fund raising - click here

* Social Justice, Poverty, Inequality, Housing resource links - click here

* Blog article showing links to sections of Tutor/Mentor web library - click here

* Web Annotation - blog articles - click here

* 2020 Presidential Campaign - research issues and candidates - click here

* Civic Engagement - resource map (recommend other links). - click here

* Strategy visualizations -click here

* Hashtags I follow on Twitter. Use to expand your own network - click here
.
* Strengthening Chicago Youth web site,click here;blog - click here

* MENTOR Illinois, Annual Breakfast will be held in November. - click here

* To & Through Project web site - click here

* Incarceration Reform Digital Resource Center -click here

* City of Chicago, CPS, links - click here

* Chicago Mentoring Collaborative - conference was held Aug 28.click here for updates

* Chicago Organizations in Intermediary Roles-click here
NOTE: can you help me update this map. Who are other intermediary organizations in Chicago area?


Help Fund the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC
Keep this resource available to you and others. Click here
Recent articles on Tutor/Mentor blog:

Yummy's story. New for you? Not for me. click here

Building Systems of Support for Urban Youth. What's it Look Like? click here

Looking Back 21 Years - Webheads and Tutor/Mentor Connection - click here

For Profit or Purpose-2006 article -click here

Connecting Leaders of Youth Tutor/Mentor Programs - click here

A Bridge Too Far. My Vision Since 1993 - click here

Library of Visual Essays on Tutor/Mentor site -click here
Articles on Page 1 of Research Section of Tutor/Mentor Library
 
‘Our Kids,’ by Robert D. Putnam - NY Times Book Review - click here

21st Century Skills Every Student Needs - 2017 article - click here

America's Public Schools Highly Segregated - see maps - click here

Bridging and Bonding Social Capital - What is Difference? - click here

Browse the library to find many more links of value to you.
About this newsletter.
While I try to send this only once a month, I write blog articles weekly. Throughout the newsletter I post links to a few of the articles published in the past month or earlier.I encourage you to spend a little time each week reading these articles and following the links. Use the ideas and presentations in group discussions with other people who are concerned about the same issues.

If the newsletter does not format correctly in your email, or if you want to return to it for future reading or to share with others, use this link.

Encourage friends, family, co-workers to sign up to receive this newsletter.Click here.
(If you subscribe, don't forget to respond to the confirmation email)

Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present); Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) Merchandise Mart PO Box 3303, Chicago, IL  60654

October 2019 Tutor Mentor eNews

October 2019 - Issue 183

School Has Started. Youth and Volunteers are Meeting in Non-School Programs. What's Next?

The ideas shared in this monthly newsletter can be used by youth organization leaders, resource providers, political leaders, universities, volunteers and youth to help mentor-rich programs thrive in all of the neighborhoods where they are most needed.

If you are a consistent reader,consider a contribution to help fund the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC
This map shows non-school tutor and/or mentor programs operating in the far North part of Chicago. There are nearly 2100 youth, age 6-17 in the Rodgers Park area.

Is anyone asking, "Are there enough programs?"

The Tutor/Mentor Connection (T/MC) was created in 1993 to help leaders ask and answer this question. Since 2011 the T/MC has been part of Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC.

Over the past 25 years a huge library of information and ideas has been collected to help leaders make sure that a growing number of youth have access to well organized programs.

Browse that library at http://www.tutormentorexchange.net

View the full map, and my list of Chicago area youth tutor and/or mentor programs at https://mappingforjustice.blogspot.com/2018/08/use-this-map-and-list-to-find-volunteer.html
Resources for Volunteers, Youth, Staff and Parents
These are sections on the Tutor/Mentor web library with resources that can be used weekly in organized tutor/mentor programs and independent learning.

Here are sections to visit

* Homework help - click here

* Training resources - click here

* STEAM learning - click here

* Youth As Leaders - click here

* Blogs to learn from - click here

* Philanthropy issues - click here

View this video to see how to navigate the library.
Chicago's Mayor Launches
#EveryYouthConnected Initiative
This graphic shows a Tweet I posted on October 11th as I attended a planning meeting at Chicago's Cultural Center, where Mayor Lori Lightfoot launched her #EveryKidConnected initiative (which may have become #EveryYouthConnected by the end of the event.)

