Read this month's CurrentNewsletter                       Recognition & Awards                Web links to T/MC or Cabrini Connections  Read the Tutor/Mentor Blog: http://tutormentor.blogspot.com

NEWS FROM TUTOR/MENTOR CONNECTION

Jan. 19, 2007 - May Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference
The May conference is in formation. We have a new web site. Visit http://www.tutormentorconnection.org and join in on-line discussions of capacity building and collaboration.

Nov. 28, 2006 - Nov. 30 One Day Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference
The conference is this week. If you cannot attend, visit http://www.tutormentorconnection.org and join in on-line discussions of capacity building and collaboration.  Visit http://www.tutormentorconference.bigstep.com to see the list of speakers and discussions. The next Chicago conference will be May 17 and 18, 2007. If you would like to participate, or can be a sponsor, please email tutormentor2@earthlink.net

Nov. 27, 2006 - Program Locator adds Google Map Interface
Thanks to the work of several volunteers, we've added a new map feature to the Program Locator at http://www.tutormentorprogramlocator.net/programlocator/default.asp .  Now when you search for a tutor/mentor program, the location will show on a Google map. This helps you see where the program is in Chicago. The Google feature also enables tutor/mentor leaders to search the Google database to locate businesses, churches, hospitals and others in the same area who could be sources of volunteers, leaders and donations.

Nov. 15, 2006 - Chicago Sun Times makes $2 million donation to support tutor/mentor programs in Chicago
Great news for volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs. The Chicago SunTimes has made a $2 million donation to the Abraham Lincoln Marovitz Lend A Hand Program at the Chicago Bar Association. These funds will be distributed as grants to volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs in Chicago over the next 3-5 years, dramatically increasing the funds available to various tutor/mentor programs in Chicago.  Read more about this in the Tutor/Mentor Blog at http://tutormentor.blogspot.com/2006/11/2-million-award-supports-chicago.html

October 19, 2006 - Nov. 30 One Day Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference
Visit http://www.tutormentorconference.bigstep.com to read about the strategy for this conference. If you can participate or help draw panelist and speakers, please email tutormentor2@earthlink.net

August 31, 2006 - Help Mobilize volunteers for Chicago Tutor/Mentor Programs
Learn how you can get involved. Visit the Tutor/Mentor Volunteer Recruitment section. Visit the Program Locator to find web links to Chicago area tutor/mentor programs, and a database that you can search by zip code to find contact information for organizations that offer various forms of tutoring and/or mentoring in different parts of the city and suburbs.  If you operate a program that is not listed, or if the information is not correct, email tutormentor2@earthlink.net

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.

July 20, 2006 - Jimmy Biggs Memorial Cabrini Connections Golf Benefit - http://www.cabrinitmcgolf.org

July 12 2006 - My HERO Awards Lunch recognizes volunteer and philanthropy contributions to tutor/mentor programs by Chicago area lawyers, judges, law firms. More than 200 attended the July 12 event at the Standard Club in Chicago to celebrate the legal community's involvement in volunteer-based tutoring/mentoring.  The event is hosted by the Abraham Lincoln Marovitz Lend A Hand Program of the Chicago Bar Association. The Awards luncheon Event Chair was Jesse Ru iz, a lawyer with Garder Carton and Douglas, and Chair of the Illinois State Board of Education.  Awards were:

• Marovitz Mentoring Award - to the Honorable Seymour Simon, presended by the Hon. Stuart Nudelman
• My Hero Award - to Jennifer and John Valentine, presented by Jessica O'Brien, Leader for LAH Member
• Making a Difference Award - to the Founders of Much Shelist Ament Freed Denenberg Ament & Rubenstein, PC., presented by Karina Ayala-Bermejo, Executive Director of the Lend A Hand Program
• Making a Difference Award - to James Dunne, presented by Megan McClung, YLS Chair and Leader for LAH Member
• Mentor of the Year Award - to J. Michael True, a volunteer with Midtown Center, presented by Neera Walsh, Leader for LAH Member
• Mentoring Program of the Year, to Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP, presented by Principal Kay Volk of Pershing Elementary School
   

Learn more about each winner and the Lend A Hand Program at http://www.lend-a-hand.net   

May 27, 2006 - May 25-26 Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference attended by nearly 200 people!. Visit http://www.tutormentorconference.bigstep.com to learn view the workshop and speaker list and learn about the next Chicago Conference and eConference.  If you would like to participate in an August on-line event, or the November 2006 conference and e-conference, send an E-Mail to tutormentor2@earthlink.net.  Sponsors are needed to fund the expenses of the conference and to help us continue to offer generous discounts and unlimited scholarships.  Please help if you can.

