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in a book titled The Spider and the Star Fish, the role of a catalyst who inspires the growth of a decentralized network of people focused on a common goal is described. This is a role the Tutor/Mentor Connection (T/MC) has taken since 1993. The chart below illustrates how facilitators reaching into their networks on a regular basis, can draw volunteers, donors, partners, etc. to information hubs like the http://www.tutormentorconnection.org web site, then on to various neighborhoods in Chicago, or any other city, where they become volunteers, donors, leaders, etc. at existing programs, or where they help form new programs to fill voids.

When you invite people you know to look at this page, or attend a T/MC conference, you are a catalyst, who connects people you know to information and ideas that they can use to help end poverty, improve education, and make life brighter for youth born in poverty.

As leaders in various industries, colleges and faith communities begin to encourage members of their network to become volunteers at various tutor/mentor programs, these volunteers will become new leaders who tell other people about their experiences and encourage their own involvement.

As volunteers with a common background, such as arts, technology, same university, same church, etc., begin to form circles, they share ideas with each other, and inspire greater and more creative involvement in tutor/mentor programs throughout the city.

As we facilitate this process, we begin a form of appreciative inquiry, where groups of people ask "what works, what does not work, and, what can we as a group to make it work better, and in more places?" As this happens, these groups will become new leaders to work to draw more volunteers, dollars, technology, etc., to tutor/mentor programs throughout big cities like Chicago.

If you agree with this vision, we encourage you to invest in it with your time, talent and dollars. email tutormentor2@earthlink.net or introduce yourself at the http://tutormentor.blogspot.com blog, or the http://www.tutormentorconnection.org web site.