I was one of at least 200 who attended and many were people I've known from 1994-2015 Tutor/Mentor Leadership & Networking Conferences.

I wrote about the event on the Tutor/Mentor blog, showing my concern that this not be just another new initiative and that the ideas and resources of the Tutor/Mentor Connection be included in the planning.

To stay informed, and get connected, search the #EveryKidConnected hashtag on Twitter and follow updates that I'll post on my blog.
Talent, Ideas & Experience - Needed At Every
Youth Tutor and/or Mentor Program
Helping every non-school program throughout the city and suburbs attract and retain talented staff and volunteers can be one of the best ways to help young people move through school and into careers and adult lives.

Is there a role that colleges and universities can take in preparing young people for careers in non-school programs, and in supporting them through their career? Is there a role they can take in educating alumni to generously and consistently support these programs? I think so.

Browse articles in this section of the Tutor/Mentor Blob and use as thought-starters.
In the sections below are links that I point to often,
and that I've added recently.
* Web resources to help you find Chicago Tutor and/or Mentor Programs; use to find programs in other places, too. -click here

* Resources for fund raising -click here

* Social Justice, Poverty, Inequality, Housing resource links -click here

* Blog article showing links to sections of Tutor/Mentor web library -click here

* Web Annotation - blog articles -click here

* 2020 Presidential Campaign - research issues and candidates - click here

* Civic Engagement - resource map (recommend other links). -click here

* Strategy visualizations -click here

* Mapping for Justice blog -click here

* Hashtags I follow on Twitter. Use to expand your own network -click here
* Strengthening Chicago Youth web site,click here;blog -click here

* MENTOR Illinois, Annual Breakfast will be held on November 12th. -click here

* To & Through Project web site -click here

* Incarceration Reform Digital Resource Center -click here

* National Mentoring Partnership - training events -click here

* City of Chicago, CPS, links -click here

* ChiHackNight - civic technology meet-up; every Tuesday in Chicago  -see agenda

* Chicago Organizations in Intermediary Roles-click here NOTE: can you help me update this map. Who are other intermediary organizations in Chicago area?

Help Fund the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC
Keep this resource available to you and others. Click here.
What are all the things we need to be thinking of is we want youth tutor mentor programs in all high poverty areas of Chicago.
Recent updates:

The Concept Map Library has a new page. click here

If you've been following the Tutor/Mentor blog, or @tutormentorteam on Twitter, you've seen many concept maps that have been created since 2005. The entire collection is available on one page, using the link above.

Use these as thought starters, and create your own versions, to share your own resources and blueprints for helping every youth in your community get the support she needs to move through school and into adult lives.

The Resource Links library has been updated! Over the past 3 months, every link (more than 2000) was opened to make sure it works, or updated if needed. New links are added weekly.

Follow @tutormentorteam on Twitter and see ideas and resources that I'm highlighting. See how I point to Chicago Tutor/Mentor programs with my Tweets.
Sample Articles in Tutor/Mentor Library

* The Fading American Dream. Raj Chetty at Metropolitan Planning Council Luncheon - click here

* Wealth Inequality in America - Brookings.edu -click here

* Upswell - a social sector community sponsored by The Independent Sector - click here

* Zooniverse - people powered research -
click here

* Digital Promise Research Map -click here

* The Fracturing of Gangs and Violence in Chicago - 2019 UIC research - click here

* How are Programs Building Student's Social Capital? - click here
About this newsletter.

While I try to send this only once a month, I write
blog articles weekly. Throughout the newsletter I post links to a few of the articles published in the past month or earlier.I encourage you to spend a little time each week reading these articles and following the links. Use the ideas and presentations in group discussions with other people who are concerned about the same issues

Why?
Read this article
to understand purpose of Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC and this newsletter.

If the newsletter does not format correctly in your email, or if you want to return to it for future reading or to share with others, use this link.

Encourage friends, family, co-workers to sign up to receive this newsletter.Click here.
(If you subscribe, don't forget to respond to the confirmation email)

 

Nov. 2019 Tutor Mentor eNews

November 2019 - Issue 184

 

Supporting Youth & Volunteers is One Job.

