Increasing Attention for Tutor/Mentor Programs

Below are 1994 to 2019 Chicago print media stories resulting from Tutor/Mentor Connection strategies (led by Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC since 2011). Not listed are stories about the Cabrini Connections program we also led during these year, nor the numerous radio and TV interviews. As you look at these imagine how many stories you could generate if you duplicated the Tutor/Mentor Connection in your own city.

In this 1995 Commentary in the Chicago Tribune, John McCarron said that Dan Bassill and the Tutor/Mentor Connection has a "master plan" for saving kids. All of the information on this and other T/MC web sites is part of that 'master plan'.  This 4-part strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection shows that the T/MC collects information that is hosted on this site and works to increasing the number of stories in print, electronic, internet, business and faith communities that point to where tutor/mentor programs are needed, why they are needed and organizations already operating that need a constant flow of operating dollars, technical support and volunteers to grow from "good to great".  In addition to these media stories look at the number of times T/MC staff have written about other Tutor/Mentor programs in Chicago in blog articles - see pdf.

 

This article printed in the Chicago Tribune in December 1994 outlines the Public Awareness strategy that the T/MC has been leading every year since then.

Below is a list of stories that support this strategy. Click the link to open a PDF and read the story. The ideas shared in these stories are just as relevant today as in the past and the challenges of poverty are even more severe. 

 

 

This is article from the ChicagoTribune October 21, 2015 paper showing how maps could be used in violence prevention strategies.  

The most recent stories are at bottom of this list. See Awards that recognized this strategy. Click here.

The media listed below focus on the Tutor/Mentor Connection part of the local-global strategy we launched in 1993
and that Dan Bassill led until Mid 2011.  In the Tutor/Mentor archive you can see the articles I've listed below, plus many others focused on the Cabrini Connections tutor/mentor program that we lead at the same time. View in Google Drive archive - click here

If you lead a single tutor/mentor program in your city you could create  your own version of the Tutor/Mentor Connection, using the strategies shared on this website.  In doing so you could create a similar media list over a 10-30 year period of consistent effort!

 

 