May 2 - LIVE in http://www.socialedge.org - Building a Network of Purpose
Join Dan Bassill, president of the Tutor/Mentor Connection in this on-line forum. 

April 25, 2006 - Visit the redesigned http://www.tutormentorconnection.org web site.  Thank you to the technology department at IUPUI for creating this interactive portal for connecting tutor/mentor stakeholders with each other, and with information anyone can use to build more effective tutor/mentor programs.

March  2006. -  Lt. Governor Pat Quinn of Illinois becomes Honorary Chair for May and November 2006 Tutor/Mentor Leadership Conference.  Read the Lt. Governor's letter and view the list of speakers and workshops planned as part of the May 2006 conference in Chicago and on the Internet.

MENTOR/The National Mentoring Partnership plans on-line forum on Volunteer Recruitment, scheduled from May 8-12, 2006.  

December, 2005. - Support the 2006 National Mentoring Month. The January '06 Campaign Challenges Baby Boomers: "Share What You Know. Mentor a Child!"

Tutor/Mentor Connection theme for January is: Share what you've earned. Make a donation to support a tutor/mentor program.  Visit the Donor section to see how your dollars can help make effective volunteer based mentoring possible.  Visit the Program Locator to determine what tutor/mentor programs operate in different zip codes of Chicago.

Visit http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/chc/wmy2006/nmm/intro.htm to learn more about National Mentoring Month.

Nov. - Tutor/Mentor Leadership Conference draws leaders together in Chicago and on Internet from November 17 to Nov. 31, 2005
While the White House Conference on Youth , Millions More March and Principals for a Day draw attention to the needs of at-risk youth, the Tutor/Mentor Connection seeks to help programs already working in neighborhoods to meet these needs, get the dollars, volunteers, ideas, training and visibility they need to do the work of help kids succeed in school and move to careers.  'This conference is just a few months after Hurricane Katrina created a renewed public indignation about the divide between the extremely poor in America, and the rest of America. You can help end poverty. You can participate in the conference, join the Internet forums that run at the same time as the conference, or be a donor to support tutor/mentor programs working to help kids.   Visit the Conference web site for complete details.

Sept. 6, 2005 - The Tutor/Mentor Connection will host a Tutor/Mentor Volunteer Fair at the James Thompson Center in Chicago on Thursday, September 8th, from 10 am till 3pm.   Tutor/Mentor Programs will also be recruiting volunteers at the Borders Stores on Michigan Avenue and at North & Halsted on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 9 and 10. See the list of organizations recruiting at these fairs.

August 20, 2005 - Recruit Tutor/Mentor Volunteers at Borders stores in Chicago on weekend of Sept. 9 and 10. If your organization wants to recruit volunteers at one of the Chicago Boarders Books & Music stores, email tutormentor2@earthlink.net

August  2005 - Volunteer Recruitment Fair on Sept. 8th at James Thompson Center in Chicago. 25 programs will be able to recruit at this site. A $50 contribution is requested to help support the costs of the event.  Sign up using this form.

August 13, 2005 - See Cabrini Connections on TV. Watch the Bill Campbell Chicagoland TV Show on Channel 7 at 5:30 am on August 13.

July 28, 2005 - More than 200 lawyers, judges, law firms gather in Chicago to celebrate the legal community's involvement in volunteer-based tutoring/mentoring.  The event was hosted by the Abraham Lincoln Marovitz Lend A Hand Program of the Chicago Bar Association. Learn more at http://www.lend-a-hand.net   

August,  2005 - Visit the new Tutor/Mentor Connection Web Portal.  Thanks to volunteers at IUPUI's technology department, the T/MC is launching a new version of the main TutorMentor Connection.org web site.  You can view it and begin using it now at this ULR: http://msg.uc.iupui.edu/TMC/html/index.php 

Among the many new features is an ability to rate web links. As enough people visit the site and use the links, this feature will begin to show which links provide better information than others, based on what visitors to the site tell us.  In addition, the site has the ability to POLL visitors. For instance, the question now on the web site is:  Does your tutor/mentor program need volunteers?  As soon as you answer, your response is updated on the poll.  