Finding Donors is Another.

The ideas shared in this monthly newsletter can be used by youth organization leaders, resource providers, political leaders, universities, volunteers and youth to help mentor-rich programs thrive in all of the neighborhoods where they are most needed.

If you are a consistent reader,consider a contribution to help fund the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC
Adopt a Tutor/Mentor Program

By now youth and volunteers are meeting weekly in organized volunteer-based tutor, mentor and learning programs. Providing weekly coaching and support is an on-going role of staff and, in many programs, of senior volunteers.

However, now non profit program leaders are also focusing on finding money to pay bills and support program operations.

In the links below we point to sections of the Tutor/Mentor library that provide fund raising tips and that talk about roles your volunteers can take to help expand your donor rolls.

View this Role of Leaders article on Tutor/Mentor blog. Many need to take this role throughout the year.

Building a Learning Organization

While there are many resources available to youth, volunteers and donors, what are you doing to motivate them to spend time weekly looking at these? That's what happens in a "learning organization". If you can create that culture you dramatically expand the number of people helping your organization succeed.

Read homework help article on Tutor/Mentor blog and find links to web library.

Read blog articles on Tutor/Mentor blog about "learning organizations". There are many, written since 2005. Bookmark this link and use for discussion over coming year.
Raising Operating Funds. Everyone's Job.
Giving Tuesday will be December 3, 2019. Are you prepared?
 
Here's some resources for non profits and for donors.
 
Giving Tuesday web site search page.
Enter city, state, organization type, then click the search button. For Chicago you'll find a long list of organizations.
 
#ILGIVE web site -click here
The search feature on the #ILGIVE web site enables you to search for organizations by category or by name. For each organization there is a "profile page" that donors can use to send contributions. It's formatted the same for every program listed. This feature is not on the Global Giving site.


How might this be improved? Read article on Tutor/Mentor blog.
In the sections below are links that I point to often, and that I've added recently.
* Web resources to help you find Chicago Tutor and/or Mentor Programs; use to find programs in other places, too. - click here

* Resources for fund raising - click here

* Philanthropy articles on Tutor/Mentor blog - click here

* Social Justice, Poverty, Inequality, Housing resource links - click here

* Blog article showing links to sections of Tutor/Mentor web library - click here

* Web Annotation - blog articles - click here

* 2020 Presidential Campaign - research issues and candidates - click here

* Civic Engagement - resource map (recommend other links). - click here

* Strategy visualizations -click here

* Mapping for Justice blog -click here

* Hashtags I follow on Twitter. Use to expand your own network - click here
* Giving Tuesday, December 3 -click here

* Strengthening Chicago Youth web site,click here;blog - click here

* MENTOR Illinois. - click here

* To & Through Project web site - click here

* Incarceration Reform Digital Resource Center - click here

* National Mentoring Partnership - training events -click here

* City of Chicago, CPS, links -click here

* Chicago Public School Locator -click here

* Issue Lab, by Candid - Free research from social sector organizations -click here

* Resilient Chicago: A Plan for Inclusive Growth -click here

* ChiHackNight - civic technology meet-up; every Tuesday in Chicago - see agenda

* Chicago Organizations in Intermediary Roles - click here
Recent Tutor/Mentor blog articles:

* Movement Building. Afterschool Conference and more - click here

* Can You Help Tutor/Mentor Programs Grow? - click here

* Influencing Change. - click here

* Using Celebrity Power More Effectively - click here

* Tutor/Mentor articles on Tumblr - this is a collection of key concepts - click here

* Tutor/Mentor Exchange on Wordpress - click here

* Join me on Twitter - click here

The Resource Links library has been updated! Over the past 3 months, every link (more than 2000) was opened to make sure it works, or updated if needed. New links are added weekly.
Sample Articles in Tutor/Mentor Library

* American Poverty is moving from the cities to suburbs - click here

* Combating Inequality: Rethinking Policies - click here

* Ideas for Project Based Learning - click here

*The Price of Real Change - Chronicle of Philanthropy article - click here

* What Does Youth Civic Engagement Have to do With Inequality? article

* Catalyzing Networks for Social Good. A Funder's Guide -click here

* Strategic Doing - a new way to collaborate - click here

* Nepris - skills based on-line tutor/mentor platform - click here
Two Ways to Support Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC
Since 2011 I've invited friends and supporters to contribute to Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC by making a gift to recognize my December 19th Birthday.

