Resources to to help grow effective, volunteer-based youth development programs

BUILD STRONGER PROGRAMS TO HELP INNER
CITY KIDS THROUGH COLLEGE AND TO CAREERS
STRATEGIES OF TUTOR/MENTOR INSTITUTE, LLC
Building an effective volunteer-based tutor/mentor program is
simple. Making it work is a bit more difficult. It takes 12
years to help a first grader finish high school. It could take
another 5-10 years until he/she is launched in a career.
--Daniel F. Bassill, President of Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC and the Tutor/Mentor Connection
Copyright 2011, Tutor/Mentor Connection, Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC, http://www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net

What is in this presentation
The slides in this presentation will introduce you to ideas we share, and to
resources you can find on different web sites that the Tutor/Mentor Connection
(T/MC) started building in 1998, and continue to host in 2023.
There is so much information that we encourage you to browse quickly through
these slides, and through the various sections of our main web sites, just so you
have an overview of what is available.
Then, as you have time, or as you are looking for specific information, you can
go to specific sections where you can find what you are looking for.
Note: Since 2011 the Tutor/Mentor Connection has been operated as a program
of Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC, with even fewer resources than were available
between 1994 and 2011. Some of the web sites may not be working properly, or
host older data. We’ve not hosted a conference since May 2015. The Program
Locator is no longer working.
Thus, as you look at these resources, consider them a template, for what you
might create in your own city, if you were building a comprehensive system of
supports reaching youth in all high poverty neighborhoods.
Copyright 2011, Tutor/Mentor Connection, Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC, http://www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net Pg 2
RESOURCES AVAILABLE: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection

RESOURCES AVAILABLE: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
"Mentoring draws our attention to important issues for
social policy: how to provide young people with the
relationships they so badly need, and how to engage
the people who don’t live in poverty in addressing
problems of neighborhoods dominated by poverty.
A great many disadvantaged youth are in need of
support that is developmental, nurturing, protective
and extensive in nature--in other words, something
resembling supplemental parenting. They need this
caring not only to make the basic transition to
adulthood, but to survive under conditions of great
stress.”from The Kindness of Strangers", by Mark Friedman, 1991
Pg 3

INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
Without infrastructure and support for mentors and mentoring
programs, the mentoring movement will never reach its
potential. Ways mentoring falls short of its potential:
- missing infrastructure
- missing knowledge regarding effective
practices
- missing follow-up
- emphasis on marketing and recruitment instead
of program support
- poor or no coordination
- matches made and then abandoned by program
Pg 4
- conducted in isolation
- few programs with resources to serve mentors
as well as mentees
- missing operational expenses

Not enough
attention focused on
program design,
structure and
funding required to
help youth born of
living in high
poverty
neighborhoods move
through school and
into jobs out of
poverty, over a 10-
15 year long period
of support.

ROLE OF LEADERS: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
While leaders of each tutor/mentor organization
need to address these issues, a Tutor/Mentor
Connection (T/MC)* is an intermediary, formed
in 1994, who seeks to draw needed resources to
every program in the Chicago region, and other
cities, on a more consistent basis.
Through collaboration and innovation we can
learn what works, and what does not work, and
try to innovate new solutions to old problems.
Pg 6
* In July 2011 the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC was created to provide new strategies to support the growth of the Tutor/Mentor Connection in Chicago
and similar intermediary structures in other cities.

Since 1994 T/MC has focused on bring people together in face-to-
face and on-line learning, networking and collaboration aimed
at…..
This
discussion
needs to be
taking place
in many
groups.

This strategy can be used by leaders and intermediaries in any city in the world!
The Tutor/Mentor
Institute, LLC focuses on
four on-going strategies
Research
Pg 8
Public
Awareness
Resource
Generation
Collaboration,
shared learning
Http://www.tutormentorexchange.net
This is the home page of the main T/MI web site.
Learn more about this at
http://tinyurl.com/TMI-4-part-strategy
Browse each section quickly to
know what’s on the site.

The information in this presentation is part of a library
of information and ideas created over 40 years.
This concept map serves as a guild to help learners understand and apply this
information in Chicago, or any other city. See video version at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGCDgzKMQfM
Pg 9

You can search
for programs in
Chicago area,
based on zip
code, age
served, type of
program. You
can also add
your own
program.
Pg 10
RESEARCH – T/MC has been collecting and sharing information knowing all we
can about tutoring/mentoring programs since 1994
Chicago Area Program Locator was launched in 2004. Since 2013 the site has not been updated,
due to lack of financial and technical support. Since March 2021 the site is not opening. Code is
available for anyone who would like to update this and share with other cities.
See archive of this page at https://tinyurl.com/ProgramLocatorSearch

The programs in
this search show
up on a Google
map. Info for
each program is
shown below the
map, based on
what T/MC has
received from
each
organization.
Pg 11
Tech support
needed. See note
on page XX

Interactive Zip Code Search Map is another T/MC Resource
(this site is now an archive – for developer use only)
Instead of using
the chart to
search for
programs, you
can use the Zip
Code Map. If
you click on the
map for any zip
code, it will take
you to the same
Google map and
list of programs.
Pg 12
View Archived Version of Program Locator: https://tinyurl.com/ProgramLocatorMap-archive
Tech support
needed. See note
on page XX