The site has many other features, so I encourage you to visit and begin to make it a primary resource for volunteer based tutor/mentor information.

June  2005 - Tutor/Mentor Leadership Conferences and eConferences  were hosted in May by the Tutor/Mentor Connection, the Children & Family Justice Center at the Northwestern University Law School,  IUPUI and the Digital Workforce Education Society of City Colleges of Chicago. In addition the T/MC participated in an eLearning and Collaboration forum in mid April. Visit these web sites to learn more:
April 18 - 23 - eLearning and Collaboration - http://www.techsoup.org
May 6-10 - http://www.alado.net/econference
May 23 - http://econference.uc.iupui.edu/ 
May 12 and 13 Tutor/Mentor Conference in Chicago - http://www.tutormentorconference.bigstep.com 

Read the new T/MC Power Point essay titled eLearning, Collaboration and Vertical Organizations

April  2005 - My Hero Awards in July 28 Luncheon, sponsored by the Abraham Lincoln Marovitz Lend-a-Hand Program of the Chicago Bar Association/Foundation,  will be held at the Standard Club on July 28, 2005. 

Hero Award Nominations due June 20.  This date will also celebrate what would have been Judge's Abraham Lincoln Marovitz's 100th birthday. To honor this 100th anniversary, the LAH has gathered some of Judge Abe's law clerks, Judge Donnelley, Judge Barbosa and others, to serve on the selection committee of the inaugural Judge Marovitz Award of Excellence honoring a member of the bench for being an outstanding role model in the are of mentoring.  Learn more at http://www.lend-a-hand.net 

January 2005 - National Mentoring Month
While many public leaders are talking about "Who Mentored Them" and how this helped make a difference in their lives, the T/MC encourages leaders from all walks of life to think of what investments of time, talent and money it will take to assure that there are comprehensive mentoring to career programs serving youth in every poverty neighborhood and near every poorly performing school in America.  It is the mission of the Tutor/Mentor Connection to lead this thinking, and to stimulate actions that will make the vision grow to a reality.

January 2005 - Next Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference, May 12 and 13, 2005 at the Northwestern University Law School in Chicago. It will be co-sponsored by the Children & Family Justice Center.  Contact the T/MC to help organize the conference, be a workshop presenter, or be a sponsor or advertiser. 

January 2005 - The Tutor/Mentor Connection is in the process of creating a series of training workshops on topics that are important to the continued success of tutoring and mentoring organizations. The goals of this workshop series are:

*     Spreading knowledge that tutoring/mentoring organizations can use to more effectively fulfill their missions, thereby Facilitating the efforts of these organizations to build capacity in areas such as mentor recruitment and retention, children served, and funds raised. 
*     Growing a network between tutor/mentor organizations so that all can build on each other’s strengths and assist in reducing each other’s weaknesses.

In turn, these two goals will impact on the greater goal of creating a critical mass of talented people dedicated to the development of youth that will take the resources of learning and growth we create here today and spread them around the world tomorrow. To reach any of these goals, however, we first need your help. Please take a moment to complete the brief SurveyMonkey Questionnaire (see link below) that will help us determine what topics you and your organization are most interested in learning more about. While some of these topics will be integrated into the May and November conferences, our aim is to offer workshops in the months between conferences at our 800 W. Huron location in Chicago (or via the Internet). If you can be available to help lead a workshop, please fill out the bottom section so that we can talk further.   http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=54926798677

Nov. 24, 2004 --  Thanks and Giving. 
In mid November I was a guest of Sinai Mentoring Program on the Channel 21 TV call in show.  One of those who called in was a young main named Henry Warfield, who started with our tutor/mentor program back in the early 1980's when he was in 2nd grade.  Henry called to tell the listening audience how important the tutor/mentor program had been in his life and how much I had helped him achieve his current career. He's now an engineer at O'Hare Airport.  That's the type of testimony that inspires me and makes me thankful that I've been given the opportunity to lead Cabrini Connections and the Tutor/Mentor Connection.  Thank you for calling Henry. 