I'll be 73 and a gift of $7.30 lights one my birthday cake.Visit this page and use PayPal to send your gift.
Since 2011 the Tutor/Mentor Connection (T/MC) has been supported through Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC, which is not a 501-c-3 non profit. However it continues to depend on contributions from those who support the work I'm doing.

Click here if you'd like to add a year-end contribution.
About this newsletter.

While I try to send this only once a month, I write blog articles weekly. Throughout the newsletter I post links to a few of the articles published in the past month or earlier.I encourage you to spend a little time each week reading these articles and following the links. Use the ideas and presentations in group discussions with other people who are concerned about the same issues

Why?Read this article to understand purpose of Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC and this newsletter.

If the newsletter does not format correctly in your email, or if you want to return to it for future reading or to share with others, use this link.

Encourage friends, family, co-workers to sign up to receive this newsletter.Click here.
(If you subscribe, don't forget to respond to the confirmation email)
 

Strategy Visualizations by Interns

 

Projects done by interns to help clarify and share our strategies - Page 2 of many

Many of the ideas that we share are in the form of pdf essays that were originally created using Power Point.  Many of the graphics and maps are included in blog articles to illustrate strategies that we hope others will support and/or adopt.  

Since 2005 interns from different universities have been converting some of these to flash animations, which help viewers build a better understanding of volunteer-based tutoring/mentoring programs, and the information that is shared by the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC. Please view these and apply the ideas. Share the presentations in your network. Invite students in your own school, college or tutor/mentor program to create their own interpretations.

See additional Strategy Presentations by intern: Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 View strategy videos created by interns.

Note:  Several of these projects were created using Flash animation, which no longer is supported by most browsers. If you want to view the presentation, download a swfplayer from a site like this. A YouTube video has also been created to show the animation.

 


This animation can be viewed on this YouTube site.

It can also be seen in this Video

This STRATEGY MAP animation was built using this concept map as the original idea.

Visit this forum to see how projects are introduced to interns and how they are coached to complete them.

We are hope

This graphic is from an intern project completed in Feb. 2012. Parts of
it were included in this video.

Volunteer
This animation can be seen in this YouTube video.   

This 2010 presentation, created by a University of Michigan Grad student, explains how volunteers grow as a result of longer-term involvement in a tutor/mentor program.  Note: you may need to download swfplayer to view animation. http://www.tutormentorexchange.net/images/flash/vol_leadership.swf

View this presentation video to see the many resources available in the Tutor/Mentor Connection Learning Library. See Flash Animation using link below. Note: you may need to download swfplayer to view animation.

http://www.tutormentorexchange.net//images/flash/resourcesmap.swf

year-round strategy

Year Round Strategy of Tutor/Mentor Connection. See in YouTube video.

See  new version in this 2017 YouTube Video.

This Flash Animation presentation was created by an intern from South Korea, via IIT, in 2010 It illustrates the Tutor/Mentor Connection's Quarterly Events strategy. Creating year round visibility

You may need to download swfplayer to view the animation.

  • Role of Many Leaders - video version

    Flash animation version, This was created in 2010 by an intern from South Korea.. Illustrates the power of individuals, businesses, faith groups and colleges. Download swfplayer to view.


This Learning Path concept map can be seen here.

in 2015, Wona Chang, an intern from South Korea, created this video to guide you through the map. 

(Wona originally created this using Prezi, and created a Korean language version, too. That is no longer available)

push pull flash

 

View video of this presentation.

Download swfplayer to view animated view of this push pull graphic., shown in this blog article.  

 

 

 

 



This graphic was created  in 2007 by one of our first interns from Hong Kong borrowing from ideas in this PDF  essay.  The animation is no longer available, but you can see it's development in this 2007 blog article.

 

 


 

See video of this Flash animation.


 

 

This is a revised version of the animation created in 2007. The new version was created by In Hee Cho in 2011.  Flash animation is no longer available.

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