Summer 2020 eNews

Summer 2020 - Issue 191

On-Line Learning Resources:
For youth, parents, teachers, volunteers.

As spring turns to summer and we soon will be sending kids back to school, and to non-school tutor and mentor programs, the nation faces great uncertainty. Will learning be on-line? How will volunteer tutors and mentors connect with students and provide extra support?

This uncertainty is compounded by poverty, racial and economic inequalities, the global climate crisis and an upcoming national election.

While you can do a web search to learn more about any of these issues, I've been aggregating links in a web library that is free to all.

The ideas and resources shared in this monthly newsletter can be used by youth organization leaders, resource providers, political leaders, universities, volunteers and youth to help mentor-rich programs thrive in all of the neighborhoods where they are most needed, and to help understand and respond to these over-riding challenges.

If you are a consistent reader,consider a contribution to help fund the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC

Visit Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC Website

What's Working? What Challenges? Join this GrowthWorks Conversation.

Read this blog article to see the scope and purpose and volunteer to be interviewed.

I've connected to many former volunteers through social media. One is Phil Roos, who leads the GrowthWorks consulting firm in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Since April Phil's company has been holding consumer conversations to learn how people are dealing with Covid19. These are shared on their website.

Now the team is interested in talking with leaders of volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs in Chicago, Detroit and other places.

If you'd like to be interviewed, please contact GrowthWorks directly (using email in the blog article) or email Dan Bassill at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Web library updated.

I finished updating the Tutor/Mentor web library in mid June.

Since then I've updated links in all of my concept maps (see cMap library). I've also updated links in this blog article, which I created several years ago to serve as a resource anyone can use to find links I point to regularly, as well as links to every sub section in the library.

Part of that article, shown at the left, includes links to the list of Chicago area youth tutor and/or mentor programs that I've hosted since 1993.

As school starts use this to identify and connect with programs in different parts of the Chicago region.

Preparing for new school year

It looks like most schools will offer a combination of in-school, face-to-face teaching and on-line learning. Much has been learned since everyone turned to on-line learning in March, and much more needs to be learned to make this effective for every student, especially those in high poverty areas where access to digital learning resources is one of the major barriers. Here are three sections of the Tutor/Mentor library with resources for you.

# Homework help library - click here

# Educator blogs and conversations about learning - click here

# Digital Divide links - click here

Connect and Learn from others using Twitter #Hashtags

The graphic at the left shows one section of a concept map I've used for a few years to keep track of Twitter conversations that I value. This section points to discussions among educators.

Since on-line learning is new to many, and not so new to some, being able to join these conversations and draw ideas that you can apply to your own eLearning, tutoring & teaching is a way to dramatically expand your tool kit. Spend some time getting to know these groups then pick a few to visit once or twice a week.

I'm on Twitter@tutormentorteam. I look forward to connecting with you.

Below are resources to use to help youth in your community.

Recent Tutor/Mentor blog articles:

* Birth-to-Work - what's needed? - click here

* Dig Deeper into Social Capital Thinking - click here

* Examples of remote learning - click here

* Creating Economic Justice - Opportunity for All - click here

* Helping Youth Tutor/Mentor Programs Grow - click here

* Time Right for Greater Business Involvement? - click here

* Navigating Through Information Libraries - click here

* Where I've been connecting with others - click here

* Strategy PDFs by Tutor/Mentor - click here

* Concept Map library - click here

* Mapping for Justice blog - click here

* Hashtags I follow on Twitter. Use to expand your own network - click here

* Blogs I follow using Inoreader - click here

* National Mentoring Resource Center - Covid-19 resources - click here

* MyChiMyFuture - City of Chicago - click here

* Strengthening Chicago Youth web site, click here; blog - click here

* Chicago Mentoring Collaborative - click here

* To & Through Project web site - click here

* Incarceration Reform Digital Resource Center - click here

* City of Chicago, CPS, links - click here

* Chicago Public School Locator - click here

* Healthy Chicago 2.0 - click here

* Chicago Learning Exchange - click here

* ChiHackNight - remote civic technology meet-up; every Tuesday in Chicago - see agenda

(view video of Cook County Public Defender from 8-11-2020)

*Chicago Youth Serving Organizations in Intermediary Roles - click here

Please help update this cMap and the links in the Tutor/Mentor web library. Just email me with additions or changes.

About this newsletter.