On November 15 and 16, more than 150 people participated in the Tutor/Mentor Leadership Conference at City Colleges of Chicago. Another 30 to 50 were connected via the Internet in an eConference. More than 30 workshops were offered and everyone volunteered their time to do workshops.  I'm thankful that so many people are willing to work together to try to help kids in poverty connect with tutors/mentors who will help them stay in school and move to careers.  

As America gives thanks this weekend and over the next five weeks, I hope those who have been blessed will look for ways to be giving generously to help tutor/mentor programs increase funds to support 2005 operations. With government funding decreasing and need increasing, only the generosity of concerned citizens will fill the gap in funding.   

You can visit the Donor page on this web site to make a contribution to Cabrini Connections that will support our Cabrini Connections tutor/mentor program as well as the work of the Tutor/Mentor Connection. You can support the next conference as a sponsor, workshop presenter or volunteer, by visiting  http://www.tutormentorconference.bigstep.com 

We all have many reasons for thanks and many reasons to be giving.  Please take time to send a contribution today. 

Thank you, from Daniel F. Bassill, President and CEO, Cabrini Connections and the Tutor/Mentor Connection

October, 2004 - Jefferson Awards for Public Service seek to recognize ordinary people who do extraordinary things without expectation of recognition or reward.  Learn how your Chicago organization can be part of the Jefferson Awards program. Click here

Oct. 3-9, 2004 --  LaFamilia Technology Awareness Week 
Throughout America efforts are being made to address ways Hispanics can bridge the "Digital Divide" and gain access to the careers of the 21st Century.  One way is for Hispanic businesses and professional groups and volunteers to connect with tutor/mentor programs that serve Hispanic communities.  Visit the Volunteer Recruitment pages to see how you and your business/civic group can mobilize volunteers, leaders and donors to support tutor/mentor programs in Hispanic neighborhoods and other neighborhoods where kids need extra help.

Chicago, Sept. 23 - JENNER & BLOCK HOSTING PRO BONO AND COMMUNITY SERVICES VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT FAIR IN CHICAGO ON THURSDAY, SEPT. 30, FROM 5 TO 7PM

The Chicago Bar Association's Popular Annual Pro Bono Fair will be held on September 30 at Jenner & Block’s headquarters at One IBM Plaza. The fair, co-sponsored by the CBA’s Young Lawyers Section, Jenner & Block, Exelon Corporation, and the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI), brings together nearly 50 pro bono clinics, public service organizations and mentoring programs which will reach out to attorneys and law students seeking pro bono opportunities or other ways to donate their time to worthy causes.

Visit the Jenner & Block web site to see the list of programs that are recruiting volunteers and to learn more about this event.  
http://www.jenner.com/news/news_item.asp?id=12735524

September 04 -- Connecting with an at risk youth can change the future for YOU and the youth. Have you decided where to volunteer  your time, talent or dollars? Tutor/Mentor Programs in all parts of the country are looking for you to help support their efforts. Use the Program Locator  and Program Links sections of this web site to find contact information for programs serving the Chicago area. www.chicagovolunteer.net is also a good resource for volunteer opportunities in the Chicago region.  Use www.volunteermatch.org and www.servenet.org to find tutor/mentor programs in other parts of the country.  

Most of these organizations are non-profits that need operating dollars, not just volunteers. If you cannot give time, give money.  Get involved. It can make a difference in two lives...yours and a young person.

August - On August 28, 2004, Chicago's 'A List' of National, Regional and Local recording artists will come together to participate in a one-day, all-day music festival to raise awareness and funds for Chicago's reading programs. All net proceeds will go directly to benefit the following four organizations:

Chicago Public Schools: Children First Fund
Chicago Public Library
Tutor/Mentor Connection
New City YMCA

One Day, One Stage, One Reason...
This all-star line-up, spearheaded by Alice Peacock, joins forces with Chicago's major daily newspaper, The Chicago Sun-Times, WXRT radio, and some of Chicago's most influential civic leaders including Arne Duncan, Superintendent of Chicago Public Schools and Mary Dempsey, Commissioner of the Chicago Public Library along with other prominent individuals in the sport and art communities. All of this talent comes together on this day to raise awareness and funds for Chicago's Reading Programs. The message: KIDS MUST READ -- read to learn, read to expand, read to enjoy, read to improve.