Interactive Zip Code Search Map
You can zoom
into sections of
the city, add
layers showing
schools,
businesses and
faith groups, and
click the icons to
get contact
information. Use
this to build
local networks.
Pg 13
Archive of Program Locator: https://tinyurl.com/ProgramLocatorMap-archive
Log in and add or edit
your program’s
information
Tech support
needed. See note
on page XX

USING MAPS: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
At this time, the biggest obstacle
to involving more children and
caring adults in tutor/mentor
programs is the need for more of
the programs themselves, as
well as the need for a more
consistent flow of resources
(dollars, volunteers, training,
technology, etc.) to existing
programs.
View maps like this at
http://mappingforjustice.blogspot.com and in
the Program Locator on the T/MC web site.
Pg 14
This map, and many like it, was created between 1994 and 2011, using donated ESRI software.
View the Map Gallery at
https://web.archive.org/web/20210513120603/http://www.tutormentorprogramlocator.net/mapgallery.html

RESEARCH: Since 1994, T/MC has also been building an extensive web library, with Links to
more than 2000 organizations around the work with information and ideas that could support
what people do in Chicago, or other cities, to build systems of support for urban youth. This
represents our “network”
Resources map animated http://tinyurl.com/TMC-Resources-Map
Pg 15
See library of concept maps
http://tutormentorexchange.net/conceptmaps

The information in the T/MC web library divides into four categories, which are
shown on this concept map. See it at http://tinyurl.com/TMI-library
Pg 16
Click on the icon at the bottom of
each section. The links lead to
additional sections of the library.

One Section of the web library points to resources parents, volunteers
and/or donors can use to Find Tutor/Mentor Programs or Volunteer
Opportunities in Chicago or Illinois
This section
would be used
to find contact
information for
different
tutor/mentor
programs, or
other non
profits.
Pg 17
Click this box and it
takes you to a new page,
with a list of 200 web
sites.

Tutor/Mentor Program Links for Chicago Region
If you click on
any of these
sections of
Chicago you
find links to web
sites of
tutor/mentor
programs
serving that part
of Chicago
Pg 18
The concept maps shown on
previous pages link to
sections in this web library.
Find this page at https://tutormentorexchange.net/chicago-area-program-links

The Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC - www.tutormentorexchange.net/ is organized as a
planning resource for leaders in any program, or any city. See video tour at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umS4YsTHPhA
PDF essays,
links, blogs,
share concepts
created between
1975 and 2011.
We invite others
to use these ideas
to help volunteer-
based tutor/
mentor strategies
grow in many
places.
Pg 19
Click to
open each
section.
Find related
information

These are just a few pages of the
essay on Collaboration. Because
these are on the web site, they can be
teaching tools used by leaders and
study- groups anywhere in the world.
Pg 20
Find these at
http://www.scribd.com/my_document_collections/3299390
And at http://www.slideshare.net/tutormentor/

OUR GOAL: SUPPORT THE
GROWTH OF TOTAL QUALITY
MENTORING PROGRAMS THAT
HELP INNER CITY YOUTH
REACH CAREERS
To SUCCEED
We must recruit business
leaders who will use their
resources in PULLING
Youth to Careers
To SUCCEED
We must help tutor/mentor
program leaders, volunteers,
schools and parents be more
effective in PUSHING
Youth to Careers
School-Time Programs
3-5 PM Non-School Programs
Pre-K K - 5th 5th - 6th 6th - 8th
High
School
Career
Track
After 5 PM and Weekend Programs
Pg 21
PDF essays
include charts like
these to help
illustrate strategic
concepts.

THE GOAL IS NOT TO FINISH 6TH
GRADE. IT’S TO REACH A CAREER.
Agencies that help each other do
more to help kids stay in school
and reach careers.
Instead of competing for resources, the T/MC
seeks to help programs work together to increase
the availability of resources for all tutor/mentor
programs.
School-Time Programs
3-5 PM Non-School Programs
Pre-K K - 5th 5th - 6th 6th - 8th
High
School
Career
Track
After 5 PM and Weekend Programs
Every program serving youth on this
time line needs volunteers, dollars,
technology, etc.
Pg 22
Look at websites of
youth-serving programs
to see if they describe
long-term strategies.

This 4-part strategy is a resource that can duplicate in any city.
Pg 23
This
strategy
works for
other
causes, too.