While I try to send this only once a month, I write blog articles weekly. Throughout the newsletter I post links to a few of the articles published in the past month or earlier.I encourage you to spend a little time each week reading these articles and following the links. Use the ideas and presentations in group discussions with other people who are concerned about the same issues.

If the newsletter does not format correctly in your email, or if you want to return to it for future reading or to share with others,use this link.

Encourage friends, family, co-workers to sign up to receive this newsletter. Click here.

(If you subscribe, don't forget to respond to the confirmation email)

Twitter

Linkedin

Facebook

Pinterest

Instagram

Sept 2020 eNews

September 2020 - Issue 192

New School Year Brings New

and Old Challenges

For the past six months we've all been trying to figure out how to live our lives, help others, and earn a living within the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

This is new to most of us so connecting with others and learning from their own experiences is more important than ever. I encourage anyone involved with a youth serving organization to make a consistent effort to share what you are learning and challenges you face.

The ideas and resources shared in this monthly newsletter can be used by anyone, in Chicago, or around the world, to help mentor-rich youth programs thrive in all of the neighborhoods where they are most needed, and to help understand and respond to these over-riding challenges.

If you are a consistent reader, consider a contribution to help fund the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC

Visit Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC Website

Chicago Schools Re-Opening Plan

Since 1993 I've maintained a list of Chicago area non-school tutor, mentor and learning programs with two goals:

a) I can help them attract volunteers and donors;

b) I can help them learn from each other

I follow more than 100 of these organizations on Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin, but few post regularly on all these platforms. The image at the left is from a Christopher House post on Facebook, where they share this link to the Chicago Public Schools Re-Opening Guide.

What are students telling us?

iMentor operates in Chicago and other cities and uses its Facebook and Twitter posts to share what it is learning from its students and volunteers during #covid19. Click here to view this post on Twitter.

Click here to view this same post on Facebook.

It's not possible in a newsletter like this to feature more than a few examples of what youth organizations are posting. Thus, you need to develop your own on-going learning habits so you can find this information, learn from it, and share it with your own program network

Share stories of alumni success

The graphic at the right is a post on Twitter by HighSight, which has operated since early 1990s. This post shows work of one of their alumni, who leads a different youth serving organization in Chicago.

Drawing attention, volunteers and donors to a non-profit youth program is difficult, but on-going work. Posting to social media is one low-cost way to tell your story. ReTweeting or Liking these posts is a virtual volunteer role that anyone can take.

I'm on Twitter @tutormentorteam. I look forward to connecting with you.

Make learning part of the culture of your organization, not just what you do to help youth.

While I host a library of websites that anyone can draw from I follow many education blogs where there is a constant stream of good ideas being shared. I point to these in my newsletters and social media. Others can do the same, drawing their own network of supporters to this information.

Here are some links to review:

# Homework help library - click here

# Educator & learning resource blogs - click here

# Digital Divide links - click here

# Understanding issues cMap - click here

Are you part of the GrowthWorks Conversation?

Last month I posted this blog article inviting Chicago area youth program leaders to be part of a consumer conversation hosted by the GrowthWorks consulting firm in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Read the blog article to learn more.

If you'd like to be interviewed, please contact GrowthWorks directly (using email in the blog article) or email Dan Bassill This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Below are resources to use to help youth in your community.

Recent Tutor/Mentor blog articles:

* Our Children Need Your Help - Volunteer Recruitment Campaign History - click here

* Constant Challenge. How Can We Do this Better? - click here

* Athletes Taking A Lead - click here

* Call Goes Out for Volunteers - click here

* Help Build Chicago Tutor/Mentor Program Knowledge Base - click here

* Building Public Will - click here

* Make Long-term tutor, mentor & learning programs available in more places - click here

* Strategy PDFs by Tutor/Mentor - click here

* Concept Map library - click here

* Mapping for Justice blog - click here

* Hashtags I follow on Twitter. Use to expand your own network - click here

* Blogs I follow using Inoreader - click here

* National Mentoring Resource Center - Covid-19 resources - click here

* MyChiMyFuture - City of Chicago - click here

* Strengthening Chicago Youth web site, click here; blog - click here

* Chicago Mentoring Collaborative - click here

* To & Through Project web site - click here

* Incarceration Reform Digital Resource Center - click here

* City of Chicago, CPS, links - click here

* Chicago Public School Locator - click here

* Healthy Chicago 2.0 - click here; Read Healthy Chicago 2025 report - click here

* Chicago Learning Exchange - click here

* ChiHackNight - remote civic technology meet-up; every Tuesday in Chicago - see agenda

*Chicago Youth Serving Organizations in Intermediary Roles-click here

Please help update this cmap and the links in the Tutor/Mentor web library. Just email me with additions or changes.