Events throughout the day will include local food and beverage tents, arts and crafts vendors, hay stacks for seating, a kid's stage with popular kid's performers, booths promoting reading and literacy programs and a fabulous main stage with Chicago's skyline as the backdrop.  Learn more at
www.rockforreading.com

THIS MONTH -- On August 25-28, 2004, Lord & Taylor stores throughout the country will feature a Charity Fund Drive! Enter the in-store raffle and you can win a $50,000 donation for Cabrini Connections or your favorite charity. No purchase necessary.   

Enter the raffle and you can win a brand new typically-equipped 2004 Porsche Boxster from New Country Porsche in Greenwich CT.

Give your charity a lift.   Lord & Taylor will make a $50,000 donation in the winner's name to the charity of the winner's choice...put Cabrini Connections (Tutor/Mentor Connection) on your raffle ticket and help support the work shown on this web site!

Gear up for fall
Save 15% on regular and sale merchandise all over the store when you PRINT YOUR OWN SAVINGS PASS by clicking the link below! http://www.lordandtaylor.com/charity

July 28, 2004  -- No Child Left Behind Special Report tells of one child's struggle to transfer to a better performing school in Chicago.  Read the REST OF THE STORY to see how volunteers, business partners and donors can help turn this into a happier ending.

June 3, 2004  -- My Hero Awards and Volunteer Recognition Luncheon, Thursday, June 3, 2004.  12:00 Noon at the Chicago Bar Association, 321 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago.  The Abraham Lincoln Marovitz Lend-A-Hand Program Invites You to Celebrate Our Heroes...The tutors and mentors who are making a difference in Chicago everyday.  Awards will be presented to volunteers and organizations of the legal community who are making a difference in the lives of disadvantaged children and youth. Open this PDF for a copy of the award invitation and response form. 

May, 2004  Nearly 200 people attend May 17 and 18, 2004 Tutor/Mentor Leadership Conference. This was the 21st T/MC Conference since May 1994.
Visit http://www.tutormentorconference.bigstep.com to learn about the workshops that were offered at Richard J. Daley College in Chicago. Participants came from Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nebraska, Texas, Florida, Kentucky, California, New York and Arkansas. 

More than 50 more participants, from throughout the world, joined in the first Tutor/Mentor Leadership e-Conference Overlay. Many workshops were recorded and can be viewed in the eConference agenda and archive. http://www.tutormentorexchange.net/partner/cc/conference/May2004/agenda.htm

Planning is now in progress for the November 2004 conference. If you can be a host or sponsor, or if you want to present a workshop, email your introduction to tutor/mentor2@Earthlink.net

April, 2004  DePaul University Art and Design Class creates Newsletter Design Templates.  
Between January and March of 2004, students in the Art and Design 3 course at DePaul  University created newsletter templates that the T/MC used to create a new look for its printed newsletter, which was mailed to 10,000 people this month.  This course was led by Daniel Morgenthaler. Four design samples were submitted, using a Winter 2002 T/MC newsletter for content ideas.  Each design can be viewed on this web site as PDF files. Click here.   Feel free to use these design ideas to develop or upgrade your own newsletter. 

February, 2004  New Program Locator Available
A new innovation from the Tutor/Mentor Connection (T/MC) makes it easier for volunteers, parents and donors to find tutor/mentor programs in the Chicago region. Thanks to the help of dedicated volunteers you can now search the T/MC Program Locator database by age group served, type of program, time of day the service is provided, and zip code.   Learn more by visiting the T/MC PROGRAM LOCATOR

February, 2004  The Abraham Lincoln Marovitz Lend-A-Hand Program of the Chicago Bar Association and Foundation has taken the lead in mobilizing lawyers to be volunteers, leaders and donors in Chicago area one-on-one tutor/mentor programs. 2004 Grants from the Lend-A-Hand Program will be awarded during the November Tutor/Mentor Leadership Conference.. Click HERE to visit the web site of the Lend A Hand Program. Learn how Lawyers are Making a Difference!

Barristers Big Band Benefit Ball, Saturday, March 13 at The Hilton Chicago, Click the Events Section of the Lend-A-Hand web site for details.

January, 2004  Celebrate National Mentoring Month

The Tutor/Mentor Connection is a proud supporter of the annual National Mentoring Month campaign. However we are also an advocate for more comprehensive forms of tutoring and mentoring that lead youth from poverty to careers. The maps and charts in various sections of this web site illustrate our thinking.  