STEP 2: BUILD PUBLIC AWARENESS:
The T/MC seeks to connect everyone in the Chicago
region who wants to seek kids in poverty move to careers.
Using the same advertising principles that corporations use to
create awareness and draw customers to stores, T/MC seeks to
• reach more people every day, and
• draw them to on-line learning sites,
• then to maps,
• then to tutor/mentor programs in specific zip codes.
Pg 24
Browse T/MC web sites and blogs to see strategies piloted in Chicago between
1994 and 2015, which could be duplicated, with greater impact, by groups with
broader based support from business, civic leaders and foundations.
View this article at
https://tutormentor.blogspot.com/2023/07/communicating-long-term-strategies.html

As volunteers bond with kids many become leaders who recruit more volunteers
and other resources from their industry, faith group, and social network
Insurance
Healthcare
Arts, Culture.
Religion Government
Education
Science,
Math
Engineering
Manufacturing
Transportation
Retailing
Wholesaling
Built environment
Engineering
Natural Resources
Agriculture
Finance, Personal &
Business Services
Hospitality
Recreation
Technology
Communications
Pg 25
The aim is that each industry encourage
employees to volunteer in many locations,
using T/MC Program Locator to find
programs. Thus, each program can have
a more diverse volunteer, and donor, base

Pg 26
Aug/Sept
Chicagoland
Volunteer
Recruitment
Campaign
November
Conferences
Jan. National
Mentoring Month;
Feb. Leadership
Development
May Conferences
Between 1994 and 1996 the Tutor/Mentor Connection (T/MC) developed a 12-month strategy similar to the
year-round advertising campaigns of Sears, Wards, McDonalds and other retail organizations, using
quarterly events to draw people together and create media attention. See stories generated
http://www.tutormentorexchange.net/news-pr
The events (T/MC) organizes were intended to creates media stories, that help programs recruit volunteers
in Aug/Sept. and help programs train those volunteers and convert them into leaders as each program
moves through the School year.
View video showing an animated version of this event calendar strategy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbuKenGB79E&t=6s
Note: since 2015 conferences have not been held in Chicago, although social media continues to focus on these goals at key times
each year. This calendar should be a template that other leaders can duplicate.
Build an on-going, year-to-year leadership strategy.
Events needed in Feb and
July
Holiday Fund Raising
events can support
many programs

See map at http://tinyurl.com/TMC-DanNetwork
Pg 27
Since 1998 the T/MC has been modeling a network-building strategy
This map
provides links
to places we
connect with
others to gather
and share ideas.

Join Tutor/Mentor Connection on line
at: http://tutormentorconnection.ning.com
Pg 28
Since 2007 T/MC has hosted a
networking space on NING. This
map shows how people connect
to each other within the space.
This map demonstrates a use of social
network analysis to understand who is
connecting with T/MC and each other
in on-line and face to face events.

While T/MC connects parents, volunteers and donors to
Tutor/Mentor Programs, we connect programs to each
other… BBBS Midtown
Family
Matters
Chicago
Public
Schools
Chicago
Lights
YMCA, Boys
& Girls
Clubs
Highsight
Horizons
for Youth
Cabrini
Connections
Tutoring
Chicago
Every time one
T/M program
talks about their
own work, they
need to end by
pointing to the
map of Chicago
and saying, “look
for other
programs, too”
Pg 29
CHICAGO

T/MC also connects Lawyers, and the Business Community to
T/MC and Tutor/Mentor Programs…in Chicago, and other cities
Religion
LAW FINANCE
Engineers,
Architect
Hospitals;
Health
Care
Universities
& Publishing
Technology,
Science
Politics
Hospitality &
Entertainment
Tutor/Mentor
Connection
Communicat
ions, Arts,
Media
Every time a Chicago
business, political, or
faith leader talks about
tutoring/ mentoring,
they need to end by
pointing to the map of
Chicago and saying,
“we need good
programs in
every poverty
area”
Pg 30

T/MC is piloting uses of maps to show participation in events.
https://tutormentorexchange.net/conferences-and-online-forums/previous-conferences/239-conf-map
This map shows
organizations that
participated in
each of the
Chicago
Tutor/Mentor
conferences from
1994 to 2015
See more conference maps at
https://tutormentorexchange.net/conferences-
and-online-forums/conf-maps

Without expanding the network of people looking at this information
and building involvement from resource providers, policy makers
and all other stakeholders, the information has limited value.
Visit this page and learn more about social capital and social
network analysis. http://www.tutormentorexchange.net/sna
Pg 32

THIS IS A PROCESS: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
This type of organization is not
achieved in one or two years.
It will never be achieved without the
work done at the base of this
pyramid each year.
Research
Building a Team
Define Mission
Find host/sponsor
Determine Recruitment
strategies
Set Schedule and action plan
More youth stay in school, are
safe in non-school hours,
graduate, and move to careers
Recruit & Train, Begin
operations
Continuous Process
Improvement
According to Mark Cohen, a professor at Vanderbilt
University’s Owen Graduate School of Management, “High
risk youths who are kept out of trouble through intervention
programs could save society as much as $2 million a youth
per lifetime”.
THE RESULT
Don’t reinvent the wheel.
The work done by Tutor/Mentor Connection in
Chicago since 1994 is a template that other cities
could borrow to duplicate this strategy, with greater
impact, if you have support of civic, business and
philanthropic leaders. Pg 33

If it is to be, it is up to you and me: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC
Tutor/Mentor Connection
www.tutormentorexchange.net
Http://tutormentor.blogspot.com
While our purpose is focused on social good and all income is uses to support
our programs our tax structure is not a 501-c-3 non profit.

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