About this newsletter.

While I try to send this only once a month, I write blog articles weekly. Throughout the newsletter I post links to a few of the articles published in the past month or earlier. I encourage you to spend a little time each week reading these articles and following the links. Use the ideas and presentations in group discussions with other people who are concerned about the same issues.

Trying to understand purpose of this newsletter? Read this "What the Heck am I Trying to Do" article -click here

If the newsletter does not format correctly in your email, or if you want to return to it for future reading or to share with others, use this link.

Encourage friends, family, co-workers to sign up to receive this newsletter. Click here.

(If you subscribe, don't forget to respond to the confirmation email)

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

October 2020 Tutor Mentor eNews

October 2020 - Issue 193

What's on your Holiday List?

Everyone's still dealing with Covid19 and the stress of the November election. The impact on youth and families living in high poverty areas has been even more severe than elsewhere.

This is especially true for school-age kids who are forced to learn from home, using inadequate technology, with too little social/emotional connections with peers or supportive adults.

The ideas and resources shared in this monthly newsletter point to a library of resources that can be used by anyone, in Chicago, or around the world, to help mentor-rich youth programs thrive in all of the neighborhoods where they are most needed, and to help understand and respond to these over-riding challenges.

If you are a consistent reader, please consider a contribution to help fund the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC

Visit Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC Website

List of Chicago Area Youth Tutor, Mentor and Learning Programs

Since 1993 I've maintained a list of Chicago area non-school tutor, mentor and learning programs, and their websites, with two goals:

a) I can help them attract volunteers and donors;

b) I can help them learn from each other

I point to this list from my blog, my websites and using social media. For this to have value, programs need to keep websites updated. Volunteers can help them do this.

List of Facebook Pages of Chicago Area Tutor, Mentor and learning programs.

Many programs are posting information to Facebook. If you are following them these will show up on your timeline. Maybe.

I've created a list pointing to the Facebook pages of more than 100 programs that are on my primary list (see above). Using this you can find programs and click the link to see what they are posting any time you want.

If many people do this it will help draw attention, volunteers and donors to many different organizations.

Chicago Youth Programs - Twitter List

Most of the organizations in my main list have a Twitter account, though too many do not post to this regularly.

I maintain this list, which enables anyone to scroll through posts daily to see what information programs are sharing, and to go to the program's website to learn more.

Most Chicago media use Twitter. Thus if many youth programs are posting, and others are re-Tweeting, we attract media attention.

I'm on Twitter @tutormentorteam.

Learn Role of Intermediaries (blue box)

This article shows the role of Tutor/Mentor Connection/Institute, LLC as an intermediary, connecting people with information, like our lists of Chicago programs, and encouraging people to use that information to help tutor, mentor and learning programs reach K-12 youth in more parts of the Chicago region (and other cities if they duplicate the T/MC).

There are others filling this intermediary role. I point to them with this concept map, and this list of FB pages.

Help mentor-rich non-school tutor, mentor and learning programs grow.

At the right is one of many graphics you'll find on the http://tutormentor.blogspot.com site that visualize a goal of helping kids through school with an extra network of adults taking roles as tutors, mentors, coaches, etc.

I encourage the Intermediaries I point at to build their own resource lists and to add links to my sites and each other. I encourage everyone to encourage donors to visit youth program websites and use the information shared to make funding decisions.

Below are resources to use to help youth in your community.

Recent Tutor/Mentor blog articles:

* Understand Racism, Using a Map - click here

* Supporting America's Mayors - click here

* Digging Deeper into T/MC resources - click here

* Our Children Need Your Help - Volunteer Recruitment Campaign History - click here

* Recruiting Sports Stars as Leaders - click here

* Strategy PDFs by Tutor/Mentor - click here

* Concept Map library - click here

* Mapping for Justice blog - click here

* Hashtags I follow on Twitter. Use to expand your own network - click here

* Blogs I follow using Inoreader - click here

* National Mentoring Resource Center - Covid-19 resources - click here

* MyChiMyFuture - City of Chicago - click here

* Strengthening Chicago Youth web site, click here; blog - click here

* Chicago Mentoring Collaborative - click here

* To & Through Project web site - click here

* Incarceration Reform Digital Resource Center - click here

* Chicago Learning Exchange - click here

* ChiHackNight - remote civic technology meet-up; every Tuesday in Chicago - see agenda

*Chicago Youth Serving Organizations in Intermediary Roles-click here

Please help update this cmap and the links in the Tutor/Mentor web library. Just email me with additions or changes.