Date Newspaper/
Company
Headline of article or Interview
5/16/1994  Chicago Tribune Mentors join forces to reach city's youth
6/16/1994  Shedd
Aquarium magazine
Aquarium hosts Tutor/Mentor Leadership Conference
8/2/1994  Chicago Tribune Mentors Getting Their Act Together
11/28/1994  Chicago Sun-Times He Traded Wards' Job for Tutoring
12/30/1994  Chicago Tribune For Charities, public relations picks up where goodwill leaves off
1994/95 The Chicago Bar
Foundation Report
Lend A Hand Program: Lost opportunities in the non-school hours
1994/1995 PCI Newsletter Inner city children linked to tutors and mentors
Spring 1995 CBA News
Lawyers Lend A Hand
5/15/1995  Chicago Tribune There is a master plan for saving our kids
5/16/1995 Chicago Defender Tutor/Mentor Confab trains 200 groups
10/29/1995 Chicago Tribune Letter to Editor - Tutoring Works
12/7/1995 Chicago Tribune Letter to Editor following death of Carlos Chambers
9/6/1995 Daily Southtown Role Models: Mentor programs have quietly grown into a force for turning young lives around
10/1/1995 CBA Record CBA Lawyers Mentor City's Youth
3/17/1996  DeKalb Daily
Chronicle 
Sycamore native's program tries to bust stereotypes
6/3/1996  Chicago Tribune How to make yourself feel like royalty
8/21/1996 INSIDE (Near
North Chicago)
Volunteers Connect with Youth Through Tutoring Program
9/3/1996  Chicago Sun-Times Commentary: Give a kid the greatest gift: ability to read
11/14/1996  Chicago Sun-Times Volunteers get as much out of tutoring as kids
11/24/1996  Chicago Tribune Tutors need assistance too
12/4/1996  Chicago Educator Mentor Puts Afterburners in After-School Programs
4-29-1997 Chicago Sun-Times Pitching In Is Catching On - Dan Bassill quoted in article
June 1997 Continental Air
Express News
Tutors and Mentors Needed Throughout Chicago
6/19/1997  The Giraffe Project Honor Role - Dan Bassill named a Giraffe
8/30/1997  Chicago SunTimes Call goes out for volunteers
1997 Blau Exchange Interview with Dan Bassill, 1992 founder of Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection.
9/3/1997 Chicago Tribune Voice of People: Tutor/Mentor Programs Need You
1/12/1998 Crain's Chicago
Business
A 'trade group' that distributes knowledge to kids
2/19/1998 Southwest
News-Herald
Discuss Mentoring Programs for Youths - this article shows how a person coached by Tutor/Mentor incorporates the T/MC idea of "Total Quality Mentoring" into the news article
4/1/1998 Chicago Defender The People Speak: Welfare to Work Can Work
4/30/1998 Chicago Tribune
& SunTimes
Letter to the Editor in both papers. Tribune - Village Maps; SunTimes - Under Construction
5/21/1998 Chronicle of
Philanthropy
Opinion: General Powell Needs a Battle Map to Fulfill America's Promise
9/9/1998 Chicago Tribune Tutor works for "Connection"
9/19/1998 Chicago Tribune Letter to Editor - Tutor Volunteers
Oct-98 School-to-Work
Reporter
Mentor projects seek stronger role in STW
4/12/1999 Chicago Sun-Times Letter to Editor: Business Leaders Can Help Students
6/7/1999 Direct Marketing
News
CD-ROM Drop May Bring More Cash to the Neighborhood
6/11/1999 Interactive PR &
Marketing News
A Contribution from the Heart, Not the Wallet
7/1/1999 Daily Herald This is where the kids are
11/1999 URISA News Community IT/GIS Helping the Kids
1999-2000
Illinois Kids Count
Report
Communities at Work: Tutor/Mentor Connection (see pg 3)
July 2000 
 Youth Today
Letter to Editor - Get Real With Mentoring
6/23/2001 Ecumenical Child
Care Network
"Get wisdom! Get understanding,…" Proverbs 4: Verse 5
9/7/2001 Chicago Tribune Small lessons are reward of mentoring
3/2002 Directions Magazine Mapping Solutions to Poverty
9/12/2002 Chicago Sun-Times Calling all volunteers: Tutors for kids needed
Jun-03 AARP Connections Guest Article: Lives Can Be Changed
9/2000 Mentoring Coalition
of Dade Cty (FL)
The Chicago Plan for Mentoring Program Support
9/4/2003 Chicago Sun-Times Tutor-Mentor Programs need you to step up
11/6/2003 Lerner Skyline Cabrini Connections President prepared to turn loan into gift
1/31/2004 Chicago Defender Organization Connects Youth Mentors
April 2004 IWU Magazine Dan Bassill's Work Helping Inner City Youth is Recognized
8/18/2004 EXTRA News Stop Complaining About Kids. Help Them.
9/2004 The Institute for
Social Inventions,
Global Ideas Bank
Social Innovation Award Nomination - for mapping idea
1/10/2005 CBA Report Lend-A-Hand Program Awards /$28k. Cabrini Connections Demetrio
8/25/2005 Lerner Skyline Hey, anybody out there have some free time on their hands?
8/4/2005 EXTRA News Make a Difference Where It counts
8/31/2005 Streetwise Tutors can set tone for school
Sep-05 Families & Schools,
ADI newsletter
Tutoring/Mentoring: A Service-Learning Strategy that Changes Lives
8/10/2006 EXTRA NEWS Advertising demonstrates strategy for building awareness
2006 Project YES
newsletter
Dan Bassill: Bridging Tutor-Mentor Gap
7/2006 YOUTH Today Networking & Resources: Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection
2/6/2008 Chicago Sun-Times Still Want to Make a Difference? Here are 5 Ways
Jun-09 YOUTH Today HOW TO…create maps to help kids and Youth Workers
11/2011 Streetwise Popular Chicago Tutor & Mentor Conference Set for November 4
1/25/2012 Streetwise Tutoring/Mentoring Needs Corporate Help
8/12/2013 Crain's Chicago
Business
Mobilizing Village (or big city) to help kids - letter to editor
10/15/15 Chicago Tribune Interactive Maps Could Combat Chicago Violence - Dawn Turner
12/14/16 The Atlantic Mentoring's Promise and Limits - by Larry Gordon
1/30/2019 Terry Elliott video

Terry's video provides a tour through on of Dan Bassill's concept maps

3/1/22  YouTube Video

Interview with Dan Bassill, founder of Tutor/Mentor Connection, with 
Anthony Brogdon, Detroit

4/12/22  Facebook Video

Interview with Dan Bassill, founder of Tutor/Mentor Connection, with
Aliyu B Solomon, from Nigeria

Internet between 2000 and 2022 Visit This Link
Read interviews
in on-line media
Search on Google for "tutor mentor"or "Bassill" and see the many places where Dan has interacted in an effort to draw more attention and resources to volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs in Chicago and other cities.