The biggest challenge mentoring programs face is a lack of sustained funding, a lack of trained leaders and a continuity in the mentoring workforce,  and the lack of business partners who see Total Quality Mentoring as an essential workforce development and diversity strategy.  

Without support for the infrastructure of on-going tutoring/mentoring programs, many volunteers who come forward during campaigns such as National Mentoring Month will be poorly supported, or will not even be able to find a placement, meaning many will drop out, or not be able to connect to children and youth who need there help.

We hope that the companies who have come forward to support this year's National Mentoring Month, as well as efforts like Business Strengthening America and America's Promise, will follow the example of the Chicago Bar Association/Foundation and form year-round strategies that draw visibility, volunteers and dollars to one-on-one tutor/mentor programs in every poverty neighborhood of cities where they do business.   The result of such strategies will be a more consistent flow and distribution of resources to every tutor/mentor programs, and into every neighborhood with poverty or poorly-performing schools, and ultimately, a pipeline of youth coming from these schools and into careers.  If your company or community would like to develop such a strategy email tutormentor2@earthlink.net

Nov. 11th, 2003  Chicago Tribune reports 1 in 5 Blacks drop out of Chicago Public Schools
The Tutor/Mentor Leadership Conference, scheduled for Nov. 20/21 is intended to help comprehensive non-school tutor/mentor programs be in place in neighborhoods where poverty and poor schools contribute to high drop-out rates.  In the MAPS Library of this web site the T/MC shows the list of 2001 poorly performing schools and concentrations of poverty that influence performance. We also show locations of tutor/mentor programs so that businesses, volunteers and donors can become part of the solution to this problem.   

Visit http://www.tutormentorconference.bigsteo.com to see the range of workshops offered and learn how you can register for the conference, or be involved with this event.
To read the foll article in the Chicago Tribune, go to ,http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0311110091nov11,1,2314182.story?coll=chi-news-hed

October 8, 2003  KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON : Cabrini Connection Calls In The Volunteer Calvary To Keep Kids Safe

Chicago, IL, (October 3, 2003) ­ Cabrini Connections Tutor/Mentor Connection, in conjunction with the 4th annual nationwide "Lights On Afterschool" celebration, rallies to keep the lights on and the doors open for children and working class families

October 9, 2003 is the fourth annual "Lights on After School" nationwide celebration. The aim is to bring attention to the need for afterschool programs that keep kids safe, help working families, and improve academic achievement.

Unfortunately, just as the nation focuses on the value and need for afterschool programs, the tough economic times are forcing programs to turn off their lights. Chicago¹s very own Tutor/Mentor Connection (T/MC) www.tutormentorconnection.org is fighting a similar battle faced by afterschool programs across the country. "We need to call in the Calvary," says Daniel Bassill, President Cabrini Connections, the non profit that leads the T/MC. "Keeping the lights on during the 3-8pm hours afterschool is critical to helping Youth avoid negative
influences, while promoting positive learning attitudes."

"Cabrini Connections is all about connecting every inner-city child to everyday heroes of the volunteer "calvary". Unfortunately, we¹re on the verge of losing the battle in terms of volunteers and donors. But, we¹re not giving up, not without a fight," Daniel Bassill exclaims.

A new poll by Fight Crime: Invest in Kids shows that 87 percent of working mothers say the hours afterschool are when they are most concerned about their children's safety. The nationwide survey of the concerns of working mothers also reveals that a majority believes afterschool programs are more effective at reducing school and youth violence than security measures such as metal detectors.

Similarly, the National PTA recently released the results of its February 2003 survey of members' attitudes and perceptions surrounding afterschool programs. The respondents said safety and supervision are the primary benefits of afterschool programs. Also, 95 percent said afterschool programs are "important" or "very important" for elementary and middle school students in their area, and 82 percent said the same about high school students.

For the past 10 years, Cabrini Connections and its Tutor/Mentor Connection (T/MC) have recruited volunteers and donors for tutor/mentor programs throughout the Chicago Region. But, the program has been hurt by the recent economic downturn that has seen major corporate donors like Montgomery Ward go bankrupt, which used to house the program, as well as individual donations dwindle. Hence, the need to call in the "calvary".