About this newsletter.

While I try to send this only once a month, I write blog articles weekly. Throughout the newsletter I post links to a few of the articles published in the past month or earlier. I encourage you to spend a little time each week reading these articles and following the links. Use the ideas and presentations in group discussions with other people who are concerned about the same issues.

Trying to understand purpose of this newsletter? Read this "What the Heck am I Trying to Do" article -click here

If the newsletter does not format correctly in your email, or if you want to return to it for future reading or to share with others, use this link.

Encourage friends, family, co-workers to sign up to receive this newsletter. Click here.

(If you subscribe, don't forget to respond to the confirmation email)

Thank you for reading and sharing this newsletter.

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Nov. 2020 Tutor Mentor eNews

Nov-Dec 2020 - Issue 194

Never Stop Learning. Never Stop Helping.

This holiday season will be much lonelier for many due to Covid19. But for many there will be ZOOM family gatherings and new ways to connect and learn. However, youth and families living in high poverty areas will still struggle more than others due to low access to digital tools and services.

Maybe during this holiday season you can spend a little time learning about digital access and remote learning issues, then spend time in 2021 helping to close these gaps.

If you are a consistent reader please consider a contribution to help fund the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC

Visit Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC Website

Learn from others during this holiday season.

Covid19 makes the 2020 holiday season one of isolation and remote learning for everyone. I wish all to stay safe, and to stay engaged.

Since 1993 I've maintained a list of Chicago area non-school tutor, mentor and learning programs, and their websites. Many are sharing ways they are connecting youth and volunteers. Visit their websites. Follow them on Facebook or Twitter. As you see good ideas, borrow them. Share your own. Make this a gift of giving during this holiday season.

Dig into tutor/mentor web library

* Homework & learning help - click here

* Poverty, racism, inequality - click here

* Impact of Covid19; What's next? - click here

* Digital divide research & articles - click here

* Hub of information and tools to help teachers during Covid19 - click here

* Resources from Afterschool Alliance - click her

* eLearning eNcyclopedia - click here

* Genius Hour - get kids involved - click here

* Ideas for teaching on-line - click here

* Recommended Learning Resources on YouTube - click here

What I'm sharing

The graphic at the left is from a presentation I watched recently. The topic was "Talent Retention in Low Status Communities." I shared this video in this blog article.

In another article, I pointed to sites that are aggregating information, similar to what Tutor/Mentor Connection has been doing. In this I also pointed to a panel discussion on this week's College Promise Career's Institute.

Don't "Ride By" Poverty. Get Involved.

I've used maps since 1993 with a goal that people who commute to and from work through Chicago's high poverty neighborhoods would begin to search map-directories and find youth programs along their routes that they could support with time, talent, advocacy, youth jobs and dollars.

Here's a recent article where I included this graphic. During this holiday season and beyond, get to know programs along your commute, then share with others. Help build support for all of them.

Below are resources to use to help youth in your community.

Resources from Tutor/Mentor:

* List of Chicago area youth Tutor and/or Mentor programs, plus other resources for finding youth programs - click here

* Facebook pages of Chicago area youth programs - click here

* Strategy PDFs by Tutor/Mentor - click here

* Concept Map library - click here

* Mapping for Justice blog - click here

* Blog article showing short links to resources hosted in Tutor/Mentor library and websites - click here

* Hashtags I follow on Twitter. Use to expand your own network - click here

* Blogs I follow using Inoreader- click here

*Chicago Youth Serving Organizations in Intermediary Roles-click here

Please help update this cMap and the links in the Tutor/Mentor web library. Just email me with additions or changes.

*GivingTuesday 2020will be Dec. 1, 2020. Click here for details. NOTE: There will not be an #ILGive campaign hosted by Forefront this year.

* 2021 National Mentoring Summit will be a remote conference this year. Early bird registration fee is $75.Click here for details.

