The essays in this section are intended to help community networks create new volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs in neighborhoods where they are needed, and to help existing programs systematically improve the impact of their programs.

Steps for Starting and Building a new Tutor/Mentor Program

This essay shows a sequence of actions, from doing research, to building a team, that can help an organization create a vision, an action plan, and a team that can make the program a reality.

Think of Tutor/Mentor Programs as retail store delivering needed services in a neighborhood

If you operate a volunteer-based tutor/mentor program, do you know who your customers are? Do you think of your organization as a store delivering a variety of needed products and services to a variety of customers? The youth are just one of the customer segments of a tutor/mentor program.

Operating Principles -

This essay shows some of the practices that we apply at Cabrini Connections and the Tutor/Mentor Connection, which may benefit others in building their own organization.

Annual Planning Calendar -

Doing the right thing at the right time makes a world of difference.  If you stretch your thinking and planning to a 15 month cy cycle you give the volunteers and staff of your organization more time to plan improvements, and you begin to build on the success and lessons learned of activities that repeat from year to year.

Volunteer Recruitment Strategies -

It is critical that an organization is able to recruit people who will use their talent to help the organization, as well as people who will serve as tutors/mentors with kids. Visit this section for volunteer-recruitment ideas. See PDF outlining recruitment campaign strategy.