Cabrini Connections will recognize the October 9, 2003 nationwide "Lights On Afterschool" celebration during its 6:00pm to 7:45pm CT evening tutoring/mentoring session at its 800 W. Huron, Chicago, IL headquarters. More than 30 workplace volunteers will connect in one- on-one tutoring/ mentoring with 7th and 8th grade teens living in the Cabrini-Green area.

The activities of Cabrini Connections can be viewed at the organization's Internet web site
(http://www.cabriniconnections.net). Volunteers and interested donors are invited to visit the web site to learn how they can help keep the lights on at non-school tutor/mentor programs. For more information, or to schedule an interview, call Cabrini Connections at (312) 492-9614 or contact Cabrini Connections and Tutuor/Mentor Connection at info@cabriniconnections.net.

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October 8, 2003  The next Tutor/Mentor Leadership Conference will be held in Chicago on November 20 and 21. The conference will be hosted by Highsight, at its 1065 N. Orleans location.  Early registrations are now being accepted.  Visit http://www.tutormentorconference.bigstep.com for details.

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September 12, 2003  During August and the first part of September nearly 100 Chicago area tutor/mentor programs and many businesses have been working together to draw volunteers and donors to tutor/mentor programs in all pats of the Chicago region.   Unfortunately, there are not enough programs in some parts of the city and suburbs. Many parents and prospective volunteers are calling the T/MC looking to join programs. However, some programs are already over-subscribed and cannot expand the number of kids/volunteers.  In other cases, there are no programs at all, especially for junior high and high school.  If you find that there are no programs, or not enough spaces in existing programs, consider taking on a role of organizer or capacity builder.  The only way a program will grow in an area with no programs is if a core group of adults takes the lead to form a program -- and other groups take the responsibility to help them have the funds needed to operate and grow the program.   The information on this web site and the www.tutormentorconnection.org web site is intended to help new programs form.  If you find that you need to help start a program, please use these resources often.

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August 14, 2003 -The feature editorial in  the August 13, 2003 Chicago Tribune responds to a report from the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago calling for the creation of more charter schools in poverty neighborhoods of Chicago. This is in response to reports that an estimated 285,000 students at 365 Chicago schools are eligible to transfer from poorly performing schools to better performing schools.  

We feel both of these responses are missing the point. Until business and media try to get more PEOPLE involved in the lives of kids, which is the strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection, families and communities will continue to struggle to prepare innercity kids for effective learning.  

Tutor/Mentor programs offer one of the few channels for business people to connect directly with youth and the problems of innercity neighborhoods. This service learning is a transformational process, for the adults as well as the youth served.  In well organized programs that are able to mentor adults to be long-time volunteers, this leads to a service-learning loop in which the volunteer learns about poverty and racism and poor schools through his service, and takes the learning back to his business, church, alumni and civic groups as learning that leads to more sophisticated and long-term responses than the flavor-of-the month commitments that now come from most Chicago leaders.

In the archives of the Chicago Tribune web site readers can find maps that show where the 2003 poorly perfoming schools are located.  In the MAPS Library of this web site the T/MC shows the list of 2001 poorly performing schools and concentrations of poverty that influence performance. We also show locations of tutor/mentor programs so that businesses, volunteers and donors can become part of the solution to this problem.   

Until the public integrates this understanding into the education formula, I don't think we'll every make much of a dent in changing education outcomes, even with hundreds of alternative schools competing for youth enrollment.  

There are not enough tutor/mentor programs in the city, and not all of those who exist are of top quality. In addition, there is little leadership that understands this concept well enough to commit time and dollars to the infrastructure needed to build and sustain good tutor/mentor programs near every poorly performing school.

However, in this void, the Tutor/Mentor Connection continues to reach out for volunteers,  business partners and donors, to join programs that are operating in various neighborhoods. You can find a list  of programs on the Home page of this web site and you can follow this link to read about the 2003  Chicagoland Volunteer Recruitment Campaign which is now in progress.

Business and philanthropy leaders are needed to support this mobilization of volunteers.  If you'd like to know more, just send me an email or give me a call at 312-492-9614.

Daniel F. Bassill
President, Cabrini Connections  Tutor/Mentor Connection
800 W. Huron
Chicago,Il. 60622
312-492-9614  tutormentor2@earthlink.net

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Visit the T/MC News Archive to read past news updates and editorials