* National Mentoring Resource Center - Covid-19 resources -click here

* MyChiMyFuture - City of Chicago - visit site and find activities for youth - click here

* Strengthening Chicago Youth web site, click here; blog - click here

* Chicago Mentoring Collaborative - click here

* To & Through Project web site - click here

* Incarceration Reform Digital Resource Center - click here

* Chicago Learning Exchange - click here

* ChiHackNight - remote civic technology meet-up; every Tuesday in Chicago - see agenda

About this newsletter.

While I try to send this only once a month, I write blog articles weekly. Throughout the newsletter I post links to a few of the articles published in the past month or earlier. I encourage you to spend a little time each week reading these articles and following the links. Use the ideas and presentations in group discussions with other people who are concerned about the same issues.

Since 2011 I've supported Tutor/Mentor Connection via the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC, which is not a 501-c-3. It's also not broadly funded. I've covered expenses through my own savings and the help of a few who make annual donations to me either via my December 19 birthday campaign, or my year-end fund me campaign. Below are links to each page. Please help if you can.

Dan's 74th Birthday- click here

Fund Tutor/Mentor Institute- click here

If the newsletter does not format correctly in your email, or if you want to return to it for future reading or to share with others, use this link.

Encourage friends, family, co-workers to sign up to receive this newsletter. Click here.

(If you subscribe, don't forget to respond to the confirmation email)

Thank you for reading and sharing the ideas in this newsletter.

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Dec 2020 Tutor/Mentor News

Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC - Dec 2020 - Issue 195

Wishing You Hope, Health and Happiness

As this year comes to an end we face an uncertain future due to the pandemic, political instability, climate change and a wide range of complex problems.

Our greatest strength is our ability to find solutions and help each other. Best wishes to all as we head into 2021.

Spend time browsing the ideas and resources I'm sharing and use them in 2021 to help youth tutor, mentor and learning programs reach k-12 youth in more places.

If you are a consistent reader please consider a contribution to help fund the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC

Visit Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC Website

Mobilize your network. Draw support to every youth program in your city.

I've used maps for 27 years to draw attention and resources to every high poverty area of Chicago and to youth tutor/mentor programs in those areas. I encourage others to do the same.

Open this concept map and find links to my library of Chicago tutor and/or mentor programs, along with other libraries that anyone can use to find programs throughout the USA. Visit websites, learn what programs do, and then pick one, or more, to support with year-end and on-going donations.

Dig into tutor/mentor web library

The concept map at the right diagrams one set of links in the Tutor/Mentor library. Throughout the year I encourage you to point your volunteers and donors to this page and encourage them to learn more about where and why youth tutor/mentor programs are most needed, along with other challenges that need to be addressed to help reduce poverty and create greater opportunity for all in America.

Visit this blog article and find links to every section of the Tutor/Mentor library, plus to pdf essays, concept maps and more resources.

Below are resources to use to help youth in your community.

Recent blog articles from Tutor/Mentor:

* Duplicate Tutor/Mentor Connection - click here

* Creating a Service-Learning Organization - click here

* Roadmap for Solving Problems - click here

* Violence in Chicago. The Rest of the Story - click here

Other recommended pages:

* Strategy PDFs by Tutor/Mentor - click here

* Concept Map library - click here

* Mapping for Justice blog - click here

* 2021 National Mentoring Summit will be a remote conference this year. Click here for details.

* National Mentoring Resource Center - Covid-19 resources - click here

* MyChiMyFuture - City of Chicago - visit site and find activities for youth - click here

* Strengthening Chicago Youth web site, click here; blog - click here

* Chicago Mentoring Collaborative - click here

*Chicago Youth Serving Organizations in Intermediary Roles-click here

Please help update this cMap and the links in the Tutor/Mentor web library. Just email me with additions or changes.

Help me help youth tutor/mentor programs.

Dan Bassill's 74th Birthday is December 19- click here and help him celebrate.

Fund Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC - click here and help keep this resource available for another year.

Thank you for reading and sharing the ideas in this newsletter.

Tutor/Mentor Connection, Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC

Merchandise Mart PO Box 3303, Chicago, Il 60654

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

|http://www.tutormentorexchange.net

If the newsletter does not format correctly in your email, or if you want to return to it for future reading or to share with others, use this link.

Encourage friends, family, co-workers to sign up to receive this newsletter. Click here.

(If you subscribe, don't forget to respond to the confirmation email)

Connect with Dan (tutormentor) on one of these social media platforms.

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram