The strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection is to teach people to use the Internet, and the T/MC PROGRAM LOCATOR to determine what (if any) tutor/mentor programs are in specific zip codes of the Chicago region so they can shop and choose where and how they want to get involved.

Using the information on the Program Locator, potential volunteers and donors, as well as parents, teachers and social workers, can contact a program to offer your services as a volunteer or to register a student.  

In addition to the Program Locator, we maintain a web page with Chicago Area Program Links. Here you can find links to organizations in the region with web sites. If you operate a tutor/mentor program, but  your web site is not listed, you an register to use the web site and then add your own program to the links library.

As school starts each year, we and partners in business and non profits will attempt to create a greater public awareness, that will draw more potential volunteers to the Program Locator, and to different tutor/mentor programs throughout the city and suburbs.

Our aim is to create a surge of volunteers into tutor/mentor programs in September, so that as many kids as possible can be matched with a mentor by the beginning of October. 

Review Make the Connection pdf to see how easy it is to help recruit volunteers and donors to support tutor/mentor programs in Chicago and other cities.

Below are steps that have been part of August/September recruitment campaigns since 1995.

Recruiting Talent Volunteers  
Not everyone can be a one-on-one volunteer, yet many people can use their talent, time and dollars to help other people be one-on-one volunteers.  To engage more members of your church or business in volunteerism, consider building a campaign to enlist the TALENT VOLUNTEER.  Review this Recruiting Talent Volunteers pdf for ideas.

NEW: Volunteer Recruitment Advertising   
Attached is a recruitment PDF that can be printed in local papers, trade publications, church bulletins, etc. to draw potential volunteers to the Program Locator on the T/MC web site. Please make an effort to get this placed in as many media spots as possible.

Chicago Program Listings on Chicago Access TV42   
During  August and Sept. program descriptions were broadcast on Chicago Public TV during the months of August and September.

Volunteer Recruitment Fair Locations   
During August and September the T/MC also organized Volunteer Recruitment Fairs at various locations in the city and suburbs, such as at the James Thompson Center in Chicago.

Join the Recruitment Planning Team
During 2008-09 our aim is to re-build a volunteer-recruitment planning committee, and get more programs, businesses and churches involved in helping mobilize volunteers for tutor/mentor programs. If you'd like to help, you can join this group in the Recruitment Discussion Forum on the Tutor/Mentor Connection web site.

If you're not in Chicago, plan a parallel T/MC strategy in your own community. Join the planning team and apply the ideas in your area, or help us recruit regional and national leaders to support volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs in multiple communities.

The Tutor/Mentor Connection is a 501(c)3 non profit. If you would like to make a donation to help support this campaign and the T/MC, send it to:

Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection, 800 W. Huron, Chicago, Il. 60622